Tibet

Important Instructions

Necessary Visa and Permits for Nepal Tibet Tour

Traveling to Nepal and Tibet requires several travel documents. You can get multiple entry Nepal Visa for 15, 30, 90 days ahead of departure or upon arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport. When you travel to Tibet from Nepal, Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet Group Visa are foremost and compulsory to take flights to Tibet or overland driving. Besides, more Tibet travel permits are needed if you are traveling to Mount Everest, Mount Kailash and other remote places in Tibet. Tibet Discovery has always kept up with the latest news on Nepal and Tibet Permits.

Tibet Entry Permit (Tibet Travel Permit), issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, is the most important one which has to be obtained before your trip because you must have it to take your flight/train to Tibet. To get the permit, you have to book a Tibet tour with us, and send us your passport and Chinese visa about 20 days in advance, and then let us apply for the permit. And there are other permits are needed if you travel to else prefectures in Tibet outside Lhasa. (Aliens’ Travel Permit is required for traveling to Shigatse, Nyingchi, Shannan and etc. Border Pass is obligatory for Mount Everest travel for it is located at the China-Nepal border area. Military Permit is additionally needed for visiting Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Nyingchi and remote places in Shannan Prefecture.)

Tibet Group Visa

If you travel to Tibet from Nepal, whether by flight or overland driving, Tibet Group Visa is a must-have permit. Both single travelers and group tourists are mandatory to get the Group Visa. Please note that the Chinese Visa you got from my home country is not available for Tibet entry from Nepal. To get Tibet Group Visa, you can book a Tibet tour with us, and complete the visa application form with a passport-size photo attached, deliver your original valid passport to us, and then we will apply for the Tibet Group Visa in Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu for you. The fastest processing for Tibet Group Visa is 3 working days (working days: Monday ~ Friday). During the visa application period, you can also travel in Nepal with a copy of your passport. Once it issued, we will send the Tibet Group Visa to your hotel, or you can collect your passport and Tibet Group Visa in our Nepal office.

Best Time to Visit Tibet

Generally speaking, May to early October is the recommended time to visit Tibet. July and August are the peak season and rainy season. The temperatures in daytime and night differ a lot, usually 5~15℃ in the daytime and -5~0℃ in the night, so please keep warm all the time. It is usually snowy and cold in winter, which is not suitable for visit Mount Everest. Places like Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse are suitable for travel all year round.

High Altitude Sickness

The average altitude of Tibet is about 4000 meters above the sea level (Lhasa: 3700m; EBC: 5200m; Namtso: 4718m). You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival at Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay

Packing and Wearing Ideas

Firstly you can’t forget your passport and Chinese Visa. A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also, bring the necessary medicine you need. Other stuff like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sunblock is recommended.
As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). A down jacket is necessary for Spring and Autumn. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes are necessary.

Independent Travel in Tibet

In Tibet for international visitors, an independent Journey is not allowed. Foreign vacationers must have a guided tour hence you will have book a tour guide and private car unless you are traveling only the Lhasa. Where the only guide is ok, and you may use local transportation. In case you would like to revel in the Tibetan culture and environment without guides and driver. There’s a massive portion to Tibetan inhabited places in Qinghai and Sichuan, in which visitors can do independent travel.

Hologram sticker on the Tibet travel permit

There is a hologram on the upper right corner of the Tibet travel permit. Without this, it is of no use. Those how are coming to Lhasa on the flight from any other part of China. You will the original permit in hand to broaden the flight to Lhasa. Your travel agency will send you the original copy of it. As soon as you receive it, please check for the hologram sticker. If it is missing, check inside the envelope and your surroundings. If it is still missing, you will have to call your travel agency in Lhasa immediately to arrange

Modifications of regulations

Changing the rule and regulation of the Tibet tourism bureau can impact your journey to Tibet. It’s far always better to maintain oneself updated with the modifications.

Train or flight or overland

It is always recommended to take the Train then a flight to Lhasa. The main reason is that flying to Lhasa could put you in more risk getting High Altitude Sickness, than the train.

Taking the train can only reduce the likelihood of the development of the sickness. Please do not consider making the overland journey from Nepal to Lhasa. Instead, it is recommended to do it from Lhasa to Nepal. Per day progressive of Altitude is higher if coming from Nepal to Lhasa Overland.

Train ticket to Tibet

Getting the train ticket to Tibet is always hard. We recommend every traveler to book their train to and from Tibet at least a month in advance. You can book your train ticket

Time for advance preparation for Tibet

Remember this, The train ticket to Lhasa is typically sold out a month beforehand. Tibet travel permit commonly takes from 20 days to 30 days in making. If Time is restricted, you can send the scan copy of your passport for the Tibet travel agency first to start the Tibet tour permit even as you apply for a Chinese Visa. But we will need the scanned copy of your visa to finish the Tibet travel permit.

Sun protection

Tibet’s higher altitude means it is closer to the sun and the thinner atmosphere of the Plateau additionally filters much less UV radiation than low land. According to the world health organization ‘’, every thousand meters of altitude increase 10 to 20% of UV levels in the atmosphere”. The sun is fierce in Tibet. It’s far suggested for a sunscreen with 50 sun protection factor (SPF) and lip solar screen for lip protection too.

Safety from dog bites.

