Tibet train/train to Tibet connecting Tibet with the rest of China has been the lifeline for the development of Tibet the remotest provinces of China. Since the commencement of the railway line in the year 2006, China railways have played a significant role in the development and betterment of the livelihood of the local and improvement of the tourism industry in Tibet.
Taking train beside being cheaper, could also help travellers in acclimatizations and gain access to the remotest region of the Tibet Qinghai plateau.
Tibet is the last province of China to have a train, due to its elevation and terrains. With the increase of the modern technology and economic prosperity of China, Tibet and Tibetan people receive this love and bless from the Beijing central government in the form of the railway line connecting us with the rest of China.
After the railways linked Tibet to the rest of China, the train has been the primary mode of transportation between Tibet and the rest of the Country. Each year millions of commuters between Tibet and the rest of China.
Qinghai to Tibet Railway line includes the world highest point on a railway line at the Tanggula Pass at 5231 Meters and the world highest railway station, The Tanggula station at 5072m. The average high of the Qinghai to Tibet Railway line is above 4000m. This is why we have a coach specially built for the High altitude of Tibet. We will have change from the regular Coach to pressurized coach somewhere in Xinning.
The passenger coach to Tibet are built especially for high altitude and has an oxygen supply for each berth, the train is pressurized, and every passenger train has a doctor on board. A passenger Health registration card is required to take the train to Lhasa. This card can be obtained when you get your train ticket from the ticket window. Everyone must read the Health notice for the High altitude and sign the agreement on the card for the train.
You can book the train tickets to/ From Lhasa.
Lhasa Train Station Guide
When you arrive at the Lhasa train station, you can follow the locals to get out of the train station. Once you are at the existence of the main building of the train station, all the international travellers have to go to the Arrival Registration block to check the Tibet travel permit and register your arrival in Tibet. The Guide will wait for you at the waiting area right at the main road. You will have to come to the main road to meet the tour guide and walk to the parking area for the car.
Please keep the contact number of your tour guide and the Driver handy. And always make sure you have a copy of Tibet travel permit upon arrival in Lhasa.
Conclusion of Tibet Train
Thought taking the train to Lhasa is a very convenient way of Traveling to Tibet from China. But all travellers must keep in mind, Traveling to Tibet requires a tour organized with a local Travel agency in Tibet with a Tibet travel permit, Tour Guide, and a Private vehicle. Please find more about Tibet travel Regulations here.
At the train station in major Chinese cities, you will need to produce a copy of your Tibet travel permit while getting your train Ticket. Please have a copy of the Tibet permit ready when you leave your home for China. To receive the permit by email while you are in China, make sure you have access to your email in China. Also, take preventive measures like; Giving your Alternative email to Your travel in Lhasa, Signing up on Wechat to chat with your travel agent, and Getting your agent phone number to call.
Free Travel consultancy for Tibet
We can offer Tibet Travel consultancy if you would like to travel to Tibet, Kham (Sichuan) and Amdo (Qinghai). Contact Us if you are interested. We can offer a special discount to Groups.
Tibet Train FAQ’s
Yes. There is oxygen available on the train to Tibet. Tibet Train has two oxygen supplying systems on the Tibet train; The General oxygen outlet and the private oxygen outlet.
The General Oxygen outlet realises oxygen for the entire cart. This system is Automated. It increases and decreases the oxygen output based on the amount of oxygen in the cart and elevation. To maintain the oxygen level, call the cabins on the train enclosed to prevent air leakage. The entire cabins are well-pressurised.
There is a private Oxygen outlet at all the beds on the train. You will also find the pipe to connect on it to breathe in the fresh air.
It is not guaranteed that you will not feel the effect of the High elevation sickness on the train or in Lhasa after arriving on the train journey. Thought Train to Tibet pressurised, but it is not much different after arriving in Lhasa. But, we are sure it will help during your trip.
And for acclimatisation in Tibet after arrival in Lhasa. Therefore, It is best to make your Tibet tour plans slow in the beginning to have a great Tibet travel experience.
