Tibet Travel Guide

General Information

Tibet – Shangri-La, the land of snows, the roof of the world. The very name evokes feelings of awe and mystery. A land of ancient Buddhist culture, awesome landscape, and artistic monasteries and centuries old caravan trails. Tibet is a destination out of ordinary. Famed as the roof of the world, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China lies on a plateau at an average elevation of 4000m. It is bounded by the Kunlun Mountains to the north and the Himalaya to the south. Tibet covers an area of 1228400 sq. km and has a population of 3.03 million.

Tibet is a sacred land of myth and mysteries inhabited by the ever smiling people. Has not only exerted magnetic spell upon travellers for centuries. But also spies, missionaries, scholars, geographers, mystics, soldiers  and crank etc. yet, few intrepid serious and determined have been able to make it. Tibet being extremely remote and isolated by the most formidable Himalayan ranges, a fascinating world of timeless splendor, unique tradition, and breathtaking scenery awaits all travelers to the roof of the world.

Getting into Tibet

Our tours and treks are based on entry and exit from Kathmandu. However, you can also enter from parts of Mainland China, i.e. Beijing, Chengdu etc. Air China flies between Kathmandu and Lhasa across the mighty Himalayas. This flight offers spectacular views of Mt. Everest, Makalu and many other Himalayan giants. All our trips, which begin by flying into Lhasa, can be joined from Kathmandu, Beijing, Hong Kong, Chengdu or Bangkok (via Chengdu). In the cities above you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You will then have the chance to see the sights before being transferred to the airport the next day for your flight to Lhasa. Additional accommodation in Kathmandu, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok or Chengdu can be arranged, please ask us for more detail.

Geography

Tibet lies at the center of Asia, with an area of 1228400 million square Kilometers

• Capital: Lhasa

• Population: 3.03 million (2011) National Bureau of Statistics of China

• Language: Tibetan (of the Tibeto-Burmese language family) the official language is Chinese.

• Political & Religious leader: The 14th Dalai Lama. In exile in Dharamsala, India

• Climate: Tibet is cold in winter and cools in summer and generally dry; receiving only 45 cm (18 inches) rain or snow annually. Temperature can vary greatly with in a day, however, passing 29 degrees C (85 degrees F) in desert areas in summer, and plunging below 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) at night. The higher you go the colder it gets, of course.  Sunlight is extremely intense. Winds in winter are ferocious. Rainfall in southern Tibet occurs intermittently between June and September, brining moister to barely fields and greenery to the valleys. The pleasant months for travel are April to October.

Transportation in Tibet

The roads in Tibet can at times become quite rough and impassable for many vehicles, It can at times become quite rough and impassable for many vehicles, so for this reason we use best Land cruiser 4WDs (Toyota 4500). These vehicles are extremely reliable and will make the journey as comfortable as possible. As for the trekking and climbing there will be a truck for carrying luggage and trek equipment. We’ll drive for several hours, stopping along the way for photographs or places of special interest, before stopping for lunch at around midday. After lunch we continue our journey, generally arriving at our destination by 3 or 4pm.

Best Time to Visit Tibet

Despite the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, the daytime temperatures are actually quite mild. Between April and November the average temperature ranges form 15-25 degrees Celsius and the skies are generally clear and blue. From July to August though there can be the odd shower during the day. The nights, however, can be very cold and temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius. During the day a light shirt or jumper and lightweight pants will be suitable, but a warm fleece or down jacket is recommended for the evenings.

Altitude and Health

No special inoculation is required but because of Tibet’s high altitude travellers with a pre-existing problem of heart, lungs or anemia should consult a doctor before even thinking about a visit. Most other travellers, once they are acclimatized, rarely suffer more than mild discomfort from the altitude. Our Advice: Drink 4 liters of water minimum a day. Don’t exhaust yourself so much and breathe deep and take rest more than usual.

Other health problem

Of course the cold weather makes it very likely that you get a cold and a cough. Take care to get enough vitamins. There is the same stomach bug names giardia that is also found in Nepal. Take enough anti giardia drugs like Falgyl or Tiniba with you as they are hard to find in Tibet. Don’t drink tap water. Even in the smallest guest house in the remotest villages there are thermos bottles with boiled water. It is used to drink tea. There are many dogs in the streets and near the monasteries. There are reports of foreigners being bitten.

Visa and Passport

Passport

A traveler should bear with him a passport with validity remaining no less than six months. Make sure that it has plenty of blank pages for visas, entry and reentry stamps and extensions. Besides, holding other ID’s like student card or driving license will be an advantage. Loosing passport in Tibet is very bad, as you have to go to Beijing to get new one.

