Tibet is the most extraordinary journey in China, and the hardest to reach independently. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway changed that: it climbs to over 5,000 metres, the highest railway on earth, and now carries a dedicated luxury train built to make the altitude comfortable.
The Beautiful Sky Road Express
China's first dedicated Tibet cultural tourism train, launched in 2026 on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. It is designed around the challenges of the plateau: two panoramic observation cars with floor-to-ceiling windows, pulse oxygen at every berth, and carriages pressurised and paced for acclimatisation. Tibetan design runs throughout, so the journey itself introduces the culture you are travelling to see. Read the full Beautiful Sky Road Express page.
What you need before you go
Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region. Apply 4 to 6 weeks ahead. See the Tibet permit guide.
The route is paced for acclimatisation, and the train is oxygenated. Read our altitude and health guide before you book.
Tibet sits outside the visa-free transit areas, so plan a full visa or the 30-day visa-free entry. See the China visa guide.
Where the train takes you
Lhasa
The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the old city, all reached after a gentle climb by rail.
Everest Base Camp
The north side of Everest, reached from the Tibetan plateau for the closest view of the summit.
The Shoton Festival
August's Tibetan opera and giant thangka unveiling, the region's most vivid celebration.