Tibet Express
Please note that Tibet is closed for visitors in all of march 2012 - read more in the right info box below.
This incredible journey starts in China, where the sky train is taken from Beijing over the Tibetan plateau to Lhasa. From Lhasa, there is a drive across the country by land cruiser through the Himalayas, visiting the Mt Everest base camp and then on to Kathmandu. In 2006 Beijing and Lhasa were connected for the first time by rail, which opened up a unique possibility for passengers to across the Tibetan plateau on the world's highest railway. Look forward to one of the world's most beautiful train trips and an experience not to be forgotten.
Details
Description
- Trip Length:
- 13 days / 12 nights.
- Highlights:
- Sky train from Beijing to Lhasa, Potala palace, Mt. Everest base camp.
- Locations Visited:
- Tibet Express, Tanggula Pass, Everest Base Camp, border Katmandu, Tibet.
- Start City:
- Beijing.
- End City:
- Katmandu.
- Physical rating:
- Culture rating:
- Transportation:
- Train, jeep, private car/minivan.
- Departure days:
- Upon request
- Included in the price:
- Train ticket, 2 nights in "soft sleeper" standard, 7 nights budget class accomodation in Tibet, 10 breakfast, entrance fees according to program, transport with land-cruiser, local guide in Tibet, permit to Tibet, transfer in private car from the Nepalese border to Kathmandu, 2 nights in Kathmandu (budget class hotel).
- Group size:
- Min. 2 pax. Max. 10 pax.
This is not included
The price is exclusive of Chinese visa (have to be arranged from home before departure), Nepalese visa (can be arranged from home or at the border), tips for guide/driver as well as extra meals not stated in the program.
Day 1: Depart from Beijing on the Tibet Express, "the sky train", at 21:30 from Beijing. Look forward to boarding the unique train that the Chinese call T27. Find your reserved carriage "soft sleeper" compartment with accommodations for four. Here you can look forward to modern conveniences including a flat-screen T.V on the wall.
Day 2: Head across China for Xining. This morning the train runs through the mountain areas in Shaanxi to the city of Xian. Here the train stops for 20 minutes, you have a chance to get of the train and stretch your legs. The landscape is a variety of flat agricultural land. At noon the train arrives at Lanzhou, which lies on the silk-road. From here the train follows the yellow river, Huang He, in the evening the train arrives in the town of Xining.
Day 3: Golmud over Tanggula pass (5,072 m) to Lhasa. Today there is the opportunity to see yaks and wild Tibetan horses from the train. In the morning the train arrives at Golmud (2.082 m) in the north of China. The next part of the journey traverses the high Tibetan plateau and is fantastically beautiful. You will be traveling past the south of Goldmud and over the plateau and the impressive Kunlun mountains. In the middle of the day the train runs over the highest point; Tanggala pass (5,072 meters). Afterwards you hit Nakchu, which is the first Tibetan town on the route and is only three hours away from Lhasa. Arrive in Lhasa where you are picked up by a local guide and transferred to your hotel. (budget class hotel)
Day 4: Lhasa (Tibet's capital). Relax and discover Lhasa independently. There is much to see and do. After the long train journey it's important to become acclimatized to the altitude by taking your time and drinking plenty of water, this helps avoid altitude sickness. We recommend you follow these simple suggestions. Eat light meals when you arrive in Lhasa, and do not consume coffee or tea, which will dehydrate you. Drink plenty of water – four to five liters per day, take your time while exploring Lhasa and take plenty of breaks. Weak headaches and feeling tired are normal. Contact your guide immediately if you feel very unwell. (breakfast is included.)
Day 5: Lhasa. Today you can look forward to an eventful trip around Lhasa with your guide. Look forward to a guided tour in the huge Potala Palace, which is the Dalai Lama's former residence, which has now become a world-famous site and an absolute must for all visitors to Tibet. Additional highlights are Jokhang Temple, the pilgrim circle, and Barkor Bazaar which surrounds the temple. (breakfast and entrance is included.)
