Lupine Trailbound

Our Roof of the World tour takes in the cultural heritage of two lesser-visited Chinese cities in Xining and Golmud before heading towards ever higher altitudes to experience the cultural and geological wonders of Tibet.

Starting by exploring the Muslim-majority Chinese city of Xining (2,200m above sea-level), we’ll take a high-speed train to Golmud, where a mixture of Mongolian and Muslim culture plays out across a formerly closed-off Chinese military city. Visits to Taoist holy sites are followed by an overnight train to Lhasa (3,650m) on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the highest in the world. Once in Tibet, altitudes increase further, while we spend time acclimatising, we’ll have opportunities for cultural immersion and visits to the Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and the iconic Potala Palace.

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Difficulty Rating

Hiking Grade: 2.5 – Mild to Moderate

Our Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour is suitable for people who have some prior hiking experience and are looking for a comfortable yet comprehensive experience. It is also suitable for fit beginners who want to step out of their comfort zone and progress up the difficulty ladder. Paths are generally well marked; however, there may be a few difficult steps to negotiate. You can expect higher elevation gain, and the majority of the tour will occur at high to very high altitude (high: 1,500 – 3,500 metres above sea level – very high: 3,500+ metres above sea level), with the highest point being ca. 4,400m during the day hike outside of Lhasa. Some short walks will occur above 5,000 metres above sea level.

This tour dips into the Moderate grade due to the effect of the high and very high altitude on our bodies. While the itinerary is designed to acclimatise gradually, the altitude can make trails that would have otherwise been Mild into Moderate.

Average distance in a day hike: 6kms – 12kms (4mi – 8mi)
Maximum distance in a day hike: 15kms (9.5mi)
Average elevation gain in a day hike: 250m – 600m (820ft – 1,970ft)
Maximum elevation gain in a day hike: 700m (2,300ft)

Adventure Grade: B – Moderate

Accommodation and bathroom facilities must be shared for part of the Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour. While the buses and trains are in good condition, some of the roads are very winding and unpaved, especially when we get to Nepal. The effect of the high to very high altitude on our bodies makes everything feel less comfortable. Weather conditions in Everest Base Camp are changeable and unpredictable; while we plan the tour during seasons when the weather is historically stable, the high altitude and montane environment create a degree of unpredictability.

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May 9-21, 2027
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Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World Asia 12 nights | 5+ places

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Essential Travel Advice: For the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information go here

Do I need a Visa for China, Tibet and Nepal?: China: Currently, passport holders from most EU countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and some South American countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days.
If your passport is from a country not included in the visa-free scheme, you will need to obtain a Chinese visa before travelling. We aim to provide the necessary supporting documentation approximately three months before your tour starts, giving you plenty of time to apply for your visa at your nearest visa centre.

Tibet: All travellers, except Chinese passport holders, require a Tibet Travel Permit. We will arrange this permit on your behalf approximately 30 days before your tour. To apply, we will need a copy of your Chinese visa (if required) and details of your flight into China.

Nepal: Most nationalities require either an eVisa or a Visa on Arrival to enter Nepal. The process is straightforward and can be completed online. We will provide you with further information and guidance on how to apply nearer the time of your trip.

What is the accommodation like on our Tibet: Traversing the World tour?: Accommodation throughout the tour is varied and includes comfortable hotels, a 6-berth cabin aboard the Qinghai-Tibet train, and a traditional Tibetan-style tent at Everest Base Camp.
We will stay in 3-star hotels for most nights, with the exception of the night aboard the Qinghai-Tibet train and the night at Everest Base Camp. The hotels are comfortable and offer the amenities you would typically expect from this standard of accommodation. In Lhasa, the hotel has oxygen pumped into the rooms to help make sleeping at high altitude more comfortable. The hotel in Nyalam is more basic than the others due to its remote, off-the-beaten-track location.

On the Qinghai-Tibet train, we will stay in 6-berth cabins, also known as hard-sleeper cabins. Each berth is equipped with a mattress and blanket. If required, a conductor can assist with connecting an oxygen line to help with the effects of high altitude.

We will do our best to allocate everyone from our group to the same cabin, although this is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. Depending on the group configuration, mixed-gender cabins may be necessary.

Please note that there are no showers or private toilets on the train. Most toilets are squat-style, although a limited number of Western-style toilets are available throughout the train.
At Everest Base Camp, we will stay in Tibetan-style tents, which are more like small, comfortable lodges inside. The tents are well insulated and feature separate twin and double rooms with beds, heaters and electric blankets.

