Tibet

Tibet is also known as real Shangri-La, the forbidden land and the holy land of your innermost desire. People identify and describe this land as the roof of the world. Due to the high altitude, Tibet is a land of snows and a very mysterious place to explore. Snowy Mountains and grasslands, scattered herds of yak and nomads on the plateau, spectacular monasteries and unsophisticated smiles, tranquil lake and transparent blue sky, all can be seen on this magic land. Tibet is a province of natural wonder, a hidden treasure of cultural relics and a destination of attractive adventure.

No doubt, Tibet is a well-known tourist destination in China with abundant historical and natural resources. As located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at the southwest frontier of China, far from the so-called “classic route”, for most of the people, Tibet is the name leading to a place that filled with mystery, legends and secrets. And the uniqueness and charm attract millions of people from home and abroad every year.

Resting on the roof of the world is a wondrous land of monasteries and Buddhist heritage: Tibet. Tibet shares its border with Nepal which makes the availability of Himalayan delights to a maximum. As much as it is dazzling with its landscapes, its religious heritage is no less. Tibet holds spectacular Buddhist monasteries and temples that carry significant historical importance. The Buddhist chanting and the butter lamp auras truly make this place the most spiritual location on earth. Tibet, a land entailing contrasting scenery of arid-brown lands with the glistening-white Himalayas, is home to most remarkable of cultural heritage and ancestral monuments with massive influence from Buddhism.

Visa information

Obtaining the permit to travel Tibet can be a little tedious as foreigners are required to obtain Tibet Group Visa from a certified tour operator in Nepal like Nepal Social Treks.  We will do all the necessary documents process for your Tibet visa if you are going to Tibet from Nepal, we need 3 working days in Kathmandu with your original passport to obtain the visa. You will have to apply for Chinese Visa from the Chinese embassy in your home country if you wish to visit Tibet via Mainland China. Once your Tibet Group Visa arrives; you are set to enter this region. A valid visa for China is not the same as a Tibet Travel Permit; tourists with tourist visa will still need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. To get the permit you need to book a pre-arrange Private/Group joining Tour. Also, travelling alone in Tibet is not allowed and the only option is group travel. You will have to contact us to obtain a permit to visit Tibet and you must be accompanied by a registered and recognized tour guide. It is also recommended that you carry your permit while travelling around Tibet as you may be asked to show it at places such as hotels or different locations in Lhasa.

How to reach Tibet

From Nepal

Reaching the roof of the world seems like a mystery to many tourists. But as intricate as it seems, it is not difficult at all. There are ongoing flights, railways, and highways that take you to Tibet if you have your permits.

The roadway is the most common way to enter Tibet. There are many cheap direct international flights to Kathmandu, many tourists find it convenient to fly to Kathmandu then enter Tibet via land. However, if you are already in Nepal, you can enter Tibet via Kerung, Simikot and Kodari borders. Due to the Nepal earthquake in 2015, the Kodari border is temporarily closed. Instead, the Kerung border which is 3 hours away from Kathmandu is used. The most used border by travellers wishing to tour/trek Kailash is Simikot. There are plenty of cars, vans, buses that frequent the Kerung border.

There are two direct flights between Lhasa and Kathmandu, run by Sichuan Airline and Air China till date. The best thing about flying to Tibet is the stunning bird’s-eye view of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak.

Mainland China

Train/Railway: There are mainly five routes that connect China and Tibet by train. The popular choice of tourists is to take the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. It takes 2 days to reach Lhasa from Beijing. There is also a daily train service from Shanghai to Tibet. The Chengdu-Tibet train departs every alternate day and takes around 43 hours.

Many airlines offer discounts in winter, mainly for the flight from Chengdu to Lhasa. At present, there are direct flights to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Shangri-la, Kunming, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xian, Xining and Kathmandu. There are also several daily flights from Chengdu to Shigatse and Nyingchi in Tibet which can be also one of the choices.

