Lhasa Tours -Journey of The Forbidden City

Definitely! Nepal Vision Treks provides airport pick up facilities for those customers who have booked private tour for any of our packages. We don't charge any money for the service. But, we won't be able to provide the service for those who wish to join a group. They have to pay extra charge if they want us to arrange the pick-up and drop services. 

Generally, the electricity supply in Tibet is 220V, 50HZ. If you have a plan in future to travel in Tibet and wish to bring some electrical devices with you for basic use then keep in mind that transformer is very essential. Tibet hotels bathrooms have the access of 220V and 110V electrical devices power. But, in the guest room normally only 220V electrical sockets are available. 

The Tibetan climate is not as harsh as many people imagine it to be. Tibet's climate is favorable to travel from April to the beginning of November, and most ideal in August and September. However, Lhasa's climate is more clement than the rest of Tibet, and is suitable to travel year-round. The sun radiation in Tibet is extremely strong. It's not for nothing that Lhasa is called the Sunlight City.  The months of May, June and September are the primary tourist season in eastern Tibet.

Despite being the large landscape time zone of all the state of china is measured from Beijing, which is 8 hours ahead of GMT standard time zone. Now, we are clear that Tibetan time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). And it is 2 hours and 15 minute ahead of Nepalese standard time and 2 hour and 30 minute ahead of Indian standard time.

The Chinese-Nepal Highway is often blocked by the heavy snow during the winter season. Therefore, it is better not to travel along this route from safety measures also.

Generally, it is quiet safe in Tibet. Almost all Tibetans are devout Buddhists who believe that good deeds will gain advantages in their next lives and crimes are also very rare in this region.  But tourists need pay attention to dogs that are free to move everywhere. So you need to take care while you are travelling alone in the night time. We strongly recommend foreign traveler not to walk in the night time.

Drinking tap water is to put on a risk while you are travelling to any foreign location. There is a well said thought that “Precautions is better than cure”. Thus we need to follow this safety measures in Tibet also. So, you are recommended to go with bottle water (don’t forget to check the seal) and follow well established and authorized brands. Besides, if you wish to drink boiled water than remember to instruct the service -man to boil it for 15-20minutes.

The unit of currency is Chinese Yuan. The Bank of China can exchange all foreign currencies. The banks in Tibet/China are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Travelers Cheques and credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks especially outside Lhasa.

Visitors to Tibet do not need to worry about the language barrier at all. Each visitor will have an English-speaking tour guide, and most of the front desk staffs in the big hotels can communicate in English. The main languages used in Tibet are Chinese, Tibetan, English and Nepali. If you are a solo traveler, you will get pretty more people who can speak these languages in Tibet's most popular tourist spots.

In most of the cities and towns, hotels and guest houses are available. Lhasa accommodation ranges from the simple guest houses to five star hotels. Shigatse, Gyantse and Tsedang offers up to three star hotels. Moreover, now few government alliance classical grand hotels are also being operated in the big cities. While in other smaller or remote areas, accommodation is available mainly in guest houses and they are very simple.

ATM facilities are easily available in Lhasa and Shigatse; however, it may be difficult to find one in other smaller towns or in remote places. 

In Lhasa, there are many options for getting around, such as taxis, buses, minibuses, pedicabs and jeeps. There are also cars and bikes for rent. In more remote areas, the road conditions are not very well developed, making traveling by taxi and bus difficult if not impossible. In such cases, minibuses and jeeps are the only option. 

Known as the Roof of the World, Tibet is one of the highest places on earth. Due to Tibet's high altitudes, many visitors from low-altitude areas may suffer from altitude sickness. Most people suffer minor effects of altitude sickness only, which include headache, loss of appetite, and a tendency to have no energy until their bodies adjust to the high terrain. This adjustment can take anywhere from a few hours, and in rare cases, a few days. If visitors do some simple preparations before going to Tibet, most of the symptoms of altitude sickness can be avoided. Being healthy and in good shape before you arrive in Tibet will help greatly. It is also recommended that you talk to your local physician about AMS pills to help combat altitude sickness. Once arriving in Tibet, walk slowly and take deep breaths. Your tour guide will be there to offer help and suggestions. 

Definitely there is internet access for foreign traveler in Tibet but only on limited areas like Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse and Tsedang where some café provides internet facilities.  In addition, hotels in some city like Lhasa and Shigatse also provide internet facility to their customers.

