Tibet Travel Information

Tibet is the highest plateau on earth. For many visitors, the highlights of Tibet is spiritual: magnificent monasteries, prayer halls of chanting monks, and remote cliffside meditation retreats. Tibetans have a level of devotion and faith that seems to belong to an earlier, almost medieval age. It is fascinating, inspiring and endlessly photogenic. Tibet’s pilgrims – from local grandmothers murmuring mantras in temples heavy with the aromas of juniper incense and yak butter to hard-core professionals walking or prostrating themselves around Mt Kailash – are an essential part of this experience.

Geography of Tibet is on a humbling scale and every view is illuminated with spectacular mountain light. Your trip will take you past glittering turquoise lakes, across huge plains dotted with yaks and nomads’ tents, and over high passes draped with colourful prayer flags. Hike past the ruins of remote hermitages, stare open-mouthed at the north face of Everest or make an epic overland trip along some of the world’s wildest roads. The scope for adventure is limited only by your ability to get permits.

Visa and entry procedure

These are subject to change and depend on whether you join the trip in Kathmandu or China. If you are joining the trip in Kathmandu you will need adouble entry visa for Nepal which can be obtained either from your nearest Nepalese consulate or upon arrival in Nepal. If you are not staying more than3 days in Nepal you are entitled to free visa.

A group visa is issued for your travel to Tibet (individually you are not allowed) and in order to do this we will need a copy of your passport at least 25 days prior to the commencement of your trip, followed by your actual passport one day before the visa issuing days. If you are entering via mainland China you have to obtain Chinese visa from you home country. As visa regulation for Tibet keep on changing please ask us for latest information.

Entry routes

All our itineraries are based on entry from Kathmandu. Other places to enter Tibet by flight is from Chhengdu or Beijing and from Hongkong.In that case we can amend our itineraries accordingly. Lhasa is now linked with train from the main land China.

Guides and accommodation

Throughout your time in Tibet you will be accompanied by a English speaking Tibetan guide who will not only act as an interpreter but will also provide a valuable insight into the Tibetan way of life. Not all guides are competent and it is always a good idea to keep a good guide book with you.

Along the highways you will find only basic guest houses.But in Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse you will get hotels that have reasonable facilities. However, the facilities and services still not of the standard found elsewhere.. So do not expect much in term of hotels.

Transportation

Lhas a is now connected with train network with main land China. Roads in Tibet are not good and at many places are impassable. Generally 4WD Japanese jeeps are used to carry tourists and trucks for supplies and equipments.

Best Time to visit Tibet

The best time of the year for overland tours in Tibet is from April to November and for treks and Mt. Kailash tour from April to the beginning of October. During this time there will be no snow and weather is relatively mild.

Food

You can get good food in cities but along the highways the food on the lunch stops are not very good and not much varieties. Whenever possible carry little dry food of your own. Due to altitude sickness you won’t feel hungry at many places. Many tourists suffer from diarrhoea in Tibet . The best solution for this is not eating raw salads and carrying iodine tablets to purify water.

Clothing and equipment

Down jacket or warm fleece top
Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
Cotton shirts (short and long sleeved)
Warm cotton trousers
sunglasses
warm woollen hat and gloves
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

Altitude sickness

The main health consideration in Tibet is altitude related illness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). You may experience some mild symptoms initially, such as headache, lethargy, nausea and difficulty in sleeping, but these should lessen within a few days. A supply of bottled oxygen is carried in the vehicle at all times should it be required. A Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) is also carried on all our Tibet treks and Mt. kailash tours in case of altitude sickness.

Hotels in Lhasa are equipped with oxygen. Doctors will also be available on call. A supply of bottled oxygen is carried in the vehicle at all times. If you have ever suffered from altitude sickness, or have a heart or breathing complaint, we highly recommend you consult your doctor about your suitability for traveling to Tibet before booking.

A good briefing is given to all the tourists about altitude sickness before they depart for the trip. Our staff constantly check if someone is having some symptoms during trip days. Altitude sickness can be overcome if informed in time and if taken proper precaution.

Travel Insurance

If there arises a condition for a rescue to arrange, you shall be driven by a land cruiser to nearest Nepal – Tibet border as helicopter is not allowed to fly in Tibet. Since you are entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in evacuation please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back in Kathmandu.