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How to Travel Tibet — My Tibet Travel Guide

Last Updated on January 10, 2022

A detailed Tibet travel guide with all the information on how to travel Tibet, things to do and where to stay in Tibet. 

Tibet is called the ‘Roof of the World’ for good reason: With an average elevation exceeding 4,500 metres (14,800 ft), the Tibetan Plateau is sometimes the world’s highest and largest plateau, with an area of 2,500,000 square kilometres (about five times the size of France). Challenging as it may be, here’s my go at how to travel Tibet and get the maximum from this incredible part of the world.

Geography in Tibet is on a humbling scale — dramatic snow-peaked mountains loom over vast plains, zigzagging highways weave their way through high passes draped with colorful prayer flags, while glittering turquoise lakes stand in the shadow of centuries-old glaciers. Home to several of the world’s highest peaks and the famous Everest Base Camp , Tibet has the power to impress even the most hardened traveler.

For those planning a trip to the ‘Roof of the World’, I’ve compiled a detailed Tibet travel guide with information on how to get there, what type of tours to choose, and where to stay in Tibet. 

Table of Contents

Why You Should Travel Tibet

How to travel tibet, when to travel tibet, how to get to tibet, how to get around tibet, where to stay in tibet, what to eat in tibet, cost of travel in tibet, safety in tibet, staying healthy in tibet, best places to travel in tibet, check out our regular tibet tours.

But amidst the stunning natural landscapes in Tibet, it’s the people of Tibet that truly moved me. Despite mass modernisation and dilution of their culture under China’s iron fist, Tibet remains a resilient land underpinned by a rich culture and deep faith. 50 years of oppression and religious control have failed to dull the Tibetans’ devotion to their faith.

Today, amidst the kitsch Chinese neon signs, retail stores and fast food chains in Lhasa , it’s still common to see hardcore pilgrims prostrating in koras circumambulating sacred spots around the country.

Magnificent monasteries rich with the aroma of butter tea, prayer halls of chanting monks, and streets lined with prayer wheels all remind us that nobody can take away what is truly Tibetan. The Chinese may have taken away a lot of things from Tibet, but they’ll never take away their identity and faith.

These days, traveling Tibet can be a controversial subject. Many people in the Western world strongly feel that visiting the oppressed nation means that you’re supporting China’s political indoctrination of Tibet. Some people I know would never visit Tibet until it is fully liberalised from the clutches from China. I absolutely understand their point of view and I strongly oppose China’s hard-headed tactics, but visiting Tibet does not mean I’m supporting the regime.

In fact, I think more people should visit so Tibet gets the attention and support from the outside world it deserves. I see travel as the best form of education — only by going there, talking to locals and seeing things from ground level do you truly learn about what’s going on, and can therefore inform others about the state that Tibet is in.

Tourism is highly restricted in Tibet and independent travel is not allowed. Foreign travelers need to prearrange a tour in order to obtain a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit; only Chinese and Hongkong travelers are free to enter without a visa. Every company that runs Tibet tours will help you obtain a TTB when you book a tour with them.

Without a TTB permit, you won’t even be able to board a flight or train to Tibet. Besides citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan, all visitors require a valid Chinese visa in addition to a Tibet permit. Make sure to get your Chinese visa at least a month before your trip, as your tour operator will need it to get the TTB permit. When applying for your Chinese visa, don’t mention Tibet and don’t list your occupation as ‘journalist’.

I’m glad I chose to run my first WildJunket Tour to Tibet.  It’s safe to say everyone in the group enjoyed the trip tremendously and appreciated the great job our local guide and driver did. If you are looking to travel Tibet, we offer regular departures for Tibet tours in 2021. 

Tibet can be visited all year round — but the best time to visit is in spring and summer (from April to October) when Tibet’s weather is not too harsh and most areas of Tibet are accessible. This also depends largely on your Tibet itinerary as certain parts can only be visited in summer (e.g. Mount Kailash is covered in snow throughout the year except summer.) 

Most Tibetan festivals take place in spring and summer too, including the month-long Saga Dawa Festival  (mainly to celebrate the birth of Buddha, enlightenment, and Nirvana) which coincided with my trip, the week-long Shoton festival (Tibetan opera performance and Buddha Thangka unfolding ceremony) and Nagqu horse racing festival. Tibet travel is definitely at its best in spring and summer. 

Winter is low season for travel in Tibet, as temperatures can get quite extreme at such high altitudes. I wouldn’t recommend visiting Everest Base Camp then as temperatures can drop to way below 0 degrees Celsius.

Flights to Tibet are quite expensive, and a lot of people suffer from altitude sickness when flying straight into Lhasa. You will have to fly via other cities in China or Kathmandu (the only international transit point) to get to Lhasa regardless of where you’re coming from.

Return flights to Lhasa from Singapore are around US$500 and from Beijing for US$600. I managed to score a pretty cheap flight from Lhasa to Singapore (single way) for US$180 with taxes included.

Another way of getting into Tibet is on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway . This is the highest rail travel in the world, with more than 960 km (600 miles) at an elevation of more than 4,000 m (13,123 ft) and almost half of the tracks built on permafrost. The rail journey starts in Beijing, the Chinese capital, taking a total of 40 hours to get to Lhasa.

But the landscapes only begin to impress from Xining onwards, whizzing past high-altitude lakes, vast plains and mountain passes. Train tickets are not cheap, at around US$280 for a soft sleeper and $200 for a hard sleeper (prices can change depending on season) each way.

Search for Flights to Lhasa

Foreign visitors are not allowed to take public transport in Tibet. As mentioned, you need to arrange a tour in order to enter Tibet and move around the region. Tours always include transportation that will bring you around Tibet.

However, travelers are free to explore Lhasa’s markets, squares and old town on their own. There are plenty of things to do in Lhasa , and you can easily spend a week here exploring the temples, palaces and narrow alleys. You only need to be accompanied by a tour guide when visiting tourist attractions (any monastery and temple). Taxis are easily available in Lhasa and a one-way journey anyway in the city costs only 10 yuan (US$1.50).

We traveled around on a comfortable small bus with enough capacity for 14 people. It wasn’t as big and conspicuous as the ugly big blue buses that Chinese tourists traveled on, and it was good enough to cover long distances and on the hundreds of switchbacks on the Friendship Highway.

Accommodation is included in most Tibet tours. On my Tibet tour , we stayed at comfortable 4-star hotels that offered surprisingly luxurious accommodation right in the heart of Lhasa and Shigatse. 

Only one night was spent camping at Everest Base Camp , and even then we stayed in a clean, comfortable big tented camp (for 5 to 8 people in each tent). They provided cushy mattresses and clean quilts. It was rather cold at night, so thankfully the local tour operator provided sleeping bags (with a cleaning fee of US$10).

It is allowed to explore Lhasa on your own and you can easily book hotels in Lhasa online. Prices are pretty affordable — $50 can get you a comfortable three-star hotel in the historical centre.

Here are the Lhasa hotels I recommend:

St Regis Resort Lhasa — The best place to stay in Lhasa, with ultra luxurious and spacious rooms for those who want to splurge after roughing out in rural Tibet. It’s a walk away from town so you’ll need to get a taxi everywhere. Book here. 

Lhasa Gang-Gyan Hotel  — A comfortable 4-star hotel with high standards of accommodation and an excellent location, just a few minutes’ walk from Barkhor Square. The breakfast spread was impressive. Hotel staff don’t speak English though.

House of Shambala — A boutique hotel brimming with traditional Tibetan flair. We ate at its fantastic restaurant twice and loved it. Rooms are decorated in true authentic Tibetan fashion. Check for rates here.

Tashi Choeta Boutique Hotel  — A simple three-star hotel that’s great for the budget traveler. It’s located in the historical quarters, with a charming lounge area in its central courtyard. The hotel’s interior is decorated in traditional Tibetan style, and the service is excellent. Book your hotel here. 

Lhasa Gang Gyan Hotel

Inside the tented guesthouse at everest base camp.

Don’t come to Tibet expecting gourmet meals; traditional Tibetan fare is quite simple and basic. Tibetans used to subsist on tsampa (barley flour) and butter tea, but now many Chinese dishes have been introduced to their culinary diet. There’s no shortage of Chinese fare around, but if you won’t find anything beyond that outside of Lhasa.

Most teahouses serve typical dishes like yak momo (steamed dumplings with yak meat), Tibetan noodles in broth, and stir-fried vegetables with rice. Chinese dishes that are usually on the menu include chili chicken, cashew chicken, double fried pork meat, and yak meat with vegetables. They’re pretty good and authentic in my opinion, but can be oily and spicy for some western tastebuds. Only in Lhasa will you find international restaurants that serve pizzas as well as Nepali and Indian thali sets.

Best Restaurants in Tibet

House of Shambala — As I mentioned above, I ate dinner once with the group and we loved it so much that we returned to have our last dinner here. The choice of momos was impressive and the platters of pakhora and other Tibetan-Nepali snacks were excellent. The atmosphere there was great and service was good.  Read the Tripadvisor reviews.

Tibetan Family Kitchen — This cosy home-style diner makes you feel like you’re eating in someone’s home. Make your way there through a narrow alleyway, up the stairs through an apartment building and you’ll find yourself in a local home. You not only get to eat home-cooked Tibetan food but you can also try your hand at cooking them. Read the Tripadvisor reviews.

Po Ba Tsang Restaurant — A modern restaurant serving Tibetan and Chinese dishes that are huge in portions and great in flavor. There’s live folklore music for entertainment and also hotpot available for those who want a true culinary experience. Read the Tripadvisor reviews here.

Traveling Tibet isn’t cheap as you need to go on a tour to travel here. It’s especially pricey if you want to spend more than a week here and explore more remote regions. For a week-long tour, expect to pay at least US$900 for all your accommodation, guide and visa.

Because of the stiff competition, tour prices you find online are usually around the same. My WildJunket Tibet Tour was reasonably priced, considering the quality of accommodation, the comfort of our transportation and the great service from our guide and driver. Daily breakfasts were included but not other meals. Our guide usually brought us to affordable places with meals costing around US$5-10 per person.

Tibet has been plagued by civil unrest and anti-government protests since the 1960s when China invaded the nation. More than 140 people are known to have set themselves on fire inside Tibet to call for the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet, for the Panchen Lama to be freed, and for human rights and freedom in Tibet go be restored. Self-immolation protests peaked in 2012 when more than 80 took place.

Although many monks and nuns have set themselves alight, most self-immolation protesters were normal Tibetans, some were as young as 15 years old. The Chinese government responded to the protests with a surge in activity by security forces, plenty of propaganda campaigns against the protesters and punishments for protester’s families and communities.

During my visit (in May 2017), it was common to find police checkpoints all over Lhasa, with the old town and the Potala Palace in particular heavily guarded by Chinese Police. Security posts were also set up all over Tibet and military presence was everywhere. We had to cross several passport checkpoints across Tibet and plenty of permits and paperwork were involved.

Besides the heavy security, there was no hint of instability or violence.

The capital city Lhasa itself stands at 3,550m above sea level, and Everest Base Camp looms at 5,088m. At such dizzying heights, it can be easy to suffer from AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) if you don’t take the time to acclimatise to the conditions.

Tibetan people on the other hand are genetically adapted to living at higher altitudes. They have more red blood cells than most of us and that helps them to live with the limited oxygen at high altitudes.

Most people flying into Lhasa suffer from AMS; symptoms include light-headedness, nausea, short of breathe and headaches. Just make sure to get some Diamox (Acetazolamide) before your trip and start the medication at least one day before landing in Lhasa. Give yourself plenty of time to rest and acclimatise in Lhasa before you start exploring.

Tommy suffering from altitude sickness and getting his oxygen fix

• The highlight of our trip was reaching Everest Base Camp , where the highest peak in the world loomed before us. It felt so close that it almost seemed within reach. Sleeping in a tented camp under the starry skies, I couldn’t believe I was literally at the top of the world.
• Our drive to Everest Base Camp on the Friendship Highway was just as spectacular as our destination. The highway climbed up more than 2,000m in altitude via a series of sharp hairpin bends. Scenery along the way featured winding valleys, vast grasslands, meadows and windswept mountain views.
• Watching monks at Sera Monastery debate was such an eye-opening experience. The debates were punctuated with vigorous gestures which made the whole ambience really lively and interesting.
• It was such an honor visiting the legendary Potala Palace, an iconic landmark of Tibet and the most well-known building in the country. This was the fortresslike home of nine Dalai Lamas, but is sadly used as a museum now.
• The scenic route from Shigatse to Lhasa brought us along lime-green barley fields, pristine turquoise lakes, time-warped villages and mountains studded with ochre stupas. It was a full day of driving, but the landscapes were diverse and spectacular. Some of my favourite stops were Gyatse Fort, Yamdrok Lake and Karo-La Glacier.

With this Tibet travel guide, I hope you’ll be able to plan an epic adventure and a trip of a lifetime. If you are interested in joining me on one of my Tibet tours , check out this page for detailed information.

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Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the founder of WildJunket. Originally from Singapore, Nellie has traveled to over 150 countries across 7 continents. She is a book author and Lonely Planet guidebook writer. As an adventure travel blogger, she has a special interest in unusual destinations and deep experiences. Follow her travels on her Facebook and Instagram .

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The Comments

Astonishing.

Great writing. Thanks for introducing me to Tibet!

Did you have to trek at the Everest Base Camp ? Any tours coming up in 2018?

hi K, you don’t have to trek on the Tibet side. With most tours, you actually get the van all the way to the Everest Base Camp and then do a short hike to the lookout point. I don’t have any Tibet tour coming up in 2018 but you can email me and I’ll put you in touch with my local tour operator.

Your tour sounds interesting. Me and girlfriends are planning to go in October but we are worried of the toilet cleanliness and feeling unwell due to the high altitudes.

Btw do u have any trip planned in Oct?

hey YL, thanks for dropping by! I don’t have any trip to Tibet planned in October but I can help you book a trip if you’re interested. Be sure to bring some Diamox and you should be fine. A few people on my trip didn’t want to take Diamox and suffered quite badly from altitude sickness. It can be rough, you’ll need to be prepared. The toilet cleanliness isn’t something that can be fixed though. Tibet is a spectacular part of the world and there’s nothing quite like it. The devotion of its people, the kindness in their eyes, and the pristine beauty of its nature will make all the challenges of the trip well worth it.

Great blog! Enjoyed reading the info. A pity, there’s no planned trip to tibet in oct, i was also planning for that month. Perhaps u can share the travel operator u work with, would love to work something out.

For the access to tibet, maybe u can advice me on whether flight or train is a better choice from singapore. The train duration seems super long (40+ hrs), the flight seems expensive and difficult to get.

Thank you Mei

Cash'LaTyra Lewisdouglas

Hi, I would like to travel to Tibet with my children ages 2, 10 and 18. Would we be considered a group and how far in advance should I plan leaving from Los Angeles?

Any trip coming up in Aug 2018?

I’m afraid not, but I can book a Tibet trip for you if you like.

Hi, I am interested in going to tibet this august 2018. Can you pass me details of how to organise my trip¿ thanks in advance

Hi Esther, I can connect you with my local partner in Tibet. Just email me! :)

KALYAN GARIMELLA

I am planning for a Honeymoon trip in Tibet this mid of November (2018). I am from India. Let me know if any trips planned and do we require Visa. What’s the budget and how to plan my stay for 5days.

hi Kalyan, I’ll be happy to help you set that up. I will email you. Thanks!

Hi, can you connect me with your partner in tibet? we are going in august.

I would like to go to mount kailash tour

Hi Nellie I am planning to visit Tibet in May 2019. Besides Lhasa, I would like to go Namtso lake and Mt Everest base camp. How many days would this take? Appreciate you can share similar itineraries. Thanks!

We are interested in going to Tibet in 2019. Could you put us in touch with your tour operator? Thank you.

hi Selyn, yes sure, feel free to email me!

I’m interested in a tour to Tibet in late April 2019. Can you please provide me with any information? Thank you.

hi Kenny, please feel free to email me and I’ll connect you with my local tour operator.

Hi Nellie, can you kindly connect me with the local tour operator.

My email address is [email protected]

Bernard Wosk

Hi Nellie, I’m planning a trip to Tibet at the end of May, do you have a trip around that time? If not, can you recommend a tour operator? Thanks, Bernard

I am thinking of taking the train from Xining to Lhasa and then doing a tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp. There are any parts of this trip in which the train or car would be riding along the edge of a cliff? I am fine with heights unless I am at the edge so need to prepare myself.

hi Macy, I did almost the same route except that I started the train journey from Beijing. No, the train doesn’t ride along the edge of a cliff. You won’t feel the height. However, the car/bus journey towards Everest Base Camp will bring you on hairpin bends at high altitudes, so be prepared for that. Just try not to sit by the window if it’s gonna scare you. Roads there are surprisingly good (built by the Chinese) so don’t worry about safety.