Arriving Lhasa via mainland China

If you are planning to arrive in Lhasa via mainland China, you would need to apply for your Chinese visa from the Chinese Embassy in your country.

Once you have the Chinese visa, you will need to scan the visa and email it to us along with the copy of your passport. Both the documents should be clear and readable otherwise it will be rejected by the Tibet Travel Bureau in Tibet (TTB).

Please note that you would not be eligible for the Tibet travelling permit without the Chinese visa. On the basis of the copies of the Chinese visa and passport, we will apply for your Tibet entry permit from the TTB. With the combination of the Tibet permit and Chinese visa you would be allowed to enter Tibet from the mainland China. Once your Tibet permit is issued, you can collect it from anywhere in mainland China where you are supposed to arrive or have it delivered at your hotel you would be staying while in mainland China at an extra charge of USD 30 for courier.

Arriving Tibet

Via Kathmandu or go overland via Zhangmu or Simikot border

On the other hand, if you are planning to fly to Lhasa via Kathmandu or go overland via Zhangmu or Simikot border, you would need to arrive in Kathmandu at least 2 to 6 days (if you want to apply for the minimum visa – normal charge) before your entry into Tibet.

Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu issues visas only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 0900 hrs to 1100 hrs.

Travelers are thus required to arrive in Kathmandu a day prior to the visa issuing days to enable us to get Chinese/Tibet visa for them. In order to get the Tibet visa, we would need to show your original passport at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. As such, our operating officer who would be at the airport to receive and transfer you to your respective hotel would collect the passport from you and get the visa.

Have a look at the chart provided below for your reference for the costs on Tibet visa:

SPECIAL NOTE TO CONSIDER

Do not apply for the Chinese visa in your country if you are intending to travel to Tibet via Kathmandu (Nepal). If you had applied for the Chinese visa in your country prior to arrival in Kathmandu, it would be automatically cancelled when we get the Tibet visa for you here in Kathmandu.

The Chinese/Tibet visa you get in Kathmandu is a “group visa” and is not entered in travelers’ passports but on a separate sheet of paper – be it one person or a group consisting of two or more persons.

Acclimatization

Tibet is the highest plateau in the world and is widely known as ‘The Roof of the World’.  We will be driving in high altitudes that go constantly above 5000m/16400ft during the journey. Driving fast in such an elevation could cause medical conditions (Acute Mountain Sickness) which could be fatal. There is 50% less oxygen compared to sea level in high altitudes like Tibet. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. Our body needs a few days to acclimatize to this less-oxygen environment. Although Himalayan Glacier has been providing sufficient information regarding precautions against AMS, it should be understood that if one does get affected by AMS, proper medical care is the only way to treat it.

It is important to make sensible plans in order to avoid AMS during the tour. Therefore, Himalayan Glacier would advise guest(s) to do some trekking or altitude activities in Nepal or elsewhere before taking this trip. We would also advise our guest(s), especially one(s) with known heart or lung or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Mild headaches, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders are all symptoms of AMS.

Pre Departure Meeting

We will have a pre-trip meeting at Himalayan Glacier’s office in Kathmandu at least 2 days prior to the tour departure date. On this meeting you are expected to handover your original passport and fill out form(s) for the Chinese Visa. There will also be a final trip briefing meeting a day before the trip at 5:00 pm to share some tour insights in order to better prepare you for your trip.

This tour does not include your stay in Kathmandu but if you wish for Himalayan Glacier to arrange you the accommodation of your choice, airport pick up or your tour to some of the most exotic places in Nepal for any kind of adventure activities of your choice, Himalayan Glacier can also arrange you a tour package upon request.

Custom Formalities

Upon entering China all foreigners are required to register any list of things in their possession. These must be accounted for on leaving. Art objects and antiques in Tibet fall under special restrictions forbidding their export. Rugs may be bought and exported, so may the small religious objects that are sold in open markets, providing only one or two are taken as souvenirs. Customs officials have been known to confiscate jewelry or other objects if they consider that a tourist has purchased “too much”

Clothing & Equipment

• Down jacket or warm fleece top
• Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
• Cotton shirts (short and long sleeved)
• Warm and cotton trousers
• Sun polarized sunglasses
• Beanie or warm woollen hat and gloves
• Scarf (to keep out dust as well as cold)
• Sandals (flip-flops)
• Towel
• Sleeping bag (for camping/trekking)
• Rain jacket
• Strong sun cream and lip protector
• Moisturizer
• Water bottle
• Camera (and plenty of film and spare batteries)

Guide & Accommodation

Throughout your time in Tibet you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Tibetan guide who will not only act as an interpreter but will also provide a valuable insight into the Tibetan way of life. In Lhasa, accommodation will be at Dhood Gu or similar standard hotel. It is renowned for its hospitality and warm Tibetan atmosphere and is perfectly situated in the center of town just a few minutes’ walk from the Jokhang Temple and Barkor. Elsewhere along the route, accommodation will be in the best available hotels. Meals will either be in the hotel or at a restaurant of your choice (where available). Whilst on the road, lunch will be at one of the many Chinese tea shops along the way which generally serve a variety of noodle and vegetable dishes and meat where available.

