Why Travel to Tibet

China holds 1.4 billion people and 56 different groups, the majority is Han Chinese, which takes for 92% of the total population, rest of 55 ethnic minority groups takes only 8% of the total population. While among all minority groups in China, Tibet is certainly one of the top destination in many people’s travel list. With the name the "Roof of the World" , Tibet is a snow covered plateau with highest altitude in the world, naturally speaking, there are majestic Everest, holy Mountain Kailash, sacred lakes such as Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake, Lake Manasarovar, etc. Culturally speaking Tibet owns mysterious Tibetan Buddhism and unique Tibetan culture, also trying local Tibetan food is a unforgettable experience.  

How to Travel to Tibet

There are multiple ways to travel around Tibet, by flight to Tibet, by train to Tibet, drive your own vehicle to Tibet or rent vehicle in Tibet. In this article we want to focus on info of driving your own vehicle around Tibet. 

Self Driving Routes to Tibet

If you are driving your own vehicle to Tibet, you may consider going from Western Sichuan to Tibet (Kham Tibet region), Qinghai to Tibet (Amdo Tibet region), Xinjiang to Tibet, Yunnan to Tibet. 

Why Self Driving to Tibet

For those who want to explore more about Tibetan regions and get closer to the snow-caped peaks of Himalayas, self-driving journey will meet your standard properly, it will take you to visit the remote/hidden Tibetan villages/ towns, the majestic Everest and amazing highland lakes, grassland and wild animals. Which is hard to experience for those travelers who are taking a regular tour. 

How to Organize Self Driving to Tibet

It is expensive and complicated, not possible for you to do it alone, you need to find a agent to get various permits for you, and the travel agent will arrange a guide accompanying you throughout the trip. Here is a detailed article telling you step by step of how to organize the trip, hope it helps your planning:

https://overlandsite.com/blog/overlanding-through-china/

Introduction

Mark Wiens and Travel China Tibet spent 9 days traveling around Tibet to taste some of the local Tibetan cuisine.

Trying the local cuisine is an important part of any travel experience.  There’s no better way to learn about Tibetan culture than by tasting authentic Tibetan dishes and learning about the history and significance of their food.

To bring our travelers a new perspective on Tibet travel and food, TCT has teamed up with Mark Wiens, a world traveler who makes amazing food and travel videos on YouTube.   Mark has a talent for seeking out the interesting and unique foods of different cultures.  This special Tibet food tour has been captured on photo and video.  Mark will be releasing a series of Tibet food videos on his YouTube channel: Migrationology with Mark Wiens.  

Please check out Mark's Tibet videos!  Here are the links to Mark’s Video on his YouTube Channel: 

Street Food in Tibet - ULTIMATE TIBETAN FOOD TOUR + Amazing Potala Palace in Lhasa!

Huge Tibetan Food - 11 Traditional Dishes in Lhasa, Tibet!

4,500 Meter VILLAGE FOOD - Heavenly Yamdrok Lake, Tibet!

Tibetan Food in Shigatse - TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST in Tibet!

Significance of the Project

Tibet has a colorful and charming culture and history.  As the region continues to develop changes in the way of life of the local Tibetans are inevitable.  Our goal was to capture and document some of the traditions in Tibetan food culture that have remained unchanged for centuries.  In the process we ate many tastey dishes and met some wonderful people.

How to Find Out More

In addition to Mark’s YouTube videos, TCT has also posted some pictures of the food and behind the scenes footage on our Facebook and Instagram pages: @travelchinatibet.

How to Join a Tibet Food Tour

If you have any questions about joining a Tibet Food Tour or about Tibet travel, please reach out to us.  You may send an email to info@travelchinatibet.com or leave us a message on Facebook or Instagram.  One of our travel advisors will happily assist you.

Our Other Tibet Tours

Food tours are only one of the many types of tours that we offer.  We have a variety of tours such as spiritual, meditation, family, adventure, senior, biking, and hiking tours.  For travelers who are looking for a different kind of travel experience please share your ideas and travel plans with us.  We specialize in custom tours for Tibet, China, Bhutan, and Nepal.  We can definitely help you arrange an itinerary based on your interests. 

We also offer a wide range of join in group tours for our budget travelers and custom tours for travelers who want the most flexibility.  You can also check out the itineraries for our most popular Tibet Group Tours and Private Tibet Tours.

Please contact us at any time if you help with your Tibet travel plans.

We hope to see you in Tibet!

Introduction 

The Tibet Travel Permit, is also called the Tibet Permit or TTP or Tibet Visa.  We suggest NOT to call it a Tibet Visa because there are also the China Visa and Tibet Group Visa (TGV).  Since there are already various visas, using this term may cause confusion, so we simply call it the Tibet Permit or TTP. 

Getting a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) is required for all foreigners traveling to Tibet.  We have been helping thousands of travelers from all over the world apply for their permits for free when they sign up with us for a custom or group Tibet tour.  There are no service charges or hidden costs for this service when planning a Tibet trip with us.  Follow the 3 easy steps below to get your guaranteed Tibet Travel Permit with us.

Tibet Travel Permit in 3 Easy Steps

Step 1:  Plan and book your Tibet tour with us

Step 2:  Email us a copy of your passport and Chinese Visa

Step 3:  We submit your application and get you the approved Tibet Travel Permit

It really is that simple! Learn more by watching our YouTube video on How to Get a Tibet Travel Permit.

What Does a Tibet Travel Permit Look Like? 

The Tibet Travel Permit consists of 2 pages.  The first page contains the tour group number, tour dates, itinerary, and name of the tour operator.  The second page contains the number of travelers in the group, name of each member, gender, nationality, passport number, and date of birth.  Travelers must have both pages for the permit to be valid.