Yes. There are few charging outlets in the corridor of each cart of the train to Tibet. But sometimes, you might find them not functioning. So it is recommended to bring your own power bank to back up.
Since most International travellers use a soft sleeper cart and hard sleeper cart, a Seating cart is rarely used. So I will be writing here about charging outlets on a hard and soft sleeper of the train to Tibet.
The electric outlets are available wall below the window chairs in corridors and at the hard sleeper carts’ toilet exit point. In a soft sleeper cart, it is available in every single compartment. You will have to go out of your cabin to the seat to charge your phone. Yet it is a good place to relax by the window with the view of the remotest place on earth while charging your phone.
In soft sleeper cars, there are electric outlets under the tiny table in every single compartment. So it is no issue to find and use it.
Please remember, we use A, C and I sockets and plugs in Tibet and other parts of China.
No, there is no shower on the train to Tibet. You will have to wait to arrive in Lhasa for the shower.
We like to urge all travellers to shower in the hotel or the hostel at your departure city so that you will be ok during your Journey to Lhasa.
In Lhasa, you can take a shower. All the hotels associated have facilities of 24hr hot running water like the Shambhala Serai.
If you need to get freshen up on the train. Since there is no shower on the train to Tibet, The only possible way is to use the wet wipe to clean yourself. So it is suggested for all the travellers to go to Tibet on the train to buy a wet tissue for that. At both ends of the cabin, there are toilets, washbasin, and boiled water dispensers. So you can use the bathroom to get clean thoroughly.
Yes, boiling water is available on all the trains to Tibet. Usually, the water is considered safe to drink when it is boiled at 100 ℃. Yet in high elevation, the water boils are a little lower temperature. Here in the Tibet train, water boils at 70℃.
On the Tibet train, each cart has its water boiler, and you can get it for free of cost. There is a water boiler between two carts. Water is available 24 hours, but during peak hours in the day, you will have to wait sometime to get the water to reach the boiling temperature.
While getting the water, you might want to be a little cautious about the moving train. You will have to bring your mug and thermos.
There is hot water available in the sink area. But, it is only for washing things, not for drinking. Therefore do not drink from that hot water tap in the sink area. For it is undrinkable.
Since boiled water is plenty available on the train, it is recommended for travellers to instant food like noodles, oatmeal, tea, coffee, and anything else that requires you to add just hot water before eating it. You can also choose to buy Chinese Instant noodles abroad.
Yes. Meals are served on all the trains to Tibet when you travel to Tibet. Here you can choose food like Tibetan food and Chinese Dishes.
In each Tibet train, There is a Kitchen and Dining compartment. This coach is located right next to the soft sleeping compartment. You can buy three meals a day here. There is also a delivery service; you can order your food to get it at your bed.
The Dining area has a seating capacity of over 40 people. Many travellers like this area for right expansive windows for excellent views of the landscape. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Qinghai Tibet plateau while having meals on Tibet train. As compare to other compartments, this compartment offers a better and broader view of a marvellous landscape. But here you cant seat without purchasing something. So Besides mealtime, you can buy tea or beer to be permitted to seat there.
You can have options to choose if you go to eat in the dining area. Suppose you order your meals to deliver at your berth. You will only have one option to choose the pack boxed meal which is usually the Chinese Meal of rice and fried vegetable and pork at 20RMB.
The meals on the train are usually double the price of the market outside, and it is not very good. Besides the meals, you can also buy a different kind of snack from the snack stroller.
If you are looking for cheaper alternatives, advise bringing their favourite snacks, fruits, even instant foods. There is plenty of boiled water available on the train.
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Tibet train
Traveling to Tibet by train from other cities in China is more economical and easy. Many travelers often ask us how many hours in advance I should arrive at the train station in China.
Here is our answer. It is suggested to arrive at the train station 1.5 hours before the train departure. Trains usually leave on time. Therefore there are a few things you will need to accomplish before the train’s departure.
After arrival at the train station, you will have to retrieve the train ticket from the counter and also fill out the health record form before departure. Additionally, there will be lots of people in line. So we would recommend you arrive 1.5 hours before the departure time.
