Travel Information

Booking a Tour: 

We require minimum of 2 weeks in advance (if overseas booking) and one week (if booking from Nepal) time to any trip to Tibet. The trip-booking form can be download here. Once we have this information we arrange group China/ Tibet visa in Kathmandu... To do all this we require 25% of the advance deposit to be paid in front or bank transfer. The official booking actually starts after the advance payment is made. For a normal visa, we require 6 working days but can be done within a day after paying an urgent fee extra.

Cancellation: 

As most of the official work will be done so we charge 40% of the tour cost if any member wants to cancel the further process. 70% refund thereafter but no refund will be made for no-shows, delay arrivals or whatsoever reasons of the participants.

Risk & Liability: 

We shall always put all efforts into making your journey smooth and pleasant. However, as all Tibet tours are run strictly under Tibet Tourism Authority so our Tibet agent or we are not responsible for any change or cancellation of flight, delay arrivals, sickness or accidents. Any extra cost incurring during the trip shall be borne by the clients. Hence we advise that clients should have full insurance against medical and personal accidents risk.

Best Time to visit Tibet: April to October.

Visa & Permit: All foreigners must need a visa to travel to Tibet.  A single or visa on the passport was taken from your own country will be canceled at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. There will be a group visa provided by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to travel into the Tibet. Visa cost doffers as per the Nations. 

1: US Citizens

a-Normal(7 working days): USD 140, Urgent(3 working days): USD 155, Extreme Urgent(same day): USD 175

2: Other Nationals

a-Normal(7 working days): USD 50, Urgent(3 working days): USD 65, Extreme Urgent(same day): USD 85

As per the itinerary requested the route permits are needed and it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Beuro in Lhasa. It does not cost though.

Visa Splitting: 

As Tibet tour requires visa in-group; sometimes people staying longer or going different destination will have to get the group visa split. It costs generally Chinese Yuan 200-400 depending upon different nationalities.

What to bring along. 

We recommend you to bring the following items to make your journey more comfortable Casual wear and comfortable walking shoes warm clothing as nights and early morning can be quite chilly to downright cold. Personal first aid kit, water purification tablets, toilet paper, flashlight with extra batteries, sunglasses, water bottle, notebook, pens, pencils, camera and extra batteries for electronic Cameras, binoculars, Duffel bag, rain gear, strong footwear, pocket knife, sewing kits, altimeter, drinking cup, towel, plastic bags, dust mask, strong suncream, chapstick and money belt.

Altitude Sickness:

As Tibet lies at an overage altitude of 4000 meters; you are likely to experience some of the minor symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness (headache, mild nausea, loss of appetite) until your body adjusts to the elevation.

 Food in Tibet:

Foods in Tibet differ in pastoral and agricultural areas. The staple food includes roasted highland barley flour, wheat flour, meat, or red food, and milk, or white food. The principle in summer is the white food, while that in winter is the red food. The flavor of the Tibetan food is fresh, light and tender. Salt, onion, and garlic are the main ingredients. In the major cities there are many restaurants for foreigner offering  are such flavors as sausages, barley wine, butter oil tea, beef and mutton eaten with the hands, yak tongue, steamed buns, zanba made from highland barley, pastries, sweet tea, butter tea, dried beef, and xiao qing, or minced mutton and beef.

Currency: 

The unit of currency is Yuan. USD 1=9 Yuan. Foreign currency and traveler's cheque is accepted at the bank of China in Ghangmu, Shigatse, and Lhasa. Major cards are also accepted in Shigatse and Lhasa.

Hotels en route: 

As the facilities in Tibet are very basic, hotels, although they look gorgeous, do not have proper facilities. So the hotel en route is very basic even without a bath and some time dormitory rooms especially first two nights. However, we always try to provide twin bedrooms.

Custom Regulation:

There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders as long as they're registered with a customs official, printed matters considered unsuitable by the Chinese government are prohibited. Customs regulations forbid the export of art objects created prior to 1959 or souvenirs in amounts deemed to be excessive. 

Business Hours:

Government offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday is usually a holiday. 

Airport:

Lhasa Gonggar airport is approx 96kms away from Lhasa 

Air Ticket Reconfirmation:

Your guide will reconfirm the air ticket upon payment of RMB 30, which is a reconfirmation fee charged by China Southwest Airlines.

Overland connection:

The main highways to Tibet are the Chengdu-Lhasa,2,330 kilometers long; the Xining-Golmud-Lhasa, 1,907 kilometers long. The average elevation of the highway is above 4,000 meters, running through the mountains of Kunlun and Tanggula; the Yecheng-Burang, 1,455 kilometers. This highway is the highest highway in the world, passing through five mountains above 5,000 meters high. The highest mountain is 6,035 meters above sea level; the Xiaguan- Markam,800 kilometers long; Lhasa-Zhangmu Friendship Bridge-Kathmandu, 900 kilometers.