Tibet Travel Permit Page 1, Tour Information:  

Tibet Travel Permit Page 2, Traveler Information: 

When to Apply for the Tibet Travel Permit

Ideally, you should email us a copy of your passport and Chinese Visa (if you are entering Tibet from Mainland China) at least 15 days before your trip starts.  Once we receive these documents from you, out staff will fill out the application and submit it to the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa for processing.  

Tibet Travel Permit if Entering Tibet from Nepal

If you are planning to enter Tibet from Nepal,  you will need a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) + Tibet Group Visa (TGV).  Tibet Travel Permit will be applied by us in Tibet and our guide will hold the original permit waiting for you at Lhasa airport for pickup, you do not need to have the Tibet Travel Permit for flight boarding from Kathmandu to Lhasa, what you need to do is bring the TGV for the flight. 

Tibet Group Visa is a single entry visa valid for up to 30 days and allows you to travel from Nepal to Tibet and then onwards to Mainland China. Since it is a group visa, it means group action, if you are a group of 2 or more persons, you need to enter Tibet and depart Tibet/China together on same date and same flight, if you enter or depart at different date/flight, please make sure you tell us beforhand, so that we can apply TGV seperately for you. This is very important, if we do not seperate the TGV, you will NOT be able to board on the flight. 

Tibet Travel Permit cost is included in all of our tour packages, but TGV cost is not included, it takes at least 3 working days to apply it, our Nepal office worker will help you to apply with your original passport, you can just pay the TGV cost to our worker in Kathmandu, please click here to check more about TGV application limits and cost details. 

Important Note: Please DO NOT apply for a Chinese Visa in your country if you decide to travel from Nepal to Tibet.  The TGV is enough to cover your Nepal-Tibet route, or Nepal-Tibet-China route.  If you have a China visa already, it will be automatically cancelled when apply for TGV at the Chinese embassy located in Kathmandu. 

• Book and plan your Tibet Tour with us.

• Email us a copy of your passport.

• We submit your application for the Tibet Travel Permit and Invitation Letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau.

• We apply for your Tibet Border Pass

• When you are in Nepal our agent will help you apply for the Tibet Group Visa. This process takes 3 full business days.

Find out more by reading our article: Tibet Group Visa

Getting Your Original Tibet Travel Permit

• If you take a flight from a city in Mainland China to Tibet, you will need to show the original Tibet Travel Permit during airport check in.  Or if you take the Tibet Train from Xian, Lanzhou, or Chongqing you will also need the original permit to board the train.  We will deliver the original Tibet Travel Permit to your hotel or address in Mainland China.  In some cases we may have one of our staff deliver it to you.

• If you board the Tibet Train from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, or Xining you will only need a copy of the permit.  We will email you a copy of the permit.  Print out 2 copies of the permit beforehand.  The train station staff will check your permit before you board and after you arrive at the train station in Lhasa.  Your tour guide will be waiting for you at the Lhasa train station with your original permit.

• If you travel from Nepal to Tibet, you only need a copy of the Tibet Travel Permit.  We will email you a copy of the permit and you can print out a copy.  You will need to have the original Tibet Group Visa and a copy of the border pass.  Your tour guide will meet you at the airport (or at the border if you enter Tibet by land) and have the original Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet Border Pass for you.

How to Connect With Us

We always strive to make things as easy for you as possible, so take advantage of our services and we can help you apply for your Tibet Travel Permit, other necessary permits, and organize your tour.  You can get in touch with us by sending us an email to info@travelchinatibet.com or submitting your questions online through our website

Many travelers are still confused of the visa for travelling from Nepal to Tibet, as a local operator, we would like to share some simple but useful information with you, so as to make your trip planning easier.

What is the Tibet Group Visa (TGV)

Tibet Group Visa, also called TGV,  is a special visa granted to foreign visitors who travel from Nepal to Tibet, visitors only need to have this Tibet Group Visa for Nepal-Tibet route, and Nepal-Tibet-China route, NO other visa is required. 

It is the ONLY visa for Nepal to Tibet Route

If you are travelling from Katmandu to Tibet (overland or by plane),  you will need a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) + Tibet Group Visa (TGV).  Tibet Travel Permit will be applied by us in Tibet and our guide will hold the original permit waiting for you at Lhasa airport for pickup, you do not need to have the Tibet Travel Permit for flight boarding from Kathmandu to Lhasa, what you need to show at airport is the TGV. 

Note: 

• Please DO NOT apply for Chinese Visa in your country if you travel from Nepal to Tibet, the TGV is the only visa to cover your Nepal-Tibet route, or Nepal-Tibet-China route. If you have a China visa already, it will be automatically cancelled when apply for TGV in Chinese embassy located in Kathmandu.

• Since it is a group visa, it means group action, if you are a group of 2 or more persons, you need to enter Tibet and depart Tibet/China together on same date and same flight, if you enter or depart at different date/flight, please make sure you tell us beforhand, so that we can apply TGV seperately for you. This is very important, if we do not seperate the TGV, you will NOT be able to board on the flight. 

Who can NOT get TGV

• The following countries have to apply China Visa & Tibet Group Visa in their own respective country.

• If any client who has traveled to following RED marked countries for more than 2 weeks , they will NOT able to get Tibet Group Visa.  

What we need to apply TGV ?

After you book the Tibet tour with us, you will need to send us your passport copy by email attachment. Meanwhile, you need to provide the following information,  then our Nepal office worker will start the TGV application.

• Kathmandu arrival date + Tibet arrival date

• Tibet departure date 

• If you also plan to travel further to mainland China after Tibet, you will need to specify all the Chinese cities in your visiting list, and the date you fly home from last Chinese city, all these will be written on the TGV.

