Note: This section covers travel information for Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and may not be relevant for travel in Greater Tibetan areas, which are outside of TAR, in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunan province.
Getting to Tibet and Away
By Flight
Gongkhar Airport near Lhasa is the main airport in TAR. Other airports such as Chamdo and Nyingchi do not have reliable services at the time of this print.
From Kathmandu: Air China operates daily flight during the peak tourist season from July till September. After December till February, there is normally one flight per week on Saturdays. At other times of the year, they generally operate on Tuesday and Saturdays.
Chengdu: There are more then 2 flights daily to and from Chengdu. Chengdu is well connected from other cities and there are few international connections, such as to Seoul, Bangkok, Hongkong and several others being planned.
Others: Seasonal direct flights also operate from Beijing, Hongkong and Zhongdian (Dechen Tibetan Prefecture) in Yunan
By Train
The Qinghai-Tibet (Qingzang) Railway from Golmud to Lhasa started operating in July 2006. The journey all the way from Beijing takes just under 48 hours. Trains to Lhasa originate in Beijing, Xining, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu.
By Road
There are four main roads into Tibet, roughly corresponding to the cardinal directions.
1) The most popular and spectacular overland crossing route is from Kathamandu, Nepal.
2) From north, the road from Golmud (Germu) is the easiest legal land route at present. However with the arrival of the train along this way, this route is used less often.
3) East from Chengdu or Yunan is long and in places the road is rough, but this is a great option for those who wish to see bit of Kham areas before entering into Tibet.
4) From Kashgar (Kashi) in Xinjiang province in the west, the route is for hardy travelers as the road for most part is unpaved and villages are small and few along this way. The main advantage of this way is that it passes by Mount Kailash and through a beautiful, very remote region inhabited by nomads.
5) Southeast to India: After 44 years of closure, the Nathu La pass to Sikkim, India, a part of the historic Silk Road was opened in July 2006. At time of writing, the border is not yet open to foreign tourists, but this is expected to change soon and there are plans for a Gangtok-Lhasa bus service.
Visa & Permits
China has two kinds of visa system.
a) Group Visa for Tour Groups b) Individual Visa
People can travel to Mainland China and Tibet with a Group Visa or an Individual Visa.
Group visa means-all the participants enlisted in one group visa must travel together including entry and exit. This is usually not practical if you are arriving with different flights etc.
Tibet Permit for travel via mainland:
Tourists entering Tibet via mainland cities process your own individual China Visa with Chinese Consulate in your resident country. Mention only those places in mainland china to be visited (exclude the mention of Tibet). Once you have the Chinese Visa on your passport, send us the copy and we will process Tibet Travel Permit based on your itinerary. This permit is then provided to you upon arrival in mainland China before traveling to Tibet (TAR).
Visa for travel via Nepal:
Those entering Tibet Autonomous Region via Nepal, a Group Visa from Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu must be obtained through a travel agent.
In order to process this Group Visa and travel permit, you will have to provide us your passport details in advance. Our Lhasa based representative will then process the necessary permits, and the approval letter is sent to our office in Kathmandu. Opon your arrival in Kathmandu, we submit this approval letter along with your original passports and additional forms to the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. Currently, Chinese embassy of Kathmandu accepts visa application only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 09:30am to 1100am. Regular visa processing takes 3 working days but against payment of emergency processing charge, we can collect the visa on same day or the second working day.
Group Visa and Permits are valid for the period of the trip that you buy with the operator and it also means that all the participants enlisted in one group visa must travel together while in Tibet, including entry and exit. If you wish to stay additional days, you have request in advance.
Weather and Best time for travel
Generally speaking the best time to travel around Tibet is from April till September. Tibet, being a Trans-Himalayan region, receives much less rain in the summer, with exceptions of those areas in southern Sichuan and Yunan. From October onwards, the temperature drops significantly and starts snowing in high passes and places in higher altitudes. However Tibetan areas, particularly the south is not as cold as one tends to imagine. Even in winter in most places, snow hardly stays on the ground for more then one night. The sheltered valleys of Lhasa, Shigatse, Tsetang and southern Kham (areas south of Sichuan and Yunan), the winter days are mild and beautiful.
