Day 1: Beijing
Welcome on board, mid-morning departure from Beijing. 
Beijing: Site of the 2008 summer Olympics, Beijing is the political, cultural and historical epicenter of China. Home to national treasures such as the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, this vibrant city boasts cutting edge architecture, traditional courtyard homes, placid lakes and world class dining and entertainment

Day 2: Xining/Bird Island
Early morning arrival at Xining, off-train excursions, depart for Bird Island lunch time. Afternoon arrival at Bird Island, off-train excursions, depart for Delingha.
Xining: Steeped in history, Xining was one of the best known cities on the ancient Silk Road. It is home to the 450 year old Ta'er Monastery set amid ancient hillside temples on the outskirts of Xining. Known as Kumbun in Tibetan, Ta'er Monastery blends Han and Tibetan architecture and stands out for its distinctive ethnic style and Buddhist sculptures which are considered unique works of art.
Bird Island: lies northwest of Qinghai Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in China, is connected to the bank on one side whilst the others are surrounded by water. It encompasses two islands, one is Haixi Pi in the east, and in the west is the Haixi Shan, which is four times smaller than the former island but is where most of the birds of the lake congregate

Day 3: Delingha/Golmud
Awake in Delingha, off-train excursions after breakfast, depart for Golmud early afternoon. Arrive at Golmud in the early evening, overnight stay (on board).
Delingha: Delingha is home to over 19 nationalities who hold a variety of cultural festivals and traditional sporting events throughout the year. Just outside the city, you can discover the beautiful Keluke and Tuosu Lakes, also known as the twin lakes, fringed by a bountiful bed of green reeds amid an otherwise desolate landscape.
Golmud: The third biggest city on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Golmud is isolated by the Kunlun Mountains, vast grasslands and Chaerhan Lake. Chaerhan Lake is a vision of rolling green water and salt castles, and it was formed during the intense geological activity that gave rise to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Day 4: Yuzhufeng/Tangula/Cuona Lake/Naqu
Early morning departure to Yuzhu Mountains, arrive for morning platform stop at Yuzhufeng, depart late morning. Arrive at Tangula in the afternoon for a photo opportunity platform stop, depart for Cuona Lake. Arrive at Cuona Lake for a late afternoon photo opportunity platform stop, depart for Naqu. Arrive at Naqu, Tibetan Folk Gala, overnight stay (on board).
Yuzhufeng: Rising majestically from the Tibetan plateau Yuzhu Mountain is the centerpiece of the Kunlun range. This snow-capped jewel with year-round glacial formations seemingly punctures the cloudless blue sky. To the southwest you can observe Kekexili, an area of 100 rivers reputed as the 'Kingdom of Animals' where endangered Tibetan antelope, yaks and other rare wildlife are known to roam.
Tangula Pass: The summit on the Qinghai-Tibet railway is the highest train station on earth. From here you can take in sweeping views of the Tangula mountain range which averages 6,000 meters, as well as awe-inspiring glacial mountains that surround local nomads herding their yak over vast plains.
Cuona Lake: At 4,594 meters, this is the highest freshwater lake in the world. Regarded as sacred by the Tibetans, it is called ��Heavenly Lake��, and is a destination for pilgrims who come to walk its perimeter. Endlessly crystal clear, the lake supports wild life that can be found in the nearby Qiangtang Nature Reserve. During winter, the frozen waters refract the sunlight in a dazzling kaleidoscope, while herds of Tibetan yak graze on the lakeshore.

Day 5: Lhasa
Late morning arrival at Lhasa.
Lhasa: is rightly one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities in the world. This is not only because of its remoteness, its high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) means limited accessibility, but also because of its impressive heritage of over a thousand years of cultural and spiritual history that has helped to create the romantic and mysterious Tibetan religion.