How to get TGV ?

• Send us your passport copy by email, then we will use your passport copy to apply for TGV invitation letter in Tibet.

• Once the invitation letter is obtained, Tibet travel agent forward the invitation letter to the Nepal agent.

• Our Nepal agent worker will meet you at your Kathmandu hotel, then you will give your originall passport + 2 passport size photo + TGV cost to our worker, and fill in the TGV form. 

• Our Nepal worker will forward the invitation letter to the Chinese embassy for visa preparation

• At least 3 working days later Nepal agent worker will return to your hotel and give you the TGV + passport back. 

• Next day after you have the TGV, you can board on the flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, our Lhasa guide will hold the Tibet Travel Permit and wait for you at the Lhasa airport. 

Note:

• The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu only works from Monday to Friday and do NOT work during public holidays and weekends. So please kindly check with us beforehand to see of your stay in Nepal is ok to apply TGV

• You will also be required to forward 2 passport size photos (the photos must be 28mm-wide, 33mm-long) at the embassy (you may bring 2 photos from home or just simply take instant photos in Kathmandu) Please do check with us beforehand for the photos issue, we will send you the photo taking guide by email or Whatsapp. 

Different Types of Tibet Group Visa (TGV)

*Normal Application:

Days Required: 5 working days

1) If you give us your original passport in Monday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Friday noon time

2) If you give us your original passport in Tuesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you next Monday noon time

3) If you give the us original passport in Wednesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Monday noon time

4) If you give us your original passport in Thursday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

5) If you give the us original passport in Friday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

6) If you give us your original passport in Saturday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you next Friday noon time

7) If you give us your original passport in Sunday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Friday noon time

*Semi Urgent Application:  

Days Required: 3 working days

1) If you give us your original passport in Monday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Wednesday noon time

2) If you give the us original passport in Tuesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Thursday noon time

3) If you give the us original passport in Wednesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Friday noon time

4) If you give the us original passport in Tursday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Monday noon time

5) If you give the us original passport in Friday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Tuesday noon time

6) If you give the us original passport in Saturday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

7) If you give the us original passport in Sunday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

Reference Holidays for Embassy:

During following holiday times, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu will not accept TGV application, please kindly note. 

• Jan: New year from 1st to 3rd Jan

• Feb: Spring Festival from 15th-21th Feb.

• March: no holiday

• April: 5th, 6th, 7th, 30th

• May: Labor Festival from 1st to 5th May

• June: Dragon Boating Festival on 18th June

• July: no holiday

• August: no holiday

• Sept: Middle Autumn Festival on 24th Sept

• Oct: National Holiday from 1st to 8th Oct

• Nov: no holiday

• Dec: no holiday

• All weekends
  

Special Note for Kathmandu to Lhasa flight

The flight shuttling between Kathmandu and Lhasa is only daily departure in certain months, if you plan to book any flight beforehand, please DO check the flight availability and the date with us beforehand.

How to book flights to Tibet

We actually book online as you, but booking via us you have to pay booking fee, which will turn out to be more expensive than the price you can get online, so we suggest you to book flights on your own to save money. Please do NOT book flights via airline company's official website, because these official websites need Tibet permit for flight booking, but we are not able to get Tibet permit until 10-20 days before the tour. We suggest you to book the flights via special booking platforms, you can use credit card and accumulate points or miles if booking on your own. There are various booking platforms and not Tibet permit required to book flights. Here are some recommendations, or you can search more in your country.  www.expedia.com,   www.skyscanner.net,   www.chinatraveldepot.com/,   www.chinatour.net/flight/

TravelChinaTibet.com Can Help!

If you are planning to visit Tibet, then you will need to apply for a Tibet Travel Permit(TTP).  Here at TravelChinaTibet.com (TCT) we have helped thousands of travelers successfully get their Tibet Travel Permit approved!  You can submit your Tibet Visa Application online with us and we will take care of the rest. 

What is a Tibet Travel Permit?

The Tibet Travel Permit is probably the most important document that you will need to get into Tibet.  It is officially the Tibet Travel Permit, but you may have also seen the terms Tibet Visa, Tibet Entry Permit, or TTB Permit being used.  This permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, so it is also referred to as the TTB permit.  This document is required by the Tibetan government for all foreign visitors to enter Lhasa and travel around Tibet.  Chinese citizens including Hong Kong and Macau Residents are not required to have this permit.  Travelers will need to present this permit before boarding any trains or flights bound for Tibet. 

This may not be the only permit that you need to visit Tibet if you plan to travel outside the Lhasa area.   Visitors who wish to travel to restricted areas, such as Mount Everest or Mount Kailash, will require additional permits. 

What are the Other Types of Tibet Permits & Tibet Visas?

We will give you a brief introduction to the different types of Tibet Permits and Visas, but we help our travelers arrange all the necessary permits and visas based on their itinerary, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out which ones you will need for your Tibet trip.

Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) 

This is the most important document of your Tibet trip.  The Tibet Travel Permit is required for all foreign visitors to enter and travel around Tibet.  We help all of our travelers arrange for their Tibet Travel Permits for free.

Tibet Group Visa (TGV)

Tibet Group Visa (TGV) is a supplementary document of Tibet Travel Permit and ONLY required if you are traveling from Nepal to Tibet.  It will be arranged by our company and our Nepal office. Click for more.

Alien's Travel Permit (ATP or PSB Permit) 

The Alien’s Travel Permit is ONLY required for traveling to some restricted areas of Tibet.  We will help you apply for the Alien’s Travel Permit if your itinerary requires it.

