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You’ve decided you want to enter Tibet by train.
Good. Now comes the harder question.
Which Tibet train tour should you actually book?
Experience Tibet currently offers four train-based itineraries starting from Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Xining. They all eventually use the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to reach Lhasa, but that’s about where the similarities end.
The Beijing route gives you Beijing and Xi’an before Tibet.
Chengdu gives you the shortest and currently lowest-priced package of the four, then continues all the way to Everest Base Camp.
Shanghai starts with one of China’s biggest cities before making the long rail journey west and also includes Everest.
And Xining? That’s the one for travelers who want Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, the high-altitude railway and Everest in one trip.
So don’t choose a route simply because you’ve heard of the departure city.
Choose it based on what you want the whole trip to look like.
You can see all four current itineraries on our main Tibet Train Tours page.
Tibet train tour comparison: the quick answer
Here’s the simplest way to compare the four current Experience Tibet train tours.
| Tour | Duration | Current starting price* | Major stops | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Xi’an Tibet Train Tour | 11 days | From US$1,528 | Beijing, Xi’an, train, Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse | First-time China visitors who want history before Tibet |
| Chengdu to Tibet Train Tour | 10 days | From US$1,079 | Chengdu, train, Lhasa, Yamdrok, Gyantse, Shigatse, EBC | Travelers who want a compact train + Everest itinerary |
| Shanghai to Tibet Train Tour | 10 days | From US$1,131 | Shanghai, train, Lhasa, Yamdrok, Gyantse, Shigatse, EBC | Travelers starting in eastern China who want Everest |
| Xining to Lhasa Train Tour with Everest Base Camp | 11 days | From US$1,699 | Xining, Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, train, Lhasa, Yamdrok, Shigatse, EBC | Travelers who want scenery before and after reaching Tibet |
*Starting prices displayed by Experience Tibet at the time of writing. Prices and availability should be confirmed for your departure date.
If you’re choosing purely by current starting price, Chengdu wins.
If you want the strongest China + Tibet cultural combination, Beijing/Xi’an makes more sense.
If Everest is essential, choose Chengdu, Shanghai or Xining rather than the current Beijing/Xi’an itinerary.
And if the railway itself is one of the main reasons you’re making the trip, I’d look very closely at Xining.
Which Tibet train tour is best for first-time visitors to China?
For someone visiting China for the first time, the 11-Day Beijing Xi’an Tibet Train Tour has an obvious advantage.
Your trip doesn’t begin with the railway.
It begins with Beijing and Xi’an.
The current route combines Beijing, Xi’an, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse.
So you’re getting two very different sides of China before and after boarding the train.
Beijing gives you China’s imperial capital.
Xi’an adds another major historical stop before you head west.
Then the character of the trip changes completely as the railway takes you toward the Tibetan Plateau.
Once in Tibet, the itinerary includes Lhasa before continuing toward Gyantse and Shigatse.
Choose Beijing/Xi’an if:
- this is your first major trip to China;
- Beijing and Xi’an were already on your wish list;
- history and culture matter more to you than reaching Everest;
- you want one itinerary covering several major parts of China;
- you have 11 days available.
Don’t choose it just because:
Beijing has the most famous name.
The current Experience Tibet itinerary does not continue to Everest Base Camp.
That’s a major difference.
If you’re picturing yourself standing below Everest at the end of the journey, look at Chengdu, Shanghai or Xining instead.
You can see all the current details on the 11-Day Beijing Xi’an Tibet Train Tour page.
Experience Tibet also has a separate Beijing to Tibet train guide if you want more background on the rail journey itself.
Which Tibet train tour is best if you want Everest for less?
Look first at the 10-Day Chengdu to Tibet Train Tour.
At the time of writing, its advertised starting price is US$1,079 per person, making it the lowest-priced of Experience Tibet’s four current train packages.
And importantly, this isn’t simply Chengdu to Lhasa.
After reaching Tibet, the route continues through:
Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse → Everest Base Camp → Lhasa.
That’s a lot of trip packed into ten days.
For someone whose priorities are:
take the Tibet train + see Lhasa + reach Everest
this is probably the first itinerary I’d compare.
Choose Chengdu if:
- you want Everest Base Camp;
- you’re comfortable with a 10-day itinerary;
- you’re already visiting western China;
- you want to keep the current package price lower than the other train options;
- Beijing and Shanghai aren’t priorities for this trip.
Chengdu also makes logistical sense for travelers already traveling through Sichuan.
And, let’s face it, adding Sichuan food before several days on trains and plateau roads isn’t a terrible way to begin a holiday.
Read the complete itinerary on the 10-Day Chengdu to Tibet Train Tour page.
There’s also a detailed Chengdu to Lhasa Train Tour guide if you’re deciding whether this departure city works for you.
Which Tibet train tour should you book from eastern China?
If your wider China trip already brings you to Shanghai, don’t automatically fly halfway across the country just to start the train somewhere else.
The 10-Day Shanghai to Tibet Train Tour gives you a clean east-to-west itinerary.