• Valid Passport – must be valid for up to 6 months after you return from your tour, keep a separate photocopy.
• Travel insurance, keep a separate photocopy
• Return flight tickets
• Insurance coverage policy
• Cash and Traveler’s Checks, keep numbers and proof of purchase separate
• Emergency contact numbers for T/C’s, banks, insurance, family contacts.
• Bring a pen and a diary

Unfortunately, due to China's very strict tourism policy for Tibet, it is not possible for you to get a visa by yourself and it is not possible to travel Tibet on your own. As an authorized travel company, Nepal Vision Treks can organize everything; visa, permit to enter and all other paperwork.

By Air: Flying to Lhasa always requires a stopover in either China or Nepal. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is located about 98 kilometers (about 61 miles) to the south of Lhasa City. The only international flight to and from Tibet is between Lhasa and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
By Rail: The Gormo to Lhasa railway stretches for 1,142 kilometers (710 miles) and serves as a link between mainland China and Tibet.
By Road: There are five main highways in Tibet -The Nepal - China Friendship Highway – it is the only international highway in Tibet
-Sichuan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, and Lhasa.
-Qinghai-Tibet Highway – it runs between Xining, the capital city of Qinghai, to Lhasa. -Yunnan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Yunnan province and Tibet.
-Xinjiang-Tibet Highway – it runs across boundless deserts, lofty and steep peaks.

You have to known about the rapidly changing new rule of Tibet every time by the Chinese Government because of the free Tibet issue. So ask about the new rules and regulations at the trip booking time.
Nepal Vision Treks & Expedition will organize your Tibet travel permit aside from China visa. Please send a scan copy of your passport if you are planning to enter Tibet via Nepal at the time of booking your trip. If you are planning to enter Tibet via China; you need to send us copy of your passport and Chinese visa at the time of trip booking.
More information about Tibet visa -You are not allowed to travel in Tibet with an individual Chinese visa via Nepal. Your individual Chinese visa such as multiple entry tourist visas, working visas, student visas, etc., all will get canceled once we apply for Chinese visa from Nepal. There is no other way to save your individual visas; you can save these visas only by entering Tibet from mainland China to Tibet, i.e. taking Lhasa to Kathmandu tour instead of Kathmandu to Lhasa tour.
-Traveling individually to Tibet is officially not allowed. Travelers must officially be part of a group tour with a guide who will help you dealing with the Chinese authorities at checkpoints en route.
-If you are traveling to Tibet via Nepal, you must obtain the Chinese visa which will only be issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu BUT if you are planning to enter Tibet via mainland China; you need to get the Chinese visa from Chinese embassy in your home country. Chinese Embassy is opened only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Generally, Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu takes about 5 working days to issue the tourist visa but by paying express fee, we can get the visa in 1 day also. Nepal Vision Treks & Expedition will get a hold of visa for you as soon as possible even by paying extra amount but you will not be charged for the extra fee.
-Travelers must use same passport while traveling Nepal and Tibet (while traveling Tibet via Nepal, you will get Chinese visa only in the passport that is stamped with Nepalese visa). We have found tourists traveling with more than one passport but while traveling Tibet via Nepal, you need to use the same passport for Nepal and Tibet.
-All Tibet permits can be obtained using photocopy of your passport but you must need your original passport to apply for Chinese visa which is collected by Nepal Vision Treks once you arrive in Kathmandu.
-Itinerary and the places to visit in Tibet must be stated clearly and finalized in advance because while applying for a Chinese visa from Kathmandu, a copy of this should be attached. The visa is issued accordingly. According to the places mentioned in the itinerary, travel permit from the Tibet Tourism Bureau (Lhasa) is obtained. Nepal Vision will do this for you.
-If you would like to head out to mainland China after your Tibet travel, the group visa will allow you to enter but once you are in mainland China this visa will be replaced with an individual Chinese visa. (if duration of your group visa covers all your programs in mainland China also, you can use it during your stay in mainland China or it can be replaced by individual visa, it depends on Chinese officials’ decision).
-You are not allowed to take any Tibetan religious books, literatures, photographs, especially related to Dalai Lama during your travel to Tibet. If any of these related belongings found you are confiscated and not allowed to enter Tibet.
-It is very tough to get your group visa extended, so better to let us know about your programs very clearly during your trip planning phase so according to that we will try to arrange your visa and permit.
-However, the rules and regulations regarding Chinese visa and Tibet travel permit change very often, therefore we suggest our customers to consult with our travel consultant to be sure regarding the visa issues so that your all programs and plans goes smoothly without any trouble.