Military Permit

The Military Permit is ONLY required for traveling to some restricted areas such as the Nagari area.  We will submit the application on your behalf if it is required for your Tibet itinerary.

Tibet Travel Permit Online Application Process

When you travel with us here at TravelChinaTibet.com applying for your Tibet Travel Permit is actually quite simple.

Here are the 3 Easy Steps to Getting Your Tibet Travel Permit. 

    1. Submit your travel dates and travel plans to us online.

    2. Confirm your Tibet Tour with us.

    3. Email us a copy of your travel documents (Passport and Chinese Visa.)

It is s as simple as that.  We will take care of the rest. 

Local Tibetan government regulations require that all foreign travelers arrange a tour with an Authorized Tibet Travel Agency like TravelChinaTibet.com.  All Tibet Travel Permit Applications must be submitted through the travel agency because individual applications are not accepted.

How Much Does the Tibet Travel Permit Cost? 

We do not charge any service fees for your Tibet Permit Application, so it is actually free when you arrange and book your Tibet tour with us.  According to the Tibet local regulations the travel agency is only allowed to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit on behalf of travelers who have already booked a tour.  The Tibet Travel Permit cannot be purchased by independent travelers who do not book a tour with a local Tibet travel agency. 

How Do I Get the Actual Tibet Travel Permit? 

If You Are Flying from China to Tibet

We will deliver your original Tibet Travel Permit to the hotel you will be staying at before you take the flight to Lhasa.  When you check in to hotel you can get the permit from the front counter.  In some cases we will have one of our local tour guides or staff give you the permit directly.  You are required to show the original Tibet Travel Permit for boarding the flight to Lhasa.

If You Are Taking the Train from China to Tibet

If you take the train from a city in Mainland China to Tibet you will only need a copy of the Tibet Travel Permit, so we will scan and email you a copy.  Prepare at least 2 copies of the permit for boarding the Tibet Train.  The permit will be checked when you board the train and also when you arrive in Lhasa.  Your local Tibetan tour guide will be waiting for you at the train station with your original Tibet Travel Permit.

Exception:  You will need to have the original Tibet Travel Permit if you board the Tibet Train from Xi’an, Chongqing, or Lanzhou.  In this case we will deliver the original permit to the hotel you will be staying at prior to boarding the Tibet Train or have one of our local tour guides give it to you directly.

If You Are Coming From Nepal to Tibet (by Flight or Overland)

If you enter Tibet from Nepal your Tibet Travel Permit will be forwarded to our Nepal office for processing of your Tibet Group Visa.  You will need to have the Tibet Group Visa to enter Tibet from Nepal by flight or by overland.

What Visas Are Required For My Tibet Travel?

For Visitors Who Are Entering Tibet from Mainland China

Travelers who enter Tibet from Mainland China will need to have a Chinese Visa.  The Chinese Visa will allow you to enter Mainland China and is required for the application of your Tibet Travel Permit.  You should apply for a Chinese Visa at the Chinese Embassy in your home country about 8 weeks prior to your trip.

There are 2 major visa types of Chinese Visas for Tibet travel, which are the“L” and “Z” types.

Ø  “L” Type Visa: This is also called a Tourist Visa.  This is the most popular visa type among travelers.

Ø  “Z” Type Visa: This is also called a Work Visa.  This is for people who work and reside in China. If you have a Z type visa, you will need to get a employment verification document from your employer.   This document should be printed on company letter heat and contain the company stamp seal, your full name as it appears in your passport, passport number, and the date you started to working for this company.  We will send you a sample document for reference after you arrange a tour with us.

For Visitors Who Are Entering Tibet from Nepal

For travelers who enter Tibet from Nepal, please do NOT apply for a Chinese Visa from your home country as it will be useless and a waste of your time and money.  Instead you will need a Tibet Group Visa.  We will help you apply for the Tibet Group Visa once you arrive in Nepal.  We will arrange for one of our Nepal staff members to help you submit the application.

Documents Required for Different Types of Visa Holders 

Different types of Chinese Visa holders are required to provide different documents for the Tibet Travel Permit application.

See details below: 

Visa Type: L    

Purpose of visit: sightseeing, travel, tours. 

Required documents:   

Ø  Passport copy

Ø  Chinese Visa copy 

Visa Type: Z   

Purpose of visit: employment, commercial activities. 

Required documents:   

Ø  Passport copy

Ø  Chinese Visa copy 

Ø  Employment Verification Document from the company

Visa Type: D    

Purpose: Permanent residence

Required documents:  

Ø  Passport Copy

Ø  Chinese Visa Copy 

Ø  Work Permit 

Ø  Residence Permit 

Visa Type: X1/X2    

Purpose of visit: Students. 

Required documents:   

Ø  Passport Copy

Ø  Chinese Visa Copy 

Ø  Student Verification Document from your school.

Visa Type: C    

Purpose: Crew member or motor vehicle driver

Required documents:  

Ø  Passport copy    

Ø  Chinese Visa copy 

Ø  Employment Verification Document from your company.

Visa Type: F   (This type of visa holder may not be able to get a Tibet Travel Permit through a travel agency.) 

Purpose of visit: Invited groups with the purpose of study, exchange, trade, etc. 

Required documents:   

Ø  Passport Copy

Ø  Chinese Visa Copy 

Ø  Employment or Student Verification Document from your company or school.

Note: If you are invited by a government agency, we will not be able to accept your application directly.  You will need to contact the government agency to get special permission for traveling to Tibet.

Visa Type: M   

Purpose of visit: Commerce & Trade. 

Required documents:   

Ø  Passport Copy

Ø  Chinese Visa Copy 

Ø  Employment Verification Document from your company.