Hi Nelly I plan to go in may 2019. I’m flying in to lanzhou & plan to take the train to lhasa. will join the ebc tour too if possible. can u advise and gimme contacts of the local tibet tours that can arrange for me? thanks.

hey Sam, yes sure. I’m actually writing an article about visiting the Everest Base Camp as we speak. I’ll email you. :)

Michelle Adams

Hi Thanks for your blog it was very interesting and insightful to read. I do theatre projects in the UK and recently connected with our very small Tibetan community in the UK. I am not really interested in travelling to Tibet with my partner. When is the next time you are travelling there. It would be great to be with someone who knows the country well. Thanks Michelle

hi Michelle, thanks so much for your comment! I’ve received your email as well and will reply you promptly. Cheers!

Hi,i likw to travel to Lhasa,china.Can you please let me know,how to travel from India?

You’ll need to get to Nepal first and from Kathmandu, you can travel overland to Tibet on a tour. Otherwise flying to Lhasa is the fastest way.

Hi, intends to go Lhasa and EBC in April 2019. Appreciate if there’s any tour during that period.

hi SK! I’m setting up an automated booking system for tours to Tibet right now as we speak. It should be up and running this week or the next, so please do check back then! Thank you!

siewchin yong

pian to visit Tibet 2020

I’m about to launch an automated booking system on my site where you can book trips to Tibet throughout 2020.

Riwash Chamlagain

Thanks for your blog I am glad to read this .I like tibet very much it is nice country I do theatre projects in the napel and recently connected with our very small Tibetan community in the nepal. I am not really interested in travelling to Tibet with my partner. When is the next time you are travelling there. It would be great to be with someone who knows the country well. I like tibet very much it is nice country.

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Commonly referred to as the "roof on the world", Tibet has the world's highest "castle" — the Potala Palace and the world's tallest peak — Mount Everest (altitude 8,848 meters). Tibetan Buddhism dominates the cultural landscape, and there are many Buddhist monasteries scattered across Tibet.

Content Preview

• 1. Can I Visit Tibet Now?

2. How to Get a Tibet Permit

3. it is safe to visit tibet.

• 4. Things Not to Do

5. Best Times to Travel to Tibet

• 7. Tips for Seniors and Children

8. Tibet Travel Insurance

• 9. How to Get to Tibet?

1. Can International Travelers Visit Tibet?

Yes. But please remember , independent travel is not allowed : you will need to go on an organized tour provided by a certified travel agent who will also provide your Tibet Permit.

Send us your inquiry if you would like some provisional help with planning. To ease your concerns, You enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure ( detail⇒ ).

Updates : Travelers from visa-free countries just need to provide us with passport photos to apply for a Tibet permit if your itinerary in Tibet is less than 15 days.

Applying for a Tibet permit is a different process from getting you r China visa . Application from individuals is not accepted: it must be done through a travel agency.

Fortunately, it is easy for us to handle all the procedures and we can 99% guarantee your Tibet permit success . With our step-by-step guidance, applications are almost always successful. The procedure is as follows:

If you are from a visa-free country, just disregard this step.

No matter whether it is a group tour or a private tour.

If you are from a visa-free country, just send your passport to us.

Normally it will be posted by express mail to your pre-Tibet stop.

Except for L (Visitor/Tourist) Visa holders, you are also required to provide proof of a place at your company/school .

For expats in China , you will need to provide a work/study certificate .

Don't worry: your travel agency (we) will give you guidance in preparing all the items.

As far as personal security goes, Tibet is a safe place with a low crime rate. Even if you walk around Tibet alone in your free time, your personal security is not expected to be threatened.

When walking in the streets of Lhasa you will find lots of police stations , and armed policemen can be seen everywhere in the streets. They are normally on duty 24/7.

As a pure land with devoted Buddhist people, wherever you go a wide smile will be there to greet you.

With an average elevation of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level, probably your biggest concern is altitude sickness in Tibet.

It is perfectly okay for ordinary people to travel to Tibet, including seniors or kids , however, it is suggested that you consult a doctor before traveling if you have a heart problem or high blood pressure.

Oxygen cylinders will be available in the vehicle for every China Highlights customer during your stay in Tibet.

You may want to read more about staying healthy in Tibet .

4. Things Not to Do When Planning a Tibet Trip

• Don't book your tour any later than 10 days before departure to ensure we have (your travel agency has) plenty of time to apply for Tibet permits.
• Don't book flights before the Tibet permit is issued, especially during this COVID-19-affected period. You might find that a Tibet Permit is required to confirm a flight booking, but your permit cannot be obtained until 2–7 days before your tour! It is better to ask a travel agent (us) to organize your flight tickets as it is easy for them (us) to handle all these problems, as well as cancel flight tickets if there is any travel ban due to COVID-19, etc.
• Don't plan your Tibet trip for March. Tibet will be closed to foreign travelers during the Tibetan New Year period, which is usually in February/March and is based on the Tibetan calendar. During this period, it is worth considering other Tibetan regions such as Qinghai , Sichuan , and Yunnan , which have many of the cultural and scenic attractions that Tibet does without access restrictions.
• Don't arrange a tight schedule in Tibet to sure your tour arrangement is as flexible as possible. You may need more time to let your body get used to the high altitude. See How Long to Spend in Tibet
• Don't make changes to your itinerary (such as pre-Lhasa city or travel destinations in Tibet) once your Tibet Entry Permit is issued, otherwise, you will need to apply for a new one! Please do tell your travel agency (us) in advance if you want to make any changes to your Tibet plan.

The weather in Tibet is largely affected by altitude . Therefore, even in the same month, the temperature in southern (low altitude) and northern (high altitude) Tibet can be very different.

Every season has its advantages and characteristics. Exploring Tibet in different months shows you different scenery and cultural activities for different travel experiences.

Spring (April to May) is best to enjoy less-crowded attractions and a favorable rate of hotels (except for the Labor Day holiday: May 1-5). The peach blossom in Nyingchi is really worth seeing.

Summer is best for seniors and kids because the air's oxygen content is higher during this period.   You can enjoy most of the sights in Tibet when nature is at its most vibrant and also experience rich festivals. Local people make their living by growing barley and raising yaks there every summer. You can take part in the work of local Tibetans . In the evening, you can cook and enjoy dinner with a local Tibetan family. While it's more crowded than other months, there are higher costs due to the higher demand for flights, trains, and hotels.

You can travel to every place in Tibet during autumn , which provides the year's best weather for hiking . The most popular trekking trails by far are the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Mount Kailash (Yatra) Trek — a famous pilgrimage route. It is also the best time to admire the breathtaking snow-capped Mount Everest when the sky is particularly blue, the air is clean and dry, and there are few clouds.

Winter is Tibetan people's leisure time and many of them choose to make a pilgrimage trip to Lhasa from their various Tibet regions. Small religious activities can be found in many corners of Lhasa. In winter, blue glaciers are an unusual and striking feature of Tibet, with ice cracks and bubbles all over the frozen lakes, the huge ice blocks appear to be a charming blue color. It is also a good time to enjoy the favorable rates of hotels. See  5-Day Tibet Winter Tour

See more on Best Times to Visit Tibet .

6. Budget for a Trip to Tibet

The budget depends on where, when, how many people, how many days, hotel class, private or group tour, transport, and other requirements you may have.

You could get the approximate price from our  8-Day Tibet Tour (based on 2 people for a private tour) for reference. The price of 8 days would be about USD 2200 per person, including private transfers in Tibet, meals, admission fees,  guiding, hotels, etc.

To make the most of your budget, you are suggested to book a few months in advance to enjoy some early booking discounts or travel with more than four people to share private tour costs.

If you have a holiday in winter, travel to Tibet in December or January to enjoy the special winter rates including discounts on hotels, airfares, and entrance tickets.

7. Tips for Traveling with Seniors and Children

• Make sure any seniors and children in your group are healthy enough to visit Tibet by consulting a doctor. Seniors with cardiovascular diseases or chronic respiratory ailments are not suggested to travel to Tibet.
• Stay in Lhasa for 2 days for acclimation before touring any wider in Tibet.
• Traveling with a wheelchair is not convenient in Tibet , as most of the attractions are located on hillsides without a chairlift or elevator, which means those in wheelchairs will miss the Potala Palace and monasteries. But it is fine to visit places with flat roads in a wheelchair, such as Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple, and Lake Yamdrok.
• Children under 4 years old are not suggested to visit high-altitude regions in Tibet, such as Everest Base Camp (5,200 m), Mount Kailash (4,700–5,600 m), or any place over 4,500 m. Lhasa (3,800 m), Lake Yamdrok (4,000 m), and Nyingchi (3,100 m) are perfect choices for them.
• Be sure your children can well express how they are feeling to identify symptoms of altitude sickness.
• Bring some snacks for your kids , as the foods in Tibet will probably not be to their liking — most of the dishes have a heavy flavor and will be quite strange to them. However, if your children are adventurous eaters, this could work out well.
• If you are a family with 2 adults and 1 kid , your family can simply sleep in one bed if there is enough space or ask for an extra bed or cot.
• If your family has 2 adults and 2 children or more, it is better to book adjoining rooms (rooms are often connected by a door). This type of room is limited in availability and not provided in every hotel, please ask our travel advisor to choose hotels for you.

During our over 20 years of experience , we have organized Tibet tours for customers from 4 to 82 years old . Please do tell us about any special requests you have , and our professional travel advisor will solve any problems for you.

You may want to read more tips and suggestions on How to Deal with Altitude Sickness .

It is wise to get travel insurance when you travel to Tibet. Here is what you need to consider when selecting your policy:

1. It is better to get "cancellation for any reason" insurance in case of a sudden closure of Tibet (although this is not frequent, it could happen at any time). Booking with China Highlights, you enjoy free cancellation up to 22 days before departure for your Tibet tour or other China tours.

2. Check if it covers an emergency medical evacuation, which could help you quickly descend or leave Tibet if you suffer severe altitude sickness.

3. If you plan to trek in Tibet, check if your policy covers trekking in Tibet.

4. Check if your travel insurance includes medical expenses for your trip to Tibet in case you need medical services in a hospital there (due to altitude sickness).

5. Other typical air travel issues should be covered, for example, a snowstorm closing down your airport before you can board your flight to Tibet, or arriving only to find your luggage is on its way to another city…

Based on what we know from our previous customers, the most popular insurance companies are InsureMyTrip and World Nomads.

9. How to Get to Tibet? — Easiest from China

Broadly speaking, there are two ways you can enter Tibet: from China's cities or from Nepal , but the easiest way by far is from the China side.

Travel from China's cities

There are direct flights from China's major cities to Lhasa in Tibet, such as from Beijing , Shanghai , Chengdu , and Chongqing . The most frequent and reliable flights to Tibet are from Chengdu, with about eight flights per day.

Trains to Tibet depart from these cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou , Xi'an , Chongqing , Lanzhou , and Xining .

Xining is the best place to start the train journey, as it is the beginning point of the most beautiful section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway with the shortest train journey to Lhasa (20–22 hours), compared to around 30–50 hours for further departure points.

See more details on How to Get to Tibet .

Example: the Best Way to Travel to Tibet from the U.S.

1. Book a flight from a USA city to a China city: Beijing, Shanghai, etc.

2. Spend a couple of days in your China arrival city to get over jet lag.

3. Take a flight to Chengdu , which is the best city for connecting flights to Lhasa (almost all flights to Tibet stopover in Chengdu). You could happily stay a night in Chengdu — home to China's giant pandas — and spend a day sightseeing in the city before going to Tibet.

A wonderful panda volunteer keeper program experience would be worth a day there.

4. Take a morning flight from Chengdu to Lhasa (2½ hours) so that you can have plenty of time for acclimation in the afternoon before you sleep to avoid altitude sickness effects as much as possible.

On your return journey, you could experience the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Lhasa to Xining with beautiful scenery along the way , and then take a flight from Xining to a large city in China for the flight home.

Traveling out of Tibet by train will help you successfully get train tickets. Lhasa-Xining train tickets are five times easier to buy than Xining-Lhasa tickets! This also means you can save a lot on the ticket booking fee.

Tips: Taking a flight into Tibet is better than a train because a good sleep in a hotel in Lhasa is much more helpful to altitude acclimation than spending a night on the train.

Most passengers find it more difficult to fall asleep on the train, and tiredness makes altitude sickness more uncomfortable.

You may need information about How to deal with altitude sickness in Tibet

Travel from the Nepal Side

There are two ways into Tibet from Nepal: by flight and by road .

You should first consider issues of a China visa and Tibet Entry Permit , no matter whether you'll go by flight or road. Procedures are different from traveling from a Chinese mainland city to Tibet.

Y ou must apply for a China visa and Tibet permits in Nepal via a travel agent . Any China visa issued in your resident country will be invalid for Tibet travel. You will need to stay in Kathmandu for at least 3 working days to wait for the visa and permit.

By road, you can travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa via the Gyirong border (possibly with a convenient side tour to Mount Everest).

For more, see How to Travel from Nepal to Tibet .

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Tibet (Bod to Tibetans), the “Roof of the World”, has exerted a magnetic pull over travellers for centuries. The scenery is awe-inspiring, the religious devotion overwhelming, and the Tibetan people welcoming and wonderful. Below the surface, however, it is all too apparent that Tibet’s past has been tragic, its present painful and the future bleak: today Tibet is a subjugated colony of China. While foreign visitors are perhaps more worldly than to expect a romantic Shangri-La, there is no doubt that many are shocked by the heavy military presence and authoritarian restrictions, both reinforced following pre-Olympic protests in 2007–08 and an ongoing campaign of self-immolations. The growing presence of Chinese immigrants and snap-happy tourists, construction of apartments and factories alongside traditional Tibetan rural homes and monasteries, and a programme of resettling nomads en masse to permanent new towns, are further causes of disquiet, but don’t stay away: many people, the Dalai Lama included, believe travellers should visit Tibet to learn all they can of the country.

Brief history

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One of the most isolated parts of the world, the massive Tibetan plateau sits at an average height of 4500m above sea level, guarded on all sides by towering mountain ranges. To the south, the Himalayas separate Tibet from India, Nepal and Bhutan; to the west lie the peaks of the Karakoram and Pakistan; while to the north the Kunlun range forms a barrier to Xinjiang. Eastwards, dividing Tibet from Sichuan and Yunnan, a further series of ranges stretches for a thousand kilometres. Some of Asia’s greatest rivers are born up on the plateau, including the Yangzi, Mekong, Yellow, Salween, Indus and Brahmaputra.

Today’s Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), while still a massive 1.2 million square kilometres, is but a shadow of the former “Greater Tibet” carved up by China in the 1950s, when the Amdo and Kham regions were absorbed into Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces. The current TAR comprisies only the former West and Central regions of Greater Tibet, and is itself divisible into four distinct geographical areas. The northern and largest portion is the almost uninhabited Chang Tang, a rocky desert at an average altitude of 4000m, where winter temperatures can fall to - 44°C. South of this is the mountainous grazing area, inhabited by wide-ranging nomads tending herds of yaks, sheep and goats. Eastern Tibet, occupying around a quarter of the TAR, is heavily forested. The relatively temperate southern valleys, sandwiched between the nomad areas and the Himalayas along the southern border, is the most hospitable and populated area, and where most visitors spend the majority of their time.

Tourist-friendly Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse offer the most accessible monasteries and temples – the Jokhang, Tashilunpo and Kumbum, respectively. The Potala Palace in Lhasa remains an enduring image of Tibet in the Western mind and should on no account be missed. Farther afield, the Yarlung and Chongye valleys to the southeast boast temples and ancient monuments, with a visit to the ancient walled monastery of Samye easily combined with these. The route along the “Friendship Highway” between Zhangmu on the Nepalese border and Lhasa is well established, with stops at the Mongolian-style monastery at Sakya and Everest Base Camp along the way. Further west lie the sacred peak of Mount Kailash, its nearby, and similarly holy, neighbour Lake Manasarovar, and the mysterious cave dwellings of the Guge Kingdom, burrowed into the walls of an enormous, crumbling canyon.

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According to legend, the earliest Tibetans came from the union of the ogress, Sinmo, and a monkey, reincarnation of the god Chenresi, on the mountain of Gangpo Ri near Tsetang. Ethnographers, however, think it more likely that Tibetans are descended from the nomadic Qiang, who roamed eastern Central Asia several thousand years ago. The first Tibetan king, Nyatri Tsenpo, who legend has it came to earth via a magical “sky-cord”, was the first of 27 kings who ruled in the pre-Buddhist era when the indigenous, shamanistic Bon religion held sway. Each of the early kings held power over a small area, the geographical isolation of Tibet making outside contact difficult. While pens, ink, silk, jewels and probably tea reached Tibet from China in the seventh century, for many centuries Tibet looked to India for religious teaching.

