Train from Xian to Lhasa

Hi, I've read ALL (gasp) the threads on Lhasa train - we are 4 Ozzies going next month but have not seen any way of getting from Xian to lhasa discussed. Any-one have any ideas or done this and where did you get tickets?

One of the China train web sites lists the route on the timetable (without giving booking information) but others like travelchinagude and chinatripadvisor don't have that route at all.

thanks for any ideas.

Hi,

Tibet is different with other area of China. You should bear in your mind, every foreign guests must get TTB permits.

For the train tickets, you can book by yourself or ask some travel agency book for you.

Its been discussed and I think the general concensus is its difficult. That aside, train tickets from anywhere to Lhasa can be extremely difficult to get.

Hi Mate,
I caught the train from Xian, if you can handle hard seat just get a chinese to buy it for you, no need of TTB.
The hard sleeper soft sleeper are realeased 10 days before hand and usually always sold out unless you pay extra for black market tickets.
In china you can only buy tickets from the destination that you are leaving from. for example, you can't buy a xian lhasa train ticket in beijing, only in xian.
the train departure and price info is on accesstibettour.com
enjoy! i really loved hard seat, much more of a cultural experience.
Remember TTB's are issued free to travel agents if you really really want one, i never got asked for mine and i paid $220 which i'd rather have used for travelling, it's just a scam, no matter what anybody says, when you get to lhasa, go to the PSB and they will tell you the same.

I would also suggest to ask some chinese to by ticket for you... I don't know why I paid for this permit to get train ticket... otherwise go to any hostel which is in Lonely Planet and they will be happy to get money from you for permit and train ticket commision!!!