Tibet Travel Information

A trip to Tibet is not for the faint hearted; the traveling can be hard, adventurous and often unpredictable. Due to Tibet's high altitude travelers with a history of heart, lung or anemia problems should consult a doctor before considering a visit.

Visitors should also understand before taking this trip that Tibet was only opened to tourism in recent years. The infrastructure of the Tourist industry is still very basic in the remote country. Please do not expect the standards you are accustomed to in the west. However, every effort will be made under the circumstances to ensure a smooth and pleasant trip.

Clothing Accessories: From Oct.-March warm clothes are required to fight the frostily cold and from April-September light clothes to shun the scorching heat. However a jacket and sweater are advised through out the years as the weather may unexpectedly changes at any time. The recommended items are: A domestic first aid kit; water purification tablets (mineral water can be bought as well) toilet and tissue papers, flashlight, comfortable walking shoes, dust masks, utility knife, sun hat, sun glasses, suntan lotion and a limited number of clothes.

Customs: There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders or radios as long as they are for personal use or if commercial use should be registered with a custom official. Printed matters considered unsuitable by the Chinese Government is prohibited. Customs regulations forbid the export of art objects created prior to 1959 or souvenirs in amounts deemed to be excessive.

Food & drinks : Tibet has only a handful of towns, and Tibetan cuisine is not exactly the most varied in the world. It is handy to carry anything that can be brewed with hot water. Instant coffee, drinking chocolate, tea (bags), soup cubes. Other food items worth considering are instant noodles, nuts and raisins, chocolate, dry foods and biscuits.

Business Hours: Government offices are usually closed on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.
Currency: RENMNBI, the people's money used by millions of Chinese everyday, circulates in notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Yuan.

Airport: Lhasa Gonggar Airport is approx. 96km away from Lhasa.
Air Ticket reconfirmation: Your guide will reconfirm the air ticket upon payment of RMB 30, which is reconfirmation fee charged by China South West Airlines.

Health & Altitude problems:
Traveling in Tibet involves high altitude and can be strenuous. Clients with heart and lung problems or blood diseases should consult their doctor before booking the trip. Very often the cases of altitude sickness have been reported. Simple headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders can happen before the acclimatization. Advised, drink approx. 03 liters of water per day, do not strain yourself, move slowly, breathe deeply and take regular rests.

Tibetan Counterpart:
All the packages in Tibet will be handled by the Tibetan Counterpart and they will take over the arrangements immediately on landing at Gonggar Airport (Lhasa)/Kodari Nepal Tibet border which includes transportation, Accommodation and services of their local guide.

INSURANCE
Kindly note in Tibet the amount of insurance coverage is extremely low as such, clients should have their own insurance. Tibetan agents do not pay any claim however logical the claim may be. It is also possible that certain places on the Itinerary may not be allowed to visit due to sudden government decision.

GUIDES
We request our Tibet Agent to provide best guides even the so called best guides need lot of improvements.

TIBET VISA:
As per recent Chinese Govt. Decision, Chinese Embassy, Kathmandu require a group consisting minimum of five participants.

For obtaining the Tibet Visa in Kathmandu we need a minimum of 3 clear working days. As such clients will have to reach Kathmandu accordingly. For your information, the Chinese Embassy is open on every Mondays, Wednesday & Friday for one hour only. Tibet Visa Fee: US$ 45 all nationalities but USD 14 extra for US Passport holder.

Also we would like to inform you that we require the passport details with photocopy of passport before the arrival of the GIT/FIT or by fax (i.e. Full Name, Sex, Nationality, Date of Birth, Passport number, Occupation) in order to process the Tibet Visa Formalities at our end.
It is advisable to bring two-passport size photographs along with each of them, which may need, while obtaining the Tibet Visa.

** The above regulations and all visa fees are subject to change without prior notice.