Arrival of Buddhism

It was in the time of King Songtsen Gampo, born in 617 AD, that expansion began. Songtsen Gampo’s twenty-year rule saw the unification of the country and the aggressive spread of his empire from northern India to China. China and Nepal each offered Songtsen Gampo a wife: in 632, he married Princess Bhrikuti (also known as Tritsun) of Nepal, and in 641 Princess Wencheng arrived from the Tang court, sent by her father, Emperor Taizong. They both brought their Buddhist faith and magnificent statues of the Buddha, which are now the centrepieces of Ramoche temple and the Jokhang in Lhasa. Songtsen Gampo himself embraced Buddhism and established temples throughout the country, although the indigenous Bon faith remained the religion of the ordinary people. Following his death in 650, his descendants strengthened the kingdom politically, and in 763 Tibetan armies even took the Chinese capital Chang’an (modern Xi’an).

In 838, having assassinated his brother, Langdarma came to the throne. A fervent supporter of the by-then marginalized Bon faith, he set about annihilating Buddhism. Temples and monasteries were destroyed, monks fled, and Tibet broke up into a number of small principalities. A century later, the arrival of Atisha (982–1054), the most famous Indian scholar of his time, sparked a Buddhist revival involving monastery construction, the translation of scriptures into Tibetan and the establishment of several of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Politically, the country was divided, with the various independent principalities having little contact with China.

Mongol period

Absorbed in domestic events, the Tibetans were largely unaware of the Muslim surge across India in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, which destroyed the great Buddhist centres of teaching. Meanwhile, to the north and east, Mongol leader Genghis Khan was beginning his assault on China. In 1207, he sent envoys to Tibet demanding submission, which was given without a fight, and the territory was largely ignored until his grandson, Godan Khan, sent raiding parties to explore the country. Hearing from his troops about the spirituality of the Tibetan lamas, Godan invited the head of the Sakya order, Sakya Pandita, to his court. In exchange for peace, Sakya Pandita again offered Tibetan submission and was created regent of Tibet at the Mongolian court, effectively making the Sakya lamas rulers of the country. This lasted through the generations, with Godan’s son Kublai Khan deeply impressed by Sakya Pandita’s nephew, Phagpa.

When the Chinese Ming dynasty overcame the Mongols in the fourteenth century, Tibet began a long period of independence, which ended in 1642 with the Mongols intervening directly in support of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso (1617–82), of the Gelugpa order. Often referred to as “the Great Fifth”, he united the country under Gelugpa rule and within fifteen years established authority from Kham to Kailash – the first time that one religious and political leader had ruled the country. He invited scholars to Tibet, expanded religious institutions and began work on the Potala Palace.

Regency period

One disadvantage of the reincarnation system of succession (in which a newborn child is identified as a new manifestation of the dead lama) is that an unstable regency period of fifteen or twenty years inevitably follows the death of a Lama while his latest incarnation grows up. For two centuries after the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1682 the most influential figures in Tibet were these regents, and the representatives of China’s Manchu rulers, whose influence – despite Tibet’s official continuing status as a Chinese protectorate until 1912 – waned to the extent that Tibet became, to all intents and purposes, self-governing.

British invasion

During the nineteenth century, Tibet became increasingly isolationist, fearing Russian plans to expand their empire south and British plans to expand theirs north. But Indian and Tibetan traders continued to do business along the borders: in 1904, British patience with this one-sided arrangement ran out, and a force under Colonel Francis Younghusband was dispatched to extract favourable trading terms.

Younghusband advanced into the country, slaughtering Tibet’s poorly armed peasant soldiers – largely reliant on invulnerability charms for protection – along the way. Having cut their way through to Lhasa (where they were expecting, but failed, to find evidence of Russian influence), the British faced disappointment, one accompanying journalist writing:

If one approached within a league of Lhasa, saw the glittering domes of the Potala and turned back without entering the precincts one might still imagine an enchanted city. It was in fact an unsanitary slum. In the pitted streets pools of rainwater and piles of refuse were everywhere: the houses were mean and filthy, the stench pervasive. Pigs and ravens competed for nameless delicacies in open sewers.

The invaders forced a treaty on the Tibetans which the Dalai Lama – who had fled their advance – did not ratify, and which was rejected too by China’s representative. Britain then washed its hands of the whole affair, principally because of the public outcry against the first battle of the campaign, in which 700 Tibetans were machine-gunned as they walked away from the battlefield.

Chinese Invasion

The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso (1876–1933), realized that Tibet’s political position needed urgent clarification. But he had a difficult rule, fleeing into exile twice, and was much occupied with border fighting against the Chinese and tensions with conservatives inside the country. Following his death, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama was identified in Amdo in 1938 and was still a young man when world events began to close in on Tibet. The British left India in 1947, withdrawing their representative from Lhasa. In 1950, the Chinese government declared their intention “to liberate the oppressed and exploited Tibetans and reunite them with the great motherland”. The venture, however, probably had more to do with pre-empting growing Indian and Russian influence in the region, than with any high-minded ideals of emancipation. In October 1950, the People’s Liberation Army took the Kham region of eastern Tibet before proceeding to Lhasa the following year. Under considerable duress, Tibet signed a seventeen-point treaty in 1951, allowing for the “peaceful integration of Tibet” into China.

Early Communist era

Initially, the Chinese offered goodwill and modernization. Tibet had made little headway into the twentieth century; there were few roads, no electricity or lay education, and glass windows, steel girders and concrete were all recent introductions. While some Tibetans viewed modernization as necessary, the opposition was stiff, with the religious hierarchy seeing changes within the country as a threat to their own power. In March 1959, underground resistance to Chinese rule flared into a public confrontation. Refugees from eastern Tibet fled to Lhasa complaining of the brutality of Chinese rule, including the sexual humiliation of monks and nuns, arbitrary executions and even crucifixions. In Lhasa, the Chinese invited the Dalai Lama to a theatrical performance at the Chinese military HQ. It was popularly perceived as a ploy to kidnap him, and huge numbers of Tibetans mounted demonstrations and surrounded the Norbulingka where the Dalai Lama was staying. On the night of March 17, the Dalai Lama and his entourage fled into exile in India where they have since been joined by tens of thousands of refugees.

Crushing of the rebellion

The uprising in Lhasa was ferociously suppressed within a couple of days, the Tibetan rebels massively out-gunned by Chinese troops. Recriminations and further consolidation of Chinese power, however, were to continue: between March 1959 and September 1960 the Chinese killed an estimated 87,000 people. All pretence of goodwill vanished, and a huge military force moved in, with a Chinese bureaucracy replacing Tibetan institutions. Temples and monasteries were destroyed, and Chinese agricultural policies proved particularly disastrous. During the years of the Great Leap Forward (1959–60), it is estimated that ten percent of Tibetans starved – harrowing accounts tell of parents mixing their own blood with hot water and tsampa to feed their children.

Cultural Revolution and aftermath

In September 1965, the U-Tsang and western areas of Tibet officially became the Xizang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, but more significant was the Cultural Revolution (1966–76), during which mass eradication of religious monuments and practices took place. In 1959, there were 2700 monasteries and temples in Tibet; by 1978, there were just eight. Liberalization followed Mao’s death in 1976, leading to a period of relative openness and peace in the early 1980s when monasteries were rebuilt, religion revived and tourism introduced. However, by the end of the decade, martial law was again in place – thanks to Hu Jintao, later China’s president – following riots in Lhasa in 1988–89. In the early 1990s, foreigners were allowed back into the region, and as the decade progressed it appeared the Chinese government was loosening their heavy-handed authoritarian approach to Tibet, and were keen to exploit Tibet’s potential for international tourism.

Olympic recriminations

All this fell apart during the build-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics: pre-Games riots and protests in Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai focused international attention on underlying tensions in Tibet; the Chinese government, embarrassed and angry, re-sealed borders and introduced all-but martial law. Since then, thousands have been arrested and any open dissent – or even discussion – has been almost entirely stifled, arguably resulting in an ongoing campaign of self-immolation by Tibetan monks which began in 2009.

A Chinese future

The Tibetan Government in Exile, meanwhile, based at Dharamsala in northern India, represents some 130,000 refugees. Its leader, the Dalai Lama – known to the Tibetans as Gyalwa Rinpoche and regarded as the earthly incarnation of the god Chenresi – has never faltered from advocating a peaceful solution for Tibet, a stance that led to his being awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. The Chinese government, however, has consistently denounced the Dalai Lama as being responsible for dissent, branding him “a devil with the face of a human but the heart of a beast”. His increasing age and frailty, the certainty of his death and the challenge of finding a successor pose serious questions for both China and the Tibetan authorities in exile.

In the meantime, several thousand Tibetans every year make the month-long trek to India, an arduous and dangerous journey over the mountains. Pilgrims have been picked off by Chinese snipers as they crossed the Himalayas, though increasingly those who escape stay only for a few years before heading back home. For the Tibetans who remain, life in Tibet is harsh. Per capita annual income in rural areas is pitiful and the rate of adult literacy has been describe by the UN as “horrendous”. It is estimated that China subsidized the TAR between 1952 and 1998 to the tune of ¥40 billion – yet Tibetans are among the poorest people in China, with some of the lowest life expectancies. As Tibet provides the Chinese with land for their exploding population along with a wealth of natural resources, the influx of more educated and better-skilled Chinese settlers, with considerable financial resources, threatens to swamp the Tibetan population, culture and economy.

Any trip to Tibet faces obstacles. Following the centuries of self-imposed isolation which ended with Tibet being forcibly annexed by China in 1950, Tibet has become increasingly accessible, with approaches eased by plane links, paved roads and the Qinghai–Lhasa railway. Each new route has accelerated heavy, government-sponsored migration into the region, and although it is impossible to know how many Han Chinese actually live here it is likely that, at least in urban areas, they now outnumber ethnic Tibetans and have become economically dominant.

There are, of course, two sides to every story. The pre-Chinese Tibetan administration was a xenophobic religious dictatorship that tolerated slavery; when the Chinese arrived, the monied and the ruling classes escaped to India, leaving behind an uneducated working class. China has spent billions bringing modern infrastructure to the region, giving Tibetan people the chance to make a better life for themselves and, ironically, strengthen their culture. Meanwhile, the Chinese migrating into Tibet are not demons. Most are people simply trying to make a life for themselves and their families, with little understanding of the implications of their presence. As with Taiwan and Xinjiang, all Chinese are taught almost from birth that Tibet is an “inalienable part of China”, and to suggest otherwise is heresy.

As part of their Beijing Olympic bid, the Chinese government promised increased freedom for Tibetans, but a confluence of events – the unfurling of a Tibetan flag at Everest Base Camp by some American students in 2007, mass protests and rioting by Tibetans in spring 2008 – ended those dreams. Since 2008 an ongoing campaign in Tibet, Sichuan and even across the border in Nepal, has seen scores of Tibetan protesters set themselves ablaze. Extremely strict travel regulations are in place, and temporary bans on all foreign travellers from visiting the region are regularly imposed. Any visit to Tibet will be expensive, with transport and accommodation options for foreigners limited, on the whole, to the higher end of the market, though Tibetan organizations abroad ask visitors to try, wherever possible, to buy from Tibetans and to hire Tibetan guides. At all times, you should avoid putting Tibetans – and yourself – at risk by bringing up politically sensitive issues: you can go home, Tibetans have to live here. The Chinese authorities monitor internet activity here more strictly than in the rest of the Republic so, again, avoid sensitive topics and mentioning people by name in your emails.

Just outside Lhasa, the major monasteries of Sera, Drepung, Nechung and Ganden are easily accessible from the city as half-day or day-trips. Indeed, Sera and Drepung have virtually been gobbled up in the urban sprawl that now characterizes Lhasa, while the trip to Ganden or to Samye – the latter slightly further out to the southeast – is a good chance to get out into the countryside. Morning visits to any of them are likely to be in the company of parties of devout pilgrims who’ll scurry around the temples making their offerings before heading on to the next target. Follow on behind them and you’ll visit all the main buildings; don’t worry too much if you aren’t sure what you are looking at – most of the pilgrims haven’t a clue either. The monasteries are generally peaceful and atmospheric places where nobody minds you ambling at will, and sooner or later you’re bound to come across some monks who want to practise their English.

The Ganden–Samye trek

Though popular, the Ganden–Samye trek is no less serious or demanding than other treks. The route, which takes four days to complete, crosses the mountains that divide the Kyichu Valley from that of the Tsangpo and travels through high mountain passes and alpine pasture to the dry, almost desert-like countryside around Samye. The trek goes by Hebu village (three hours south of Ganden and a good place to hire yaks and guides) and involves camping out or sleeping in caves or nomad encampments, long climbs to the Jooker La and Sukhe La passes, and some deep-river wading.

Life in the great monasteries

Fifty years ago, there were still six great, functioning Gelugpa monasteries: Sera, Drepung and Ganden near Lhasa, plus Tashilunpo in Shigatse, Labrang and Kumbum. They each operated on a similar system to cope with the huge numbers of monks who were drawn to these major institutions from all over Tibet. In their heyday, Sera and Ganden had five thousand residents each and Drepung (possibly the largest monastery the world has ever known) had between eight and ten thousand.

Each monastery was divided into colleges, dratsang, which differed from each other in the type of studies undertaken. Each college was under the management of an abbot (khenpo), and a monk responsible for discipline (ge-kor). Attached to each college were a number of houses or khangsten, where the monks lived during their time at the monastery. Usually, these houses catered for students from different geographical regions, and admission to the monastery was controlled by the heads of the houses to whom aspirant monks would apply. Each college had its own assembly hall and chapels, but there was also a main assembly hall where the entire community could gather.

Not every member of the community spent their time in scholarly pursuits. Communities the size of these took huge amounts of organization, and the largest monasteries also maintained large estates worked by serfs. About half the monks might be engaged in academic study while the other half worked at administration, the supervision of the estate work and the day-to-day running of what was essentially a small town.

The most obvious feature of these monasteries today is their emptiness; hundreds of monks now rattle around in massive compounds built for thousands. Such has been the fate of religious establishments under the Chinese and the flow of lamas into exile that there are now questions about the quality of the Buddhist education available at the monasteries inside Tibet. Monks and nuns need to be vetted and receive Chinese-government approval before they can join a monastery or convent, and although there are persistent rumours of tourists being informed on by monks, it’s also apparent that both monks and nuns have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of open political opposition to the Chinese inside Tibet.

A visit to SAMYE, on the north bank of the Tsangpo River around 50km southeast of Lhasa, is a highlight of Tibet. A unique monastery and walled village rolled into one, it’s situated in wonderful scenery and, however you arrive, the journey is splendid. You can climb the sacred Hepo Ri to the east of the complex for excellent views (1hr); it was here that Padmasambhava is said to have subdued the local spirits and won them over to Buddhism.

With independent travel in Tibet currently impossible for foreign tourists, the only option is to book a guided tour – including a private vehicle, driver and guide – through an agency before you arrive. Despite the huge number of travel agencies in Chengdu, Xining, Golmud and Lhasa, all claiming to offer a unique service, most operate through CITS or FIT in Lhasa, hiring drivers and tour guides who are registered with the Lhasa authorities and work as freelancers. That you are forced to book from outside the region, preventing you from meeting the tour guide or seeing the vehicle before signing up, means it pays to be circumspect – try to get a recommendation from a fellow traveller if possible, and go through your itinerary with a fine-tooth comb working out exactly what is covered and what you will have to pay extra for. Getting a group of four or five together to fill a jeep will ensure the per-person cost is as low as it can be, though if you are on your own or in a couple, most agencies will be able to match you up with a group which has spaces that need filling.

Despite the requirement to book a tour, regulations do not stipulate that accommodation reservations are made in advance. As a result, not all tour agencies include accommodation in their prices – clarify whether accommodation is included and, if so, where. You may be able to bring down the price of your tour, or ensure you’re not bedding down in the worst place in every town, by negotiating where you stay.

The most popular tour follows the Friendship Highway up to the Nepalese border, and includes three days in Lhasa and five on the road taking in Gyantse, Shigatse and Everest Base Camp. It costs around ¥7000 per person including accommodation. However, as you have to book a driver, guide and vehicle anyway, there is no reason to simply stick to the tours offered – you can draw up your own itinerary and negotiate costs with the agency. Expect to pay around ¥1300 per day to hire a Land Cruiser. For driver and guide fees it is best to haggle prices as low as you can with the agency and tip heavily at the end of the tour to ensure the money goes where you want it to.

Established agencies

In the event of a misunderstanding, you may wish to complain to the Tour Service Inspection Office of Lhasa’s Tibet Tourism Bureau, 208 Luobulingka Lu.

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• Tibet Culture Tour

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• Tibetan Expeditions
• Tibet Nakqu International Travel Service

If you’re interested in doing some background reading on Tibet, it’s best to begin at home before you leave, as much that would be considered essential reading by Western audiences is simply not allowed or available in China – this includes almost all guide books, with their bourgeois imperialist references to Tibetan independence.