Day 6: The last day in Lhasa is a free day. We recommend a visit (by bike or taxi) to Drepung and the Sera convents, which are both a little outside Lhasa. In Drepung you can, among many experiences, witness the monks' distinctive afternoon debate, an intense and interesting spectacle. There is also the possibility of visiting the Dalai Lama's former summer-palace, Norbulingka, which is surrounded by a park. (breakfast is included.)
Day 7: Lhasa-Xigatse. Today we leave Lhasa by Land-cruiser accompanied by a guide. We take the old road to Xigatse, and pass the beautiful, holy lake Yamdrok Tso and an impressive glacier as well as the cozy town of Gyantse. On route we pass traditional Tibetan villages with mud-built houses, where the outer walls are covered with round cowpats, which hang to dry in the sun and are used as fuel for the ovens (breakfast and entrance is including)
Day 8: Xigatse-Tingri. Today we visit the impressive Tashilhumpu monastery in Xigatse. If lucky, you may experience the atmosphere of 800 monks chanting and praying. It's one of the most holy monasteries in all of Tibet. Here we will apply for permission to visit Mount Everest. Tonight we stay in Tingri. (breakfast is included.)
Day 9: Everest Base Camp-Tibet. Today we drive to the foot of the world's highest mountain. On the way we have several photo-stops, where you can enjoy the fantastic mountain scenery and mountain passes situated at over 5,000 meters. You may have the chance to see mountain climbers making preparations for the ultimate challenge, the ascent of the world's highest mountain. We stay at Rong Bok tonight. (breakfast is included.)
Day 10: Everest Base camp - Zhangmu-Border. Drive to Zhangmu – the border town on the Tibet side (410km, 7 hours ); spending the night at Zhangmu Hotel / Pema Hotel. (breakfast is included.)
Day 11: Border Katmandu. Today all travelers must go through the passport control at Friendship Bridge, which connects China and Nepal. Be prepared for a little waiting time in the process. After the border formalities, continue through the beautiful, twisting mountain roads to Nepal's capital, Katmandu. Accommodations are in Thamel - walking distance from the Visit Beyond Service Center. (breakfast is included.)
Day 12: Kathmandu. Today you can relax after the long drive, and discover Kathmandu, a fascinating town best experienced on foot. We recommend visiting our service office, where you can get great advice and ideas for your stay in town. The office can help with trekking, rafting, safari, monastery stays, and volunteer work. (breakfast is included.)
Day 13: Free Day. You can easily stay a few days in this historical town. The Thamel-quarter is popular and has many good restaurants and cafés. Kathmandu has a completely unique atmosphere with narrow alleys, historical temples, beautiful stupas, lively markets and smiling inhabitants. Do not leave without seeing the old king towns of Bhaktapur and Patan, as well as Swayambunath, a protected UNESCO world cultural heritage site. (breakfast is included.)
Note: This program is subject to small changes which we reserve the right to carry out if necessary. Stay 2 nights on the the train in "soft sleeper" compartment which comprises of 4 beds for 4 passengers. Each compartment has a small table and large window for viewing.
Bedding is provided on the train. The train's facilities are designed to take care of altitude.
Index of notes:
Emergency Contact - Emergency Funds - Additional Expenditures - Tipping - Weather and Unpredictables - Meals - Group Leaders and Guides - Arrival - What to bring - Checklist - Visas - Laundry - Share Your Trip - Respectful Dress - Money, Dough, Loot & Booty - Departure Tax - Communications - Expect the Unexpected - Health & Fitness - Travel Insurance - Your Travel Buddies - Responsible Travel - The law and "the man"
Emergency Contact
In the event of a genuine crisis or emergency, Visit Beyond’s China Office can be reached on Tel: +86 13911218252 or 0086 13401006553. For further contact details please use the following page: http://www.visitbeyond.com/top-menu/contact-us
Emergency Funds
We advise that you keep 1500CNY per person for unforeseen incidents and circumstances beyond our control (e.g. a natural disaster, civil unrest, etc.).
