Tibet Travel Forum

I'm currently in Xi'an, China, and I'm looking on organizing a tour to Lhasa by train for a few days, then going overland to Nepal. I've been looking around left and right, and this type of tour IS POSSIBLE, the lowest I've been quoted is around 5000 Yuan per person. If we get more than two people together, the price is sure to drop.

It's tough as nails to go independently these days. You need a guide and an itinerary to even get in. So, unless you want to hitchhike, it looks like all us Tibet travellers need to band together. Anybody interested? Send me a message.

(Note: I'd be happy to start in Chengdu. If you're in Beijing, perhaps we should meet in Xining? I hear trains are easier to catch over there.)

Joe Lalli, USA

Hello,

in 3 week we will hopefully visit Tibet & then we will go to Shanghai. Concerning the visa, our travel agent sais that he can provide us beside Tibet permit also an extension of visa to Mainland China, the visa released by the Chienese embassy will be cancelled in Kathmandu. Is that true ? If by this time Tibet will be close again, can we easily obtain a viasa in Kathamndu for China ? Or would it be safe to get a visa here in Belgium, in order to avoid problems ?

Thanks
Dolores

Hi All,

My quests are never easy, but then my life was never meant to be!

After Spending 9 months exploring China in 2004, the itch has returned part way through renovating my newly purchased wreck of a house.

My plan is to scource some old querky tables, chest, cabinets, drawers etc for two bedrooms, a dining room and a hallway.........I've tackled the export and import angle yet have no experience transporting goods across china.

Does anyone have any ideas of how i could transport items cheaply across this stretch - I dont think a man with a van could safely cross with terrain, but now the train is set up, could a two pronged attack be more viable?

Any help would be really appreciated
Regards Jonathan

Hi,

I think it's been announced that Tibet is safe for tourists to visit again and I'm thinking of going to Lhasa next month. Anyone got any updates on visas / travelling / best points of entry? Also, I'm thinking of going on my own - anyone got any tips on joining a tour group or travelling alone?

Thanks!

Hi! I plan to travel to Lhasa next month. At the same time I worry about the current situation in Lhasa. I just wonder is it safe to travel to Lhasa? Is it possible to fly in there/ get the TTB permit done in / Nepal (Katmandu)/ Chengdu ? Thanks!

I have plan on landing in Beijing April 15. Will I still be able to go to Tibet, as planned, later in the month?

I have absolutely no political agenda -- just a desire to see regular tourist sites.

Hi There,

I will be traveling to Tibet in September so I was wondering if someone knows a good travel agency in Lhasa. I have plans to spend 20 days traveling around so I would like to get an idea how much it will cost me. I have my "itinerary" in mind:
Lhasa (3-4 days) – Gyantse - Shigatse - Saga - Paryang - Darchen - Kailash Kora starts: Trek to Diraphuk - Trek to Zuthulphuk - Trek to Darchen and get forward to Hor at the northern shore of Lake Manasarovar - Hor-Paryang-Saga-Old Tingri via Lake Pelkhutso - Ronbuk Monastery and Mt. Everest Base Camp - Nyalam - Kathmandu.

I would like to have some comments about this "route" as well if you had been to those places. Any comments are appreciated.

thank you very much

Vidya

Hello,

Travelling in Tibet which are the vaccination that are absolutely recommended ? I read on different site that I should be vaccinated against rabies, typhus and polio, beyond Hepatitis A& B + Tetanus. As i was vaccinated as baby against polio, do I really need to be vaccinated again?

Thanks
Dolores

Hello!
We're planning to travel independantly to Lhasa for the Chinese 1st May holidays. We plan to take a flight from Beijing to Lhasa and then come back to Beijing with the Lhasa Express.
2 questions:
1: I still don't know if it's possible to buy in Beijing tickets for a Lhasa to Beijing travel, and where?
2: I wanted to buy the flight ticket via internet... so i guess this won't give us the permit... do we have to find a travel agency just for the permit...? can we?
Thanks a lot for your answers, i'm quite lost right now... :)

Hi,

I'm planning to take the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa and fly back to Guangzhou in July. Is it true that the train operates on odd dates (1st/3rd/5th) or days (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)for July? Which airlines I can take from Lhasa to Guangzhou and how much is the air tickets? What about the flight schedule?

