Railroad to Lhasa (EXRTB)

Duration: 17 days (may vary)
Areas: China, Tibet
Tour types: History & Culture, Rail Journeys

Description

Beijing & Xian
In Beijing, we discover the impressive grandeur of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall before an overnight train takes us to Xian, home to the amazing life-size Terracotta Warriors, unearthed after 2000 years. From Lanzhou, on the old Silk Road, we journey by boat along the Yellow River to marvel at the exquisitely carved Buddhas at Bingling Si. Dangling precariously from ropes, sculptors carved hundreds of niches and statues from the porous sandstone of the canyon walls, including an immense 27m seated Buddha.

Treasures of Sino-Tibet
We venture into the Sino-Tibetan heartlands to colourful Xiahe; set in a beautiful mountain valley it is the leading Tibetan monastery town outside of Lhasa. Here we explore the warren-like alleyways of Labrang monastery and wander yak-grazing grasslands. The artists of Tongren are famed for their Buddhist “Thanka” paintings and are a mixture of ethnic Tibetans and Tu, closely related to the Mongols. From Xining, capital of Qinghai province, we visit the Taer “Yellow Hat” monastery before boarding our final train for the unforgettable journey to Lhasa.

Tracks to Lhasa
For almost 2000 kilometres from Xining we cross the “Roof of the World” to Lhasa. Traversing the vast wilderness of the Tibetan plateau, where herds of yak and antelope graze and nomads wander, distant snow-capped mountains shimmer in the intense sunlight before us. We cross snowbound passes, including Tanggula Pass (5072m), the highest rail track in the world, through numerous tunnels and across bridges, travelling for much of the journey on elevated tracks, specially constructed to avoid melting the permafrost beneath us. Arriving in Lhasa, three full days in exploration of its wonders await us, including the awe-inspiring 1000-roomed Potala Palace, Jokhang temple, the holiest place in the Tibetan-Buddhist world, and the pilgrim-filled winding streets of

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Join Beijing.

Day 2

Visit Great Wall at Mutianyu.

Day 3

Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square; overnight train Xian.

Day 4

Arrive Xian; late AM city tour, PM free.

Day 5

Visit Terracotta Warriors; overnight train Lanzhou.

Day 6

Arrive Lanzhou; by boat on Yellow River to Bingling Si grottoes.

Day 7

Drive Xiahe.

Day 8

Visit Labrang monastery, Sangke village and grasslands.

Day 9

Drive Tongren; visit Long Wu monastery.

Day 10

Drive Xining via Wutun Si monastery.

Day 11

Visit Taer monastery; Qinghai-Tibet railway to Lhasa.

Day 12

By train across Tibet, arrive Lhasa late evening.

Day 13

Visit Jokhang, Ani Tsangkang nunnery and Sera monastery.

Day 14

Potala Palace; PM free in Lhasa.

Day 15

Excursion to Ganden monastery (optional); PM visit Norbulingka.

Day 16

Fly Beijing.

Day 17

End Beijing.