Visa Type: Tibet Group Visa    

Purpose of visit: This is ONLY required for visitors who are entering Tibet from Nepal. 

Required documents:   

Ø  Passport copy

Ø  3 passport sized photos. 

Note: You do NOT need to apply for a Chinese Visa if you are entering Tibet from Nepal.  You will need the Tibet Group Visa.  You can just send us a copy of your passport for the Tibet Travel Permit application.  Once your permit is approved we will forward it to our Nepal office for processing of your Tibet Group Visa.  When you arrive in Nepal please have your original passport and 3 passport photos ready.  Our Nepal staff will meet with you and help you submit the application for the Tibet Group Visa to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.  

Group Visa for Traveling from Nepal to Tibet 

After you book your Tibet tour, we will start the application process for your Tibet Travel Permit.  We will submit the application to the Tibet Tourism Bureau, who will issue your Tibet Travel Permit and an Invitation Letter.  We will forward both documents to our office in Nepal and we will start the Tibet Group Visa application process.  After you arrive in Nepal our Nepal staff will help you submit the Tibet Group Visa application along with your original passport and 3 passport photos to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. 

Cost for the Tibet GROUP VISA:

Please Note: Fees listed below are for your reference only and are subject to change by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.

Americans:  $175+30 service fee

Romanians: $90+30 service fee

Serbians:  $85+30 service fee

Others countries:  $85+30 service fee

Pakistan/Albania/Bosiand/Horzeguvina/Micronesia/Maldives:  $26+30 service fee

Who CAN'T Apply for a Tibet Travel Permit?

F Type Visa Holders 

“F” Type Visa holders such as Journalists and Diplomats can NOT get the Tibet Travel Permit through a local Tibet agency due to local government regulations.   Please do NOT apply for this type of Chinese Visa if you want to visit Tibet. 

Indian Pilgrims

Indian Pilgrimage Groups traveling to Nagari area (Mt. Kailash) have to go through special local operators for a pilgrim tour.  There are only 4 travel agencies who are authorized to handle Indian Pilgrimage Groups.  We are not one of them. 

Do NOT Mention Tibet to the Chinese Embassy When Applying for Your Chinese Visa 

Tibet is politically sensitive area of China.  It has many strict regulations.  Please do NOT mention anything about your Tibet tour to the Chinese Embassy, otherwise your China visa application will be rejected.   Some travelers who did not follow this advice had their Chinese Visa applications denied, so please kindly take this seriously.  After you make a deposit for your Tibet tour, we will send you an Invitation Letter with our company letter head and company stamp to submit with your application to assist in getting your Chinese Visa approved.  Do not list Tibet as one of the destinations in your application.  The Tibet portion of your itinerary in the invitation letter will be replaced by other destinations in Mainland China.

You may feel a bit uncomfortable about this procedure, but please be assured that this is a work around for a contradictory policy that is place that will prevent you from getting your Chinese Visa if you mention Tibet as a destination.  Let us explain.  If you list Tibet as a destination, the Chinese Embassy will ask you to submit a copy of your Tibet Travel Permit with the application.  However in order to get a Tibet Travel Permit you first need to have a valid Chinese Visa.  As you can see these policies are contradictory and travelers would never be able to get their Chinese Visa or Tibet Travel Permit.  The Chinese government allows travelers to change their itinerary and travel destinations after the Chinese Visa is approved, so you don’t have to worry about doing anything that is not allowed.  

Multiple-Entry Visa

You need to apply for a multiple entry visa if you enter and exit China more than once.  Tibet is considered a domestic stop.  Please note that, Hong Kong and Macau are considered to be international stops, so if you travel from China to Hong Kong and then back to China, you will need a multiple-entry visa.

Visa Free Policy 

Visitors from Singapore, Brunei and Japan enjoy 15 days visa free for business, sightseeing, visiting relatives and friends or transit. 

Visiting Tibet Is Easy When You Go With TCT!

Send us your travel dates and travel plans online.  We can help with your Tibet Travel Permit application and Tibet tour itinerary.

There is a new policy issued by government at the end of Dec 2018

Due to environmental protection sake, EBC has been closed to visitors and the furthest position visitors can get to is Rongbuk Monastery, this Monastery is 2km away from the original EBC tourist tent site.  The government will move the tents to be around Rongbuk Monastery---2km backward from the original EBC tent site, and will also copy the Everest Height Monument to fulfill visitor's wish of taking photos. So it is actually not too much affect to visitors, but we need to let you know beforehand. See pictures as follow. 

There are 2 different visas for Tibet travel, namely China Visa for China to Tibet route,  Tibet Group Visa for Nepal to Tibet route. Many people could not figure out these 2 visas, here let TCT explain to you in details. 

Visa for Nepal to Tibet 

• You do not need China visa, but need to spend 3 working days in Kathmandu to get Tibet Group Visa(TGV). 

• Please firstly confirm your dates with us before booking any flights to and out of Kathmandu, otherwise it might be problem.

• We also need to know which destination you fly to after Tibet trip, because the destination name will be listed in permit and not changeable

• We need you Kathmandu hotel name, address, phone number, so that our Nepal worker can get to your hotel to apply TGV for you.  

• The TGV fee is NOT included, you need to pay our Nepal operator in cash + 2 passport size photos for TGV application.

• Please install Whatsapp in your phone, so that we can make a group chat to include you, us and our Nepal operator, so that 3 parties can get in touch with each other online to figure things out. 

Visa for China to Tibet 

• You need to apply China visa in your country beforehand WITHOUT mentioning Tibet, click here for details.  

• You can send us passport for booking first, and visa can be later when you have it.

• If the Chinese embassy in your country needs invitation letter from us, please do advise, so that we can send it to you. We need your China arrival date + arrival city name , China departure date + departure city name to make this letter.  