Hi,

I will be traveling in China in May. I plan to take a train from Chengdu-lhasa.
But for my return, I want to fly. Where can I find flights going from Lhasa to Shenzhen or elsewhere in China?

Thanks,
J

I am meeting my daughter in Beijing this May. We intend to train to Lhasa and travel the southern route to Kashgar. We have an itinerary from Windhorse Tours but need two additional travel companions to make it cost effective. Pre-packaged tours exceeded our time allowance. We have 12-14 days to make this trip at a cost of around $1,400/person. If interested email me at msurowiec@sbcglobal.net.

Anybody knows if it's possible:-
1. Go on public transport without booking through any tour agency from Lhasa to Shigatse and visiting Shalu & Sakya monasteries independently
2. Arrange tour departing from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp and then return to Lhasa via Gyantse

Hi,

I'm planning a trip to tibet on april, does any one knows if I need a permit to enter lhasa? I would like to take the train from beijing but I don't know if I could take without the travel permit.

Gracias

hi,

i am planning a short trip to tibet in april. Will be bringing my 2 children ages 5,2. Anyone knows how children react to altitude sickness ? what about adults ?

Thanks

Hello,

These summer I' m planning to go to Tibet. I will start the trip in Kathmandu and arrive in Lhasa via overland (it's a 8 days trip). Does nobody have experience with the agency Tibet Travels & Tours (p) Ltd (Mr. Kalden Norbu)? is it a reliable agency ?

Thanks
Dolores

Hi All

Is there anyone who knows Yak Hotel's owners'page address. I've been surfing for it in Google, but given up.

Thanks a lot
Eastboy

Dear VTrs

i'm planning to visit Tibet, especially Lhasa this summer. i just wonder which month would be best to visit Tibet? How much the plane ticket costs from Huh Hot, Inner Mongolia to Lhasa, approximately? How many days would be enough to explore Lhasa, especially Buddhist Monasteries?

Thanks in advance

hello all,

I am planning a trip to tibet in april from Beijing with 2 friends. About 2 weeks. If anyone who has been there recently or lives there could offer me some advice about the following, I would appreciate it.

- What are some good locations outside Lhasa to visit? Mt Everest sounds great, but it is a bit distance and i would have to return to Lhasa. has anyone been to Draksum tso, nam tso, phenpo valley, etc.? What areas did they especially enjoy? Did you need to bring a tent or do transporatation services provide you with one? Ideally I would visit them all, however I don't know that I have the time or money to do so.

- I hear renting a truck can get expensive. Can I rent a truck in Lhasa at a more reasonible rate, or is it better to make arrangements beforehand? I don't want to make arrangements too thoroughly, in case I want to change plans or find better offers. How is getting around with public transportation?

- I heard rumors that a TTB permit is no longer needed. Has anyone heard the same? Likewise, would I still need permits to these sites not covered by the TTB permit and where can I obtain them?

There is much I need to consider and little time to do it. Would like to do this without a tour group, to relax once I am there and soak in the atmosphere, knowing that if need be, I can alter my plans without too much trouble and without having already invested too much money with prior arrangments. Any feedback anyone can offer me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Frank

hi to all out there!
well, i have another question for the coming trip!
do you think it is possible to sleep a few nights in a monastery?
i hope some monks could speak english
thanks
nikos

hi to everybody out there!

