Spots:Free Program

Welcome to Xining! You will be picked up by local tour guide at the airport hall or train station, and then be escorted to your hotel in Xining city in a private vehicle.

Situated on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, this lively and hugely diverse provincial capital makes a good base from which to dive into the surrounding sights and on to the more remote regions of Qinghai and beyond. There's superb food and a scattering of tempting cafes as well as an outstanding museum of Tibetan culture, some beautiful temples and mosques, plus the remains of the old city wall.

Spots:Qinghai Lake, Riyue Mountains

After breakfast, drive about 2.5 hours to see the picturesque Qinghai Lake from Xining via Huangyuan, the biggest inland lake and biggest salt-water lake in China.  It is surrounded by high mountainst, at the foot of mountains are the endless beautiful grasslands. So you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking.

As the largest inland lake, as well as the largest salt water lake in China, Qinghai Lake(3200m) stretches 105km at length,  63km at width and occupies a water area of over 4,500 square kilometers. this plateau lake was elected as the Most Beautiful Lake in China by China’s National Geographic. It is surrounded by harsh mountain ranges from outside. While on the foot of mountains are endless beautiful grassland and rapeseed flower lands which are connected to the lakeside.

After that, drive back to Xining. On the way, you will visit the Riyue Mountains , and the Ri Pagoda and Yue Pagoda. Both pagodas were built in Tang Dynasty to commemorate the intermarriage of marrying Princess Wencheng of Tang to Tubo. At the foot of Riyue Mountains, you will be amazed by the unique Daotang River which flows from east to west.

Spots:Dongguan Mosque

Visit Dongguan Mosque in the morning, it's the biggest mosque in Qinghai Province,the Mosque is not only famous for its magnificent architecture but also as a religious education center and as the highest learning institution of Islam. Board the train to Lhasa. enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Spots:Scenery along Qinghai-tibet Railway

A full day window sightseeing along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you will see land of snows, desert, immense grassland, ice mountain, beautiful lakes which will fairly entertaining.Upon arrival, be greeted by local guide at airport and be presented with traditional Tibetan White Scarf to wish you good luck!

Then our driver will take you to your hotel. You will enjoy the spectacular scenery and the typical Tibetan villages on the way.Stay at the hotel after arrival for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now.

Spots:Potala Palace, Jokhang temple, Barkhor street

Whole day’s city tour in Lhasa, visit Potala Palace in the morning, 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, head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Spots:Lake Yamdrok, Pelkor Monastery

After fully explore Lhasa, you’ll have a chance to get lost in the endless Tibetan landscape while you take a short hike along the turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok, one of the four holy lakes in Tibet.

As the largest fresh lake in the northern of the Himalaya Mountains, it spreads about 675 square meters from south to north, like an eardrop lying in the arms of snow-capped giant mountains. Viewing from a distance, you can see fertile pastures full of yaks and sheep, and some small Tibetan villages along the lakeshore. Keeping driving not so far from Yamdrok Lake, you will see the imposing Karola Glacier towering aloft on the right side of the road.

Afterwards pass by the 5,010 m high Karo-la and the Simi La forward to Gyantse (3,950m). Visit Pelkor Monastery which was built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse.It is a very impressive fortress with typical Tibetan palace architecture style which is inherited from Yumbulagang Palace - The First Palace of Tibet.

Then drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse , the second largest city in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang.

Spots:Tashilhunpo Monastery

Visit the famous Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama. In this monastery, you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world.you will take a visit to the official seat of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery,which is also the largest and most influential Gelug Monastery in Shigatse prefecture. you will see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth ( 26.2 meters high and 11.5 meters wide ), decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers.

Afterwards, drive back to Lhasa through the friendship Hihgway. Th 280 km’s journey takes about 6 hours along the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

Spots:Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Whole day’s city tour in Lhasa, After breakfast, firstly go to visit the beautiful Norbulingka which used to be the former summer palace of Dalai Lamas in the ancient time, and now is a public park.  Next, drive several kilometers to the western outskirts of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung, in Tibetan, means “prosperity”,Since its establishment, Drepung Monastery has always been one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. In its heyday, there were more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Then visit Sera Monastery in the afternoon, It is famous for the spectacular “Buddhism Debating”, As a daily routine, Watching monks debate scriptures at Sera Monastery is a highlight considered not-to-be-missed by many travelers.    

Spots:Free Program

Today is free for you until your tour guide transfer you to the airport in time for your flight or drop you off at Lhasa train station.

You can take your time selecting many special items full of Tibetan characteristics, such as Thangka paintings, Tibetan blankets, famous medicines, and specialties from many places in Tibet, or just hang out in some local well protected old city, some meaningful historic sites near Barkhor Street to feel the strong culture in Lhasa.