• We need to know from which Chinese city you take flight/train to Lhasa, and which city you will go to after Tibet, these city names will be written on Tibet permit and NOT changeable, you can only enter Tibet or depart from Tibet from the fixed cities.

• If you take flight to Lhasa, you need to stay one night in China so that we can post the permit to your hotel there, you need the permit for the flight boarding to Lhasa, we can NOT post the permit abroad.

• If you take train to Lhasa, we will send you the Tibet permit 4-15 days beforehand, which you need to print TWICE for the train boarding. 

The Gyirong border is just open at the end of Aug 2017, many visitors want to travel overland between TIbet and Nepal, but which route is the best?  Let our experts tell you more. 

Overland from Kathmandu to Everest or Lhasa 

If you come from Kathmandu to Tibet overland, it will be a bit risky or dangerous, becuase Kathmandu is only 1370m in elevation, then you will get to Gyirong border (2600m) for 1 night only, and then suddenly get to Everest base camp(5200m), you will not have enough time to acclimatize before reaching the highest 5200m elevation, and worse is there is almost NO medical facility around at Everest base camp, which will be really dangerous unless you are really fit.

Overland from Kathmandu to Mt. Kailash

For those who want to do Kathmandu to Mt.Kailash overland tour, it is same dangerous, the altitude in Kathmandu is quite low and Mt. Kailash area is 4000+ meters, it will not be any medical facility during the 3 days mount Kailash pilgrimage trek, so it is always better to start the trip from Lhasa and reach mount Kailash gradually. 

What is the Safest Way

The safest way is to do Lhasa to Kathmnadu overland tour, which is more reasonable route for altitude acclimatization, firstly spend 3 or more nights in Lhasa(3600m) for acclimatization, then going higher to Shigatse(3900m) for another night, then reach Everest(5200), after that to Gyirong border(2600m) for 1 night, and next day reach Kathmandu(1370m). So overall speaking, it is better to fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa first, and taking overland tour to Everest or Mount Kailash, finally reaches Kathmandu.  Or you can simply fly from Kathmandu to Tibet, then after the tour fly back to Kathmandu. 

Sample Iitnerary

Here we have 2 sample itineraries for your reference, it could be tailor made to make it longer or shorter, hope this helps your planning.

If you do not read Chinese, it will be very difficult to find your seat on a Chinese train. While Chinese passengers and the train attendants are usually very helpful and would gladly walk you to your seat, below is a simple guide to help you read a Chinese train ticket. 

Sample 1     A China Train Ticket

The sample above are what a China train ticket looks like. It's a paper ticket .  In this ticket from the left top, shows the information like below:

• A)   Ticket number, this is the serial number of train tickets issued from one terminal or ticket window

• B)   Departure station in Chinese

• C)   Departure station in pinyin, the spell of this pinyin accords with China Railway Passenger Transport Price List, which was released by Ministry of Railways.

• D)   Departure data and time - YYYY年MM月DD日hh:mm开

• E)    Ticket price in RMB

• F)    Validity information

       ---限乘当日当次车 - valid only on the specified date and specified train

       ---在3日内到有效 - the journey must be completed by day 3, day 1 is the departure day 

       ---中途下车失效 - invalid if journey broken

• G)   21 digital numbers

• H)   Code of the train ticket issuing station, it may not be the departure station. If you buy a ticket from Beijing to Shanghai at Hangzhou train station, then this code is Hangzhou train station

• I)    Code of ticket sale way

• J)    Code of ticket window

• K)   Date of ticket released

• L)   Ticket number

• M)  Ticket issuing station

• N)   Destination in Chinese

O)   Destination in pinyin

P)   carriage number, seat/sleeper number and train class  >> train number info details

       XX车YYY号 - carriage number XX and seat/sleeper number YYY 

       新 - New (higher standard)

       空调 - Air-conditioned 

       特快 - Express train 

       快速 - Fast train 

       普快 - Ordinary train 

       硬座 - Hard seat 

       软座 - Soft seat 

       硬卧 - Hard sleeper (上铺 - upper, 中铺 - middle, 下铺 - lower) 

       软卧 - Soft sleeper (上铺 - upper, 下铺 - lower) 

       高级软卧 - Deluxe Soft sleeper (上铺 - upper, 下铺 - lower) 

       一等座 - First class seat 

       二等座 - Second class seat 

• Q)   Discount info

• R)   2D bar code

• S)   Train number  >> train number info details

Sample.2   A named ticket

When facing this question----Of course you will not forget the camera, passport, China visa, Tibet permit. But what other important items you need to pack for Tibet travel? Here is a thoughtful collection of the must-have items to ensure you a safe and comfortable Tibet tour.

Tip: Travel light! Heavy baggage will weaken you on the plateau. But the things mentioned below are essential since Tibet is on the roof of the world and most part of Tibet is remote area.

Bag

• A large backpack and a smaller one. The smaller one can be used for daily activities and be put into the large backpack when necessary.

• If you are going out of Lhasa for a few days, you do not have to bring the big suitcases with you, instead you can take the backpack and leave the heavy one in Lhasa hotel.

• A waist bag to put important documents and property.

Clothing

• It's advisable to dress in layers that can be easily added or removed as temperatures vary greatly within a day in Tibet.

• A windbreaker is advisable at any time of year.

• A pair of durable and comfortable shoes. Water-proof and warm-keeping climbing shoes are recommended.

• Waterproof clothing and raingear are highly recommended if you come to Tibet in July and August because it rains frequently during this period.

• A down jacket (better with hat) together with other warm-keeping clothing is necessary if you want to travel into remote areas or to have a trekking tour.