Challenges

It is quite challenging to plan a Tibet Travel. There are several factors that makes it tough and only experienced one can organize it in an efficient way based on their past experience. Here are our Top challenges:

1. Tibet – Tibet travel is the most important factor that makes it difficult to organize. Tibet Travel Permit is difficult to get, and moreover, rules and regulation keeps changing from Tibetan Authority. Tibetan government provides special Tibet Permit. Therefore, awareness of specific rules and regulation is utmost necessary, so that Yatris do not get stranded at the Tibet Border.

2. Facilities: Tibet is a remote area which lacks good services. Please go through these guidelines to learn more about Tibet.

3. Natural Calamities – Natural disaster can happen at anytime, most importantly, bad weather. This mostly affects Helicopter flights, and may have to cancel flights. Moreover, we can any changes of itinerary for your safety.

4. High Altitude & Trekking – We need to be aware that we are travelling in a high altitude and moreover, trekking will be challenging.

If one is aware of above risk factors, and can get guidance, then you can prevent or overcome any difficulties that may happen during the travel. From our past 15 years of experience, we have learned a lot regarding travelling to Tibet. We believe that one need to aware of several factors before travelling to Tibet, so that you can make best decision for yourself and make it a most memorable Tour of your life. Therefore, we are making these complete guidelines to share with you and give awareness of what to expect before making a big decision.

We hope that you will find this guideline document helpful. Please do email or call us if your questions are not answered in our guidelines.

Hotel Information

We will provide Guest House at all places in Tibet side. All Guest House will be based on sharing with Common Bath. Most of the places in Tibet are Guest House accommodation with basic facilities only.

Payment Information

Visit https://www.kailashjourneys.com/payment/

Booking Requirements

• Fill out Booking form (Click Here) and email it to us at tibettour@KailashJourneys.com
• Scanned passport copies
• Advance payment of USD 300 per person.

Health / Fitness / Medical Fitness Certificate

You must be physically fit for Tibet travel. We do not need any medical certificate.. However, it is better for everyone to take an advice from your family doctor for traveling in high altitude. Nowadays, there are hospitals available at Tibet if in case of emergency. We will provide oxygen cylinder or oxygen bottle in case of emergency.

Trip Insurance

Personal travel insurance is not included in the trip price. It is a condition of booking a trip with Kailash Journeys (P) Ltd., and your own responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured for the full duration of the trip in respect of illness, injury, emergency coverage, death, loss of baggage and personal items and cancellation and curtailment. Kailash Journeys (P) Ltd. does not arrange any insurance. Please consult your local insurance company. Many health insurance companies does not cover while traveling to high altitude. So make sure you are covered above 4500 meters altitude, since Kailash Mountain base is higher than that. Nowadays, there are hospitals available at Tibet if in case of emergency.

Tibet Travel Permit and Chinese Visa Process

Chinese Visa / Tibet Permit

• The Chinese visa is a group Visa paper based.
• First of all we need your Color passport copies by email to apply for Tibet Travel Permit (required by Chinese government).
• We will get Tibet permit  around 15 days before your departure date. After that we need your original passport  at Kathmandu once you arrive for Group Visa processing:
• After you get group Chinese Visa, we will give your passport back to you next day of your arrival.
• Therefore, since it takes time, we suggest our Yatris to book as early as possible, so that your yatra can be begin in your desired departure date.

Visa / Passport Requirements Chart

Passport Information – When and Where?

We will process to arrange visa for which we require the following details:

1. Full name
2. Sex
3. Date of Birth
4. Profession
5. Nationality
6. Passport Number
7. Validity of the passport should be at least six months
8. Passport size photographs

We have many inquiries regarding the Passport, Chinese Visa, & Tibet Permit. Therefore, we want to make it clear that it is our responsibility and you do not need to worry about. Here is the workflow of how we handle:

Step 1: For a Group Tour, we will apply for Tibet Permit for which we will use your Color passport copies that you have sent us. Please note that Tibet Authority does not gives us fixed date to approve the Permit.
Step 2: As soon as we get the Tibet Travel Permit approved, we will let you know.
Step 3: We will apply for Chinese Visa when you arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I already have Chinese Visa stamped in my passport, do I need Visa again?

