Travel Information

TRAVEL INFORMATION ON YOUR TOUR TO TIBET

Most importantly, all travelers traveling in Tibet are kindly requested to bear in mind that Tibet, being extremely remote and isolated by the most formidable Himalayan ranges,  remains  still one of  the most captivating but least developed parts in the world. On top of that, with its very short history of tourism (just about 15 years), the facilities for tourists, although being upgraded, are still at basic and limited scale. So, the visitors are requested not to have high expectation in terms of facilities in Tibet. You can rather take this tour as an adventure from every point of view, viz., road, hotels, vehicles, climate, visa, etc. However, we will always put all our efforts in making your journey as pleasant as possible.

Overcoming altitude Problem: Travelling in TIBET is also an adventure involving high altitude and could be strenuous. So far, most visitors have only minor effects from the altitude. However, we advise especially the guests with known heart or lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before travelling. Mild headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder can take place before acclimatization. Our advice: Drink 4 liter of water minimum a day. Do not exhaust yourself so much and breathe deep and take rest more than usual. Bottled water is available in each hotel where you have overnight and in the restaurants on route where you have your lunch.

Landslides: As Tibet tours get operated mainly during the monsoon time, there are high chances of landslides mostly in the Nepalese part (also in the early part in Tibet). In case of landslides, to over cross them and the gap in between, an extra vehicle may have to be arranged. In that case, you are kindly requested to contribute nominal charges for porters and vehicle, ranging from Rs. 200-300 per person. We wish there will be no hassles as such. Besides  the landslide  expenses, if our guide raised any unjustifiable extra cost on the way, you are kindly requested to have a receipt from the guide with his/her signature so as to enable us to reimburse accordingly. Without the receipt, reimbursement is not possible.

Money: Banks in TIBET/CHINA are closed on SATURDAY & SUNDAY. So, you are kindly requested to carry about USD 100 per person in CASH to cover your extra expenses for main meals and others en route until LHASA. If it is cash dollars even local people help you to get them exchanged in Chinese Yuan. Travellers’ cheque & credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks especially outside LHASA.

Next, if any of the clients pay for the Tibet tour in TC, one afternoon you are kindly requested to accompany the guide to the bank in LHASA for about 15 minutes and please make an extra counter signature on the TCs you have paid. Your direct presence and counter signature ensures immediate encasement of the TCs to our agent in LHASA. Otherwise it may take months. Your kind co-operation in this regard will be highly appreciated

Guide: We always try to provide a good English speaking Tibetan Guide. However, as per new regulation, guides are provided by the guide association on a queue basis. Guides in Tibet do not get enough exposure to English language and the one who are good in English did not get chance to renew their license, so please do not expect fluent and spontaneous explanation from him/her. Your frequent questioning will encourage him/her to explain well, question by question.

Clothes: As the temperature in Tibet is low most of the time, it is always advised to carry warm clothes along with a sleeping bag with you. As the weather is harsh and dry, chip stick, suntan cream, sun hat, sun glasses with sporty shoes are always recommended.

Monastery Entry Fee: It is included throughout your tour for the monuments and monasteries as mentioned in the itinerary, whereas photography is not. So, kindly pay the photography fee if you are keen in photography.

Visa Splitting: As Tibet tour requires visa in group, sometime people staying longer will have to get the group visa split. It costs generally Chinese Yuan 200-400 depending upon different nationalities. (Applicable only if anyone/some of the members from the group visa document have different program. If all members are following the same program, there is no need of splitting).

Hotels en route: As the facilities in TIBET are very basic, hotels, although they look gorgeous, do not have proper facilities even in LHASA. So, in the remote areas, it is obvious that hotels may not have enough double rooms and clients sometimes may have to have triple, four or five bedded rooms in some places. However, we always try to provide twin bedded rooms. Especially, first two nights have to be spent in such basic hotels that may not have bathrooms attached and could require you to use common toilets. So, you are kindly requested not to have a high expectation from the tour in terms of the facilities in the hotels.

Recommended Restaurants in LHASA: Eating out in LHASA is enjoyable these days. The following restaurants are recommended that serve cheap & best food ranging from Tibetan to Chinese, Continental      to semi Chinese

01.    SNOWLAND RESTAURANT/BARKHOR

02.    CRAZY YAK RESTURANT /BARKHOR

03.    DUNIYA RESTURANT BARKHOR

04.    KAILASH RESTURANT /ON THE TOP OF HTL BANAKSOL

05.    BARKHOR CAFÉ/ BARKHOR

06.    MAKE AME RESTURANT/BARKHOR

07.    LHASA KITCHEN / BARKHOR

Breakfast: From the first day onward, breakfast will be offered after an hour’s drive from KATHMANDU at a. So, please do not bother for breakfast in your hotel which may cause delay to report to the bus stand. Breakfast is included throughout your tour.

Tipping: Guides and drivers are not paid well in TIBET. So, you are kindly requested to tip the guide and driver so as to enable us to have them happy for our future groups as well.

Last Minute Checking: Very importantly, on the last day, if you are travelling in a group, please make sure your guide has the original visa copy with him (if you are travelling in group) and other necessary travel documents (travel permit for the group and alien's travel permit for the individual travellers) before you leave your hotel for the airport for the final departure. This is all to enable you to check out from the immigration without any hassle.

Must Important Thing: Clients cannot carry the books (lonely planet, political books and religious books) and picture of the Dalai Lama.  Client must strictly follow the rule or law of China. If the Chinese army/officer found that they can punish/return back the clients. It won't be our control.

Airport Tax: If you are flying to LHASA from KATHMANDU, airport tax at our airport is Rs.1700 Per person.

Wish you a great time in Tibet!!