Lhasa to Everest: 6-Night Small-Group Train Tour from Xining to Everest Base Camp
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
6–7 days
Fitness Level
Moderate cardiovascular fitness required; able to walk short unpaved sections and cope with high-altitude environments.
Overview
Ride the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, acclimatize on the move, and reach Everest Base Camp over six nights—sleep in Lhasa, Shigatse and a high-altitude guestroom at Rongbuk. This small-group tour blends cultural stops, high passes, and practical altitude support for a measured approach to the world’s highest peak.
Lhasa to Everest: 6-Night Small-Group Train Tour from Xining to Everest Base Camp
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The train thumps out of Xining and the landscape begins to change like a slow, deliberate reveal: scrub becomes grassland, grassland becomes frozen plain, and the air thins until breath itself has to work harder. By the time the train pulls into Lhasa you are already halfway adapted—your pulse steady, your eyes full of a new clarity. This six-night circuit from Xining to Everest Base Camp (EBC) is less a sprint than a graduated ascent, designed to fold acclimatization into scenery: Yamdrok-tso’s turquoise rim, the jagged silhouette of Nyenchen Khangsar, the high passes where prayer flags snap like small, stubborn flags of color against an enormous sky.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Keep your permits and passport to hand
You must present your Tibet Travel Permit, train ticket, passport and Chinese visa at stations and checkpoints—keep photocopies and originals accessible.
Pace yourself for altitude
Hydrate, avoid alcohol, and favor slow walks the first 48 hours in Lhasa to reduce acute mountain sickness risk.
Pack for temperature swings
Bring windproof outer layers and a warm insulated jacket—the sun feels strong by day but nights and high passes are bitter.
Train tickets are final once issued
Once the Xining–Lhasa train ticket is booked it cannot be canceled—confirm dates before purchasing and allow time for permit processing.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Himalayan marmot
- Tibetan antelope (chiru)
History
The Qinghai–Tibet Railway opened easier access to the plateau in 2006, accelerating tourism while monasteries like Rongbuk—rebuilt in the early 20th century—remain focal points of Tibetan religion.
Conservation
The Tibetan Plateau is ecologically fragile; stick to trails, avoid single-use plastics, and respect local guidelines to reduce your footprint in protected areas.
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Adventure Hotspots in Lhasa
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Insulated down jacket
Critical for nights at Rongbuk and high passes where temperatures drop sharply.
Sturdy hiking shoes
Support and traction for uneven trails around monasteries and EBC approach.
Water purification tablets or bottle
Reliable drinking water in remote areas; tour provides water but extra is wise for hikes.
Altitude medication (consult doctor)
Diamox or similar can ease acclimatization—get medical advice before travel.