The current route is:
Shanghai → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse → Everest Base Camp → Lhasa.
Its current advertised starting price is US$1,131 per person.
That’s only slightly above the Chengdu package.
The big difference is where your wider China trip begins.
Choose Shanghai if:
- you’re arriving internationally through Shanghai;
- Shanghai is already part of your China itinerary;
- you want the long overland rail experience;
- Everest Base Camp is important;
- you want a 10-day train-and-Tibet package.
This is particularly useful for travelers who hate wasting itinerary days repositioning themselves just to begin another itinerary.
If you’re already in Shanghai, start there.
No medal is awarded for making your travel plans unnecessarily complicated.
See the complete 10-Day Shanghai to Tibet Train Tour before comparing available departures.
Which Tibet train tour is best if the railway scenery is the priority?
The 11-Day Xining to Lhasa Train Tour with Everest Base Camp is the most interesting option if you want the journey through Qinghai to matter just as much as arriving in Lhasa.
This tour doesn’t treat Xining as somewhere you simply sleep before boarding the train.
The current itinerary begins with:
Xining → Ta’er Monastery → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake → Qinghai-Tibet Railway
before continuing through:
Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse → Everest Base Camp → Lhasa.
So you get major scenery on both sides of the rail journey.
Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake make this route fundamentally different from the other three packages.
It’s also the most expensive of the four current train tours, starting from US$1,699 per person at the time of writing.
But comparing Xining with Chengdu only by price misses the point.
They’re selling different trips.
Choose Xining if:
- the Qinghai-Tibet Railway itself is a major reason for traveling;
- you want Qinghai Lake;
- you want Chaka Salt Lake;
- photography is high on your list;
- you also want Everest Base Camp;
- you’re comfortable spending 11 days on the full itinerary.
The tour currently includes Tibet Travel Permit arrangements, accommodation as specified, local transport and an English-speaking local guide. Exact inclusions should always be checked on the current itinerary before booking.
See the 11-Day Xining to Lhasa Train Tour with Everest Base Camp for the full day-by-day plan.
Beijing vs Chengdu vs Shanghai vs Xining: which tour wins by travel style?
There isn’t one winner.
There are four different answers.
Best for a first China trip: Beijing/Xi’an
Choose the Beijing Xi’an Tibet Train Tour if you want famous Chinese historical cities before Tibet.
It makes the most sense when Tibet is one part of a wider first trip to China.
Best current value with Everest: Chengdu
Choose the Chengdu to Tibet Train Tour if you want the train and Everest in a compact 10-day package at the lowest current starting price of the four.
Best for travelers already visiting eastern China: Shanghai
Choose the Shanghai to Tibet Train Tour if Shanghai naturally fits your international flights or wider China itinerary.
You still get Lhasa, Yamdrok, Shigatse and Everest after the train.
Best for scenery and photography: Xining
Choose the Xining to Lhasa Train Tour with Everest Base Camp if Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake and the railway itself matter to you.
It’s the route where the journey before Lhasa carries the most weight.
Compare Tibet train tour departure dates
Once you’ve chosen the route that suits you, the next question is much more practical:
When can you go?
Use the Experience Tibet train departure calendar below to compare available dates for Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Xining train tours.
Choose your Tibet train journey
Select a listed train departure or enquire about another date. Our team will confirm arrangements.
Choose your preferred date
Select a listed departure to see train tours and itineraries. Other future dates open the general enquiry form.
Other suggested departures
More dates and departure citiesA date displayed in the calendar isn’t a reason to immediately book non-refundable international flights.
Send your enquiry first.
Experience Tibet will confirm the departure, train arrangements and availability before your booking is finalized.
Does every Tibet train tour include the same things?
No.
This is important when comparing prices.
The main Tibet Train Tours page currently states that the train packages include core arrangements such as:
- train ticket arrangements;
- Tibet Travel Permit arrangements;
- an English-speaking local guide;
- accommodation and tour transfers as specified in the itinerary.
But the exact hotel standard, meals, berth arrangements and other inclusions depend on the individual tour.
So don’t compare US$1,079 with US$1,699 and conclude that one company has mysteriously discovered a US$620 railway surcharge.
Look at what each itinerary actually does.
The Xining package, for example, adds Qinghai touring before the train. Beijing/Xi’an adds major cities. Chengdu and Shanghai have different starting arrangements.
Compare the whole itinerary.
What is the Tibet train actually like?
It’s a long-distance Chinese sleeper train, not the Orient Express wearing prayer flags.
That distinction will improve your trip considerably.
Expect practical sleeper accommodation, shared facilities and plenty of time looking out of the window.
For most travelers, a soft sleeper is the preferred option for a long journey. A typical soft-sleeper compartment has four berths.
The train also has onboard oxygen systems for the high-altitude section.
But don’t make one common mistake.
Taking the train doesn’t guarantee that you won’t experience altitude symptoms after arriving in Lhasa.
You still need to take your first days in Tibet seriously, rest properly and allow your body time to adjust.