But beware: searches of luggage do take place – particularly at the Nepal–Tibet border at Zhangmu – where any literature deemed unpatriotic to China, anything remotely resembling a Tibetan flag and anything containing images of the Dalai Lama (though, with all pictures of him banned, it’s worth pondering how the guards looking for the pictures know what he looks like) will be confiscated.

Roads run southwest of Lhasa to Mount Everest and the Nepal border, past some of the region’s most historically significant monasteries: Gyantse, site of a shameful episode in Britain’s colonial past; Shigatse, spiritiual seat of the Panchen Lamas; and spectacular Sakya, home to one of the foremost orders of Tibetan Buddhism. Then comes Everest itself, though – given the surprising urbanity of the base camp “village” here – the mountain’s rugged splendor is perhaps best appreciated from afar.

Approaching Everest

Approaching Everest along the Friendship Highway from Lhatse, allow about four hours in a good jeep to get up over the Lhakpa La Pass (5220m) to NEW TINGRI (新定日, xīndìngrì; also known as Shekar). Almost entirely constructed from concrete blocks, it’s not the nicest place, but it holds the ticket office for entry to the Mount Everest area and represents the last chance to stock up on provisions before the mountain.

There’s a checkpoint on the highway about 5km further on where some visitors have reported guards being particularly assiduous in confiscating printed material specifically about Tibet (books on China that include Tibet seem to be fine). Just 7km west of this checkpoint, the small turning to Rongbuk Monastery and on up to Mount Everest Base Camp is on the south side of the road.

The Friendship Highway

From Shigatse, the Friendship Highway is surfaced all the way to Zhangmu on the Nepalese border. The only public buses in this direction are the Shigatse to Sakya, Lhatse and Tingri services. From the broad plain around Shigatse, the road gradually climbs to the pass of Tsuo La (4500m) before the steep descent to the Sakya Bridge and the turn-off to Sakya village. If you have time, a detour off the Friendship Highway to Sakya is worthwhile; the valleys are picturesque, the villages retain the rhythm of their rural life and Sakya Monastery is a dramatic sight. Further south, the side-trip to Mount Everest Base Camp is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On the eastern banks of the Nyang Chu at the base of a natural amphitheatre of rocky ridges, GYANTSE is an attractive, relaxed town, offering the splendid sights of the Gyantse Kumbum (pronounced goom- boom) – famous among scholars of Tibetan art throughout the world – and the old Gyantse Dzong. Despite the rapidly expanding Chinese section of town, it has retained a pleasant, laidback air. It lies 263km from Lhasa on the old southern road and 90km southeast of Shigatse.

The old southern road

The road west from Lhasa divides at the Chusul Bridge and most vehicles follow the paved Friendship Highway along the course of the Yarlung Tsangpo to Shigatse. However, there is an alternative route, the longer but extremely picturesque old southern road that heads southwest to the shores of Yamdrok Tso, before turning west to Gyantse and then northwest to Shigatse – it is this route that most tour groups follow. Expect around six or seven hours’ driving time from Lhasa to Gyantse in a good jeep, but day-trips to Yamdrok Tso from Lhasa are feasible.

The Panchen Lama controversy

The life of Choekyi Gyaltsen, the Tenth Panchen Lama (1938–89), was a tragic one. Identified without approval from Lhasa by the Nationalist authorities in 1949, he fell into Communist hands and was for years China’s highest-profile Tibetan collaborator. In 1959, however, his role changed when he openly referred to the Dalai Lama as the true ruler of Tibet. Ordered to denounce the Dalai Lama, Gyaltsen refused and was barred from speaking in public until 1964, when, to an audience of ten thousand people, he again proclaimed support for the exiled leader. He spent the following fourteen years in jail. Released in 1978, Gyaltsen never again criticized the Chinese in public, arguing for the protection of Tibetan culture at all costs, even if it meant abandoning independence. Some saw him as a sellout; others still worship him as a hero. He died in 1989, officially from a heart attack, though rumours of poisoning persist.

The search for a successor was always likely to be fraught, with the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government both claiming authority to choose the next incarnation. The search was initially led according to tradition by checking on reports of “unusual” children, and in January 1995 the Dalai Lama identified the Eleventh Panchen Lama but – concerned for the child’s safety – delayed a public announcement. The Chinese authorities, meanwhile, decreed selection should take place by drawing of lots from a golden urn.

In May, the Dalai Lama publicly identified his choice, and within days the boy and his family had disappeared. Fifty Communist Party officials moved into Tashilunpo to root out monks loyal to the Dalai Lama and his choice of Panchen Lama. In July, riot police quelled an open revolt by the monks, but by the end of 1995 dissent was suppressed enough for the drawing of lots to take place. The lucky winner, Gyaincain Norbu, was enthroned at Tashilunpo and taken to Beijing for publicity appearances, where he has since stayed to complete his studies. Two decades later, the fate of the Dalai Lama’s choice and his family remains unknown, though Beijing claims they are free and voluntarily opting to remain anonymous.

As for Gyaincain Norbu, despite Beijing’s best efforts, his returns home are lacklustre affairs, and it is overwhelmingly his predecessor, the rotund Choekyi Gyaltsen, who you’ll see smiling beatifically down from Tibetan living-room walls.

The small but rapidly growing village of SAKYA (萨迦, sàjiā), set in the midst of an attractive plain, straddles the small Trum River and is highly significant as the centre of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The main reason to visit is to see the remaining monastery, a unique, Mongol-style construction dramatically visible from far away. The village around is now a burgeoning Chinese community, full of ugly concrete, and can be crowded with coach parties in peak season, but while it’s not a place to linger, the monastery makes this a more than worthwhile side-trip from the Friendship Highway.

Sakya’s Northern Monastery

Originally, there were two monasteries at Sakya: the imposing, Mongol-style structure of the Southern Monastery that visitors come to see today, and a Northern Monastery across the river, which was a more typical complex containing 108 chapels. The Northern Monastery was founded in 1073 by Kong Chogyal Pho, a member of the Khon family, whose son, Kunga Nyingpo, did much to establish Sakya as an important religious centre. He married and had four sons; three became monks, but the fourth remained a layman and continued the family line. The Sakya order has remained something of a family affair, and, while the monks take vows of celibacy, their lay brothers ensure the leadership remains with their kin. One of the early leaders was a grandson of Kunga Nyingpo, known as Sakya Pandita. He began the most illustrious era of the order in the thirteenth century when he journeyed to the court of the Mongol emperor, Godan Khan, and established the Sakya lamas as religious advisers to subsequent emperors and effective rulers of Tibet. This state of affairs lasted until the overthrow of the Mongols in 1354.

The Northern Monastery was completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and has been largely replaced by housing. Prior to the Chinese occupation, there were around five hundred monks in the two monasteries; there are now about a hundred.

Traditionally the home of the Panchen Lamas – religious and political rivals to the Dalai Lamas – Tibet’s second city, SHIGATSE (日喀则, rìkāzé), is used by travellers as an overnight stop on the way to or from Lhasa. One day is long enough to see the two main sights, Tashilunpo Monastery and Shigatse Dzong, but if you’re not pressed for time it’s worth spending at least an extra night here simply to do everything at a more leisurely pace, take in the market, wander the attractive, tree-lined streets and absorb the buzz provided by the huge numbers of Tibetan pilgrims and foreign visitors. Although most of the city is modern, you’ll find the traditional Tibetan houses concentrated in the old town west of the market, where you can explore the narrow alleyways running between high, whitewashed walls.

Situated in a wide, mountain-fringed valley at 3700m on the north bank of the Kyichu River, LHASA (拉萨, lāsà; Ground of the Gods) is a sprawling modern city with a population of around 200,000. An important settlement for well over a thousand years, it was not until the seventeenth century, with the installation of the Fifth Dalai Lama as ruler by Mongolian emperor Gushri Khan, that Lhasa became the seat of government. It continues now as the capital of the TAR, but with its wide boulevards, shopping centres, and the concrete-and-glass high rises spreading south and west along the valley, China has well and truly left its architectural stamp upon the city. Despite the passing of sixty years, Lhasa is still palpably under imposed rule; the armed soldiers may have taken a lower profile, with much of the security work now falling to large numbers of police and plain-clothes officers on street corners and rooftops, but the air of occupation remains.

There are enough sights in and around Lhasa to keep visitors occupied for at least a week (even if most tours cram them into a couple of days): the Potala Palace, Jokhang and the Barkhor district are not to be missed, and at least one trip to an outlying monastery is a must. It’s also worth taking time to see some of the smaller, less showy temples and simply to absorb the atmosphere of the “Forbidden City”, which large numbers of explorers died in vain efforts to reach just over a hundred years ago.

The Jokhang

The Jokhang – sometimes called Tshuglakhang (Cathedral), and the holiest temple in the Tibetan Buddhist world – can be unprepossessing from afar, but get closer and you’ll be swept up by the anticipation of the pilgrims and the almost palpable air of veneration. It stands 1km east of the Potala Palace, in the centre of the only remaining Tibetan enclave in the city, the Barkhor area, a maze of cobbled alleyways between Beijing Dong Lu and Jinzhu Dong Lu. Inside, you’re in for one of the most unforgettable experiences in Tibet. Devout pilgrims turn left to move clockwise and enter each chapel in turn to pray and make offerings, though they don’t hang around; stand still to admire anything and you’ll be trampled in the rush. As with all temples in Tibet, it’s often difficult to know exactly what you are looking at. Some of the statues are original, others were damaged during the Cultural Revolution and have been restored either slightly or extensively, and others are replicas; in any event, all are held in deep reverence by the pilgrims. The best time to visit is in the morning, when most pilgrims do the rounds.

Suppressing demons

King Songtsen Gampo built the Jokhang in the seventh century to house the dowry brought by his Nepalese bride, Princess Bhrikuti, including the statue known as the Akshobhya Buddha. This later changed places with the Jowo Sakyamuni statue from Princess Wencheng’s dowry, which was initially installed in Ramoche temple, and which is now regarded as Tibet’s most sacred object. The site of the temple was decided by Princess Wencheng after consulting astrological charts, and confirmed by the king following a vision while meditating. However, construction was fraught with problems. Another vision revealed to the king and his queens that beneath the land of Tibet lay a huge, sleeping demoness with her head in the east, feet to the west and heart beneath Lhasa. Only by building monasteries at suitable points to pin her to the earth could construction of the Jokhang succeed. The king embarked on a scheme to construct twelve demon-suppressing temples: four around Lhasa, which included Trandruk, to pin her at hips and shoulders; a set of four farther away, to pin elbows and knees; and four even more distant, to pin her hands and feet. When these were finished, construction of the Jokhang began.

The region around Tsetang, southeast of Lhasa and just south of the Tsangpo River, is steeped in ancient history. Legend has it that the first Tibetans originated on the slopes of Gongpo Ri to the east of Tsetang, and that the Yarlung Valley (where the country’s earliest Buddhist scriptures magically appeared) was where the first king of Tibet descended from the heavens on a sky-cord, to father the original royal dynasty – many members of which are buried in the nearby Chongye Valley.

In order to enter Tibet – in fact, even to buy a plane or train ticket to Lhasa – foreign travellers must have a Tibet Travel Permit. Issued by the TAR authorities, this lists a full travel itinerary and provides evidence of having booked a car, driver and guide for every day you are in the region. Available through registered travel agencies only, the permit should be included as part of your travel package by whichever agency you book with. Though the permit officially carries no cost, agencies arranging permits will charge a significant handling fee for the service, covering the huge amount of paperwork and “other costs” involved.

Be aware that until the permit is issued, which often occurs only a day or two before your tour will be due to start, you will not be able to independently book flights or trains into the region. The agency you have booked your tour through, safe in the knowledge of your full itinerary and in possession of a fair-sized deposit, is likely be willing to make reservations on your behalf, or you can wait to book travel yourself at the last minute; either way, don’t expect discounted tickets. While it may be tempting to try to sidestep the regulations, all foreign travellers coming from inside China will have their permits checked at point of purchase, on departure, and on arrival; hotels will not let foreigners stay unless accompanied at check-in by an official tour guide with a valid permit, and they are required to be shown again when visiting the Potala Palace and other tourist sights. Add the regular checkpoints along roads outside Lhasa and it would take a serious, concerted effort, and a massive slice of luck, for a permitless traveller to get very far.

Once in Tibet, further permits are needed for specific areas. Travel along the Friendship Highway to Everest, and to Mount Kailash, requires permits that are most often secured from the Public Security Bureau in Shigatse, costing around ¥150. Getting these permits is the responsibility of your tour guide and costs will have been included in the overall agency fee, so its not something you should have to worry about. That said, it’s best to politely double check that they are being taken care of. Anyone caught without permits or overstaying their alloted time faces fines and deportation from the region. The agency that applies for the permit on your behalf may also face stiff penalties, so your guides will also be anxious for you to stick to the leaving dates set out on the permit. Bear in mind that regulations have shifted fairly regularly in the past, so it’s best to check up on the latest requirements before booking.

Although most tour guides are now conversant in several languages, including English, most Tibetans speak only their native tongue, with a smattering of Mandarin. A few words of Tibetan from a foreigner will always be greeted enthusiastically, and the further off the beaten track you get, the more useful they’ll be.

Tibetan belongs to the small Tibeto-Burmese group of languages and has no similarity at all to Mandarin. Tibetan script was developed in the seventh century and has thirty consonants and five vowels, which are placed either beside, above or below other letters when written down. There are obvious inaccuracies when trying to render this into the Roman alphabet, and the situation is further complicated by the many dialects across the region; the Lhasa dialect is used in the vocabulary here. Word order is back-to-front relative to English, and verbs are placed at the ends of sentences – “this noodle soup is delicious” becomes “tukpa dee shimbo doo”, literally “noodle soup this delicious is”. The only sound you are likely to have trouble with is “ng” at the beginning of words – it is pronounced as in “sang”.

For the experienced hiker, Tibet offers plenty of enticing trekking routes – though you will currently need to negotiate for a guide and a travel agency to endorse your travel permit and accompany you for the entire duration of the trek. The popular Ganden–Samye trek has the advantages that both the start and finish points are relatively accessible from Lhasa and that it takes only three to four days. Also worth considering are treks to the cave hermitage of Drak Yerpa from Lhasa (allow a full day and be prepared to camp), and the five-day trek from Tingri to Everest Base Camp via Rongbuk. More challenging options include: the sixteen-day mammoth trek to the Kangshung face of Everest, exploring the valleys east of the mountain (the trip to second base camp and beyond on the mountain itself should only be tackled by experienced climbers); the 24-day circumnavigation of Namtso Lake, including the arduous exploration of the Shang Valley to the southwest; and the great thirty-day circuit from Lhatse to Lake Dangra up on the Chang Tang plateau.

Spring (April–June) and autumn (Sept–Nov) are the best seasons in which to trek, though cold-weather threats such as hypothermia and frostbite should be taken seriously even in these months. While trekking is possible at any time in the valleys, high altitudes become virtually impossible in the winter; anyone contemplating trekking at this time should be sure to check information about the terrain and likely conditions. During the wettest months (June–Sept), rivers are in flood, and crossing them can be difficult, even impossible. Once you start trekking, you get off the beaten track extremely quickly, and there is no infrastructure to support trekkers and no rescue service; you therefore need to be fit, acclimatized, self-reliant and prepared to do some research before you go. There are two essential books: Tibet Handbook: a Pilgrimage Guide by Victor Chan (Moon), and Trekking in Tibet by Gary McCue (Cordee), which is especially good for shorter day-treks that anyone can do without all the gear.

One of the most rewarding and popular trips in Tibet is to Namtso Lake, around 230km northwest of Lhasa, taking in Tsurphu Monastery on the way. This can be done on a two-night/three-day jaunt from Lhasa by jeep.

Black Hat Lamaism

Founded in the twelfth century by Dusun Khenyapa, the Karmapa order is a branch of the Kagyupa tradition, where members are known as the Black Hats after the Second Karmapa was presented with one by Kublai Khan. Most powerful during the fifteenth century, when they were close to the ruling families of the time, they were eventually eclipsed in 1642 when the Fifth Dalai Lama and the “Yellow Hat” Gelugpa order, aided by the Mongol army, gained the ascendancy. The Karmapa were the first order to institute the system of reincarnated lamas, tulkus, a tradition later adopted by the Gelugpa school.

Set at 4700m and frozen over from November to May, Namtso (Sky Lake) is 70km long and 30km wide, the second-largest saltwater lake in China (only Qinghai Lake is bigger). The scenery comes straight from a dream image of Tibet, with snowcapped mountains towering behind the massive lake and yaks grazing on the plains around nomadic herders’ tents.