Additional Expenditures
Take into account your personal spending habits when deciding how much money to bring. How much will you drink and party? How many souvenirs you intend to bring home? How many gifts? Remember to include tips in your calculations. (See below.)
Tipping
Visit Beyond employs local guides who greatly appreciate recognition of services rendered. Index
Weather and Unpredictables
Visit Beyond operates trips in China throughout the year—including the rainy season—and changes may result from inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances. We reserve the right to change the itinerary according to such circumstances as we see fit to ensure the best experience for our customers.
Meals
Visit Beyond gives you the opportunity to try authentic Tibetan food. When meals are not already provided, your guide will be able to suggest restaurants and the best dishes during your trip. Notify your Guide of allergies or dietary restrictions.
Group Leaders and Guides
Visit Beyond will often provide experienced, local, English-speaking guides who know the destination and region well. Kindly note that it is sometimes necessary to change the guide at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Your guide is there for you. He/she will offer recommendations, history, useful phrases and more. We encourage you to ask questions. At Visit Beyond we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit. Index
Arrival
If you have booked an arrival package then you can expect a Visit Beyond representative waiting for you at the airport. If you cannot locate your Driver at the airport, please contact Visit Beyond at china@visitbeyond.com or +86 13911218252 or 0086 13401006553. Visit Beyond does not offer refunds for missed transfers due to a change in flight or delays. Index
What to bring
Pack according to the tour you have chosen. If you’re going trekking, bring appropriate shoes; Visit Beyond encourages you to pack only necessities. Although there are some tours and trips in which you can leave your luggage behind for a day’s excursion, we generally require you to carry your own gear. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to pack in a backpack with straps and back support and a smaller daypack. We strongly discourage traditional luggage!
Responsible travel (see below) dictates that we respect local cultures. Bring a camera and take pictures and video, but never intrude on people’s lives.
See our checklist below for more specifics. Index
Checklist
This checklist is intended as a reference guide; it is not a complete packing list. Always keep in mind weight restrictions according to your airline of choice.
Travel documents: Passport and visas, travel insurance documents, tickets, Visit Beyond vouchers (if any).
Money: Cash, credit card, money pouch.
Day pack: First-aid kit, medication/prescriptions (consider carrying a doctor’s letter if you require a large amount of medication), sunscreen, refillable water bottle and purification tablets, flashlight, insect repellent, hat and sunglasses, traveler’s diarrhea tablets, prescription glasses, contact lenses and solution, phrasebook, earplugs, comfortable shoes & playing cards. Index
Large pack: Alarm clock, international outlet adapter, swimsuit, lightweight towel, eye mask, raincoat, umbrella, waterproof jacket, outdoor sandals with good grip, waterproof bags for the rainy season, appropriate clothes for temples and religious sites.
And, of course, your camera, film or memory cards and spare batteries!
Visas
You are responsible for obtaining visas. Consult your embassy’s website in China or China’s embassy website in your country for the latest visa requirements. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date. We endeavor to keep visa information updated, but rules can change suddenly.
Citizens of Every country need a visa to visit China
Laundry
Some hotels offer laundry services for an additional charge. You can find additional laundry services in all major cities. If you choose to do your own laundry, kindly use non-polluting and biodegradable soap.
Share Your Trip
Go on, show off a little! Share your pictures on our Facebook page. We occasionally hold contests for those who provide the best shots, so stay on the look-out and you could win a free trip! Index
Respectful Dress
Remember that styles of dress are generally conservative throughout Asia. This is especially true outside major cities. Visit Beyond therefore strongly recommends modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate. Avoid tank tops on the beach and never sunbathe topless. Men and women alike are often required to wear pants the cover the legs in temples and religious sites.
Money, Dough, Loot & Booty
We recommend withdrawing money from ATMs, which are widely available throughout China. This has the advantage of keeping your money safe in the bank; not vulnerable in your back pocket. Remember to bring your bank’s emergency contact details in the event that your card is stolen. In addition, notify your bank of your travels before you depart, as banks often place a temporary hold on cards due to transactions in foreign countries or other suspicious activities. Index
Visit Beyond does not recommend traveler’s cheques. Exchanging them can be a lengthy process and can pose difficulties due to banking hours and holidays. In addition to a commission, unfavorable exchange rates often apply to traveler’s cheques. If you insist on bringing traveler’s cheques then purchase them with a major brand and strong currency. Old cheques are rarely, if ever, accepted.
