Tibet, has been a mysterious land of lakes and rivers, mighty snow peaks, and beautiful and ancient monasteries - with its spiritual air, an unearthly mystical land of Buddhist culture and philosophy. Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified empire, but it soon divided into a variety of territories. The atmosphere is severely dry nine months of the year, and average annual snowfall is only 18 inches, due to the rain shadow effect. Western passes receive small amounts of fresh snow each year but remain traversable all year round. Low temperatures are prevalent throughout these western regions, where bleak desolation is unrelieved by any vegetation beyond the size of low bushes, and where wind sweeps unchecked across vast expanses of arid plain. The Indian monsoon exerts some influence on eastern Tibet. Northern Tibet is subject to high temperatures in the summer and intense cold in the winter.
Our Tibet tour takes you to visit Dalai Lama's Potala, Norbulingka and visit Barkhor Market in Lhasa including other interesting places of visit and it also covers a vast tract of this ancient land, crossing spectacular passes, through unforgettable landscapes and heading right into the spiritual heart of the country. The road also passes through quiet Nyalam, the historical Shigatse and Gyantse which begins from Kathmandu through friendship highway to Everest Base Camp and ends at Lhasa.
Trip Includes
Group transportation (Private transportation on request but price may vary)
Tibet travel permit
Chinese visa
Tibetan English speaking guide
Accommodation on twin sharing basis during Tibet tour with breakfast
Flight tickets to Kathmandu
Monument entrance fees
Visa process fees and all paper works
Trip Excludes
Nepal arrival visa
Travel Insurance
Lunch and dinner
Accommodation in Kathmandu
Photography fees
Tips
Useful Information
Tour Group
This overland tour is a group departure tour to Tibet so the group size is depends on how many are signing up. Usually in our group, the minimum number will be 2 persons and the maximum number will be 15 persons or more on request. For single travelers, we do also organize the trip with single supplement but it is suggested to join this tour at any of our fixed group departure as we can depart tour at 2 times in a week, Tuesday and Saturday.
Physical Requirements
This overland Journey to the Lhasa is not difficult, does not involve any walking/hiking as this tour is designed completed by comfortable four wheel drive. As you know this tour drive up to 4350m, so it is essential that you having a moderate health and moderate fitness to plan this tour. Previous hiking or walking is not necessary; it is an additional benefit if you have but over all required a positive attitude and strong determination of the trip. However we advise specially the guest(s) with known heart or lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling to this tour and request to report us while booking a tour with us.
Our Tour Staffs
For this tour, there will be one Tibetan tour Guide and driver during the Tibet visit. Our Tibetan tour guides are professional and experienced but note that Tibet is china dominant country so sometimes your Tibetan guides are not as friendly as your Nepalese guides. However they having a very good knowledge of the tour you will be undertaking and treat you well during your entire journey. Our Tour guide is trained, certified and licensed from TTB (Tibet Tourism Board).
Pre trip meeting
We will have pre trip meeting of our entire Tibet tour at a day earlier than your tour starts from kathmandu. Meeting will be at 5:00 PM at our central office located in Kathmandu, Nepal. All the trip briefing and remaining payments of the trip will be settled by the same time.
Meals and Accommodation
This tour is inclusive with bed and breakfast. While in tour, we provide the twin sharing accommodation. Your accommodation in Lhasa and Gyantse will be deluxe, Sighaste hotel is a tourist standard and accommodation at Nylam and Lhatse will be basic guest house. This is a transit way to Lhasa so for the first two nights’ accommodation are relatively poor than other days, as they are the only options available for touring groups at this route.
Our entire Tibet tours are with the breakfast basis. You do have to look after your lunch and dinner by yourself but no worries, there are a lots of Tibetan/ Chinese restaurant for your foods at the every places you will overnight and you may have different choice of the food as well. You may estimate approx of US$-15 to 20 dollars for you lunch and dinner per day.
Your hotel in Kathmandu do not includes in the tour but you may ask us to reserve and we would assist you to book your hotel in Kathmandu as per your preferred budget on additional cost.
Clothing and Equipment
For your traveling to Tibet, it is most essential to know what to bring with you and what are the essential clothing and equipments during the travelling time. Basically, we suggest bringing clothes based on season and altitude. During the trip you'll needed down, medium fabrics and good hiking shoe. Please find the equipment list below for your personal use during your travel to Tibet with us:
A pair of light hiking/trekking boots depend on your season and altitude, a pair of sandals, 2 pairs of woolen socks and some pair of hiking socks, 1 medium poly pro shirt, 1 pile jacket, 1 down jacket, 1 woolen hat , a pair of sunglasses, a pair of glove with liner, a pair of woolen gloves, one day bag, sunscreen lotion SPF 10 to 25 and sunscreen stick SPF 10 to 30, some reading books (optional), 1 walkman (optional) and music tapes (optional), a one liter water bottle, 1 flash light with few sets of batteries, 1 sleeping bag (-5 to -20) depends on your season and altitude, few t-shirts and few long and warm trousers, one wind and water proof trouser, rain poncho, nail cutter, Swiss knives etc. are the recommended to bring with you. Also most of the equipments can buy or hire in Kathmandu.
Acclimatization
Our Tibet tour is designed specially with keeping maximum days en route while driving to high elevation so nothing to be worried.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is most essential for travelling to Tibet; which protect your financial securities and compensate your lost property as well as life security. Please make sure that you are bringing a copy of your travel insurance and report this to us during your pre-trip meeting with us at our head office in Kathmandu before the tour starts on following day morning. Travel insurance should cover any emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and medical expenses for your Tibet trip.
Climate and Weather
Climate in Tibet is totally different than climate in Nepal. As Tibet is a rain shadow part of the Himalayas, the Tibetan climate is not as harsh as many people imagine it to be. The best time to travel to Tibet is from March to the beginning of November, but among them, August and September are the most recommended. But if you only stay in Lhasa, you can go there any time of the year. Sun radiation is extremely strong in Tibet. The sunlight in Lhasa is so intense that the city is called Sunlight City. The thin air can neither block off nor retain heat so that the temperature extremes can be met in daytime and the same night respectively in Tibet.
Passport and Visa Requirements & permit
Before you traveling, check your passport and validity date. You most require a valid passport to visit Tibet. Passports most have at least 6 months validity after finish date of your trip. We most require your copy of your passport details either fax it or scan copy to our email during your booking of Tibet tour with us through which we would make your Tibet travel permit in advance.
For making your Chinese visa/Tibet visa; Chinese embassy require your original passport to obtain the Chinese visa which we do upon on your arrival in Kathmandu and even if you have already obtained Chinese visa from your homeland county this visa doesn't work travelling to Tibet from Nepal side so we have to get you a new Tibet/china visa and your previously existing visa will be cancelled. Recently, Chinese embassy in Kathmandu is providing visa on Monday, Wednesday and Friday so you should arrive at least two days in prior to Kathmandu before departing to Tibet tour.
Your Tibet traveling permit and your Chinese visa will be valid for approx of 2 weeks to 21 days and within that timeframe, you have to exit from this country. Please do write us if you traveling to mainland to china so you would required longer visa. Individual visa to Tibet is not possible if you not taking any tours; your Tibet/Chinese visa is a group visa along with the groups. Always keep your passport with you and check your original visa while entering to Tibet and leaving this beautiful country after your tours ends.
