TIBET TRAVELER INFO
Visa: All tourists visiting Tibet requires valid China visa & a special Alien Travel Permit which they can obtain only by joining tours organized by recognized travel agencies. Those who arrive in Kathmandu with a Chinese visa issued by Chinese Consulates outside of Kathmandu will find it useless for entry into Tibet.

Diplomatic passport holders must get clearance from Beijing for travel into Tibet, which often takes long time. It is advisable to travel on non-diplomatic passports, if you have one. You must be in possession of a valid passport. For Tibet, we will organize a group visa, and in order to do this we will need a copy of your passport at least 30 days prior to the commencement of your trip, followed by your actual passport 7 days before the trip. If this is not possible, a group visa can be arranged in 1 day, but this service incurs an extra charge of US$ 25 per person. A 60-day multiple entry visas for Nepal can be obtained from all Nepalese Embassies abroad or upon your arrival in Kathmandu airport. Please note Tibet visa regulations often change & hence given information may not be true at the time when you travel.

Kathmandu Lhasa Flight: CHINA AIR (CA) is the only airline currently operating flights between Kathmandu & Lhasa sector. "Beginning from March 29, 2005 M/S China Air will operate more flights between Kathmandu & Lhasa sector; 3 flights from March – June & 4 flights from July – October. During the winter months from November thru March the flight is temporarily suspended."
March 29 – June 30: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, July 01 – October 29: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday

Tibet Accommodation: Tibet does not have any international standard deluxe hotels except for the Lhasa Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn Hotel). However, in the last 3-5 years many tourist class hotels have sprung up in bigger cities such as Lhasa, Gyangtse & Shigatse that offer quality accommodations. In the smaller towns, accommodation facilities are still quite basic. And during the peak holiday seasons in July & August there is often difficulty in getting rooms. We categorize our tours into 3 groups – deluxe, standard & budget based on the available hotels.

Hotel – Categories

Documentation : You will be required to advise us the arrangement required of clients with details Such as :
 

Clients traveling to Tibet should arrive in Kathmandu at least 3 days prior to departure to Tibet to process the Tibet Visa with Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, as Chinese Embassy is open for visa application from 10 AM to 11 Am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If one wish to get the visa in one working day is also possible by paying surcharge of emergency visa fee. I will advise to obtain double entry Nepal visa from Nepalese Embassy/Consulate abroad or obtain the same arrival at Kathmandu airport.

Accessories : We recommend you to bring the following items to make your journey more comfortable: Personal first aid kid, water purification tablets, flashlight with extra batteries, sunglasses, water bottle, note book, pens, pencils, camera and film and extra batteries for electronic Cameras, binoculars, Duffel bag, rain gear, strong footwear, pocket knife, sewing kits, compass, drinking cup, towel, plastic bags, dust mask, strong sun cream, chapstic, and money belt.

Food : Apart from when you are staying in hotels, your cook will provide 3 tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, Muesli and cereal followed by omelets, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch is generally a Pack lunch, which we cooked in the morning there will be fruits, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. After a long day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided during Dinner and Breakfast time. We use as much fresh produce as possible and our cooks and kitchen crew maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness and food preparation hygiene. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for.

Money : The Chinese currency is known as Renminbi [RMB] or 'The People's Money'. The exchange rate for RMB is approximately 8 RMB to 1 US$. You can change money at the hotels in Lhasa and in the Bank of China in Lhasa, Shigatse and Zhangmu. American Express and VISA cards are accepted in the same places. When we are travelling upcountry, try to get your money in small donominations: RMB 100 and RMB 50 bills are sometimes hard to get rid of in rural Tibet.

Time : Tibet is 8 hours ahead of GMT. Note Tibet is linked to Beijing time so when you cross the border to or from Nepal the time change is considerable. Nepal is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT.

Climate : Basically, the Tibetan climate is not as harsh as many people imagine it to be. The best time of year to be in Tibet is from April to the beginning of November, after which temperatures start to plummet.

The Central Tibet - including Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and Tsedang, generally has very mild weather from April to November, though July and August can be rainy - these two months usually see around half of Tibet's annual rainfall.

October and November often bring some dazzling clear weather and daytime temperatures can be quite comfortable at Tibet's lower altitude. The coldest months are from December to February. It is not impossible to visit Tibet in winter. The low altitude valleys of Tibet (around Lhasa, Shigatse and Tsedang) see very little snow. Spring does not really get under way until April, though March can have warm sunny days and is not necessarily a bad month to be in Tibet. More specific information in different areas:

Lhasa - The border of Nepal/China: The Friendship highway is basically in good conditions year around. But from December to February, the thawed road could make some trouble besides; try to avoid August - landslide could happen in the rainy season.

Mt. Everest Region - Early May and early October are the best time to visit Mt. Everest. Due to the clear weather, you have great chance to see Mt. Everest's true face. From December to February, it's too cold to go to this region. But the magnetism of Mt. Everest always attracts people anytime of the year.

Mt.Kailash - Even without climate restrictions, this area is already inhospitable. Big rain and snow could make the journey worse. However, for those determined tourists, the appropriate time is May, June, July, September and October.

Eastern Tibet - Don't touch this area in July or August, the rain could ruin the road, and make terrible landslides. While in winter, the road could be frozen.

Northern Tibet - With the average altitude of 4,500m, this area offers very limited time for tourists. Summer is the prime time to enjoy the great plain in northern Tibet.

Insurance : You must insure yourself against sickness, emergency rescue, accident, Hospitalisation, cancellation etc., as we accept no responsibility for expenses which may arise from mishaps to persons or their belongings during these tours.

Health : Vaccination requirements change frequently, so we suggest you consult your doctor at least 2 months prior to your trip. We also recommend that each person carry a basic first aid kit. The main health consideration in Tibet is altitude related illness or Acute Mountain Sickness [AMS]. You may experience some mild symptoms initially, such as headache, lethargy, nausea and difficulty sleeping, but these should lessen within a few days. Hotels in Lhasa are equipped with oxygen. Doctors will also be available on call basis. A supply of bottled oxygen are carried in the vehicle at all times should they be required.

Security : Tibetans are generally honest and Hotel staff can be trusted not to walk off with your belongings. Pickpockets are purse and snatchers are virtually unknown and there seem to be no scams aimed at parting you from your money. The situation has eased and Tibetans no longer risk being punished for talking with foreigners. Avoid taking photographs of Chinese soldiers and taking photographs of Dalai Lama.

Risk and Liability : We will make every effort in making your journey smooth and pleasant. However, as all Tibetan tours are run strictly under the Tibet Tourism Authority, Nepal Adventure Point and its agents shall not be responsible for any change or cancellation of flight, delay in arrivals, sickness or accidents.

Customs : There is no prohibition on still & video cameras, tape recorders or any other electronic equipment for personal use as long as they are declared in the customs declaration form at the point of entry. Export of art objects dating back prior to 1959 are prohibited & may be seized. Please do not carry any photographs of Dalai Lama and related to Dalai Lama.

Baggage Allowance : Free baggage allowance is 20 Kg per person.

Road : Road between Kathmandu and Nyalam is bad and it can be disrupted during monsoon. Some parts above Friendship Bridge and above Zhangmu is not in condition to ply vehicles as such we have to walk about 3 hours above friendship bridge and above Zhangmu road about 2 hours. Porters are provided in these areas. During monsoon, if it rains heavily, road will be flooded with water between Xigatse and Gyantse, so we have to detour via Northern highway. We use Southern highway via Gyantse and Yamdrok Lake. It involves the crossing of a pass Karo - La that is 5010m high.