Western Tibet

Travellers spend huge amounts of time and money plotting and planning trips to Western Tibet, with its key sights of Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar and the remains of the tenth-century Guge kingdom. However, this is no guarantee of reaching any of these destinations – regulations change frequently and weather can be a factor. Access to Mount Kailash generally isn’t a problem – you just need to find a tour agency running the trip. Cost is likely to be the largest obstacle as tours to Kailash take at least two weeks.

Mount Kailash

Top of most Western Tibet itineraries is Mount Kailash (6714m, Gang Rinpoche to the Tibetans), the sacred mountain at the centre of the universe for Buddhists, Hindus and Jains. The 58km tour around the mountain takes around two and a half days (though Tibetans usually do it in one); you might consider hiring a porter and/or yak (from about ¥120/day each) as it’s a tough walk and you need to carry all your gear and at least some food. On the first day you should reach Drirapuk Monastery; on the second day you climb over the Dolma La Pass (5636m) to Zutrulpuk Monastery; and the third day you arrive back in Darchen.

Routes through Western Tibet

The southern route, a well-surfaced highway running parallel to the Himalayas all the way to Western Tibet’s main town, ALI (also known as Shiquanhe), passes through Saga, and on to Darchen, and makes for a stunningly picturesque journey. From Lhasa to Mount Kailash is around 1400km.

The alternative northern route via Tsochen, Gertse and Gakyi is longer: it’s over 1700km to Ali, and then another 300km or so southeast to Mount Kailash. It is also less scenic, but less liable to be affected by snow or flooding. Some tours plan to go on one route and return on the other – expect around a week’s-travelling time on either.

Zanda and the Guge Kingdom

These days just another arid army town, ZANDA (also known as Tholing; 托林, tuōlín) was once capital of the Guge Kingdom. Today only Tholing Monastery, some chortens, and ruins just outside town remain, but it is still the best place to base yourself to visit the Guge sites.

Everest Base Camp (5150m) is 4km due south from Rongbuk Monastery. There’s a bus, but the walk alongside the river through the boulder-strewn landscape and past a small monastery on the cliff is glorious and the route fairly flat. Base camp is often a bit of a surprise, especially during the climbing seasons (March–May, Sept & Oct), when you’ll find a colourful and untidy tent city festooned with Calor gas bottles and satellite dishes. At other times of year it’s almost completely deserted, save for a perpetual detachment of Chinese troops keeping an eye out for potential “trouble”.

Don’t be surprised if you suffer with the altitude here – breathlessness and headaches are the norm. However well you were acclimatized in Lhasa, base camp is around 1500m higher, so be sensible and don’t contemplate a trip here immediately after arrival up on the Tibetan plateau.

Perched 130m above Lhasa atop Marpo Ri (Red Mountain), and named after India’s Riwo Potala – holy mountain of the god Chenresi – the Potala Palace (布达拉宫, bùdálāgōng ) is dazzling inside and out, an enduring landmark of the city. As you revel in the views from the roof, gaze at the glittering array of gold and jewels and wend your way from chapel to chapel, you’ll rub shoulders with excited, awestruck pilgrims from all over ethnic Tibet, making offerings at each of the altars. But be aware that, beyond the areas approved for tourists and pilgrims, the Potala is a shadow of its former self: most of the rooms are off limits, part of a UNESCO World Heritage grant was spent on a CCTV system and the caretaker monks are not allowed to wear their robes.

Though close enough to town to reach on foot, don’t tackle the Potala on your first day at altitude – the palace is a long climb, and even the Tibetans huff and puff on the way up; you’ll enjoy it more once you’ve acclimatized. Morning is certainly the best time to visit, when the place bustles with pilgrims. Photography is banned inside, and neither, bizarrely, are you supposed to take pictures of the fabulous views from the roof. Snapping away in the palace’s courtyards is tolerated, however.

Tibetan Buddhism is divided into several schools that have different philosophical emphases rather than fundamental differences. The Nyingma , the Old Order, traces its origins back to Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Tibet. The Kagyupa , Sakya and Kadampa all developed during the eleventh-century revival of Buddhism, while the now-dominant Gelugpa (Virtuous School) was founded by Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) and numbers the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama among its adherents. Virtually all monasteries and temples are aligned to one or other of the schools, but, apart from an abundance of statues of revered lamas of that particular school, you’ll spot little difference between the temples. Tibetan people are pretty eclectic and will worship in temples that they feel are particularly sacred and seek blessings from lamas they feel are endowed with special powers, regardless of which school they belong to.

There is little ceremony attached to visiting temples , which are generally welcoming places. Most are open in the mornings (9am–noon), when pilgrims do the rounds, and again after lunch (around 2pm or 3pm, until 5pm). Smaller places may well be locked, but ask for the caretaker and the chances are you’ll be let in. There is no need to remove your shoes, but you should always circulate in a clockwise direction, and shouldn’t eat, drink or smoke inside. Ask before taking photographs, which isn’t always allowed, and if it is, you may be charged for the privilege. Entrance fees collected from tourists are often claimed by local authorities, so if you want to give to the institution itself, leave an offering on an altar or pay the photography charge.

The range of offerings Tibetans make to their gods is enormous: juniper smoke sent skyward in incense burners, prayer flags erected on rooftops and mountains, tiny papers printed with religious images ( lungda ) and cast to the wind on bridges and passes, white scarves ( katag ) presented to statues and lamas, butter to keep lamps burning on altars, repetitious mantras invoking the gods and the spinning of prayer wheels that have printed prayers rolled up inside are all part of religious observance. The idea of each is to gain merit in this life and hence affect karma. If you want to take part, watch what other people do and copy them; nobody is at all precious about religion in Tibet. Giving alms to beggars is another way of gaining merit, and most large Tibetan temples have a horde of beggars who survive on charity from pilgrims. Whether or not you give money is up to you, but if you do it’s wise to give a few small denomination notes or so, the same amount as Tibetans.

Tibetan Buddhism has an overwhelming number of gods and goddesses , and each deity in turn has different manifestations or forms. For example, there are 21 forms of the favourite goddess Tara, and even the most straightforward image has both a Sanskrit and Tibetan name. Here are some of the most common you will encounter:

(Tsepame) and Vijaya (Namgyelma), often placed with White Tara to form the Three Gods of Longevity.

Avalokiteshvara

(Chenresi in Tibetan, Guanyin in Chinese temples), patron god of Tibet, with many forms, most noticeably with eleven faces and a thousand arms.

(Jampa), the Buddha of the Future.

(Jampelyang), the God of Wisdom.

Padmasambhava,

with eight manifestations, most apparent as Guru Rinpoche. You may see him with his consorts, Yeshe Tsogyel and Mandarava.

Buddha of the Present.

(Dolma), Goddess of Compassion. Green Tara is associated with protection and White Tara with long life.

Festival dates are calculated using the Tibetan lunar calendar and as a result correspond to different dates on the Western calendar each year. There is a list of festival dates in the Western calendar at kalachakranet.org/ta_tibetan_calendar.html .

February/March

Driving out of evil spirits. Twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the last day of the year.

Losar, Tibetan New Year. First day of the first lunar month.

Monlam, Great Prayer Festival, Lhasa. Eighth day of the first lunar month.

Butter Lamp Festival, on the final day of Monlam. Fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Birth of Buddha. Seventh day of the fourth lunar month.

Saga Dawa (Buddha’s Enlightenment). Fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month.

Gyantse Horse Festival. Fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month.

Tashilunpo Festival, Shigatse. Fifteenth day of the fifth lunar month.

July/August

Buddha’s First Sermon. Fourth day of the sixth lunar month.

Drepung Festival. Thirtieth day of the sixth lunar month.

August/September

Shotun (Yoghurt Festival), Lhasa. First to the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Bathing Festival, Lhasa. Twenty-seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Damxhung Horse Festival. Thirtieth day of the seventh lunar month.

September/October

Harvest Festival. First to the seventh day of the eighth lunar month.

Lhabab (Buddha’s descent from heaven). Twenty-second day of the ninth lunar month.

November/December

Palden Lhamo Festival, Lhasa. Fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month.

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Office agent Ms Amy

Office agent Ms Amy, we found is in-experienced for the job and too busy with too much work given to her to give attentions to her customers. Sli could see she works late hours and at latter stage of our trip. Many things we were not told to decide, and missed. But the guide provided Ms Joy did a excellent job for the group. She was very helpful going out of the way make our trip comfortable.

Date of experience : 30 April 2024

Choose this trek and guide with confidence

I have been in the high mountains before, and have organzied trips from Alaska to India and many places in between. The tour guide for this trip Mr. Sonam Temple, was at the very top of his cohort. From his boundless energy, always wiling to solve issues, to his explanations of religious sites, to dealing with every memeber of the group in a very polite, enthusiastic and professional manner he always excelled. We went to sites in Lhasa, went to EBC (Everest Base Camp), did the Kailash Kora, and visited lake Manasarovar. We had members from Germany, Italy, UK, Canada, USA, India, China, Russia and Australia in our group. A very diverse group and he individually made sure that our concerned were addressed and even physically assisted some memebers complete the Kora. He definitely goes above and beyond what I expected of a tour guide. All the members of the group were wonderful and made the experience better but Mr. Sonam’s attitude was the gel that made little headaches, that happen at altitude, become beautiful experiences and not reasons for friction. In addtion he is good photographer with a good camera and took very good impromptu, in the moment photos of the group. You can see a few below. I have guided expeditions and hands down he is better than me :). We had fantastic weather throughout and clear views of the mountains.

Date of experience : 26 April 2024

Great 8 Day travel experience to Mount Everest

We had a great and unique week with our knowledgeable and funny guide Pasang. Starting from Lhasa via Xigaze to Base Camp of Mount Everest with Monasteries and Temples along the way. Highlight was the base camp at 5.200m with amazing views of Everest and clear blue skies. All along the trip Pasang proved to be highly knowledgeable on Buddhism and Tibeten history and was entertaining and caring all along. Would definitely go on any other tour with him. Everything was smoothly organized, only the booking and subsequent handling of train tickets by the travel agency can definitely be improved (no sitting together as group, tickets only very shortly before departure, later sleeper train booked than shown in itinerary).

Date of experience : 04 May 2024

Amazing guide and tour- Lhasa to Kathmandu

Incredible experience with our guide Tenzin S (Small & super!) in Lhasa to Kathmandu overland via Everest Base Camp. Tenzin S was so knowledgeable about culture, religion and nature and passionate and taught up so much around main sites in Lhasa and then continued for our journey across Tibet. The tour was extremely well run and had a great mix of activities including Potala palace, Jokham temple, lots of learning about Buddhism, homestay visit meeting local family and enjoying lunch, and the epic nature of the region! Tenzin S was a wonderful guide and have us so much extra information, looked out for us and made sure everything ran smoothly. Could not recommend Tenzin S as a guide more highly (11/10!!) as well as Tibet Vista tour company. Thanks for an amazing trip!

Date of experience : 25 April 2024

One of the most incredible places on planet earth

Once in a lifetime experience. I am so thankful to our guide Sonam Temphel. He is such a kind human being who generously shared stories about Tibetan traditions and his life. Incredibly attentive, knowledgeable and fun. Made the whole trip so seamless and relaxed. And do not wait to go. As you can expect Tibet is changing and you want to meet Tibetan people who are still preserving their beautiful, rich and unique culture.

Date of experience : 20 April 2024

Epic journey across the roof of the world

It was an adventure of a lifetime! We had two full days to explore Lhasa, and each day was not too jam-packed, with just two key sites each. Then began our epic westward quest, passing stunning sites such as Yamdrok lake, and chains upon chains of stunning mountain ranges. I can't even say that Everest was the most stunning, simply because there were so many beautiful mountains along the way. A huge part of why the trip was so wonderful was our warm and knowledgeable guide, Sonam Temphal. He is always ready with a hearty laugh and made our whole group feel welcome. He speaks several languages, and his anecdotes and facts were fascinating and engaging. When my elderly father struggled to climb the Potala Palace, he was with him every step of the way to make sure he didn't fall, all while ensuring the rest of us got to appreciate the key historical and political significance of the palace. Thank you again for a wonderful tour!

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

The guide helped us with all our needs both logistical, historical and spiritual

The guide helped us with all our logistical needs as well as providing background knowledge of the places we visited. Best trip I have had to Tibet. Really enjoyed trip.

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

Great experience with Tibet Vista

Our Tibet Vista guides in Chengdu (Rosa) and in Lhasa (Sonam) were fantastic : very friendly, immense knowledge of local history, customs, etc., and always available. They were excellent at getting us to and from places without feeling rushed. Huge thanks to Sonam for his herculean efforts helping our grandmother ascend steps to the Potala Palace.

Date of experience : 09 April 2024

Our trip to Tibet and experience with Tibet Vista

On our first activity in Tibet, walking the streets to the temple, my wife fainted and the guide one Lakma was quick to size up her situation and called an ambulance. At the hospital, one staff from Tibet Vista was there to see us through the hospital procedures. My wife soon recovered and we were able to continue with the next four days of activities including the journey to the Everest Base Camp. The guide for this 4 day activities was one Mr Tashi. I must say Mr Tashi is a very engaging person. We were very happy with him, introducing/explaining the various places as we passed and the Tibenten culture.

Sonam was a truly fantastic guide

Sonam was a truly fantastic guide - giving us a deep insight into the culture and history of everything we saw, with humour and fun. With three generations in our group and a few people unwell, he also took great care of us. I’ll wholeheartedly recommend him to friends.

Date of experience : 12 April 2024

Unforgettable Experience

Reached out to Tibet Vista via online, and agent Holly was very helpful in answering all the queries for the trip including flights booking. Upon arrival on Tibet hotel, pur tour Small Tenzin had reached out and explained on the overall itineraries. Throughout the trip he will always check out with all of us to ensure if we are felling good. He will also help with all our queries / request. Coordinate for permit/tickets during all the attractions visit, help to communicate with the waitress during meal time, help with hotel check in and check out. He will ensure minimum effort requires from us! And he is very knowledgeable for Buddhism and Tibetan history, a well lesrned trip! We are well taking care of by Small Tenzin and will definitely recommend him 👍

Date of experience : 01 April 2024

Memorable journey

I'd love to share my experience of 8-days journey in Tibet, spanning from Lhasa to Shigatse and Everest Base Camp. Our tour guide, Sonam, was exceptional, guiding us throughout the trip and taking excellent care of us. The experience was truly remarkable, with breathtaking scenery and stunning views at every corner. The standout moment was undoubtedly the journey from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp. While we arranged our own accommodation, I highly recommend this trip to anyone seeking an immersive Tibetan cultural tour.

Date of experience : 07 April 2024

Experience of a Lifetime

Wow, what an amazing experience. I actually booked my trip quite late (I had a work trip to China and tried to tack on some time in Tibet). Tibet Vista (Emma in particular) was so helpful and communicative and completely made the trip work. I’m very grateful to T. Phurbu, our guide, who was so kind and knowledgeable. Would recommend this tour to anyone and everyone!

Date of experience : 03 April 2024

It was great experience.

It was great experience. The guide Tempelh Sonam is a very knowledgeable guy! He was always on time and very helpful in everything. Highly recommended!! 10/10

Easy to contact and helpful for…

Easy to contact and helpful for information about Tibet trip. Tour guide is knowledgeable, friendly and responsible. Tibet vista company is very organized company. My next visit to Tibet is still gonna go with them again.

Date of experience : 19 January 2024

From Lhasa to Mount Everest

My trip to Tibet, from Lhasa to Mount Everest, was incredible. Keldor, our experienced and warm guide, led us through breathtaking landscapes and rich culture, making the experience unforgettable. I highly recommend traveling with Tibet Vista for anyone looking to explore authentic Tibet. I can't wait to come back, Tibet!!

Date of experience : 13 November 2023

amazing trip

Date of experience : 28 February 2024

Borders Of Adventure

Leading Culture and Adventure Travel Blog by Becki Enright. Looking at the world with a different angle to change perceptions of misunderstood places, for the best in travel.

Misunderstood Destinations , Tibet

This is How to Travel Tibet – The Reality of the Roof of the World

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How to travel Tibet and experience its ancient culture. Everything you need to know about how to enter, getting around, and the truth in visiting.

To be able to travel to Tibet is both a privilege and a different kind of experience that requires some degree of more profound observation. What was once closed off to outsiders and one of the most isolated cultures globally is now an Autonomous Region of China. Therefore, it is more tricky to traverse since you can’t travel there independently. 

While China heavily manages Tibet tourism, visiting means helping to keep Tibetan culture alive and experiencing those pockets of Tibetan Buddhism so profoundly entrenched in the form of spiritualism you won’t witness anywhere else.

Your visit is about using your freedom to return home to tell the world about it.

