The Long Way Up

Special Notes

Several things on this route follow the calendar, the altitude or a supplier's confirmation. Here they are, told straight.

• Lhasa segment confirmed per written quotation — This route is bookable. Local guides in Lhasa, guest rooms with verifiable oxygen supply specifications, a permit to enter Tibet, and a pre-departure written health screening are all itemised in the quote before payment. Nothing is described as included or locked in terms of inventory. Send us your preferred dates and we will provide a written quote specific to those dates within one working day.
• The Lhasa leg is outside the price — Days 9–13 are detailed on the page as the route’s key movements: flights from Chengdu to Lhasa, four nights in the highlands, a flight from Lhasa to Shanghai, plus visits to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, and Yamdrok Lake. Flights, accommodation, the Tibet entry permit, and local sightseeing are not included in the base price listed; these can be arranged per booking, with written quotes serving as the final confirmation, and are not stated as already included.
• Oxygen is a prerequisite, not an upgrade — Overnighting at 3,650 metres elevation requires rooms with verified guest oxygen supply. This is a delivery condition, not an upgrade. Rooms without oxygen supply will not be confirmed for this itinerary. Whether the oxygen supply is included in the current quote shall be governed by the written quotation.
• Health screening before any order — Spending four nights at 3,650 m places a real strain on the heart and lungs. Before booking, every guest must complete a written screening detailing any cardiovascular or respiratory history and previous altitude-related reactions. The outcome of this screening is recorded in the confirmation for that specific order; using a tabular version does not affect the ability to request a price quote for this route. If the screening indicates that this route is unsuitable, we will say so plainly and can still arrange a written quotation for Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu without any high-altitude components.
• Departure window — The page previously listed 8–17 October 2026 as a reference. Plateau road conditions from November to March of the following year, and holiday crowds at the Terracotta Warriors on 1–7 October, will both affect the daily schedule. These dates are available for a price quote. Timetables, crowd levels, and road conditions are confirmed in writing upon order.
• Departure dates and Monday — dates are set so that day two never falls on a Monday, when the Forbidden City closes. Within this window, this affects the October 11 departure, and for that date days two and three change places.
• Tibet permit and the booking cutoff — Guests travelling to Lhasa are required to hold a Tibet Permit. Documents must be pre-reviewed at least 15 days prior to departure, and no expedited processing is available. If fewer than 20 days remain before departure, whether the permit can still be issued is to be confirmed in writing on a per-order basis, rather than rejected solely based on a fixed deadline. As there is no established written precedent confirming that entry without a visa guarantees the issuance of a Tibet Permit, orders must not be confirmed on the assumption that it will inevitably be secured.
• Visa-free entry — most European passports currently enter China visa-free for stays days. UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand ones do too. Per order we check your 15 days plus any other days in China against that window. The current policy runs through December 31, 2026, and the whole October window sits inside it.
• US passports — US passports are not on the 30-day visa-free list. This 15-day route is longer than the typical 10-day transit exemption, so US guests will need a Chinese tourist or business visa. This route accepts enquiries from US guests. Visas and Tibet entry permits are confirmed in writing based on document details; do not state unverified items as completed.
• The pass to Yamdrok Lake — The mountain passes on this route are at a higher altitude than Lhasa. Passability in the late season will be confirmed in writing based on your travel dates. This page does not guarantee that the pass will be open on any given day.
• Rail times — Both rail segments run on the current autumn schedule, which is checked against your exact dates before anything is charged. Your quote carries the train numbers, times and cabin class for your order.
• Confirmation and changes — The confirmation-time commitment and the change and refund terms are being finalised with our ground partners. Until they are settled, each quote states in writing its own confirmation deadline and its change and refund conditions. Note that a late date change on this route affects permit processing as well as trains and hotels.