Tibet Travel General Information

Visa | Accommodation in Tibet | Altitute Sickness | Insurance | Clothing

VISA:

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

There is no minimum group size requirement for traveling into Tibet. As long as one is traveling in an organized tour visa will be issued for even individuals. Please note Tibet visa regulations often change & hence given information may not be true at the time when you travel. Please check with us or with concerned Chinese Embassies in your respective countries for latest visa regulation rules about visiting Tibet before making your travel plans.

Diplomatic passport holders must get clearance from Beijing for travel into Tibet, which often takes long time. It is advisable to travel on non-diplomatic passports, if you have one.

We require at least 7 days notice to process your Tibet visa via Lhasa & at least 4 days in Kathmandu for the Chinese Embassy to handle your passport. Consular section of the Chinese Embassy is open for business between 10-12 am on Monday, Wednesday & Friday only. Current visa fee is USD 128 for USA nationals & USD 45 for others.

Those entering via Mainland China must pay a handling charge of USD 30 to our China agent for handling Tibet permits, booking & issuing flight tickets.

Nepal visa regulations have been revised with effect from July 15, 2008 & is as under:

• 15 days multiple entry visa - USD 25
• 30 days multiple entry visa USD 40
• 90 days multiple entry visa - USD 100

Gratis visa is provided to nationals of SAARC countries only.

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TIBET ACCOMODATION :

In recent years, many tourist class hotels have sprung up in bigger cities
such as Lhasa, Gyangtse & Shigatse that offer quality accommodation. There
is also a new deluxe 5 Star Grand Brahmaputra Hotel in Lhasa. In the smaller
towns, however, the accommodation facilities are still quite basic. And
during the peak holiday seasons in July & August there is often difficulty
in getting rooms. We categorize our tours into 3 types - deluxe, standard &
budget based on the available hotels.

Hotel Categories

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ALTITUDE SICKNESS

Those with chronic health problems should consult a doctor before making
travel plans. Most people visiting Tibet rarely suffer more than mild
discomfort before getting acclimatized. Suggested remedial measures:

• Take plenty of rest
• Refrain from physically exhausting activities
• Drink plenty of water
• Do not expose yourself to direct strong winds particularly your head when a top a pass
• Take diamox against altitude sickness

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INSURANCE

All travellers' visiting Tibet are strongly recommended to provide for their
own trip insurance at home that adequately covers for medical, emergency
rescue expenses, trip cancellations or any other eventual mishaps.

All of our staffs on field trips are adequately insured by the company that
covers for medical assistance, accidents or deaths.

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Warm clothing is required throughout but more specifically from October to
April. In general dressing in layers is recommended. Few change of clothes
such as shirt, sweater, jacket & cotton inner linings with tops & bottoms,
comfortable walking shoes, pair of pants should suffix. During the month of
October to April more heavy woollen or down clothing & boots will be
required.

Other recommended accessories - water bottle, water purification tabs,
chapstick, suntan lotion, utility knife, flash light, battery operated
shavers, dusk mask or bandana, medicine for common colds, headache, fever,
stomach disorders & diamox for altitude sickness. A good Tibet guidebook by
Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide & a route map is strongly recommended.

For camping/trekking trips we recommend:

• Down jacket or warm fleece top + Parka
• Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
• Cotton shirts (short and long sleeved)
• Warm and cotton trousers
• Sun polarized sunglasses
• Warm woollen hat, gloves and socks
• Comfortable walking shoes/boots
• Sandals (flip-flops)
• Towel
• Sleeping bag
• Rain jacket
• Strong sun cream and lip protector
• Moisturizer
• Water bottle

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CUSTOMS:

There is no prohibition on still & video cameras, tape recorders or any
other electronic equipment for personal use as long as they are declared in
the customs declaration form at the point of entry. Export of art objects
dating back prior to 1959 are prohibited & may be seized.