Travel by train to Tibet

Travelling by train from China to Tibet on the highest railway in the world is a fascinating experience that would appeal to anyone with the slightest interest in rail travel. The spectacular 24-hour journey takes you from Xining in China’s Qinghai Province to Lhasa, across some of the planet's harshest terrain. The line reaches a maximum altitude of 5072m above sea level at the Tanggula Pass, and oxygen is pumped in to the carriages to offset the effects of the extreme altitude. The 4-berth sleeping compartments have two bunk beds which doubled up as a seating area next to a table and window. There is a row of basins at the end of each cabin, a choice of western style or Asian style toilets and a hot water dispenser. As you speed across the Tibetan Plateau the scenery is ever-changing with shimmering lakes, blocks of permafrost and soaring snow capped peaks. The train weaves its way through the mountains, passing nomadic settlements and their hardy livestock scratching around on the barren land, eventually reaching Lhasa’s futuristic station.