There is usually a communal lounge area in the centre of the tent, as well as a sink for washing your hands and brushing your teeth.
Please note that single-room supplements cannot be accommodated at Everest Base Camp. There may also be other travellers staying in the same tent as our group, although they will not share your bedroom.

Toilets are shared by all guests at the camp and are located in a separate building. We will do our best to allocate rooms to same-sex travellers, but this will depend on the group's configuration and cannot be guaranteed.

Is there any camping in the Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour?: There is no wild camping on this tour. The accommodation in Everest Base Camp is in more remote, natural settings and offers a more rustic experience, but provides considerably more comfort and facilities than traditional camping.

What is transport like in the Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour?: Transport throughout the Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour will vary depending on the destination and terrain.
During our time in Tibet, from Lhasa to the border with Nepal, we will mainly travel by Coaster minibus, provided by the local authorities.

We will also travel by high-speed train from Xining to Golmud, where we will have comfortable reserved seating.

From Golmud, we will board the Qinghai-Tibet train for the overnight journey to Lhasa. This spectacular railway passes through some of the highest railway landscapes in the world, including the highest railway station, located at approximately 5,100 metres above sea level.

On the Qinghai-Tibet train, we will stay in 6-berth hard-sleeper cabins. Breakfast is available to purchase on board, but we recommend bringing plenty of snacks and drinks for the journey. The train is equipped with oxygen outlets, and the conductor can assist with connecting an oxygen supply if needed to help with the effects of high altitude.

Finally, once we cross into Nepal, we will travel from the China–Nepal border to Kathmandu in 5-passenger 4x4 vehicles. These vehicles are particularly suited to the mountainous roads and conditions we will encounter along the way.

How difficult is this tour?: Our Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World is graded as 2.5B - Hiking - Mild to Moderate / Adventure - Moderate.

This tour is suitable for people who have some prior hiking experience and are looking for a comfortable yet comprehensive experience. It is also suitable for fit beginners who want to step out of their comfort zone and progress up the difficulty ladder. Paths are generally well marked; however, there may be a few difficult steps to negotiate. You can expect higher elevation gain, and the majority of the tour will occur at high to very high altitude (high: 1,500 - 3,500 metres above sea level - very high: 3,500+ metres above sea level), with the highest point being ca. 4,400m during the day hike outside of Lhasa. Some short walks will occur above 5,000 metres above sea level.

This tour dips into the Moderate grade due to the effect of the high and very high altitude on our bodies. While the itinerary is designed to acclimatise gradually, the altitude can make trails that would have otherwise been Mild into Moderate.

Average distance in a day hike: 6kms - 12Kms (4mi - 8mi)
Maximum distance in a day hike: 15kms (9.5mi)
Average elevation gain in a day hike: 250m - 600m (820ft - 1,970ft)
Maximum elevation gain in a day hike: 700m (2,300ft)

Adventure Grade: B. Moderate

Accommodation and bathroom facilities must be shared for part of the tour. While the buses and trains are in good condition, some of the roads are very winding and unpaved, especially when we get to Nepal. The effect of the high to very high altitude on our bodies makes everything feel less comfortable. Weather conditions in Everest Base Camp are changeable and unpredictable; while we plan the tour during seasons when the weather is historically stable, the high altitude and montane environment create a degree of unpredictability.

Will there be long drives?: Yes, this is an overland adventure covering a huge distance across the Tibetan Plateau, so there will be some long journeys along the way.

Our journey begins with an overnight train from Golmud to Lhasa, which takes approximately 16 hours.

Once we leave Lhasa and begin our journey towards Kathmandu, we will have some longer driving days. The journey from Lhasa to Shigatse takes approximately 12 hours, depending on road conditions. We will make regular stops along the way to enjoy the incredible scenery and visit some interesting sites, including the Kerala Glacier.

There will also be some medium-length driving days, including the journeys from Shigatse to Lhatse, Lhatse to Everest Base Camp, and Everest Base Camp to Nyalam.

Our final journey, from Nyalam to Kathmandu, is another long driving day, averaging around 12 hours. The exact journey time will depend on road conditions and how long it takes to cross the China–Nepal border.

While some of the journeys are long, travelling overland is an important part of the experience and gives you the opportunity to see the dramatic landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau and experience the changing scenery as we make our way towards Nepal.

What is the weather like on the Tibet: Traversing the World tour?: As we will travel through a wide variety of landscapes and ecosystems, the weather can vary considerably throughout the tour.
In Xining, Golmud, Lhasa, Shigatse and Nyalam, you can generally expect mild to warm days and cooler nights. As a very rough guide, daytime temperatures can be around 20°C, while temperatures at night can drop to approximately 10–15°C. However, temperatures can vary depending on altitude, season and local weather conditions.