If possible, we would like to recommend you get the Train Ticket a day before your departure, to avoid the last-minute rush. Ask your hotel or hostel staff for help. We are sure they can help you. It is also recommended to check the drive time to the train station.
If you plan to use public transportation, please research how to reach the train station.
During the National holidays in China, you will have to go a lot earlier. Chinese holidays are considered the world’s biggest migration season, and they will be a lot of people at the train station. For that reason, they will be lots of queue at the station.
Please do not forget to bring a copy of the Tibet travel permit, E-ticket Number and passport with you.
We hope we have to answer your question. How many hours in advance should I arrive at the train station in China?
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Tibet train
First of all, we only help traveler booking train tickets to Tibet if you have booked your Tibet Tour with us. (Find here different Tibet Tour packages, we are offering). After booking the tour with us, we will help you in booking flight and train tickets as per.
Suppose you are traveling to Tibet on the train. After securing your train ticket with us. The next question you will have is, How will I get the Tibet train ticket if I booked it with you?
Upon successfully purchasing your Tibet Train ticket, we will send you an email containing your e-ticket Number, Seat information, Departure, and Arrival time.
You can retrieve your paper ticket from any train station in China ( Except Macao and Hongkong) with your passport, copy of Tibet travel permit and E-ticket number. (Chongqing requires the original permit).
Suppose you are getting the train ticket on the same day of departure. You will have to reach the train station at least 1.5 hours before the train departure. During the national holidays in China, there are very long lines at the ticket counter. You will have to reach the train well in advance to have enough time to check on the train. Usually, ticket check stops 2 minutes before the departure time.
It often encourages all travellers to get the Tibet train ticket. In advance, if you are staying in that particular city for a day in advance. I want to recommend you to go to the train station to get the Ticket. In such a way, we can decrease the risk of not getting tickets for any reason. You can also ask people from your hotel or hostel to help you get it.
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- How many hours in advance should I arrive at the train station?
- How far is the Lhasa train station from downtown Lhasa?
- You can also read more about Tibet from our blog. Nomadic Tibet
It does not much ask the question from travellers travelling into Tibet as we (travel Agency in Tibet) are supposed to pick up and drop off all the travellers to and from the station. Yet, it might be a concern when you are initially planning to visit Tibet. How far is the Lhasa train station from downtown Lhasa?
The distance between Lhasa train station from downtown Lhasa is about 20 kilometres. It takes about 30 minutes to reach your hotel. You can either take a taxi, private vehicle or public bus to the train station. But if you are booked a Tibet tour with us, you will provide a free pick up and drop off for all the travellers.
The Lhasa train station is located in the new area of Lhasa city called the New Liuwu Area. This area is located right across the Lhasa Kyichu River. So to reach the train station from downtown, you will have to drive across the Liuwu bridge.
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Suppose you are thinking to book the Tibet train tickets myself from any train station in China. You can try to book from the ticket counter. Yet Tibet Train ticket would be available for purchase on the website site around the earliest hour on the first selling day which is 15 day prior to your travel day. There will be the possibility of tickets being sold out during the ticket counter opening in the morning.
If you are booking the Tibet train tickets from third-party booking sites, you might want to go for a more prominent name and reliable website. Yet most of these booking sites will not ensure you 100% in getting the train ticket. With them, you might end up paying more for the service. They also could offer an alternative plan like breaking the journey into two train journeys.
Suppose you book your Tibet tour package with us. We can help you purchase the train ticket as a part of our Tibet travel services.
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When we help travellers buy train tickets, our client often asks us, Why do I have to pay more than the actual ticket price of Tibet train ticket?
Tickets for trains to Tibet are always in very high demand. Additional that, there are limited numbers of trains available to Tibet. Most of the time, travellers have to use a third party to book it for them, so they charge additional for their services. It is a tough job in securing your train ticket and often a risk of not booking the ticket. So we think they deserve some extra payment for their service.
Here is another reason why you will have to pay more than the actual ticket price of the Tibet train ticket. Tibet is a trendy travel destination for domestic travellers. Most local tourists prefer to travel to Tibet on the railway. This is why it is often always harder to get a Train ticket to Lhasa than other regions in China.
