Lhasa Transportation

Toyota Land cruisers were what we used on each of our 4 trips, we rented them from one of the official Chinese tour companies with Chinese driver. I doubt if you will get a Tibetan unless you want to walk or travel by Yak. When your travelling to other towns be prepared for changes in the weather from sunshine to snow storms.Roads get washed away and rock slides in some of the mountain passes.Local buses can break down and not be another for days.I even met a chap on a bicycle cycling round the world, there were all sorts of people on the trail between Lhasa and the road to Nepal via Shigatse. Suprisingly a lot of the roads through the passes in the Himalayas are quite flat. If your going on the road to Nepal you will see Everest enroute, but the Chinese drivers don't understand why we got out to look!

May 1,2005 - The much anticipated direct bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa was flagged off Sunday, as a deluxe bus of Sajha Yatayat left for Lhasa on its maiden journey with 40 passengers onboard.
Minister for Labor and Transport Management Ram Narayan Singh and the Chinese ambassador Sun Heping inaugurated the service. "Beginning of the bus services is a landmark event that will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries," said Singh

Speaking at the inauguration function, he said that the service would, most importantly strengthen the people-to-people ties. "The bus service will be a strong means to promote trade, economy and tourism of both nations," Singh said

Ambassador Sun also noted that the new service would further strengthen the friendly ties between the two countries and play a crucial role in the promotion of tourism within the two countries. The journey from Kathmandu to the Capital city of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, which covers 970 kilometers, will take about 30 hours over two days. Sajha has fixed the fare at US$70 per person for one-way travel.

As long as, there is no heavy snow on the way, it's quite safe and easy to get to the border. Even u can have a look at the Himalaya from far away. u experience dramatic change for the temperature and climate all the way down to the border.

The solider don't allow the foreigener take picure there. they tried to stop me when i took the photo, cause they assume i'm Japanese. Gosh, i don't like Japan.

As long as, there is no heavy snow on the way, it's quite safe and easy to get to the border. Even u can have a look at the Himalaya from far away. u experience dramatic change for the temperature and climate all the way down to the border.

The solider don't allow the foreigener take picure there. they tried to stop me when i took the photo, cause they assume i'm Japanese. Gosh, i don't like Japan.

This little tractor will take you uphill to the Drepung Monastery. From the road where the regular bus from Lhasa stops.
Ofcourse you can walk uphill, but it is a tough climb and once inside the monastery gate, you can climb also. The 1 Yuan they charge to take you (up or down hill) is worth it.

If you fly into Lhasa, which most visitors in Tibet do, be sure you take it easy the first days. Due to the altitude of Lhasa (3595 meters), a lack of oxygen, can make you ill. Symptoms of this altitude-sickness range from light dizziness, headaches to the more serious like vomiting and unconsciousness. Mostly these symptoms will go away after a few days, if they don't go to a lower altitude....
You can take some light painkillers for the headache, but it is wise to rest a lot. Further more it is said you have to drink a lot.
Best to avoid this problems is to climb very slowly and stay some time at lower altitudes before you go to 4000 meters.
Most visitors however do fly into Lhasa...... which is OK if you take it easy the first days.

When we booked a plane to Tibet in August 2001 we had to pay for a permit which also got you a dodgy little tour.

The tour fee includes bus form Lhasa airport, a half day tour (if enough people turn up). We talked the agency into cancelling the tour (technically illegal) and saved fifty dollars. The bus to Lhasa was only a couple of dollars and waits out the front of the terminal for arriving planes.

It is always worth a try to save some money as the plane ticket alone is about $200

In the part of Tibet where I was the best way to travel was by landcruiser but during the trek to the Himalaya there was only one possibility: by foot. Then you can carry your luggage yourself or it is done by yaks.

In other parts of Tibet (but I don't know this by my own experience) it is also possible to travel by bus or minibus.