Departure Tax
There is no departure tax at Chinese Airports at the present time. This is subject to change without notice and Visit Beyond is not liable for unexpected charges levied on departing tourists.
Communications
The most reliable method of communication during your travels will be email. Although internet access is widely available in China, we do visit areas of the country for several days at a time in which internet access is limited or unavailable. Please take this into account when planning your trip.
It is a good idea to leave your booking agent’s contact details or Visit Beyond’s contact information with friends or family in your home country in case of emergencies. We do not recommend that you leave friends and family with your hotel details because there is no guarantee that hotel staff speak English. Facebook , Youtube, Google video and many other news websites are blocked in China. Index
Expect the Unexpected
Visit Beyond, as the name implies, brings you to places that are beyond the well-worn tourist path. Out here, things sometimes go wrong and if they do, it is imperative that you tell your guide or tour leader immediately. They are best suited to help however they can. If this does not suffice, your guide will contact our manager.
Health & Fitness
There are no health requirements for this trip. However, to get the most out of your trip, all travelers should be in good physical health. You should consult your doctor or physician before leaving your home country and you should honestly assess your ability to complete your vacation based on the detailed Visit Beyond trip itinerary. In general, the more you physically prepare for the trip, the more you will enjoy it. We do not walk at altitude nor set distance records, but some treks can still be demanding. Expect hilly terrain and high temperatures. Visit Beyond and its guides reserve the right to exclude a participant without refund if said traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to him/her or to the group. Index
Small and very handy first aid kits should be readily available in your home country. We recommend you purchase a kit before departure along with any personal medication you may require. Read the trip itinerary closely and bring medicine accordingly, as many trips entail travel on long, windy roads and require that you eat authentic Chinese food. Do not rely on trip leaders or guides, as they are legally prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache medicine and antibiotics.
Visit Beyond is well aware of the health risks of bird flu and SARS. Therefore, Visit Beyond reserves the right to make unannounced changes to all itineraries in the very unlikely occurrence of an outbreak of bird flu, SARS or other disease. Please contact us at china@visitbeyond.com should you require any clarification. Index
Travel Insurance
Although travel insurance is not obligatory to join a Visit Beyond trip, we strongly recommend you purchase insurance before departing your home country. Traveling without insurance is done entirely at your own risk. Visit Beyond is not liable for the uninsured. We recommend Gouda Travel Insurance for our European customers.
Your Travel Buddies
Traveling in a group can be a very positive experience. You are likely to find that your travel buddies hail from all over the world. Therefore, you will get the double pleasure of experiencing a new part of the world and new friends to enjoy it with. In order to get the most out of your trip, each traveler must respect every member of the group, arrive on time according to the trip itinerary, and practice patience with one another. These are your responsibilities as a member of a group and we expect each member to follow them. For reasons of privacy, Visit Beyond will not provide personal information or contact details of your fellow travelers prior to departure.
Responsible Travel
Traveling responsibly is a pillar of the Visit Beyond philosophy. To us, it means two things: respect for the environment and respect for local cultures. We practice low-impact tourism and make every effort to preserve the environment. We refuse to treat local people as mere photo-ops and insist that you engage with locals as human beings. You will have a better trip for it. Please refer to our Responsible Travel page for further details and suggestions for responsible travel. Index
The law and "the man"
Visit Beyond does not tolerate illegal drugs nor do we tolerate visiting prostitutes. Both of these may be common among certain communities we visit but they are illegal nonetheless. Engaging in such activities puts you and your group at serious risk. Possession of illegal drugs is a crime punishable by death in China. Visit Beyond and group leaders reserve the right to immediately expel from the group anyone engaging in these activities.