By land: Entering Tibet via mainland China by land is very expensive and takes from 7 – 15 days. 

The popular destination to visit

Tibet holds surreal attractions that lure travellers to come here. There are several places travellers must explore in Tibet. Start off by exploring the Potala Palace- considered to be one of the most attractive man-made architectures in the world. Here, you will witness fine pieces of artworks and valuable treasures dating back to the times of King Songtsen Gampo. You can also visit the Jokhang Temple which is considered as the most sacred temple by Tibetans. Also, the holy triangle of Ganden, Sera, and Drepung monasteries too are of great interest to the tourists visiting Tibet. You can explore the sacred lakes of Namtso and Yamdrok and indulge in their beauty. Following up comes mesmerizing landscapes such as the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Everest Base Camp, and Mt. Kailash pilgrimage. These are some of the most popular destinations one must visit while n Tibet.

Things to do in Tibet

There are various things to do in this ancient region. From exploring ancient palaces to observing dazzling landscapes you can get a wonderful experience out of Tibet. Tibet is a remarkable place recognized for its religious activities. You can observe the pilgrims at Jokhang Temple or engage in making circuits around it. The Potala Palace holds valuable treasures and great artworks worth seeing. You can also set foot on the world’s tallest mountain while you are in Tibet. But this will require you to trek to the Everest Base Camp. You can observe the heavenly landscapes: Himalayan Mountains, canyons and sacred lakes. Himalayan expeditions to mountains like the Mt. Everest (8848m) and Cho Oyu (8188m) can also be done from the unconventional routes from the Tibetan front. All throughout your stay in Tibet, you can easily find hotels, lodges, and tea houses. Camping is also a prominent option in some of the exotic destinations while in tours to Mansarovar, Kailash, and Everest Base Camp.

People/ Food/ Culture

A wide majority of people in Tibet follow Buddhism. It is safe to say that the lifestyle of the Tibetans has a heavy influence from Buddhism in every aspect. You must pay heed to some social morals and etiquettes on your travel to Tibet including but not limited to: respecting the ancient heritages, limiting the use of cameras in religious shrines, and humble social interactions. The people of Tibet are known to have adapted to the harsh environment and climate. Nevertheless, they are extremely warm and welcoming. Just like any other culture, the Tibetan culture has its distinct cuisine. Food is also very important as the characteristics of their dishes help them survive the harsh climate. The Tibetan diet mostly consists of meat, milk, and foods high in protein.

Banking, ATM’s and Money in Tibet

The currency used in Tibet is the Chinese Renminbi (RMB). You can exchange foreign currencies at the Bank of China located in different cities including Lhasa. While travelling via Nepal, you can exchange your currency at the authorized banks and dealers in Kathmandu. Also, check the official website of Nepal Rastra Bank for the currency exchange rates. It is also advised to be wary of the unauthorized sources which offer shady rates of currency exchange. There are few ATMs in Tibet, but they hold withdrawal limits from around 2000-4000 RMB. Only a few of the banks in Tibet accept Credit cards. Therefore, it is recommended that you plan out your expenses beforehand. The Bank of China will accept foreign cards allowing you to withdraw money but keep in mind the local ATMs only allow domestic account transactions. You will rarely get to use your cards for payment in Tibet unless you are in top-end hotels.

Electricity

Most of the hotels in Tibet have both 110V and 220V electrical sockets are available. It is suggested to carry an adapter for best results and skip troubles

Internet and communication in Tibet

Communication conditions are greatly improved in Tibet these days and it makes communication much easier than before. A number of hotels provide international call and fax service too.  Cell phone connections are good in Lhasa and other cities in Tibet. Only in some remote mountainous regions, cell phones cannot be connected. There are also many public phones in Lhasa.

International mail service is available at the post offices. Nowadays, the internet is another alternative which is accessible to travellers and most hotels provide internet service for free WIFI. Restaurants, cafes, and tea houses also have free WIFI.  There are dozens of internet cafes in Lhasa.