There are many stray dogs in Tibet, in particular around the monasteries and remote regions. If you are trekking in Tibet, Dogs are guarding the herds or nomad tents. It is suggested to go together with the Group. Dogs in towns and monasteries are pretty laid. Preventive attention is good practice.

Put on a mask?

In Tibet most people wear cloth face masks, for lots of reasons;

Protection against sunburns
To assist, preserve the moisture against extraordinary dry air outdoor.
Drink plenty of water.

It is also recommended to drink warm water with a pinch of salt. It works wonder for high altitude sickness.

Some Recommended medicine

While traveling, you can experience either constipation or diarrhea in Tibet. Consult your medical doctor for suggestions and prescriptions on stomach problems on the street. Medicine for motion illness is also advised in case you get unwell while driving.

Safety driving

Tibet is entirely a safe place for driving. Most drivers had many years of experience. Generally, the regulations for driving is stringent, which include the speed restriction and Time for travel. No tourist vehicle is allowed to travel in late-night time after 10:00 pm.

But the majority of the excursion includes the very very long hour of driving. It is suggested for the visitor to provide driver sufficient time to relax at the least 20 minutes every four hours of drive. So that, it will prevent evening rush to reach the sleeping destination. Do not say in on the stops more than guides advice. Communicate up if you experience uncomfortable if the driver is rushing up.

Maintaining warm and dry

There is a superb likelihood that it’s going to rain sooner or later in your adventure to Tibet, so bring a few properly rain gear, or at least get an umbrella or rain poncho somewhere along the way. It’s going to inevitably get cold in the nighttime, especially in spring, fall or winter, and you’ll need a few cold-weather equipments: warm jacket, warm hat, gloves, long undies or fleece-covered pants. Days time can be scorching in the intense sun, so you’ll need layers.

Do dress modestly among Tibetans

We are very modest people, and we like it if a visitor would be respectful to be well covered up. Especially if you are visiting the monastery, spiritual places and at the presence of monks and nun. Save the sexy off the shoulder, tight, no shirt, low cut, short dresses, short shorts, mid-riff baring stuff for another part of your trip.

Do show respect for the elderly in Tibet

In our society, the elderly are the boss. We treat them with respect. While we eat, we serve them first, offering them the seat, and assisting them whenever need. We believe by treating them goodwill get us a lot of blessings.

Don’t miss the koras

Kora means circumambulation of the holy places which could be entire village or town, temple, monastery and whole-mount in case of Mount Kailash. It is a great way to experience Tibet is to walk the koras around holy sites as Tibetans do.

Do consider giving offerings to pilgrims

One exception to the above thought is to donate to pilgrims. Another culture for Tibetan Buddhists is to understand a prostration journey to Lhasa and Mount Kailash. You can donate them to anything from food to medicine and Alms for them to buy their requirements. Check with your guide if you want to give it to these people.

Buy from Tibetan shops

Anything you may need to buy from drinking waters to thangka. Please purchase it from Local Tibetan shops. There are lots of Tibetan businesses where ever you go to Tibet.

Be ecological conscious when buying products

Think twice before you buy anything in Tibet. Especially the products of endangered animals and plants. Consider purchase products with less plastic cover.

Do tip your Tibetan guide and driver

Giving trip to the guide, and drivers as very much encouraged.

It’s nice to tip your guide and driver, separately, especially if you are on a private trip. You don’t have to, but we tipped the equivalent of one day of the trip to the guide and a bit less to the driver.

Don’t talk politics to Tibetan

Most people in Tibet prefer not to talk about politics. It is always better not to discuss politics with local people.

Do know the customs for eating and drinking

You will be offered tea (bho cha/Tibetan butter tea, or cha ngarmo/sweet tea) in a Tibetan home. Central Tibetans usually politely refuse the offer several times, while the host insists until the guest accepts. Even if you don’t want any, it’s polite to take one cup and pretend to drink a little; then you can cover the bowl with your hand to show when you don’t want any more.

Be polite and ask if you can take someone’s picture

If, you would like to take a picture of someone. It is good to ask permission before actually clicking. Just show your camera and point to them. Some people will not accept yet with those who agree for a picture; you will have a better image in your camera.

Be aware of how Tibetans feel about shoes and feet

Tibetan consider feet and shoes are very dirty. So be careful with your steps.

Do accept tea or gifts with both hands

We consider accepting or receiving things with one hand as very impolite, So it is good to receive offerings and stuff with your both hand

Small gifts to bring

Many locals appreciate the small gifts from the Visitor. Especially older people, they like Vitamins, supplements, Warm stocks. For the monastery monk appreciative small banknote from your country to put it on Shrines

Photography

Photography is not allowed inside the chapels of monasteries;

Credit cards

Credit cards are not recommended as a way of payment in Tibet because they are only accepted by the Bank of China and few hotels in Lhasa. exchange enough money to Chinese RMB in cash is the best choice though it has risks.

Internet connection.

Hotels in Lhasa and Shigatse can provide an Internet connection.

What to leave at home

If you are joining in the group tour, you will be traveling with at least 12, and there would be some limited space for your backpack. So you will have to bring the thing you will truly need in Tibet. There is also a limit baggage weight allowance in the domestic flight in China. So it is good to think of whether you will truly need anything.