do you think it is easy to go around Tibet independently? so, without use of tour agencies, or better, with limited use of them, perhaps booked on the spot in Lhasa?
we are interested for sth like a 2 week stay around, mainly cultural and nature-wise.
prices at websites of tour companies are going like sky rocket.
answers indicating cost or mentioning budget tourist offices you used or you suggest will be big big help

many thanks folks

nikos

I am planning to take a train from Shanghai to Lhasa and then do a quick tour of Everest Base camp. Is anybody or bodies willing to join me?

thanks

upendra

Hi anyone,

I'm planning to go to Tibet, Lhasa probably this April 2008. Planning to go in via Air either from Guangzhou or Chengdu as I'll be traveling to Guangzhou from my home country Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Initally plan is going by train but my schedule does not permit it. By air will be much faster. But may I know where can I buy the flight tickets either from Guangzhou or Chengdu to Lhasa? If flying from Chengdu to Lhasa, how about the flight ticket from Guangzhou to Chengdu? Or does anyone has any better idea of traveling to Lhasa by the fastest way?

Do I need to apply for any Visa beside the China Visa to enter Tibet?

Also, how's the weather in Lhasa during April month?

When arriving in Lhasa, what kind of transpotation will you recommended to travel within Tibet?

How many days (Min) do you think will be sufficient to travel Tibet? I am planning to spend around 6 - 7 days there. Is it enough?

Any recommendation will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

Cheers,
Kah Yap

Has anyone done the 8-day organized tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp back to Lhasa? Can you share your experience? I'm trying to decide between simply visiting Lhasa or paying the extra USD$400-500 to check out Everest and other Tibetan areas outside of Lhasa.

Thanks,
Ram

Hi --

I plan on visiting Tibet this summer and am beginning to do my research. Are there reputable tour operators anyone suggests? Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I am planning to got to Lhasa with my girlfriend during the aug 2008! I have been looking to this and i dont know which is best! Going to Lhasa from whitin China or from Nepal! Actually i was thinking doing New Deli, Taj Mahal, Katmandu and Lhasa but could also consider reaching Lhasa from bejing or Shanghai.

Question is, those of you who have recently been there, how did you do and what would you recommend? Which train? Which bus? Where to get permission best? etc..

Cheer's

I'm planning to lhasa on sep'08...Actually i'm going alone and backpacker of course...please give me some info about website for a travel agency ...
....Tkssss susie

Okay, this may sound paranoid and completely crazy, but I have a question. I am planning on going to Xining, Qinghai with a volunteer organization. My work there will involve teaching native Tibetans. Right before I leave, the Dalai Lama is coming to lecture near my town for a week. I would love to go. I just have this weird paranoid fear that after buying tickets, my visa to china won't go through for some mysterious reason. Please tell me I am just crazy and shouldn't worry so much! Or tell me not to go to the lecture, because I really don't want to mess up this opportunity to volunteer.

PS - I am not interested in debating politics, just need to know if I'm going to mess up my chances of getting into China. Thanks!!

Hi, been planning a back packing trip to Lhasa from Chendu. Was looking through ways of getting the TTB at Chendu. And found that only travel agencies will do it for a fee. And it will be quite expensive if we don't wanna join their tour.

Then I found this official Tibet Tourism website http://www.tibettour.com.cn/
Inside I found an interesting article http://www.tibettour.com.cn/cms/bencandy.php?id=2369&l_page=1

I was surprised to find that due to scamming travel agencies and unreasonable fees. Tibet Autonomous Regional Tourism Bureau had step in. And starting from 1st July 2007. Oversea tourists can now optain their TTB Permit on their arrival upon Lhasa Airport and Train Station! And it's FREE!

Using Google translating, "TTB Permit" did not come out. Could be due to the chinese wordings. And I still cant find any related official article in english.

Can anyone confirm on this new regulation?

Hi! I understand that travelers need to obtain permit to get into Lhasa. But if is a traveler already have a China's visa,do they still need a permit to Lhasa? If necessary, where is the best place to get the permit done. I understand there're many touts and scams upon visa.Please enlighten me. Thanks!