You will pass Qinghai’s Delingha and Golumd before dawn. As the train moves on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, you can perfectly witness spectacular plateau scenery along the rail in the daytime. Firstly, across over the majestic Kunlun Mountains and Tanggula Mountains, see the Tuotuo River - one of the head streams of the Yangtze River, watch agile Tibetan antelopes in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve where also protects much precious wildlife like Tibetan donkeys, yaks, plants and the natural habitats. Afterwards, you will enter Tibet and stop for several minutes in Amdo. Continue the amazing train sightseeing journey, capture the azure blue Cuo’na Lake with distant snow-capped mountains and see groups of nomads and Tibetan yaks in the vast grassland of Northern Tibet.

You will arrive at Lhasa Railway Station in the early afternoon. Your local tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa downtown by a comfortable non-smoking vehicle. The rest of today is for you to acclimatize yourself to this high altitude city at the roof of the world.

Tips: 1.. There are special oxygen supply facilities you can use to ease the symptoms of altitude sickness. Ask help from the train staff if you feel uncomfortable. 2. Go for some walking to acclimate to the high altitude but avoid strenuous activity after arrival. 3. You’d better not have bath on the first 2 days on arrival; 4. Drinking more water, having some fresh fruit and having a good rest helps you adapt to the altitude.

After breakfast, start an incredible day of exploration in Lhasa city. The grandiose Potala Palace will be the first site to discover. After more than 1300 years of historical changes, this colossal palace still dominates the skyline of Lhasa city. The Palace is the political and religious center of Tibet and has served as the governance and preaching site for the Dalai Lama. Climbing up the sacred steps to the Red Palace and White Palace you will explore their marvelous interiors full of exquisite Thangkas, numerous Buddha statues, vivid wall paintings, and other works of Buddhist art.

In the afternoon, first visit the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet, Jokhang Temple, where the 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue is consecrated. With a history stretching over 1,300 years, this temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, China, Nepal and India. As a spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple attracts hundreds of devoted pilgrims to worship there every day. Outside the door of Jokhang Temple is the famous pilgrimage circle, Barkhor Street, where you can join faithful Tibetans in colorful attires walking the circle around Jokhang Temple.

Tips for today: 1. wear suitable headgear and glasses to protect you from strong sunlight, but do not wear any hat while visiting inside the Tibetan monasteries; 2. photography is not allowed inside the chapels of monasteries; 3. have your passport with you all the time.

Today features visits to 2 of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism – the Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Drepung Monastery is located on the hillside west of Lhasa – at one time the world’s largest monastery with about 10,000 monks living there. A pleasant walk up the hill leads to the solemn ambience inside the monastery’s many halls and chapels.

After Drepung, we will move on to the Sera Monastery. The main highlight of the Sera Monastery is watching the crowd of monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day except Sunday, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills – a very impressive sight to behold, as the monks are very animated in their debates about the various attributes of Buddhist scriptures.

Meals: Breakfast Provided by the hotel

Accommodation: Lhasa Economic/Comfortable Standard Hotel (Twin sharing)

Today is free for you until your driver transfer you to catch your flight (or train) leaving Tibet. Please check your luggage and make sure everything is packed, and then check out from your hotel before 12pm.