At Everest Base Camp and other high-altitude stops along the route, you should be prepared for much colder conditions. Temperatures can range from around 0°C to -10°C, depending on the weather. We strongly recommend bringing warm layers, including thermal clothing, gloves and a good-quality warm jacket.
As we descend into Nepal and reach Kathmandu, the climate becomes warmer and more humid, with temperatures typically averaging in the mid-20s°C.

You will be travelling a huge distance through a mountainous environment, where weather conditions can change quickly. Although the tour is planned outside of the monsoon season, weather patterns are difficult to predict far in advance. We therefore recommend being prepared for both wet and dry conditions throughout the trip.

Why should I visit Everest Base Camp from the Tibetan side instead of the Nepali side?: There are two major advantages to visiting Everest Base Camp from the Tibetan side rather than the Nepali side.

Firstly, it is considerably less physically demanding. You can drive directly to the tourist base camp, and the Everest viewpoint is just a short 30-minute walk from the camp. The viewpoint can also be visited at night, giving you the chance to see Mount Everest beneath a star-filled sky when conditions are right.

Secondly, while the Tibetan side is more accessible from a physical perspective, it is considerably more difficult to visit due to the restrictions placed on non-Chinese tourists. As a result, the area is generally much quieter and less crowded than the Nepali side. There is still a good amount of domestic tourism, but you are likely to encounter far fewer Western travellers, making for a more unique experience.

Will I be able to see Mount Everest?: While the tour is designed to maximise our time at Everest Base Camp, and we travel outside of the monsoon season, it is unfortunately impossible to guarantee clear views of Mount Everest.

Visibility will depend heavily on the weather conditions on the day of our visit. Cloud, wind, snow and other local weather conditions can all affect the view, so while we will do everything possible to give you the best opportunity to see Mount Everest, nature ultimately decides.

How can high altitude affect me?: While we are not medical professionals, we strongly recommend speaking to your GP or a specialist travel health clinic before travelling, particularly if you have any existing medical conditions or concerns about travelling at high altitude.

We favour natural acclimatisation, and the itinerary has been carefully designed to allow your body time to gradually adjust to increasingly high altitudes. For this reason, we generally recommend against taking medication to prevent altitude sickness unless it has been specifically recommended or prescribed by a medical professional.

Please be aware that people living with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart conditions may be at greater risk of serious effects from high altitude. If you have any of these conditions, we recommend consulting your GP or a travel health professional well in advance of the tour for personalised medical advice and to discuss whether travelling to high altitude is suitable for you.

During the tour, our guides will also monitor the group and provide guidance on acclimatisation. However, any symptoms or concerns should always be discussed with a qualified medical professional.

Can I join the Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour as a solo traveller?: Absolutely! Many travellers join our Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World.

If you are travelling solo and do not wish to pay a single room supplement, we will pair you with another same-sex traveller. Please note that for the night aboard the Qinghai-Tibet train and Everest Base Camp, we will try to accommodate same-sex accommodation but it will be dependent on the configuration of the group.

What is the average age of travellers on your Tibet: Traversing the Roof of the World tour?: There can be a wide range of ages in our tours. We welcome experienced hikers from their 20s through to fit people in retirement age. Each departure has a different mix of ages and backgrounds.

Can I extend my stay in China/Nepal before or after the tour?: Yes, we are happy to arrange additional hotel nights before or after the tour. Airport transfers will still be included if you extend your stay and book your extra accommodation through us.
Requests for additional accommodation should be confirmed at least 12 weeks before the tour, as we cannot guarantee availability after this point.

Do I require travel insurance?: Health insurance is obligatory for anyone booking a tour with us. If you are in doubt, please contact us for a list of providers who cover our destinations. We strongly advise you to take out a comprehensive policy that will also fully cover you for cancellations due to illness, lost luggage, etc. You should take out your insurance policy as soon as you book the trip with us.
We also recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation and rescue cover. Many of Tibet's hiking trails are in remote areas where emergency services are limited.

In the event of an accident during a trek, your local guide and tour leader will be the first to respond. However, there are no mountain rescue helicopters, and civil protection teams may take considerable time to reach the location. For this reason, all of our tour leaders are trained in outdoor first aid and carry appropriate first aid equipment.

When will I receive my tour information pack?: The information pack will follow approximately 4 weeks prior to departure.

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