You won’t forget your time in Tibet easily, but it is a place where some pre-romanticised ideas shatter, and you leave with more questions and emotions than when you first arrived. It’s a mix of fascinating otherworldly spiritualism in mountainside monasteries and palaces and nunneries and temples. It’s the sadness at seeing a long history eroded that conflicts with such remarkable beauty.

Tibet Today

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What remains of old and sacred Tibet – left untouched after China’s occupation in 1950 that turned Tibet into what is now known as the Tibet Autonomous Region – is a testament to its mysterious and spiritual history and the retelling of it.

Today, seeing Tibet is about getting lost in an ancient culture that dates back to nearly 1,500 years, set within lake-filled valleys and rocky plateaus. To set foot inside some of the world’s oldest monasteries and temples, flanked by the endless peaks and ridges of the Himalayas that naturally hug Tibet in protection, with mighty Everest watching over.

The view of Mount Everest near Everest Base Camp, Tibet

It’s about understanding that while there are plenty of things to see in Tibet, swaths of its original wonder no longer exist. Patches of a far-reaching space we should not take for granted as visitors here when so much has already been lost.

Tibet is best experienced via an overland tour and one covering a lot of ground. On the two-week High Road to Tibet trip with G Adventures , I flew from Kathmandu to Lhasa, spent four days in the Tibetan capital before moving on to Gyantse, Shigatse, Rombuk and Everest Base Camp Tibet for the final highlight. An overnight stay in the border town of Kyirong was the last stop before the long and scenic drive back to Kathmandu.

Choosing exactly how to travel in Tibet and embarking on this particular trip goes hand in hand with travelling responsibly and supporting Tibetans in keeping their culture and traditions alive.

Here’s how to make the most out of your Tibet visit, alongside logistics and how best to experience and support the ancient Tibetan culture and its people.

Is it Ethical to Travel Tibet?

The question of whether it is ethical to visit Tibet is a justified one, but without an easy answer and one that you should make from a personal but informed choice.

On the one hand, the Dalai Lama encourages travel there  to see the country first-hand and bring those stories home. That’s what I wanted to do. Your presence is a chance for Tibetans to know of the outside world and know that people can witness their beliefs and then return home and tell people about their incredible culture.

On the other hand, your visa money doesn’t go to any form of Tibetan organisation. I struggled with that. Since Tibet is now under Chinese rule, the rights to travel in Tibet and who can enter the country is determined by China. Tibetan religious sites that have been left intact are for tourism dollars, and therefore it’s hard (although possible) to keep all your expenditure in the hands of Tibetan enterprise.

You’ve made your decision to go and experience this destination steeped in intrigue, but what is it really like to go to Tibet?

You will hear from your guides as you make your way through the region that thousands of Tibetan sites were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution after the Tibet Autonomous Region of China was formed 60 years ago. It is patchy information since the history of the country or mention of the Dalai Lama cannot be spoken of in detail or publicly, even if it is evident to you as a visitor. It would be best if you did your background research at home before visiting.

What remains are the Tibet sites considered most important and sacred, which you enjoy throughout your journey across the country.

Chinese surveillance and military presence is something you too may notice, including CCTV cameras and plain-clothed guards that often appear close to tourism groups when visiting significant sites. These monitoring systems are not something to be afraid of, and you quickly get used to them as a part of travelling here.

For example, when some excited Tibetan ladies wanted their photo with me, it was a form of interaction that created some level of paranoia. So I kindly shut down the situation more quickly than I would generally. It’s better for everyone and the reality of where you choose to travel and adhering to rules.

The organisation of tourism in Tibet also means that your itinerary is pre-approved and cannot be altered. This means that speed restrictions and police checkpoints along the journey (according to your trip schedule) are a requirement for your group. However, the simple reality is that often your Tibetan guide shows the relevant documents and all passports, which makes the process quicker and easier.

A typical checkpoint in Lhasa, Tibet

It also means adhering to specific rules and regulations at particular sites of enormous significance. The only time you will encounter inner-city police checkpoints is in Lhasa at the Jokhang temple. Given its large-scale importance, the temple has been the leading site of protest, and it’s standard procedure for the square outside of the temple to be guarded and for the army and plain-clothed officers to be present on the Barkhor sacred Kora path.

Walking the circular, sacred Kora path in Lhasa

If exploring alone in your free time, you simply show your passport and state where you are staying and your Nationality (the standard questions). We never encountered any issues going through, and we visited more than once to enjoy the incredible atmosphere of the Kora.

You can also only enter Potala Palace in your group and with your local guide, and you need to bring your passport for the restricted 50-minute viewing slot. Why such tight measures? Potala Palace is a pillar of Tibetan culture and remained the Dalai Lama’s primary residence until the 14 th (current) Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 . The Dalai Lama is a strong point of contention, which you will realise on many levels throughout your trip.

There’s a lot to soak in, where you’ll be spiritually moved and emotionally stirred in equal measures.

The queue at the entrance to Potata Palace, where visits are restricted to a 50-minute viewing slot

How to Visit Tibet

You cannot travel independently in Tibet and can only do so with a private guide as part of a small group . Therefore a third-party organiser must obtain a group visa for Tibet before entry.

Three days before our scheduled flight to Tibet, our group met in Kathmandu to submit details for the group visa processing.

Each of us had a four-page form to fill out, which is very much like any visa form. It asks for passport details, where else you have travelled on your particular passport in the last few months, points of contact and for a detailed breakdown of your day to day itinerary. Our G Adventures CEO (Chief Experience Officer) helped us with this process, ensuring we all had the exact itinerary and dates listed in a clear format.

Images for Tibet Visa

The images needed for the Tibet visa was tricky since nearly every person in our group had to get their passport photos redone that same evening. We were all briefed via trip notes beforehand regarding not having ears covered, needing a white background, no obvious make-up or any piercings. Even if there was a little hair covering a part of an ear, the photo had to be retaken. So much so that the women in the group were clipping every strand of their hair back.

Again, we did this as a group, ensuring we had a photographer at the passport store in Kathmandu who was briefed about our specific image request.

Application of Visa

Our Nepali CEO took our forms, photos and passports to the relevant agency and embassy for processing. It was an agonising wait to know if we could get into Tibet or not (with an itinerary in Nepal for two days to fill the time). It was a horrible feeling not having our passports.

It was a gut-wrenching wait at the airport with just over one hour until our flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, waiting for the group visa to turn up via a China embassy worker who delivers the paper via motorcycle. Our cheers were the signal that the adventure was just beginning.

Browse dates and book a Tibet trip here.  

How to Get to Tibet – Arrival and Getting Around

There are three ways to travel Tibet – via a flight to and from Lhasa or by overland via train or private vehicle.

Those who join groups in China fly mainly from Beijing or other cities on the Lhasa flight circuit. Taking a train to Tibet is doable only from China via one of the following cities – Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chongqing, Lanzhou and Xining- and is subject to your particular itinerary and booking.

I chose to travel to Tibet from Nepal, soaring over the Himalayas via a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. This flight route also allowed for the grand adventure of being able to overland in Tibet and travel back to Kathmandu in a loop that took around ten days.

I picked this particular tour because of its Nepal start and endpoint, as I did not want to travel from China for my ethical reasons about where I spend my money. Nepal is also a country close to my heart, where I encourage people to visit and contribute to the local economy.

As per the group visa and organisation rules, you can only travel around Tibet with an organised guide and private vehicle and driver.

Solo travel and the use of public transport are not permitted for foreign travellers. We rode the local bus in Lhasa for a few stops, but we were with our guide.

This private guide and vehicle also apply since you must arrive at designated police checkpoints in your route by certain dates and specific times. At times you will be asked to get out and present your passport one by one in your group before continuing with the next leg of the journey.

The season typically starts in mid-April and runs until October, covering the spring, summer and autumn months in Tibet. The height of summer can be stifling, which is why it’s best to try and get on one of the first tours in April or the last remaining in October .

Tibet isn’t closed for tourism because of the weather, more so for the New Year’s Losar Festival in late February or early March and is closed during political dates such as the anniversary of Chinese occupation at the end of March.

One thing that can’t be changed is Tibet’s incredible scenery. The dominant background of the Himalayan strip of peaks is one of the best things about this trip.

With all these elements in mind, regarding group travel and a group visa, a private guide and vehicle, alongside organised activity, visiting Tibet isn’t a budget experience.

However, with prices ranging from €2,200 – €2,800 (dependent on what time of the year you go), Tibet is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The cost also encompasses all elements of facilitation from visa organisation, the flight and point-to-point travel.

The extra costs aside from the tour cost itself were:

• Cost of the Nepal visa ($30 for 15 days, $40 for multiple entries if staying for more days before or after your trip)
• American and Brazilian: 195 USD per person
• Canadian and Romanian: 150 USD per person
• Israeli: 104 USD per person
• All other nationalities: 114 USD per person
• Food and drink costs (Approximately €400 for two weeks)
• Money for extras such as souvenirs and some entry prices for extra excursions or activities

A traditional Tibetan village street in Gyantse

Safety in Tibet is a common question and a precursor to the decision to travel here. While you may hear about acts of political demonstration in the media, this is not something you are ever likely to see since the country is closed during critical political dates and anniversaries.

However, it pays to be aware of where you are and what could get you and Tibetans into trouble. This means:

Not taking or carrying any form of Tibet guidebook, related literature or any political materials into the country . The scanners at Lhasa airport scan laboriously for books.

Not carrying or having in your possession any images of the Dalai Lama while in Tibet. Possession of Dalai Lama pictures is illegal here, with severe consequences for Tibetans.

Respecting that your Tibetan guides cannot engage in any kind of political discussion, whether about the Chinese occupation of Tibet or the Dalai Lama’s current situation. They will tell you who people are in the pictures, cultural references and historical references about Tibetan Buddhism, but do not further push them.

The bustling, busy streets of Lhasa

D o not engage in any kind of political discussion with any Tibetans you meet. All tourism movement is monitored, even if you think at any given moment that it is not, and such debate has far worse consequences for Tibetans.

Do not take any photos of police, army or other military personnel or set-up. If you see anything while taking pictures of sites, buildings, and street views, lower your camera, wait, or move on.

Keep to your itinerary and times. The guide has to ensure the group (and vehicle) reports at designated police checkpoints on the set days of your city departure and new city arrival and by a specified time.

One of the main things I liked about this particular Tibet tour  is that (where possible) we stayed in Tibetan owned accommodations, ate at Tibetan owned restaurants and were informed of where to shop at Tibetan owned stores and souvenir stalls.

It’s hard to distinguish what is in between the labyrinth of superficial Chinese town structures, so having someone point you in the right direction was a welcome gesture.

One of the few Tibetan owned restaurants.

A Tibetan owned shop in Lhasa

Tibet street scenes, where buildings display Chinese flags

In a destination where Chinese control affects all aspects and layers of daily life, where your tourism money goes, and what and whom it supports, is especially important.

Outside a Tibetan teahouse in Gyantse

The nature of an overland trip in Tibet means many roadside stops for viewpoints and toilet stops. Therefore, forms of tourism enterprise have sprung up in key spots, and while buying food and souvenirs is fine, don’t engage in the practice of photography with the Tibetan Mastiff dogs. Chained and poorly treated, this tourism gimmick is far removed from any level of positive animal welfare and participating in it encourages its continuation.

Where to Visit in Tibet?

Due to strict control by the Chinese government, your trip is organised and scheduled, especially since the driver, guide and the group need to be at police checkpoints along the journey by a specific time. However, with approximately ten days on the ground, you get to cover a lot of Tibet and see the country’s major highlights and differences across cities and landscapes. You also have plenty of free time for extra exploration in each city.

Elevation 3658m

A focal point and centrepiece for Tibetan Buddhists and pilgrims who come here from through Tibet and further afield, Lhasa is more than just the new capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Johkang Temple (the oldest part was built in the 600s and enlarged over the centuries) and the circular Barkhor Street surrounding it is the most sacred area and the beating heart of Tibetan Buddhism of Tibet. Barkhor is one of the primary pilgrim circuits, where Tibetans come to walk in prayer clockwise around the Kora (sacred) path. It is believed that every Tibetan should visit and pray and at Johkang at least once in their lifetime.

Inside the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa

Praying Tibetans on the floor outside the main entrance of the Jokhang Temple

The Sera Monastery is one of the last remaining three core monasteries in the country (together with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery) and one of the two great monasteries of the Gelugpa order. It is better known as the place to see the monks debating – a mesmerising hum of fast-paced chatter and hand-clapping echoes that every visitor should experience. While the number of monks has been reduced significantly (by the hundreds), you can still encounter a grand sense of spiritualism here.

Sera Monastery in Lhasa

Potala Palace is Tibet’s icon  – the looming, 1000 roomed structure that sits on the hillside presiding over the capital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum. It’s a symbol of power, the old administrative centre and the seat of government of spiritual Tibet, built during the reign of the 5 th Dalai Lama in 1645.

The 1000-roomed Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

Norbulingka (Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama) was founded by the 7 th Dalai Lama in 1755 and is where the 14 th Dalai Lama made his escape in 1959. It’s known for having the most extensive human-made garden in Tibet, and so its grounds are great for visiting also.

Norbulingka Summer Palace in Lhasa

We were also encouraged to visit Ani Tsamlchung Nunnery to support the nuns. Although the monks get paid a form of salary now, the Chinese government does not support the nuns. Therefore, the $6 ticket cost helps to maintain the nunnery, as does the funds made from supporting their handicraft store and teahouse, the latter of which is a truly local experience.

Tibetan Nuns in morning chant at Ani Tsankhung Nunnery in Lhasa

Elevation 4000m

Gyantse used to be Tibet’s third-largest town. While its administrative status has diminished, it remains one of the last cities not wholly overtaken by Chinese influence and mass structure.

Gyantse, Tibet

Gyantse village streets

It takes 9 hours to get here from Lhasa, with spectacular viewpoints to make a stop, including the Kambalaat High Pass at 4794m where you can view Mt. Nojin Kangatan (7191m) and drive part of the parameter of Lake Yamdork.

Views over Lake Yamdork, Tibet

Here we visited the Palcho Monastery , which you breathlessly climb for 20 minutes for a broad panoramic view of the surrounding village, fortress and mountain ranges. This moment of calm looking out over such a surreal canvas is a time to reflect on where you are.

Entrance to the Palcho Monastery in Gyantse

The sweeping views from the top of the Palcho Monastery

Elevation 4,300m

Tibet’s second-largest city of Shigatse is a two-hour drive from Gyantse.

A Tibetan woman in a traditional village in Shigatse

Better known as the Panchen Lama’s traditional seat (the second highest order of the Dalai Lama), Shigatse is on the map because its home to Tibet’s best-preserved Monastery Tashilompo Monastery where once, 4700 monks lived.

It’s considered by pilgrims to be the second Potala Palace and is visited daily by hundreds of people here to see the 26m high Buddha made from 278kgs of gold.

The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse Tibet

A short drive from Shigatse, our time in neighbouring Shegar was a sleepover point at 4,300m, ready for the nine-hour drive to Everest Base camp the following day.

Elevation 4980m

On the way to the Everest Base Camp area, you get to visit the Gyatso Pass at 5248m – the highest pint you will be on the trip. Another accolade to rack up here is to say you’ve used the highest toilets on earth.

The Gyatso Pass – the highest road in Tibet

The toilets on the Gyatso pass in Tibet are the highest toilets on earth!

The drive to the Rombuk Monastery was an endless stream of white-capped mountain scenery, with everybody in the vehicle full of excitement with every glimpse of Everest as we rounded corners and valley walls.

View of Mount Everest in Tibet

Rombuk Monastary view to Tibet Everest Base Camp

Inside Rombuk Monastary at Tibet Everest Base Camp

The Monastery stay is basic but comfortable, with a chance to walk to the Base Camp checkpoint and climb a small view for an elevated viewpoint. On the other side of Everest is where my first mountain adventure completing the Everest Base Camp Trek, began in Nepal seven years ago. Everest Base Camp on the Tibet side might have been moved back by 7km, but nothing beats the view we had of the world’s highest mountain.

READ MORE: Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal – Reaching the Top of the World

Overnight it had snowed, so we were able to take another walk towards Everest as it stood glowing with a golden morning halo.  

Leaving Mount Everest behind, we took back to the road for a 9-hour drive to the Nepal-Tibet border town of Kyirong. While there is not much to see here, it is where we had our last Tibetan dinner and a good night’s rest before the 10-hour drive back to Kathmandu.