If you plan to enter Tibet from Nepal, you must get your Tibet group visa from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. Whether you already have a Chinese visa or not, a Tibet group visa is compulsory for all tourists entering Tibet from Nepal.

Cancellation Policy

It is our most important aim that you enjoy your holiday and that we earn your trust. However, we are not responsible for any cancellation due to any industrial disputes, Technical failure of any type of transport we use, loss of earnings, late arrivals or force majeure, or any items beyond our control.

• After booking, if you wish to cancel your trip, you must notify Kailash Journeys (P) Ltd. in writing. Once Kailash Journeys (P) Ltd. receives your notice, cancellation will take effect subject to the following:
• If cancellation takes place in between 90 – 150 days prior to your departure date, your full payment will be refund except the non-refundable deposit:
• If cancellation takes place in between 30-90 days prior to departure 75% of your payment will be refund except the non-refundable deposit.
• If cancellation takes place less than 30 days prior to departure due to client’s personal problems, all previously paid amount(s) will be forfeited.

Preparation before Arrival to Kathmandu, Nepal

Money in Kathmandu & Tibet / Personal Expenses

Personal Expenses in Tibet

• We will exchange the amount to Yuan (Chinese Currency) for you upon your arrival. You must let us know upon Kathmandu arrival on the first day so that we can proceed immediately.
• It is suggested to carry minimum CNY (Chinese Yuan) 3,000 extra money for any emergency.
• In Tibet only CNY (Chinese Yuan) is acceptable. You may easily exchange USD or INR to CNY in Kathmandu OR in Kodari (Nepal-Tibet Border).
• Most of the yatri exchange their money in Nepal-Tibet border.
• Any unused CNY may be re-exchanged in Kodari or in Kathmandu.

Current Exchange Rate

• 1 USD = 6 Yuan (Chinese Currency)

Mobile Phone in Tibet

Nepali SIM card doesn’t work at Tibet side but there will be shops at the phone center on the way to Tibet Tour. You can take your mobile with you and buy a SIM card there to call your family and relatives.

Highest Altitude during Tibet Travel

Lhasa is the altitude of 3,658 meters (12,000 ft).The lowest point will be Kathmandu. Reting Monastery is the altitude of 13350 feet Ganden Monastery  of 3,800 meters (12,467 feet), Zhangmu>> 2300 m. (7,546ft.), Nyalam  3,750 metres (12,300 ft)

Distances

Distance from Lhasa to different location

1. Lhasa to Airpot: 100km
2. Airpot to Tsetang: 100km
3. Lhasa to Dangxiong: 160km
4. Lhasa to Tsetang: 200km
5. Lhasa to Gyangtse: 200km
6. Lhasa to Gyangtse to Shigatse: 360km
7. Lhasa to Shigatse by river: 280km
8. Lhasa to Sakya monastery by riverside: 430km
9. Lhasa to Tsupu monastery: 65km
10. Lhasa to Ganden mosastery: 55km
11. Lhasa to Namtso lake: 240km
12. Lhasa to Yangdrok lake: 110km

Distance from Shigatse to different location

1. Shigatse to Sakya monastery: 175km
2. Shigatse to Mt.Everest: 350km
3. Shigatse to Gyangtse: 100km

Travel to Tibet by Driving – Overland adventure to Tibet

Five roots for getting Lhasa

For the adventurous, driving a 4 wheel-drive vehicle to Tibet provides an incredible experience that you will never forget for the rest of your life. It is a difficult route, not for the faint of heart! On the other hand, with the fast road construction these years, the road condition is better and better year by year, it is also workable for well remained tour vehicle of van or bus for this sort of trip, your group will not be split to travel separately by many small cars but you can travel together as one group, it costs less expensive.

You can drive to Tibet via 5 routes:

1. Sichuan (Chengdu) to Lhasa: 2159 kilometers to 2407 km
2. Yunnan (Kunming) to Lhasa: 2317 kilometers
3. Qinghai (Xining) to Lhasa: 1947 kilometers, Qinghai Tibet Highway
4. Xinjiang (Yecheng) to Lhasa: 2743 kilometers
5. Kathmandu to Lhasa

The Qinghai and Kathmandu (“friendship highway”) routes are the most accessible. We do not recommend any of the other routes unless you are a ‘professional driver’, equipped with all the necessary gear and backup support.

Souvenirs from Tibet

Normally during our trip we will meet lot of ladies selling necklace, yak bone items, crystal mala, precious stone items, apart from Buddhist worship items.