Tibet Travel Information

Tibet travel information is important to visitors. An autonomous region is belonging to China since 1965. Lhasa is a provincial capital that is interesting. The lifestyle of ethnic groups, such as the Tibetan, Han, Hui, and others are fascinating. The dress, food, occupation, festival, religion, and culture are remarkable for a traveller. Since 1980, first-time tourist permitted to visit there. The Holy Mount Kailash is believed the home of God Shiva and numerous pristine lakes include Manasarovar is popular for a ritual bath.

Tibet travel information is a general knowledge includes how we can go there, climate, how people survive there, high landscape and other topics are given below.

How to get Tibet

By Air- Lhasa connects the domestic flight includes Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Xian and Chengdu and Kathmandu.

By Road- Lhasa (3611m) is connected with transportation to Beijing, which is a 3753 km distance. A train takes 48 hours to reach there. Kathmandu to Lhasa is a 603 km distance. Jeep takes a few days to reach via Kodari border.

Tourist Visa

All tourists require a visa to visit Tibet.  It is issued from the Chinese embassy and consulate in your hometown. It takes a minimum of three working days to seven days to make a visa after a submission. Tourist visa cost is different according to a nationality. Necessary documents are given below.

List of travel documents for Tibet

• China visa or Tibet group visa is compulsory to visit Tibet from Nepal. A minimum of five people of the same nationality is essential.
• Tibet Travel Permit
• Alien’s Travel Permit is compulsory to visit the Mt Everest Base Camp, Samye Monastery (Southern Part), Nyingchi (Eastern Part) and Mt Kailash.  It is issued by the local ATP or PSB on the arrival before these regions.
• A military permit is compulsory for the Mt. Kailash trip, Sichuan-Tibet overland tour, and Tibet-Kashgar overland tour.

Note: Professional media photographer, journalist, diplomat and government official are not able to issue their Tibet Permit through an ordinary travel agency. They should be an arrangement of the foreign affairs department, economic development committee and so on.

The cost of group visas 

• Normal Visa – 5 days - $ 140 for American and $ 50 for other nationality.
• Urgent Visa – 3 days - $ 144 for American and $ 65 for other nationality.
• Top Urgent Visa – 1 day - $ 175 for American and $ 85 for other nationality.

Note: The group visa is applicable only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The service charge of an agency will be $ 20-50 per person in a group.

Documents 

• A valid passport, Chinese visa, name, sex, nationality, passport number, date of birth and occupation of each member is compulsory in the group.
• The entry and exit dates. Not necessary to apply for an individual Chinese visa in your country if you are visiting Tibet from Nepal in a group.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance from your home country is necessary to cover the flight cancellation, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, and helicopter rescue.

Season

The best time is March, April and May, September, October, and November. Mid-July to September is the monsoon time. November to March is the cold season. The January temperature can be -2 Celsius. The summer temperature remains 22 Celsius and the winter temperature remains 7 Celsius. The temperature can be different from an altitude range.

Money/Bank

The use Renminbi (RMB) also called Chinese Yuan. The major towns include Lhasa, Shigatse, and Tsedang; cash can withdraw from the Bank of China and China Constructional Bank with the ATM facility. Travellers’ Check, Master Card, Visa Card, American Express and Diners Club are accepted at the large hotel and tourist stores. There are no banks and ATM in rural area.

Electricity/Photography

The hotels have 220-volt power with one 3-pin plug and socket. You can take a photo of the mountain, lake, landscape, and monuments; however, it requires permissions before taking a photo of people, inside a shrine and the monuments.

Communication

Public telephone booths, telecommunication centres, several hotels in Lhasa have telephone and internet services. All the major towns have a communication facility.

Personal equipment

Bring enough warm clothes such as a windproof jacket, pants, warm boots, sunglasses, sun lotion, sun hat, lip protection, camera, films, extra batteries, head torch and personal medical supports.

Shopping

All major towns sell local handicraft, Buddha figures, rosaries, amulets, fur hats, horse belts, copper teapots, and wooden bowls, jewellery inlaid with turquoise, Tibetan carpets, Thanka Painting, and books.

Customs

You should register all the personal goods such as a camera, laptop, and watches. Antiques are not allowed trafficking.

Language/Time

About 93%, people speak Tibetan. There is Amdo Tibetan and Khams Tibetan. The Han Chinese also called traditional that also speaks in Tibet. The majority of people follow Tibetan Buddhism; however, the Bon and Animism religion also are in practice in Tibet. The Tibetan time is +8 hours ahead of the GMT.

Health and Precautions

Drink only sealed water and cold drinks. Ask health precaution with your home doctor before Tibet travel. Nature is sensitive if you are going hiking follow mountain rule and regulations to avoid high altitude sickness. Drink plenty of water, tea, coffee, and soups, walk slowly, take enough rest and camp in a reliable place.