Temperature Chart
Temperature ( in degree Celsius), Rain Fall and Sunshine Hours Chart of some areas Click here
Travel within Tibet and Transportation
Travel within Tibet is mainly by motor vehicle or trek. The only railway recently started connects Lhasa via Golmud to other main cities. The other airports such as in Nyingchi and Chamdo hardly function as commercial airport at this time. Trekking, motor Vehicle, motor biking, mountain biking is the way to get around.
Depending on the group size, route and road conditions, we can provide excellent transports of wide choices. For travel itinerary that involves rough road driving, off road excursions, it is best to use large SUVs such as 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser 4500 or 80 models and similar brand in Mitsubishi and Nissan. Sedan Cars, Small and medium size Vans such as Toyota Hiace, Coasters, Ford, Tempo are available for small groups and for travel in decent road condition. Large buses are available for larger groups. Generally speaking, most travel with Wind Horse for Tibet is individuals, doing many off the beaten road travels and hence we tend to use 4WD 4500 Toyota Land Cruiser. For pictures of the transports available in Tibet for tourists, please visit our photo gallery with Tibet transports.
Money & Exchange
Chinese Currency is called Renmibi or RMB in short or also called Chinese Yuan. While in China-Tibet, it's always practical to pay in local currency. US Dollars, Euro, Japanese Yen and Sterling Pounds and other convertible currencies can be exchanged in the "Bank of China" while in TAR. The 4-5 star hotels also provide money exchange facility. The exchange rate at the time of print is RMB 7.3 for every US dollars (Dec 2007).
Credit cards are accepted at the major banks, hotels, restaurants and big business houses only. This is rapidly changing.
Go to Tibet for an adventure and not for a luxury.
Tibet is the land of overwhelmingly beautiful landscape, rich culture, ancient religion, amazing myths and gorgeous mountains. Renowned as the last Shangri La in the world, Tibet is isolated by the high Himalayas and is one of the least developed parts of the world. Facilities are being upgraded and professionalism is still underway. So travelers are warned that they should not expect a luxury and a full fledge professionalism in Tibet . It’s extreme remoteness, harsh weather, and difficult geography makes the journey challenging but definitely rewarding.
Hotels, Guest Houses and Lodges in Tibet.
Main Cities like Lhasa, Gyantse, Tsedang, Shigatse in TAR have selection of relatively good hotels with upto 4 star catagory. In Xinning, Gyalthang (Zhongdian), Yushu and larger towns in greater Tibetan areas outdside of TAR also has 4-5 star hotels and resorts. In smaller towns, the hotels are more basic and further in villages, the accommodation are rudimentry. Wind Horse is currently developing database of these accommodations with pictures, description, amenities and traveller's reviews. You can visit the information on Tibet accommodation by selecting the place from our hotel section. This is an ongoing process and it will be updated from time to time.
Guides
Tibetan guides are reported to have limited English. However, we try and find the best among them. We distinguish ourselves from other companies in that because we choose the best guides, who are knowledgeable, flexible, helpful and the ones who are proud passionate about their job. For large groups, our Tour Leader based out of India and Nepal can accompany the group.
Food
Tragic as the Chinese takeover may be, many Tibetans will nevertheless admit that at least it brought some decent restaurants. The traditional Tibetan diet is largely limited to barley, meat (mutton or yak) and dairy products, with very few spices or vegetables. By comparison, Chinese restaurants in villages often put out some excellent food. Some travelers feel that Hui (ethnic Chinese Muslim) places are cleaner because of halal food laws; they can be recognized by the green flags and crescent moons. While on Wind Horse Tours, most of our tours provide breakfast at the hotel and if any other meals are included are combinations of local restaurants, picnic lunches, and some dinners in your overnight hotel. While trekking, our crews prepare all meals for you.
Photography
Photography at the airports, bridge and government establishment is not allowed if posted. On violation of this rule, you may be penalized, your camera, film etc taken away. Some monasteries and temples will allow you to take pictures inside them and may demand fees for the same. Tibetans generally will not be pleased when you take picture of something that is held sacred, including those inside the temples or monasteries.
Communication
Many areas of Tibet that were without communication facilities have now mobile phones. Nomads are seen riding motor bikes and carrying mobile phones.You can buy local SIM and use pre-paid mobile phones. Telephone services are available in most small towns. Internet cafes are also available widely but most certainly in the larger hotels, where WIFI access are often free of charge.