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Yes, you can buy the Tibet train ticket yourself to travel to Tibet. The official train ticketing booking site for China Railways is www.12306.cn. Yet this site requires the Chinese ID card details to register. If you have friends and family members with a Chinese ID card, they can help you purchase for you. Additionally, the site is in Mandarin and requires Chinese Bank information to pay for the ticket.
There are many third party train ticket booking platforms on the Internet. Of all the most often used in China are Ctrip and Qunaer.
All the train tickets are available to purchase 30 days before the departure date. It is best to try to buy it on the first day for a better chance of getting it. If you miss the first day, please try for the next few days and have it booked through other agencies. You may not get the ticket in the last few days.
We can help you to buy the Tibet train ticket. But for this, you will have to book the Tibet Tour with us. The main reason is that purchasing the Tibet train tickets is a little risky as we might not be able to secure you the ticket.
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When you travel to Tibet on the train Tibet, three different seats are available on Tibet Train. The price of these different seats differs a lot with the comfort and facilities.
Following are types of seats available on the Tibet Train:
- Hard Seat
It is a seat like it is in the basic economy flight. However, on this seat, you will sit next to the other passenger’s shoulder to shoulder. Many international visitors would rarely choose this option for the long ride to Lhasa. However, locals and students usually use this as it is the cheapest option available. - Hard Sleeper
The hard sleeper comes with bunker style beds. Each cabin will have six berths and three berths on each side. Each berth has enough space for sleeping and your baggage. Here the bed is a little hard. - Soft Sleeper
It is the most comfortable option on your train journey to Tibet. It is usually 40-50 USD more expensive than the hard sleeper. There are only 4 four berths in a cabin, and the cabin has its door and television.
Above are the different types of seats available on the Tibet Train. If you have any questions about the Tibet train and ticketing, please let us know at info@itibettravel.com.
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There are three primary documents required to board a train to Tibet. The following are documents needed to board a train to Tibet.
- Photocopies of Tibet Travel Permit.
We will send you the scan copies of your permit by email. So you will have to print it out. This permit contains two pages, and you will have to make three copies of it. But if you are taking the train from Chongqing to Lhasa, we will have to send you the original Tibet Travel Permit. So we will have to send it to your hotel. - The Passport
You will have to have a passport. Which number you have used to book your train ticket. The ticket officer will check your passport before issuing your ticket at the Train station. - Train Ticket (Paper)
Please collect your train ticket at the Counters. The reservation number we will send is not good to board you on the train. So we will have to present them with your passport and the Train ticket reservation number and collect the train ticket from the counter.
Above are the three documents required to board a train to Tibet. If you are boarding the flight to Tibet, so you will need the original permit in hand.
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There are two toilets on the Tibet train cart. One is the western seating toilet with seat and lid, and the other is the Asian squatting toilet. Besides this difference, all the other facilities in the toilet rooms are the same.
Toilet in Tibet train is cleaner compare to trains in other regions of Asia. On the journey to Tibet, you will frequently find staff in many stopover stations who would clean the train’s toilets.
Facilities like a sink with running water for washing hands, Soap dispensers and tissue paper dispensers are available in the toilet. The cold running water will be available all the time. Yet, often soap and tissue paper would be finished in the second half of the journey. So it is recommended you bring your hand sanitiser and tissue paper while going toilet.
All the instructions on the train, including the toilet, are in Mandarin, English and Tibetan Language. You will find it all useful and easy to follow.
On the door from the outside, you will find a red and green colour indicator. Red on means someone is inside, and a red one means it is free for use.
Below the sink counter, you will find a green button, Press it to flush the toilet. The toilet flush system is similar to that of the Airplane. It uses both water and vacuum to flush the toilet. Please stand before flushing it. Otherwise, it could suck your rectum out.
When the train is stopped at any train station, the toilet will be closed and not used.
There are also some toilets for people with disabilities. It is bigger than the standard toilets, and a wheelchair can easily fit inside. Besides the regular facilities, There is a red button on it for emergency assistance.