What to Pack for Tibet

• Layers including merino wool thermals , t-shirts, fleece, windproof or tri-climate jacket and a waterproof jacket. I layered as swapped and changed. One minute it’s sunny, and you work up a sweat walking around. The next, you will be jumping out of the car to snap away at the valley ridges and mountain scenes where it’s cold, windy, raining or even snowing. Every day is a surprise.
• You will need modest clothing covering shoulders and knees for when you enter monasteries, temples and other religious areas. Casual long-sleeve travel tops are acceptable, or best tops with cardigans or light-sport jackets. 
• Jeans and hiking trousers ( Mammut are my go-to brand for fit and comfort). Wear your most comfy pants for long journeys, my favourite being my roomy, yellow climbing pants.  
• Gloves and a hat for those cold, windy and sometimes snowy conditions at high heights
• Trekking shoes (better when walking outside in more adverse weather conditions and walking at Everest Base camp) and sneakers / comfortable walking shoes for general city wandering. My top picks are the Asolo hikers and the tougher Salewa MTN Trainer Mid GTX range. I have Vivobarefoot for everyday walking . 

• Sunglasses and sunscreen. Particularly in the morning to mid-afternoon in Lhasa, the sun was extreme. A sun hat is recommended for those more sensitive to the heat.
• Silk sleeping liner for an extra layer at Everest Base Camp and monastery stay and a head torch since the toilet is in a separate building outside of your room. If you have the time to shop around, you can also find these items in Kathmandu before the trip start. 
• Toilet paper for roadside ‘nature toilets’ and squats.
• Hand sanitiser (diarrhoea is one of the main health issues for Tibet)
• A Microfibre travel towel is a good, lightweight extra (where you might need a fresh, clean towel or for use at EBC).
• Snacks for sustenance on the road. I usually take a week’s worth of protein and healthy snack bars . 
• Painkillers (also to help with early-onset symptoms of altitude). I was able to get stronger 600mg Ibuprofen, only on prescription from my doctor. However, they were vital in curbing the early onset of migraines which would have caused further sickness. 

Take crisp, new dollars with you for exchange in Tibet to Chinese Yuan. The ATM didn’t work for everyone. It was also impossible to get a large number of Rupees changed to dollars while in Nepal.

Altitude sickness can occur in some people around the 2,500 m, but everyone is different. For example, I start to feel sick at 4,000m, and it has taken a few trips and treks to work that out.

But the high altitude in Tibet isn’t something to be worried about. The trip is  designed to allow enough time in Lhasa to acclimatise and includes many ‘high to low’ drives to cover various altitudes, so your body adjusts. There’s a precise science to the trip itinerary, the route and the designated stops that has you covered without you having to overthink it, but here are some extra t ips for avoiding altitude sickness when in Tibet. 

Avoid intense activity when you get to Lhasa. Our trip specifically had four days on the ground to ensure enough time to acclimatise and take things slowly. Stroll, and rest when you feel your body is getting tired. It’s always about listening to your body.

Say hydrated . Drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep. Dehydration and fatigue are not what you need on this trip when some days involve a lot of sightseeing and long walks around sites. You can pick up dehydration sachets in Kathmandu, which you’ll find in all supermarkets stocked up for those about to go trekking. Or take electrolyte drinks, tablets or salts with you . 

Be aware of your body as you slowly climb to a higher altitude . Our G CEO carried a finger pulse monitor, and each day we wrote down our heart rate and oxygen levels. This daily test allowed him to monitor anyone in the groups who could be sick or face any potential issues ahead of time.

You can purchase Diamox tablets in Kathmandu before the trip. However, we managed to find a herbal tablet version in Lhasa that we could begin taking as we were leaving Lhasa to prepare for higher altitudes.

Travel Tibet and Come Back Changed

Tibet is an emotional dive into an ancient Buddhist culture and a journey through the Himalayan plateau’s highlands. A sensorial spectacle on multi-levels that you won’t ever forget. 

For further information on the Tibet tour, including the departure dates during the seven-month travel window, see the High Road to Tibet trip overview . I travelled with G Adventures as an ambassador to promote destinations responsibly and where tourism money and practice is used for social good. 

Travel Tibet and see it from a different perspective

About Becki

Becki Enright is a British Travel Press Award-winning writer whose work focuses on changing perceptions about misunderstood aspects of destinations. Her writing combines storytelling with insight into the social, historical, political and economic factors that shape the country or place in relation to tourism. Becki has appeared live on Sky News and CNN and has contributed to high profile media including National Geographic, Time.com, Guardian online, New York Times, Grazia and Buzzfeed.

Tenzin says

6 January 2021 at 10:43 am

I thoroughly read your whole article about Tibet travel and really mind-blowing! I love the place and the people in Tibet.

31 October 2019 at 7:19 am

Tibet is really an amazing place with wonderful people. The uniquely spiritual place offering fabulous monasteries, breathtaking natural views, stunning high-altitude treks as well as one of the friendliest people. By traveling in Tibet, you will appreciate the visual feast and experience a lifetime cultural encounter.

Deborah says

25 July 2019 at 6:41 pm

This looks amazing. Thank you for this really thorough look into what a trip to Tibet can be and all the details to keep in mind. Great read!

26 July 2019 at 11:41 am

Thank you, Deborah!

25 July 2019 at 11:54 am

I had no idea Tibet was so fiercely policed – it seems crazy to me that you can’t even enter with a ‘Tibet’ guidebook! But I really admire and respect your view point on this, Becki: it would be very simple to just not go as some form of boycott or protest, but I think it’s important to visit to meet people, support their economies and take in the reality for yourself – without bringing your own political agenda on board and trying to place others (i.e. tourguides) in compromising situations.

25 July 2019 at 2:48 pm

It can be a hard choice for many, in choosing to go or not. But my stance, as you picked up, is always to go and witness things for yourself, make your own informed decisions and support the local people. China’s control here does exist with paranoia, and the situation is complex, delicate and emotionally charged. Yet, Tibet is somewhere with such immense beauty and unique spiritualism that it should be experienced. All we can do is tell our stories.

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A Tibet Travel Blog (Hard Realities & Wonders of Tibet)

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I honestly don’t know where to start with Tibet. We’ve just spent 8 incredible days travelling through Tibet from Kathmandu and those 8 days were some of the most mesmerising of our last 6 years of full-time travel. I now need to create a Tibet travel blog to record our memories before they fade and to give you the low-down on this beautiful and inspiring place.  Our content on Tibet travel starts here, I need to unpack my mind on these pages and explain what Tibet does to you.

Tibet Travel Blog

I’ll start today with an overview because every place we visited in Tibet, every experience, deserves its own post.

Our journey from Kathmandu, to the Chinese border, and onward to Lhasa was immense.

So few people visit, I want you all to know about Tibet but I need to tread carefully. You can do more research for yourselves.

Maybe, like me, you’ve been fascinated by Tibet for a long time, watched the films and read the books but not been fortunate enough to see this place first-hand.

I want to show you the pictures. All of the places we mention here will have full blog posts in time.

This is just a first taste of Tibet.

Is it Safe to Visit Tibet?

We felt very safe in Tibet from the moment we crossed the border.

In my opinion it is safe to visit Tibet and we took children with us.

The roads in Tibet were all in very good condition and almost free from traffic.

There is heavy police and army presence, both visible and disguised.

You will pass through checkpoints and metal detectors often.

The journey to Tibet, by road starting in Kathmandu, was hair-raising, but once you’re on Chinese roads everything changes.

Tibet Travel Video

We have Tibet travel videos on our posts about Lhasa and the monks debating at Sera Monastery.

There is no video on this page as yet because some people find them annoying, but do try to find those.

See our Tibet tag at the bottom of the page.

Kathmandu to Tibet Journey

Our 8 day journey to Lhasa started in Kathmandu with a 7 hour jeep ride to the Chinese border.

It’s a tough trip on almost non-existent roads. You bounce and shake through villages and mountain passes in low-quality jeeps. 7 tourists and a driver crammed into a too-small vehicle with little comfort or safety.

I always say that the worse it gets the better the stories, but I wasn’t happy with safety on this ride at all, particularly not for my children. We’d been in Nepal almost 3 months and taken plenty of long-distance bus rides so  I’m not being precious here.

This jeep wasn’t good, the booking agent lied to us and Nepali roads are challenging. In general, I’d prefer to take a bus in Nepal.

Of course, the scenery was stunning and the experience was a memorable one. This is real travel, it’s not always easy but it’s always worth it.

Crossing The Border into China

Crossing the border into China was fairly straightforward.

A huge modern border control complex marked the entry into another world. Goodbye Nepal, hello China.

From here on in our bus was spacious and comfortable, the highways were good and the landscape changed completely.

We met our Tibetan guide, our faultless escort for the next 8 days filled us in on Tibetan customs while keeping well away from politics.

The first stop was just 45 minutes from the border.

A comfortable modern Tibetan styled hotel. The next morning we set off into Tibet proper, passing the tree line, travelling up onto and into the Tibetan Plateau.

Altitude and High Passes

Here’s the thing, it’s not a plateau at all. It’s not flat.

We crossed multiple high passes over 4 and 5,000 m. The altitude in Tibet is extreme and you need to be ready for that.

Altitude is an issue if you’re thinking of visiting Tibet. I can talk more about that elsewhere , but for us and the other family on this tour of Tibet, it wasn’t too much of a problem.

We had all just completed high altitude treks with the kids, Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit , along with spending extended time in Kathmandu (which is at 1300 m) so we did OK. Others suffered more.

Some days saw us spending up to 9 hours per day driving. It sounds a  lot and it is, but it was enjoyable.

The landscape, traditional villages, animals, lakes and people kept me staring out of the window. Likewise the changes brought in by the Chinese development were there to see.

Kids and Tibet Travel

The children, there were 3 with us, between 9 and 14 years old, slept comfortably in reclining seats or read and played games as we drove for long days over high passes.

There was some travel sickness and a couple of major tummy upsets caused by giardia. Toilet stops were off-the-scale bad. You’ve never seen bad public toilets until you’ve seen those in Tibet (China generally also) and my son wasn’t happy to use them. It was a problem.

In some places, the Potala Palace for instance, the public toilets were OK, but mostly, no.

Yes, you can take kids to Tibet and mostly the three kids with us enjoyed it. It was fascinating, there’s so much to see, all of it new. The attention the kids received was overwhelming at times but they didn’t have the same emotional response to what they saw as we adults.

Food and accommodation in Tibet were absolutely fine for kids, be aware of altitude, tummy problems, cold, and bad toilets if you’re travelling to Tibet with kids.

Food on The Tibet Trip

Breakfast was included in the price of our trip. Some hotels were very good, 2 were very bad.

Breakfast was eggs and bread or some variation on that theme. It wasn’t great, but it was OK.

We made lunch stops as a group and in the evening we were free to eat where we pleased, choosing between Nepali, Indian, Chinese and Tibetan dishes on most menus.

We ate well with all 3 kids developing a liking for yak. Yak is much nicer than buff, if you were wondering.

There were several vegetarians on the bus and we found food easily, Indian and Nepali food is usually great for vegetarians.

We now have a full post on food in Tibet .

If you’re vegan and committed to sticking to your principles while travelling like this, you’ll struggle.

There is most certainly a language barrier in Tibet and I really don’t like your chances of explaining a vegan diet in Chinese or Tibetan, maybe you’d need to get something printed in both languages to carry with you.

Likewise, if you have any allergies or intolerances. I react badly to MSG, we did come across this additive several times.

Highlights of The Tibet Trip

Every day we stopped at view points. Most days we visited places of interest.

Yamdrok Lake is the most incredible colour. The water has purple and turquoise hues.

A stunning spot with furry tourist trap touches and popular for wedding photos. See Chef’s two new friends above.

One of the highlights of this part of the journey was the Panchen Lama’s monastery, the Tashi Lhumpo monastey at  Shigatse.

Obviously this is a real political hot potato. It’s not something we could discuss publicly in Tibet and not something I’m going to discuss here.

The monastery was breathtaking and this, on day 2, was when we all felt we were really in Tibet.

We finally arrived in Lhasa late on day 5. Our hotel in Old Lhasa was filthy and that day was hard.

My son was sick, I was tired and hungry and couldn’t face going out to eat.

My husband (we call him Chef, because he is) went out to find food and struggled so that night we went without.

That was the low point of the trip, but the next day was a massive high.

Day 6 saw us spending the morning at the Potala Palace. It was incredibly emotional and that’s all I’m going to say right now.

We walked in the park surrounded by Tibetan people in traditional dress from every corner of the region before heading into Old Lhasa for a delicious lunch at Lhasa Kitchen.

Our afternoon stop was the Jokhang Temple, one of the most sacred places in Tibet and a short stroll from the restaurant.

We were lucky enough to be there for a festival.

Again, this experience was so intense that I can’t even start to describe it here. That blog post will come soon.

We enjoyed another delicious dinner with the other travelling family, then off to bed, ready for the next huge day.

Day 7, our last day in Tibet and we were given a choice, did we want to visit the Summer Palace or another monastery? The group unanimously decided to visit the Summer Palace and we were so glad we picked this place.

Debating Monks

Our afternoon took us to the Sera Monastery where monks sharpen their debating skills in a public forum. This is the stuff of dreams. I never thought I’d ever see this with my own eyes.

Our tour ended with a final celebratory yak sizzler for the kids and a walk around Old Lhasa- it’s so beautiful at night. 

As always local people stared, smiled and welcomed us. All the attention was pretty overwhelming for our little blond girl so if you’re taking small cute kids, be ready for that.

The next morning we had to leave. None of us wanting to go.

Blue skies gave us perfect views of Everest and the whole of the Himalayan range as we flew back to Kathmandu. The plane was good, Lhasa airport was modern, this return flight is easy.

Want to Learn More About Tibet?

Here are a few classic books and movies that you could take a look at if you haven’t already. It feels as if you’re on the set of Seven Years in Tibet and Kundun at times.

I would strongly suggest reading up on Tibet’s history, religion, and culture before you go.

No books of this kind are allowed in Tibet and you will be searched, watched, and listened to at all times.

That’s all for now from our Tibet trip but I have so much more to tell about our experiences during this visit. We hope you stick around to see more of Tibet travel, Everest, and the Himalayas. Sign up to follow. Our Lhasa post and Sera monastery post (debating monks with video) are published. along with Tibetan food . Don’t forget to save to Pinterest! Thanks for reading.

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Alyson Long

How to visit chitwan national park, nepal, altitude in tibet. high passes and diamox, 27 thoughts on “a tibet travel blog (hard realities & wonders of tibet)”.

Wow, what a great blog and beautiful pictures.

I reflect my trip to Tibet two years ago. Great read

I went with a local Tibetan travel agency. They are a small Tibetan company in Lhasa providing us the best services ever. Tibetans are very honest, always smile, compassion and I want to visit there again in the future.

@Say Vera, Hi Say Vera I’m looking for a reliable Tibetan travel agency that can provide an English speaking guide to travel through Tibet for three weeks in September 2023. Who was the travel agent you used? Thanks, Jossi Clyde

thank you for sharing your experiences of traveling in Tibet.

It is a piece of beautiful and useful information for future travelers. Who makes a plan a trip to Tibet. I read everything from beginning to end, and I like your blog very much and hope you will write an article for our company. We are an unfortunate tour company that never chance to arrange your memorable tour in Tibet. Nonetheless, we are so excited to connect with you.

I Hope, You will reply to our comments. Thanks and good luck

Sorry but I cannot disagree more about the “toilets in China are generally really bad” part. Yes in remote areas like Tibet it might be the case, but in all the major cities they offer the same kind of toilets like the other countries. The facilities in those major cities are definitely not worse than the Western countries.

OK, agreed, most modern places they’re good, as they are anywhere. But China is one of very few countries where we’ve had to use communal toilets and open trenches in the ground. The only other place I’ve seen that is Cuba. The modern public toilet blocks even, newly built by China, can still be door-less and have trenches flowing through in Tibet. Have you not seen those in other parts of China ? My husband had to use a public toilet in Beijing that was a trench in the floor with squatting arrangements. That was a very old one. It’s pretty unusual!

love the post on EBC and the scary video of the rope bridge. Had been contemplating this one myself but thinking twice now … that’s a good thing! Cheers for a great, honest, informative, post.

Thank you Emmydee! But I have a huge fear of heights, don’t worry because I worry, most people breeze accross, bounce up and down and take selfies. They are NUTS!

It feels like a remarkable joy after reading this blog, you have shared a very nice experiences form Tibet that is clearly seen through your photos. This is a great experience that you have made and thank you for sharing your daily travel update in Tibet. The culture and the mountain views are so pleasing, its like a heaven on the earth. This means a lot for new travelers and helps them by guiding what should you do or should not do while traveling. Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience of Tibet.

Thanks for sharing about your journey to Tibet. I was in Nepal in 2008 and we planned to travel to Tibet that same way but it closed to tourists due to unrest surrounding the Beijing Olympics. I’ll hopefully try again one day. I’m excited to hear the extended version of your travels.

Hi Diane, I’ll get back to the Tibet content ASAP. Did you see the Sera Monastery post and video? That was incredible. I’m tied up with Scuba Diving content right now, the kids have gone ocean crazy, but Tibet…soon ! I’m also hoping to get back there this year for Mt Kailash.