Altitude Sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
Travelers to Tibet are reported to exhibit mild symptoms of altitude sickness. Complaints of headache, breathlessness , fever, loss of appetite, unrest, stomach disorder etc can come up before acclimatization. So, proper acclimatization is very much important before you head on trekking trips to a higher elevation. If you choose to take flight into Lhasa, you will need stay about 3 nights in Tsedang or Lhasa area to get properly acclimatized, before going over the high passes.
Clothing and important articles recommended.
Wind Horse provide a list of approprite clothing depending on the nature of travel and the areas visited.
Tipping
Guides and Drivers are generally pleased to receive tip but it is not a riguer. Although Tibetan custom generally have some form of tipping, it is not there in most Chinese culture and hence some smaller resturants may be suprised when you leave a tip for them.
Risk and Liabilities
We try our best to make your trip smooth and successful as far as possible. However, all trips to Tibet are strictly conducted and controlled by the rules and regulations of Chinese authorities and influenced very much by weather conditions. Wind Horse Holidays or our Local Operators or their staffs will not be held liable in case of changes or alteration in the program due to local political or bureaucratic reasons or inclement weather conditions or any events beyond the control of the management. We will not be held liable for any losses due to no shows, delay arrivals or cancellation of flights, accidents, theft or missing, or trip cancellation due to sickness or voluntarily. Clients are recommended to have a travel health insurance policy.
We strongly recommend you take out a comprehensive travel insurance to cover for medical evacuation, accident, theft, loss of belongings, trip cancellations, and unforeseen additional expenses and to cover non-refundable costs . The cancellation rules in Tibet are severe and inflexible. Trip cancellation insurance is almost essential. Wind Horse Holidays provides its North America customers with optional travel Insurance coverage in association with Insure America .
Tibet Books, Audio, Video & more
To enhance your travel experience in Tibet ; to learn more, prepare better and enjoy the country better as a whole, you have to be well informed. At Wind horse, we do provide you with tons of information, but even then, we could not tell you enough. Therefore we encourage visitors to Tibet to read as many books as possible before the trip to get a realistic idea of the country.
Check for list of Tibet books, videos, audio
Women Travelers
Tibet prides itself on its lack of a class system and an absence of sexual discrimination. Tibetan women have the same rights as men, including rights to education, voting and holding positions in government. Women, both foreign and Tibetan are not subject to harassment and do not need to take any special precautions. Tibetans are more likely to help a woman in distress than a man. Young men have a reasonably liberated attitude towards their relations with women. There are several opportunities for misunderstanding if you don't make your intentions clear from the very outset.
Gay & Lesbian Travellers
Like most Asians, Tibetans believe that what one does in private is strictly a personal matter, and they would prefer not to discuss such issues. Public displays of affection are not appreciated and everyone, regardless of orientation, should exercise discretion.
Disabled Travellers
A cultural tour in Tibet is a challenge for a traveller with physical disabilities, but it can be made possible by Wind Horse Tours with planning. The Tibetans are eager to help, and Wind Horse Tours can arrange a strong companion to assist with moving about and getting in and out of vehicles. The roads are rough and sidewalks, where they exist, often have holes and sometimes steps. Hotels and public buildings do not have wheelchair access, and there are no toilets designed to accommodate wheel chairs.
Senior Travellers
Wind Horse Tours feel honored to operate the trips of senior travelers. Hotels, guides and tour operators are all familiar with the needs of seniors and treat them with the traditional respect that the Tibetans have for their elders. The primary precaution one should take is to have an ample supply of any special medicines, since these probably will not be available in Tibet . There is no advantage to carrying any sort of senior identification in Tibet.
Travel with Children
As there are discounts for children travelling in Tibet, it needn't break the bank if you bring kids along. They may become bored, however, with long, monotonous drives, few hotels with TV and little other 'entertainment' available. On the other hand, they will be immediately accepted by local kids and their families, and they could make many new friends. Wind Horse can make nanny and other baby sitting arrangements at a reasonable cost. However, because of the high altitude of Tibet, parents are requested to consult the pediatrician before they decide to take their children in the trip.
Pre-departure Guide
Wind Horse provides extensive Pre-departure Guides so that our Guests are well prepared for before arriving in Tibet. This information include checklist of things to bring, books to read, cultural dos and donts, and other important information.