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When it comes to travelling to Tibet, most people are concerned about the high altitude sickness and its effect on their health and journey. Most rubbish website owned by a fake local travel agency claims it helps acclimatization to the high altitude of Tibet. But our answer to the question. Does Taking Train to Tibet reduce the risk of high altitude sickness? In clear no.
Taking a Train to Tibet does not reduce the risk of High altitude sickness as the train compartments are built high altitude travel. Therefore, taking the train to Tibet does not help you to get proper acclimatization along the journey. However, it has a built-in pressurizer and oxygen supply systems to aid passengers to travel at the high elevation of Tibet.
Moreover, if the passenger could not get sleep on the train, there would be tried on arrival, which increased the risk of high altitude sickness.
Many excellent and reliable travel website does suggest travellers take the flight into Tibet and take the train for a way out.
We would additionally suggest every traveller spend at least two full days in Lhasa before heading to the higher altitude.
Staying in Xining for a night or two would be an excellent move to acclimatization. Xining is at 2250m and Lhasa is at 3600m. Read more about Acclimatization in Tibet.
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Suppose you would like to cancel Tibet train Ticket after purchasing it. Likewise, here you will have to understand the Tibet train ticket cancellation policy. Here we are discussing it.
In most cases, you will have to purchase with a Ticketing agency in China. This is because so many travel agencies in Tibet can help you buy a train ticket. Hence, we also allow travellers to buy the Tibet train ticket.
But for cancellation, we can only help to cancel before you get the paper ticket for the train station. Remember, we cant help you cancel the ticket if you have already retrieved the paper ticket. Therefore, the Traveler is responsible for going to the Train station to cancel the ticket if the access is already on paper.
Here are the Tibet Train ticket cancellation policy
- It is free If you cancel the ticket 15 or more days before the departure date. It is free
- 5% of the total ticket is cancellation fees. If you cancel the ticket in 15 days to 2 days.
- 10% of the total ticket is cancellation fees if you cancel the ticket in 2 days to 1 day.
- 20% of the total ticket is cancellation fees if you cancel the ticket within 24 hours.
The Above mention cancellation fees are changed on the original Ticket price. Moreover, most third-party service provider service fee is nonrefundable. These third-party cant cancel your ticket, for it, you will have to go to the train station to cancel or change it yourself.
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The train journey to Tibet is long, ranging from 24 hrs – 50 hrs. We would recommend you to make full preparation for this journey to enjoy the trip. We would recommend you to pack all the essential item in a small bag for more accessible. Here is the list of critical thing you may want to fill in a smaller container.
- Toiletries
- Slipper
- Mug/ Cup or a thermos for the boiled water
- Flashlight, (lights will turn off in the cabin after 10 pm).
- Snack and cookies
- Earplug and eye mask
About Tibet Travel & Tours
Tibet Travel & Tours is a local travel agency in Tibet that offers unique and authentic experiences to travelers from all around the world. As a leading tour operator in Tibet, we provide high-quality Tibet Travel services that are tailored to our clients’ needs and preferences.
Our team of experienced and knowledgeable professionals strives to ensure that our clients have a hassle-free and memorable trip in Tibet. We specialize in various types of tours, including cultural tours, trekking and hiking tours, and adventure tours.
Our commitment to providing exceptional service has earned us a reputation as one of the best local travel agencies in Tibet. Contact us today to plan your unforgettable trip to Tibet.
Explore Tibet with a local Tibetan Travel Agency
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Their Tibet tour packages cater to a range of interests and budgets, making it easy to plan a trip that suits your needs. Before embarking on your tibet tour, it’s essential to have the right Tibet travel information and necessary documents, including a Tibet travel permit.
The Tibet Travel Planner provided by i-Tibet travel is an excellent resource to plan your trip, including tips on what to pack, where to stay, and what to see.
For beginners, the “About Tibet” guide provided by i-Tibet travel offers a comprehensive overview of the region’s history, culture, and top attractions. So, start your Tibet travel plan here with i-Tibet travel and discover the magic of Tibet for yourself.