MYSTERIOUS TIBET – Experience the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (9D8N)

Scheduled flights: HAN/WUH MU2574 (02:35–06:05) – WUH/XNN MU6631 (10:15–12:45). Upon arrival, the group will have lunch at a local restaurant.
The group will visit the Xining Thangka Museum—a unique cultural site dedicated to preserving and displaying Thangka art, a traditional form of hand-painted art deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhism. Each Thangka is not merely a work of art but is likened to a visual scripture, embodying profound philosophy, sanctity, and the spiritual essence of Buddhism.
Here, guests will have the opportunity to:
Admire hundreds of handcrafted Thangkas, created entirely by hand using rare natural materials such as gold dust, minerals, gemstones, and silk.
Learn about the intricate creation process—from sketching the Buddha’s image and blending colors to the accompanying spiritual rituals.
Listen to artisans and local guides share insights into the spiritual significance of each painting, as well as the cultural and religious value Thangka holds for the Tibetan community.
Visit Limeng Commercial Street (Limeng Pedestrian Street), a vibrant shopping hub featuring modern architecture and numerous major brand-name stores.
After dinner at a restaurant, the group will proceed to the railway station to experience the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Overnight stay on the train (VIP 4-berth cabin).

Experience the Qinghai–Tibet Railway, renowned as one of the world’s ten most scenic train routes. It holds the record for the highest altitude, as well as the highest and longest tunnel passing through permafrost.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served on board.
Upon arrival at Lhasa Station, the group will be met by a vehicle and guide and transferred to Lhasa—the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, its largest city, and a sacred center of Tibetan Buddhism.
The group will check into the hotel in Lhasa to rest.

Breakfast at the hotel; afterwards, the vehicle and tour guide will take you to the Potala Palace—a symbol of Tibetan culture and spirituality—to capture memorable photos and videos. Participate in a Thangka painting class to explore this sacred Tibetan art form through a hands-on experience.
Lunch at a restaurant.
Sera Monastery: This monastery features traditional architecture, solemn prayer halls, and exquisite murals depicting Buddhist teachings and Tibetan history, alongside numerous precious religious artifacts. Sera is also renowned for unique festivals such as the Sera Bengqin Festival and the Shoton Festival, which feature the unfurling of a giant Thangka and mystical Cham dances. Stepping into Sera, you will sense a sacred, solemn atmosphere where Buddhist culture harmoniously blends with the majestic nature of the Tibetan Plateau—an unmissable experience when exploring this mystical land.
Overnight stay in Lhasa.

Morning: After breakfast at the hotel, the group departs to visit:
Yamdrok Lake, also known as a holy lake in Tibet—one of the three largest sacred lakes in the region, situated at an altitude of 4,441 meters and located over 100 km from the capital, Lhasa. En route, the group will stop at the summit of Gampala Pass (4,990m) to admire the lake stretching along the mountain base; it resembles a delicate, magical blue silk ribbon winding in the breeze. Here, you can take souvenir photos with yaks or Tibetan Mastiffs (at your own expense).
Along the shores of Yamdrok Lake, you will see small piles of stones stacked by pilgrims passing through the area. From the observation deck, you can gaze at the snow-capped Naqin Kangsang Mountain—one of Tibet’s four sacred peaks—featuring a sharp, conical summit perpetually shrouded in white clouds and snow.
Lunch: Enjoy a meal at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to:
Karola Glacier: With its gentle slope, this ancient ice mass—existing for millions of years—resembles a soft, pure white blanket draping from the peak down to the valley. Bathed in sunlight, the glacier radiates a brilliant, spectacular whiteness that makes visitors forget the cold as they pause to admire the view and capture memorable photos.
Afterwards, the vehicle will take the group to Shigatse City (260km – 4 hours). Located in the southwest of the Tibetan Plateau, the city shares borders with Bhutan, Nepal, and India. You will have dinner at a local restaurant and then rest at your hotel.
Overnight in Shigatse.

After breakfast at the hotel, the group will visit:
Tashilhunpo Monastery—the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Nestled against the mountainside, this complex features four main halls with golden roofs and is a place that consistently draws praise and repeat visits from travelers. Here, you will behold the world’s tallest indoor statue of Maitreya Buddha (over 26 meters high) and view numerous sacred stupas adorned with gold, silver, and precious gems. Every corner of the monastery offers an impressive photo opportunity, rich in traditional Himalayan style.
After lunch, the group will travel to Lhasa (280 km – approximately 3.5 hours).
Upon returning to Lhasa, there will be free time for shopping in the old town area surrounding the temple, where you can browse shops selling Buddhist items and souvenirs.
The group will then be transferred to dinner and check into a 4-star hotel in central Lhasa for the night.

Potala Palace – the highest palace in the world, situated at an altitude of over 3,600 meters. It served as the residence for successive Dalai Lamas up to the 14th Dalai Lama and stands as a quintessential architectural complex of Tibetan Buddhism. The group will visit the *Potrang Karpo* (White Palace) and *Potrang Marpo* (Red Palace). Potala Palace holds immense historical, religious, and architectural significance; it also houses countless priceless treasures and masterpieces of human art.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon sightseeing:
Visit Jokhang Temple, one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism. This ancient architectural marvel embodies priceless Tibetan cultural and artistic heritage. Notably, it enshrines the statue of the 12-year-old Shakyamuni Buddha, brought to Lhasa from the Tang Dynasty by Princess Wencheng a millennium ago. Here, visitors can witness Tibetan Buddhists performing the *prostration* ritual (full-body prostrations).
Afterwards, enjoy free time shopping at Barkhor Street (known locally as *Bagjiao Jie*), which encircles Jokhang Temple and features over 1,000 stalls. Visitors can observe Tibetans circumambulating the temple—chanting mantras and ceaselessly spinning prayer wheels—as they perform the *Kora* circuit with a pure and peaceful heart, speech, and mind. You may also enjoy a cup of authentic, hot Tibetan butter tea.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
After dinner, the group can experience the night view of Potala Palace Square, featuring its musical fountain. Lhasa is brilliantly illuminated at night; with a history spanning over 1,300 years, this highland city harmoniously blends tradition and modernity, standing as a “city that never ends” atop the Roof of the World.

The group has breakfast and departs for Lhasa Airport:
Scheduled flight:
LXA/KMG MU9738 16:30/19:10
Upon arrival in Kunming, the group has dinner and is free to explore the city at night.
Overnight stay in Kunming.

The group has breakfast at the hotel and visits Kunming:
Kunming Old Town is the heart of the city, preserving traditional cultural values ​​in every street corner and alleyway. It is a famous tourist destination known for its ancient architecture and a bustling, captivating lifestyle. Local authorities have implemented various measures to preserve the area’s antique charm, ranging from protecting traditional wooden buildings to maintaining ancient temples. Stepping into Kunming Old Town evokes a sense of nostalgia, with its weathered wooden houses, stone-paved streets, and the lively atmosphere of market stalls. Yet, this antiquity does not diminish the area’s vibrancy, as thriving business activities continue on the ground floors of the buildings.
The group has an early lunch at a restaurant and proceeds to the airport for the flight back to Hanoi.
Scheduled flight:
KMG/HAN MU9605 14:35/15:15
16:30 The group lands and completes entry procedures for Vietnam. A vehicle transfers guests back to the original meeting point. Tour concludes.