Tibet sounds like a fabulous place to visit, I love all your pictures giving a sneak peak into the experiences you have had around them. Thanks for all the indepth tips about the roads and weather acclimatization, so helpful! I am intrigued by the debating monks, I have never seen them in such animated expressions, I would’ve loved to hear their discussions and learn more about this lesson / tradition of theirs.

I have so much more to come on Tibet Arti! It was really intense and that trip was followed by a big transition for us, we’re home after almost 6 years, I have a lot of catching up to do.

Hi Alyson, What a beautiful destination! The sky was so clear and the weather seemed very nice. I wish I could be there and take some photo with yak 🙂 I and my partner are preparing trekking equipment, but we are newbie ones. You said you brought your everest trekking gear so could you suggest which one is proper for the beginner from this site? ( link removed) Really appreciate your Tibet trip and thank you in advance for your recommend.

It really doesn’t matter much, a wooden stick will do. You can buy one for $5 in Namche or in Kathmandu. Just find one ( or two) you like, that feels comfortable. I like one that’s well sprung, with a good bit of bounce in it.

I am so happy and interested to read your post. Tibet has long been a place I’ve wanted to visit, and in particular, to see with my family. The last time I looked into it, the chances of doing so seemed very bad. But, we don’t take a lot of what we read at face value. I figured we still had time to research more, but I have wondered in the back of my mind if Tibet would be that one travel dream that I missed. You have no idea how intrigued I became when I saw your post on Facebook. It’s going to be a while until we are in Asia, but you can count on me scouring every word of your posts about Tibet. I know how it feels to be a full-time traveler and a fulltime writer…it can be so tough to keep up! But, today, I read your post as a work break from my own writing. It reminded me how revitalizing it is to do that.

It’s actually very easy to go, in terms of permissions. But go as soon as you can. History is being re-written and there is talk of the Potala Palace being closed to tourists from next year. It costs a lot. About $1000 each for this 8 day trip. But we didn’t need a China visa, just the group Tibet visa available from Nepal. We’re off to Bali then home to Australia, then Christmas and fixing up the house to sell…time is not something I have much of right now but thankfully the website keeps ticking over and making us a living without too much work. I’m looking forward to getting Tibet and Everest Base Camp finished. Plus of course, there is so much more to blogging these days. Every post needs a video, hundreds of photos to edit, one post can take a week of my time. But it’s worth it.You have no idea ( or maybe you do!) how satisfying it is to have such a complete and authoritative travel guide, that helps so many people…that I made all by myself. Just keep on blogging.

Great read and beautiful pictures. Looking forward to reading more about Tibet.

Fabulous post thank you. Gearing up to travel further afield as a family and find reading your adventures inspiring. Looking forward to reading more.

I’m not sure I could tolerate the altitude, but it sounds like you were well acclimatized by the time you had to deal with 4 and 5 thousand meters. I know you’ve seen so much of the world that I’m looking forward to your in depth posts about this trip that wowed even you. We actually have a Tibetan community here in Philadelphia. Seeing just your photos here, I can’t imagine how they deal with the culture shock.

Well….because it had been maybe a month since Everest Base Camp, I’m not sure that we had any residual acclimatisation. But we did OK. We took diamox for the first few days but having to pee all the time in those terrible toilets made us stop. At the first 5000 + m pass I was very dizzy, but because bus…not for long before we dropped down a thousand m or so. It was OK. But then I’m pretty good with altitude. It’s Chef that struggles usually, but he was OK too.

This sounds like it has been amazing! And your photos are just divine. But I have missed you Aysun and I don’t like it when you go to places where I cannot reach you. So stay local and be a good girl. And I LOVE that little video thing you’ve got going on in the sidebar. Very cool! Missed you my friend xxx

Thnk you. It’s Mediavine so I can’t help you with that. But be ready for when you join Mediavine by making short videos for as many posts as you can. And I mean short. 30 seconds to 1 minute. I’m fed up. Not fun to be around today. I have the going home blues.

Hi Alyson! A great read.. some of my wonders have been calmed and we are very much looking forward to our time in Tibet. Welcome back, I hope everyone is feeling better! We’ll be in KTM the 2nd so if you still around, a coffee with you would be high on my list ☺️ Enjoy the decompression

We’ll be in Bali sorry! How was your hike?

So fantastic to read. Looking forward to the rest in more detail than is already here. Not sure I could do it all myself, but totally love reading, and traveling with you via my office chair and your blogs. I will seek out all those movies too. I would like to time travel and skip all the wayward, rickety, dodgy transport trips and icky toilets and just be in the temples and at the festivals etc. However, I also realise that the journey is not just the destination but often the best memories come from the hardships and the mishaps and all the quirky stuff in between and the satisfaction that you coped and survived it all. I’m in awe of you all.

Great to have you along for the ride. Loads more to come on Tibet. Once in China the trip was pretty luxury, but nothing to be done about those public toilets! You don’t need the full horror story about just how sick Boo was…uggg!

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Adventures In Tibet Tours & Travel Co. Ltd.   Reviews

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Perfect for tailored Tibet travel

Excellent agency for Tibet travel. In April, I travelled to Lhasa solo and spent several days in and around the city. Norbu, who organised my tour, really considered my interests and did not just book me on a standard trip. Lobsan, my guide, was very knowledgeable and flexible. I feel a bit like a Lhasa local now ;) All in all: recommended! Also for non-Chinese travellers like me. Norbu is easily reachable via WhatsApp (see homepage).

Date of experience : April 28, 2023

My dream trip finally came true

My dream trip finally came true! Enjoyed every minute in Tibet. Welcomed into homes for beautiful traditional Tibetan living, trekked, experienced a ferry across Qinghai lake and saw many historical places. Norbu was such a welcoming, smart, kind & friendly guide. He made sure my trip was well organized and prepared. Thank you Norbu for making it the best trip. I will definitely be back for my next adventures there & use your travel agency again. Warm wishes to you!

Date of experience : September 17, 2022

Reply from Adventures In Tibet Tours & Travel Co. Ltd.

Dear Customer, thanks for your great review! It made our day! We will look forward to serve you again in Tibet trip in the future! Norbu @Adventures In Tibet

Tibet is our heartland

Our trip to Tibet was the best place in the world! Our family of five experienced a Tibetan home, farm life, historical mountain areas & trekking. It truly is our heartland! Norbu is an amazing guide who is very caring, welcoming & knowledgeable about each place he takes you to. This tour company is honest & very welcoming. It makes travel easy as a family, groups or individual. Definitely we will be booking another trip with this tour agency. Norbu you are the best guide! Thank you!

Date of experience : August 21, 2022

Dear Grace, thanks for the ultimate review for us! I really appreciate you traveling to Tibet through our Tibetan owned travel agency and we are always glad to reach out with best service and heart. It was really a memorable guiding such a great family I took with pride in myself! Hope you and family stay healthy everlasting!

Amazing Experience!

I had a great trip with Norbu and Adventures in Tibet. The people are great--very kind, professional, and fun travel partners for side trips and tours. Papers and clearances were all taken care of and no issues at all, which was comforting. There can also be a lot options and flexibility for itineraries if you want to make special requests. I had some very specific historical and religious sites/places that I was interested in that were a bit off the conventional tourist path, and Norbu helped me set up some visits that were very meaningful to me.

Date of experience : August 14, 2022

Dear Kristy, thanks for posting great review for Tibet trip service! It really made our day! As a local travel agency in Lhasa, we are happy to organize authentic experience along flexible and budget Tibet tours. Thanks a lot again!

Well worth a trip out with Tibet Tours

I went on a trip in Qinghai with Norbu and despite the fact that my trip did not go according to plan (due to unforeseen reasons and bureaucratic issues), I still ended up having a memorable experience as Norbu quickly came up with an equally great plan B. He is an amazing guide - Knowledgeable, resourceful, quick thinking, calm and caring. He is extremely knowledgeable about the region and its culture. I would highly recommend going with him and his agency for trips, he definitely goes the extra mile for you.

Date of experience : November 30, 2021

Thanks for the great review Emily. On behalf of the Adventures In Tibet, I would like to say thank you again for handling the unforeseen issues generously, even we shifted to the Plan B. I was wondered your aspirations and frame of mind that made the trip in Tibet successful and memorable. As worked almost 20 years in the travel industry, I am really glad and appreciating your intellectual and long-sighted vision of career. Once again, thank you for choosing us for traveling in Amdo Tibet.

Great time in Tibet

Tibet tourism would never exist without Dong Ge! The best tour guide! With him, we really enjoyed our one week stay in 2016. Full service from arrival welcome, logistics, accommodation, guiding and all the time with a smile on his face. Thank you for everything Dong Ge 🙏

Date of experience : May 31, 2022

Dear Brain, thanks for the great review for our Tibetan tour guide Dong-ge! On behalf of our travel agency, I would heartedly to thank you for choosing us to explore Tibet. Dong-ge has a great personality and is well versed in Tibetan culture and Buddhism. He would be much happy to see the best review you have posted for him here. Thank you once again!

Visit Tibet: What You Need to Know Before Tibet Travel

Traveling to Tibet is unlike traveling to any other place on the planet. Wholly unique land in every way, from the weather and the landscape to the people, the religion, and the culture. For a  Tibet travel does require you to have some basic knowledge of what to expect when you arrive. Tibet is a four-season land with a monsoon in summer that brings much less rain than other monsoon countries. It has a landscape that ranges from high mountains to low valleys, but all at high altitudes. And the temperatures can change drastically, with pleasantly warm temperatures in the daytime dropping to freezing conditions at night, even in the summer months in some parts of the plateau.

Table of Contents

Unique Climate and Weather for Tibet Travel

One of the most unique things about Tibet is the climate. Tibet has four seasons – spring, summer, autumn, and winter – yet is also a region that is subject to both the southwest and the northeast monsoons that affect most of Asia. This makes the climate unusual, to say the least. Summer can be hot in some areas and cooler in others, while winter is generally freezing cold, though there are areas where it is mild enough to feel more like spring. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to  visit Tibet , as the weather is relatively mild and the climate is ideal for touring and trekking, the top activities in Tibet. Skies are clear and there is little to no rain making for a perfect time to view the high mountains.

The plateau is subject to the monsoons that affect most of Asia, though the northeast monsoon has a stronger influence on the climate than the southwest monsoon does. The massive Himalayan Mountains form a natural barrier between the Indian Ocean and Tibet, and this “rain shadow” effect dissipates most of the monsoon rains on the southern slopes. By the time the rain clouds reach the plateau, there is already little rain left to fall, leaving the western areas of the region somewhat dry and arid. The northeast monsoon, which brings cold winds down from the Arctic and Siberia, has a greater effect on the plateau, making the winters quite cold, though the vast distance and altitude reduce the full effects of the icy winds. Temperatures change drastically from day to night, and where it can be around 12 degrees during the day, you will often find that comfortable temperature dropping as low as -5 degrees at night. And in some places, the night can get as low as -30 degrees.

Distinct Religion in Tibet

Tibet has been a major Buddhist region for more than 1,300 years, though the main influence of Buddhism on the culture did not really start until the 8 th  and 9 th  centuries. And in Tibet, Buddhism is not just a religion, it is a whole way of life. Since it was first introduced to the plateau in the 7 th century, Buddhism has become the largest religion in Tibet, taking over from the ancient animistic shamanist religion now known as “Bon”. However, Tibetan Buddhism is now a little different from the original Theravada Buddhism that was first introduced here. The influence of the ancient Bon rituals and customs, as well as some influences of Hinduism from Nepal, have transformed the religion a little from its origins. But this has only served to make it more adaptable to the people and environment of the plateau.

Tibetans bring Buddhism into their lives every day, and in everything they do. The culture of Tibet is one that has fully incorporated Buddhism into its very structure in such a way that it is often hard to know where Buddhism ends and the old traditions of Tibetan culture begin. In every aspect of daily life, Buddhism is foremost in the minds of Tibetans, and from the rituals of rising in the morning and thanking the gods for another day to the blessings bestowed upon farmland before harvest time, Buddhism is the most important thing in people’s lives. And in a place where people truly believe that good meritorious actions can assure their entrance to heaven or true enlightenment, following good practices in your everyday life is hugely important.

High Altitude Challenge and Long Distance of Travel beyond Lhasa Tour

One of the most important things to know about Tibet is the altitude. With an average altitude across the plateau of above 4,800 meters, Tibet is a place where altitude sickness for tourists is a normal part of visiting the region. Altitude sickness can affect people at altitudes above 2,800 meters, and almost all of Tibet is above that altitude, with some places you will travel to being at more than 5,000 meters (16,400 ft.) above sea level. The thinner air causes altitude sickness, although the body can normally adjust within a day or two to the reduced oxygen in each breath to compensate. Trips from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to such places as Mount Everest Base Camp , Mount Kailash, and Lake Namtso are often causing for concern in terms of altitude.

Stretching for more than 2,080 kilometers (1,292 miles) from its westernmost point to the easternmost part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, this vast land has immense distances between the major cities and attractions. This means that long drives are a normal part of a tour of Tibet, and it can take hours to reach your next destination. While the roads are better now than they used to be, it is still not up to the standards of the western world, and a trip to Everest from Lhasa takes almost three days.

Knowing a little about where you are going before you travel is not only helpful in understanding the people and the culture, but in setting better expectations for the trip. In Tibet, you need to understand that altitude sickness will happen, but you will get over it and adjust, that it can take all day to travel from one town to the next and that there are a lot of customs in Tibet that are part of the Buddhist religion , so you will need to take care in what you say and do so as not to offend. A little knowledge can be a good thing, and knowing something about Tibet and its culture and landscape is never going to detract from your overall experience.

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2 thoughts on “ Visit Tibet: What You Need to Know Before Tibet Travel ”

For a small group, how many are they (people) and how big is the vehicle (transportation) to travel around the tourist spot in Tibet? How much per person do you charge? Does the hotel accommodations and transportation included in the charge or separate ones? Please let me know ‘coz I’m kind of interested to travel in Tibet. Thank you very much in advance.

Tibet looks a charming place to visit. The photos and the landscapes are giving me real travel goals to plan a trip soon to this hidden paradise.

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This trip was excellent-the first Himalayan experience, a highly thought-of trek through brilliant mountain and remote scenery in mostly ideal weather conditions ...

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An absolutely amazing trip. Nepal is such a beautiful country with very beautiful, kind and open people, and this trips opens a door into this culture. I have been...

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Tibet Travel & Tours: A Tibetan Travel Agency in Tibet

Find Your Favorite TIBET TOURs

I-Tibet Travel & Tours , a premier Tibetan Travel Agency based in Lhasa, Tibet , has been delivering outstanding services since 1997, establishing us as one of the most seasoned and reputable travel agencies in the area.

With extensive expertise in coordinating diverse Tibet tours across the Tibetan plateau, we ensure a smooth experience for global travelers wishing to explore Tibet. Our services encompass everything from securing travel permits to reserving Tibet tour packages , flight and train tickets, guaranteeing a holistic array of travel solutions for a seamless journey.

Our agency has garnered commendations and endorsements on numerous review platforms and guidebooks.

Read TRAVEL TIPS from Tibetan Travel Agency

Tibet travel information.

Initially, Traveling to Tibet may appear overwhelming due to the abundance of conflicting information available online. Even different travel agencies may offer contradictory details. However, in reality, traveling to Tibet is a straightforward process.

Travel Guide

Travel regulations.

Tibet is an exceptional destination to travel to. The region had never been so open for International Visitor in its history as it is now. There are some minor Tibet travel regulations and Tibet travel restrictions you will have to understand before planning your Tibet tour.

Tibet Travel Permit

Tibet Travel Permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, and it’s also known as the Tibet visa or Tibet permit by different tour operators. But no matter what it’s called, it’s the same document that foreign travelers need to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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When it comes to planning a trip to Tibet, it’s crucial to partner with a reliable and experienced travel agency. That’s where I Tibet Travel and Tours, A Tibetan Travel Agency excels. With their in-depth knowledge of Tibet and commitment to customer satisfaction, they ensure every aspect of your journey is meticulously organized and tailored to your preferences. From the moment you arrive until your departure, I Tibet Travel and Tours takes care of all the details, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the wonders of Tibet.

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Tibet Group Tours

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Though We have listed here some of the most popular Tibet Tour packages in this site. Yet there is no possiblity of fitting it to travel requirement of all travelers. So let us help you creating the best Tibet tour design to suit your need. Lets start Making your custom tour plan in Tibet with our Tibet Travel Planner .

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Contact Your Favorite Tibetan Travel Agency in Tibet

Email:  [email protected]

Mobile Number: +86 181 0899 2271

WhatsApp: +86 181 0899 2271

Tibet Tourism - Tibetan Travel Agency

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Private Guided Day Tour Potala Palace and Sera Monastery

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Tibet Tourism - Tibetan Travel Agency - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)