A land of mystery, adventure and spirituality; a home of legends, awesome landscapes, artistic monasteries and centuries-old caravan trails, Tibet is a destination out of an ordinary, long closed to the outside world. However, in 1980, Tibet's doors were inched open, giving the world its first glimpse of the country's breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Today, visitors are drawn to the country's spectacular Buddhist temples, ancient cities, enduring traditions and spectacular mountain scenery. This autonomous region of China is a plateau at an average elevation of 13,000 feet above the sea level.

We offer many different types of tour to Tibet, with a range of hotels to suit every pocket. What's more, as we understand that a visit to this special country is a highly personal experience, we can also arrange a tour to meet your specific needs.

Location/Geography

Famed as the Roof of the World, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China is bounded by the Kunlun mountains to the north and the Himalaya to the south. Tibet covers an area of 1.2 million sq km.

Tibet time is 8 hours ahead in winter and 9 hours ahead in summer than the GMT, same as Beijing standard time and 2 hours 15 minute (winter)/ 3 hour 15 minute (summer) ahead of Nepal standard time i.e. +5.45 hours.

The currency is the Chinese Yuan (ISO code CNY), divided into 10 Jiao or 100 Fen. However, money within China is called RMB (Ren Min Bi, people's money).
Notes are available in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan, 5, 2 and 1 jiao, and 5, 2, and 1 fen. Coins are 1 yuan, 5, 2 and 1 jiao, and 5, 2 and 1 fen.

Note: As with most currencies, there are counterfeits. Banknotes printed from 1990 have a metal thread woven into their fabric.

The exchange rate is about USD 1 = 8 CNY

When to go

Travel is possible at all times of year but from April to October is the best season.
Click here to read more about climate in Tibet

History

An independent kingdom flourished in Tibet by the 7th century. It was under Mongol influence from the 13th to the 18th century, when it came under nominal Chinese control. With the overthrow of the Ch'ing dynasty in China in 1911, Tibet reasserted its independence, which it maintained until 1950. In that year China invaded; Tibet was made an autonomous region of China in 1951. An anti-Chinese uprising in 1959 was crushed and repressive measures introduced. The Dalai Lama and many priests fled to India; but by the 1980s some Buddhist temples had resumed operation. In the late 1980s there were violent anti-Chinese demonstrations in Tibet, and martial law was imposed (1989). Despite government repression, demonstrations against Chinese rule have continued. In 1995 the Chinese government rejected a boy recognized as the Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama and forced the selection of another instead.

Economy

Tibet is rich in mineral resources, but still its economy has remained underdeveloped. Surveys of the Kailas and Ma-fa-mu-ts'o districts in western Tibet conducted in the 1930s and '40s discovered extensive goldfields and large deposits of borax, as well as reserves of radium, iron, titanium, lead, and arsenic. Subsequent investigative teams dispatched in the 1950s by the Academia Sinica (Chinese Academy of Sciences) reported the existence of a huge variety of minerals and ores. The most significant of these include a belt of iron-ore deposits located on the western bank of the Mekong River stretching for almost 25 miles south of Ch'ang-tu; graphite obtained from Ning-chin and coal reported to be plentiful around Ch'ang-tu; deposits of iron ore in concentrated seams of high quality and extractable depth found in the T'ang-ku-la Mountains on the Tibet-Tsinghai border; and oil-bearing formations, a reserve of oil shales, and lead, zinc, and manganese. The most valuable woodland is the Khams district, though extensive forest-clad mountains are also found in the Sutlej Valley in the southwest and in the Ch'u-mu-pi Valley in the far south. In the late 1950s some 30 kinds of trees, including those of economic value such as varnish trees, spruce, and fir, were discovered; and the estimated total of forest timber resources in the Khams area alone was placed at more than 3,510,000,000 cubic feet (100,000,000 cubic metres).

The swift-flowing rivers and mountain streams have enormous hydroelectric power potential, totaling about one-third of all China's potential hydroelectric resources. Especially promising are the Brahmaputra, Lhasa, and Ni-yang-ch'ü rivers. The coal deposits and forests represent possible sources of thermal power production, and there are vast opportunities for geothermal, solar, and Elian power production.

There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders or radios as long as they are registered with a custom official. Printed matters considered unsuitable by the Chinese Government are prohibited, Customs regulations forbid the ex- port of art objects created prior to 1959 or souvenirs in amounts deemed to be excessive. There is only one airport in Tibet and only one international flight to Kathmandu, Nepal is in operation.

By Air:
Kathmandu and Chengdu Gongkar Airport, Tibet.

By Bus:
(1) Zhangmu (2) Simikot (Nepal) -Khojarnath-Purang (3) Golmud - Lhasa (4) Kashgar- Yecheng - West Tibet (5) India- Lipu Lek Pass - Purang - Kailash.

There are some other entry points too but entering from any checkpoint, the tourists need special align permit for Tibet.

Entry procedures/Visas

Only tour groups are officially allowed to enter into Tibet. But another option to enter Tibet you need a valid Chinese visa and align travel permit. You won't obtain the Chinese visa if you apply to go to Tibet (state any place except Tibet in the visa application form). You want to go to China, and need a valid visa to China. If you are willing to obtain your visas in Kathmandu also possible, you should arrive in Kathmandu at least a week prior to departure to Tibet. The visas can also be arranged within a day paying emergency charge. Please be sure that the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu will open for visa application from 10 to 11 AM only 3 days in a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

Insurance

A combined travel/medical insurance coverage, particularly for the trip cancellation and interruption is strongly recommended. Such policy requires for most tours booked in your home country.

Health & altitude problems

Traveling in Tibet involves high altitude and can be strenuous. Clients with heart and lung problems or blood diseases should consult their doctor before booking the trip. Very rare cases of altitude sickness have been reported. Simple headache; fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders can happen before the acclimatization. Some advice: drink approx. 3 liters of water per day, do not strain yourself, move slowly, breathe deeply and take regular rests.

Office hours

Government offices are usually closed on SATURDAY afternoon and all day SUNDAY.

Clothing accessories

From Oct. to March warm clothes are required due to c- old and from April to September only light clothes will be enough. However, a jacket and a sweater are advised through out the year as the weather may unexpectedly change at any time. The recommend items are: A domestic first aid kit, water purification tablets, toilet and tissue papers, flashlight, sleeping bag, comfortable walking shoes, dust masks, utility knife, sun hat, sun glasses, suntan lotion and a limited number of clothes.

Food

Even there are many Chinese/Tibetan restaurants in kerung, Kerung and Shegar, food are comparatively poor and so if you are taking a tours to Lhasa some dry food items are recommended. You can also bring cup, spoon along with tea/instant soup as every guesthouse / hotel provides hot water in thermos. While you are in Shigatse and Lhasa all kind of foods are available. If you are taking trips outside, you should bring enough food as it is quite difficult to get in other parts of Tibet. In this regard High Mountain wave Trekking brings all the supplies and staff from Kathmandu in all our trekking group.