For cabin types, food, oxygen and what the journey actually feels like, read our What to Expect on the Tibet Train guide.
Do you need a Tibet Travel Permit for the train?
Yes.
Foreign travelers need the required Tibet travel documentation before boarding a Tibet-bound train.
You don’t buy a normal train ticket and sort out Tibet once you arrive.
Experience Tibet handles Tibet Travel Permit arrangements as part of its current train tour packages, subject to confirmation for your booking and itinerary.
If this is the part of the planning process that makes you nervous, read Do You Need a Tibet Travel Permit to Take the Train to Tibet?.
You can also review the broader Tibet Travel Permit application process before booking.
Permit requirements and procedures can change, so use the latest instructions provided for your actual departure rather than relying on an old travel forum.
Is Xining better than taking the train all the way from Beijing or Shanghai?
It depends on what you mean by “better”.
Starting in Xining means your itinerary focuses more heavily on Qinghai and the high-altitude railway section.
Starting in Beijing or Shanghai makes sense if those cities are already part of your trip.
Here’s the thing.
Sitting on a train for longer doesn’t automatically make a tour better.
Some people love the idea of watching China change outside the window for hours.
Others reach hour 30 and begin forming an emotional relationship with the corridor water dispenser.
Think about what you enjoy.
If the railway is the attraction, Xining deserves serious consideration.
If Beijing or Shanghai is already an important part of your China holiday, starting there may create a more logical overall itinerary.
Should Everest Base Camp decide which Tibet train tour you book?
If Everest is one of your non-negotiables, yes.
This makes the decision much easier.
The current Experience Tibet itineraries from:
- Chengdu
- Shanghai
- Xining
continue to Everest Base Camp.
The current Beijing/Xi’an train itinerary does not.
So if your trip would feel incomplete without Everest, remove Beijing/Xi’an from the shortlist unless Experience Tibet confirms another arrangement for your dates.
Then compare Chengdu, Shanghai and Xining based on your starting city, budget and how much you want to see before boarding the railway.
Which Tibet train tour is the cheapest?
Based on Experience Tibet’s current published starting prices:
- Chengdu: from US$1,079
- Shanghai: from US$1,131
- Beijing/Xi’an: from US$1,528
- Xining: from US$1,699
But this isn’t a like-for-like price comparison.
Each tour includes different sightseeing before and after the train.
The cheapest itinerary can be the wrong choice if you then need extra flights, hotels or separate sightseeing to fit it into the rest of your China trip.
Look at the total holiday, not just the number printed at the top of one product page.
All current starting prices and train itineraries can be compared on the Tibet Train Tours page.
Frequently asked questions about choosing a Tibet train tour
Which Tibet train tour is best for first-time visitors?
If this is also your first trip to China, Beijing/Xi’an gives you the broadest cultural introduction before Tibet.
If Tibet and Everest are your main priorities, Chengdu may be a more compact choice.
Which train tour includes Everest Base Camp?
Experience Tibet’s current Chengdu, Shanghai and Xining train itineraries include Everest Base Camp.
The current Beijing/Xi’an itinerary travels through Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse but does not include EBC.
Which Tibet train tour is currently cheapest?
The 10-Day Chengdu to Tibet Train Tour currently has the lowest published starting price of the four, from US$1,079 per person.
Prices are subject to confirmation for your travel dates.
Which train tour is best for photography?
Xining is especially interesting because the itinerary includes Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake before the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, then Yamdrok Lake and Everest after reaching Tibet.
Is Shanghai or Chengdu better for Everest?
Both current 10-day itineraries continue to Everest Base Camp.
Choose based on which city fits your wider China journey better and the confirmed departure available for your dates.
Do the train tours include the Tibet Travel Permit?
Experience Tibet currently lists Tibet Travel Permit arrangements among the core inclusions of its Tibet train tours. Check the individual itinerary and your booking confirmation for the arrangements applying to your departure.
Can I choose another train date?
The train calendar lists scheduled departures and lets you enquire about dates. Experience Tibet must confirm the actual train and tour arrangements before the booking is final.
So, which Tibet train tour should you book?
Here’s my final shortcut.
Choose Beijing/Xi’an if your trip is about China’s major historical cities plus Tibet.
Choose Chengdu if you want a compact train journey with Everest and the lowest current starting price.
Choose Shanghai if you’re already traveling through eastern China and want to combine Shanghai, the railway and Everest without repositioning to another departure city.
Choose Xining if the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake are part of the reason you’re traveling, not simply transportation to Lhasa.
Still undecided?
That’s exactly what the train calendar is for.
Compare current dates on our Tibet Train Tours page, or use the calendar above to select your preferred route and departure.
Experience Tibet has more than 15 years of experience organizing Tibet journeys with local guides and can help arrange your Tibet Travel Permit, train ticket arrangements and the Tibet portion of your itinerary.
Tell us your travel dates, where you’ll be in China before Tibet and whether Everest is essential. We’ll help you compare Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Xining and choose the Tibet train tour that actually fits your trip.
