11 Days Lhasa to EBC Overland Tour from Shanghai by Train

After arrival in Shanghai, you could have a rest or look around in shanghai on your own. In the evening, you will be transferred to Shanghai Railway Station to board the overnight train to Lhasa. Please be sure to arrive in train station 1 hour and a half before the train departure. Your Tibet Travel Permit will need to be checked when you check in.

It is quite a long journey that will take about 47 hours, two days and two nights in the Train, at the first day you will pass through two important provincial capital cities in northwest China, Lanzhou and Xining. Xining is known as the beginning of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Travelling along the rail line, you could see the scenery of countryside and city in northwest China.

Stay overnight on the Train

• Qinghai-Tibet railway
• Dining car scene on the train to Lhasa

Today, you will witness the most beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The land of snows, the desert, the grassland, Snow Mountains and the lakes will continually appear and strongly attract your heart.

You will arrive in Lhasa in the late afternoon. Your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit of the train station to welcome you. A private car will take you from the train station to the reserved hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Tour guide will meet you at Lhasa Railway Station.
• Lhasa River

Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the only most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism. Around the temple is Barkhor street where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, in the meantime you can buy souvenirs.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Amazing Potala Palace at twilight
• Holy Jokhang Temple

In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace used to be Dalai lama’s palace in the Drepung before he moved to the Potala palace.

In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Monks chat happily before the assembly hall of Drepung monastery.
• Dramatic monk debate in Sera Monastery

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. On the way, we will pass over the Gangbala Pass (4790 m). From the top of the pass in clear weather, you can see the fabulous shade of deep turquoise Yamdrok-tso Lake. It is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in color. Far in the distance is the huge massif of mount Nanchan kangtsang (7191m).

Besides, you can also appreciate Korola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, tourists can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass.

Stay overnight in Gyantse

• Amid Tibet’s mountains lies Yamdrok Lake, famed for its turquoise beauty and sacred charm.
• Before the Karola Glacier, a happy family captures their warmest memory

In the morning, we will drive on towards Shigatse after visiting the famous Gyantse Kumbum.

In Shigatse, you will visit the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery where you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world. The monastery itself is an abiding place for the successive Penchen Lamas.

Then we will drive towards the Sakya County where you can visit the famous Sakya Monastery. The most interesting thing in Sakya sect is that the sect does not believe in reincarnation and the head of sakya sect will wear white cassock and also marry to birth their child for next generation.

Stay overnight in Sakya County.

• From the top of Gyantse Kumbum, you can get close to the pretty Buddha Eyes that look out from each of the four directions (north, south, east, and west).
• The view of Shigatse city with Tashilhunpo Monastery at the background.

It takes about 5 hours driving from Sakya to Rongbuk. From Tingri to Everest Base Camp with the very rough road, you will pass the wild grassland and cross the rapid rivers and high mountains.

If it is in clear weather, you can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which is 8000m high or more, including Mt. Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag (8201m), Mt Mayalu (8463m). Enjoy your remaining time at Everest base camp.

Stay overnight in Rongbuk Guest House or Tent

• Drive along the zigzag road to Everest Base Camp
• On the way to Everest Base Camp, you will see a variety of wild animals.

In the morning, you can see the sunrise appearing on the top of Mt. Everest, and have a full view the magnificent Mt. Everest standing like a snow-capped pyramid in front of you at Rongbuk, which is the vantage point for watching Mt. Everest. Then, tourists can visit Rongbuk Monastery which is the highest monastery in the world (5000m) and belongs to Nyingma sect. After that, drive back to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

• Stunning view of Mount Everest from Gyatsola Pass at sunrise
• Rongbuk Monastery, the higest monastery in the world

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa on the friendship Highway. The whole distance is almost 280km and it takes 6 hours along the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Bhamaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet).

Stay overnight in Lhasa

You will be transferred to Lhasa airport for your flight to next destination.