Travelling alone in Tibet

Due to strict rules and regulations, you cannot travel Tibet alone. Foreigners are required to at least hire a registered tour operator to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit. There are few other permits that you require to access other rural places, which only your tour operator can get for you. However, Tibet is a safe place and travelling alone is not dangerous at all. The people here are mostly religious and live a religious life. This creates a very low risk of any threat. It is only the strict rules and regulations that do not allow you to travel alone in Tibet. It is always best to follow the law to avoid any unwanted consequences. 

Safety and security

As mentioned earlier, Tibet is a safe place for travel and tourism. However, there are few crimes that can occur at times. Like any other country, you can fall victim to pickpocketing. Other safety and security issues require you to prevent yourself from travelling after dark and getting in contact with unknown people. As Tibet is at a high altitude, you must be aware of your health conditions. The dry and oxygen-poor atmosphere can result in Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) to some individuals regardless of their physical condition. Therefore, make sure your body can adapt to the atmosphere with ample rest and acclimatization.

Weather Information of Tibet

The average temperature of Tibet ranges from 24°C to -7°C. For more details and recent updates regarding Tibet’s weather, you can also visit the official website of China Meteorological Administration. The monthly average temperature of Tibet is:

Best time to visit

May to September is the most popular and the best season to visit Tibet. The weather is warm with clear skies. The snow starts to melt from April clearing the blocked roads and making it easier to visit various Tibetan townships. However, since this is the peak season, the prices at every place are the highest.

If you want to save around 20% of your money you can visit Tibet in either April to November. The weather is cold and there are not so many tourists visiting Tibet. So you get more options for hotels and vehicles.

The lowest tourist season in Tibet is from December to February. The weather is very cold but you have all the attractions to yourself. The hotels and transport are much cheaper than the peak season which means you can get hotels and vehicles in half the price you would pay during the peak tourist season.

How to Book

A memorable and enjoyable trip begins with making an informed decision, and booking your trip can be one of the most exciting parts of the process. It’s the commitment to the adventure, to known, and unknown dreams, and a multitude of possibilities. But knowing exactly what you’re getting does not have to be a surprise after the booking process has been finished. So, before booking your trip please read carefully the full itinerary and if you have any questions concerning your trek, please reach out to our customer care specialists who are standing by to help with any queries. You can contact us either by email or call us at +977-9841365230. We request you also become familiar with our terms and conditions before booking your trip.

To begin your booking:

Please, select trip that you want to buy from us as we have plenty of activities that you can do here at Bhutan at Nepal Social Treks and proceed for booking by filling up the necessary details on the form. And if you cannot find the program that you need or want to customize the program then do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected] or contact +977-9841365230 with your requirement then we will offer you suitable program and we will communicate through email and once both parties agree then we will suggest you how to book and make payment.

If you are looking for a group tour or join any other existing groups then find your program and select the date you want to travel and click on Book now and add the number of People for the trip, then you will be redirected to the booking form. Fill the form carefully and click on confirm and book and continue. Then you will get the Online payment form and Pay online as you are required to make the 20% payment in advance in order to confirm the Tour and once you pay the amount then you will receive the Invoice for your payment then we will communicate through email for the further steps.

Once you finish booking any trip:

1. You need to send us a passport copy of all the travellers of the group.
2. You need to send us your flight arrival details.
3. You will need to pay 20% of the total amount as advance payment to secure your spot if you haven’t done yet.

Mode of payment

Bank Transfer (Wire Transfer):

You can pay the deposit through the Bank transfer, our bank detail is given below for the Bank Transfer.
Beneficiary Name: Nepal Social Treks and Expedition Pvt. Ltd
USD Account No: 01905822690019
Bank Name: Himalayan Bank Ltd.
Bank Address: Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal.
SWIFT Code: HIMANPKA

Credit card payment

You are able to make an online payment now to book your trip in Nepal and you are required to make the 20% down payment in order to confirm the trip. After making the payment your trip booking confirmation will be sent to you via email.