• Women should avoid skirts or dresses or high heel shoes.

Daily articles

Hotels or guesthouses in some remote areas are very simple, without towels, soap etc. You need to bring your own items such as a cup, a small towel, a toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. Or you buy in Lhasa. It is not convenient to wash clothes when traveling at remote places, you can buy some disposable underpants.

Avoid Sunburn

• High SPF sunscreen cream, sun block, skin cream and lip balm to against intense sunlight and dry weather.

• Sunglasses and sunhat can protect you effectively from being exposed to the scorching sunlight.

First Aid Kit Packing List

• Please consult your doctor prior to your Tibet tour, and better have the body examination before coming!

• Your prescription medication

• Medicine to prevent and lessen High Altitude Sickness, such as Diamox.

• Medicine for cold, headache, stomachache, diarrhea, nausea, insect bite, etc. such as Aspirin, Diphenoxylate, and Prochlorperazine.

• Band-aids or other wound dressings.

• Nasal ointment and throat lozenges if you are sensitive to chilly or freezing weather conditions.

• Multivitamins

• Headache medication such as Tylenol or Advil. Tylenol is good too especially if you end up with a fever.

• Bandaids for the occasional blister from long walks.

• Anti-bacterial ointment

• Alcohol swabs

• Hydrogen peroxide or other cleaning agent for small cuts.

• Cotton swabs

• Cotton bandages

• Bandage tape

• Ace bandage for the twisted ankle that might occur on the Great Wall or other hikes.

• Nail scissors - perfect for cutting bandages and other essentials.

• Diarrhea/nausea medication is essential as even if the food you eat is fine - it could upset your stomach because you aren't used to it. For bad cases of diarrhea, it's great to have Cypro along with you. Ask your physician about prescribing it for you.

Other Equipment

• A water bottle;

• A solar flashlight (in case of black-out);

• Oxygen canisters are easily available in Lhasa. You can buy them from hospitals, hotels, downtown markets, etc. if necessary.

Trekking Equipment 

Most hiking areas in Tibet are remote and with very few people living there,  if you book with us, we can prepare the trekking equipments for you in advance. 

• Sleeping bags

• Sleeping mats

• Cookware and camp kitchen

• Stoves

• Compass

• Tibet map

• Water filter and purifiers,

• Backpacks,

• Dry bags,

• Pack liners,

• Trekking poles,

• Hydration system,

• Headlamps and torch,

• Camp bathroom

• First aid kits

• Emergency shelters

• Random handy gear

• Navigation, expedition food

• Hammocks

• Swiss army Knives

• 
  

Located at the roof of the world, Tibet is mysterious and remote from mainland China, but this wonderland is never lack of visitors, with the modern transportation of trains and flights, a lot of visitors from home and aboard rushed in to discover it is real culture and scenery. But how to reach Tibet has been a question to many visitors, here TCT will provide you with the most specific guide for this topic. 

Generally speaking there are 3 ways to reach Tibet, we will show you one by one in details:

• Flight to Tibet

• Train to Tibet

• Overland to Tibet

Flight to Tibet

Flight travel is certainly the most convenient way to visitors, but the disadvantage is that you will not be able to see the scenery along the Qinghai Tibet railway, but still flight travel is chosen by 60% of our visitors. Currently visitors can take flight to and out of Tibet from these cities:

• Beijing to Lhasa flight

• Shanghai to Lhasa flight

• Chengdu to Lhasa flight

• Chongqing to Lhasa flight

• Xian to Lhasa flight

• Kunming to Lhasa flight

• Guangzhou to Lhasa flight

• Kathmandu to Lhasa flight

• Hangzhou to Lhasa flight

• Shangri-la to Lhasa flight
  

Flight to Tibet

Train to Tibet

Taking train to Tibet is a bit difficult to many visitors as the Tibet train ticket is usually hard to guarantee in peak season (Jul to Aug) and too long ride (usually 40 hours). Due to the limited tickets and hot demand, travel agencies have to pay high booking fee to special ticket-booking agent so as to guarantee the tickets, it is not much cheaper than flight, sometimes even more expensive.  So it is chosen by 30% of our clients.  So far victors can take train from following cities:

• Beijing to Lhasa train

• Shanghai to Lhasa train

• Chengdu to Lhasa train

• Chongqing to Lhasa train

• Guangzhou to Lhasa train

• Xian to Lhasa train

• Xining to Lhasa train

• Lanzhou to Lhasa train

Train to Tibet

Highway to Tibet (Overland to Tibet)

So far there are 4 highways available for vehicles to Tibet, but only 2 are available to foreign visitors, there are: 

• Qinghai to Tibet Highway  (Xining-Golmud-Lhasa)  

• Tibet Nepal Friendship Highway (Tibet-Kathmandu, but currently closed due to 2015 Nepal earthquake)

• Sichuan to Tibet Highway (NOT open to foreign visitors)

• Yunnan to Tibet Highway  (NOT open to foreign visitors)

Taking a 4WD or Van from Nepal (Kathmandu) to Tibet is a popular way among visitors, by doing this route you do NOT need any China visa from your home country, instead you will need to a so called Tibet Group Visa (TGV) from the Chinese embassy located in Kathmandu, Nepal. Check more Tibet Group Visa

Overland to Tibet

Qinghai-Tibet Highway is strictly referred to the highway departing from Sining in Qinghai and arriving in Lhasa via Golmud. As a part of the No. 109 National Highway, Qinghai-Tibet Highway stretches across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. With the mean altitude above 4,500 meters (snow line), the road condition of this highway is the most stable one compared with other two highways to Tibet Autonomous Region (Xin-Zang Highway and Sichuan-Tibet Highway). The constructors of this road were mainly soldiers, and the leader General Mu Shengzhong was hailed as the Father of Qinghai-Tibet Highway. The road plays an important role in stabilizing the situation in Tibet Autonomous Region. The road, formally opened to traffic on December 25, 1954, served as the most important supply line of Chinese troop during the Sino-Indian War in 1962.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway

Qinghai-Tibet Highway is one of the highways with the highest altitude in the world, and pertains to national level two arterial highway, of which the overall length reaches 1,160 kilometers, the width of roadbed is 10 meters, the gradient is less than 7%, and the maximal safety driving speed is 60 km per hour. As the world first case of highway which is totally paved on the black level road surface, Qinghai-Tibet Highway is known as the “Suez Canal on Spine of the World”, and borne with 80% of the transportation for supplies in and out of Tibet Autonomous Region. The average elevation of the whole line is more than 4,000 meters.

Walking on the Qinghai-Tibet highway, what comes into view are the luxuriant and meandering Kunlun Mountains and the boundless and vast prairies, which will shock you unexpectedly and agitate your heart fiercely. A kind of naturally ascending and ego transcendental feeling will surely accompany your journey, centuries old and long standing.

Traffic guidance: to enter Tibet Autonomous Region from Qinghai, it is practicable to first arrive in Golmud from Sining by bus. Golmud is approximately 1,100 kilometers away from Lhasa, and the range of driving is approximately 24 hours. Most of vehicles to Tibet Autonomous Region fare forth from Golmud, and there are several passenger cars (home-made car, imported grand luxurious and sleeping car) available to Lhasa everyday from Qinghai Qaidam Transport Company and Tibet Autonomous Region assenger Transport Company. There are also many trucks available to Lhasa at the Golmud-stationed transportation depot to Tibet Autonomous Region, which allows thumbing a lift, and the price is discussed personally with the driver. The Lanzhou-Lhasa tour line (homemade luxurious sleeping car) is also opened up, passing by Kumbum Monastery, Riyue Mountain, Qinghai Lake, Golmud Salt Lake, Tanggula Pass, Geladandong, Tuotuohe, Nagchu and Dangxiong prairie, Namtso, Yangpachen and other tourist attractions.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway

If first timing traveling to Tibet, you might be confused of various Tibet tours selling online, but mainly there are 2 types of Tibet tours available, one type is Tibet Private Tours, the other is Tibet Group Tours. And these Tibet tours ranges from 4 to 17 days depends on what places you want to see. Here TCT will guide you how to better plan a Tibet tour. You can see following the most popular Tibet tours to gain a rough idea, or if you need more tour info, please feel free to contact us. 

Differences of of Tibet group tours and Tibet Private Tours

Tour Lhasa in 3/4 Days

Four days in Lhasa will be plenty to see things slowly and adjust to the high altitude. Lhasa sits at nearly 12,000 feet or 4,000 meters. Note, altitude sickness can strike without prejudice - 22-year-old marathoners and 50-year-old couch potatoes have equal chances of getting it. Check our classic Tibet tours.

Day 1 - Lhasa arrival and rest in the afternoon

Day 2 - Lhasa City: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Day 3 - Lhasa City: Deprung Monastery, Sera Monastery + debate.

Day 4 - Lhasa Departure or go for further tour

>> 4 Days Lhasa Group Tour

+ 1 More day to Namtso Lake 

Day 4 - Drive 500KM round-trip to visit Namtso Lake and return to Lhasa

Day 5 - Lhasa Departure

>> 5 Days Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour

+ 1 More day to Yamdro Lake

Day 4 - Drive 240KM round-trip to visit Yamdrok Lake and return to Lhasa

Day 5 - Lhasa Departure

>> 5 Days Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake Group Tour

+ 2 More day to Namtso Lake and stay 1 night at the lake

Day 4 - Drive 250KM to visit Namtso Lake and stay at Namtso Lake

Day 5 - Drive 250KM to from Namtso Lake back to Lhasa

Day 6 - Lhasa Departure

>> 6 Days Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour

+3 More day to Kathmandu (Nepal)

Day 4 - Drive 380KM to Shigatse, on the way visit Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pekhor Monastery

Day 5 - Visit Tashilumpo Monastery, drive 360KM to Rongbuk Monastery for overnight (dorm tent)

Day 6 - Morning visit from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp, then drive 100KM to Old Tingri

Day 7 - Drive 9 hours to Giyrong Port, then on your own transport to Kathmandu

>> 7 Days Lhasa & Kathmandu overland tour 

+ 4 More days to Everest 

Day 4 - Drive 380KM to Shigatse, on the way visit Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pekhor Monastery

Day 5 - Visit Tashilumpo Monastery, drive 360KM to Rongbuk Monastery for overnight (dorm tent)

Day 6 - Morning visit from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp, then drive back to Shigatse

Day 7 - Drive from Shigatse back to Lhasa,

Day 8 - Lhasa Departure

>> 8 Days Lhasa & Everest Group Tour

+ 6 More days to visit Everest & Namtso Lake

Day 4 - Drive 380KM to Shigatse, on the way visit Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pekhor Monastery

Day 5 - Visit Tashilumpo Monastery, drive 360KM to Rongbuk Monastery for overnight (dorm tent)

Day 6 - Morning visit from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp, then drive back to Shigatse

Day 7 - Drive from Shigatse back to Lhasa

Day 8 - Drive 500KM round-trip to visit Namtso Lake, then return to Lhasa

Day 9 - Lhasa Departure

>> 9 Days Lhasa & Everest & Namtso Lake Group Tour

 + 7 More days to visit Everest & Namtso Lake

Day 4 - Drive 380KM to Shigatse, on the way visit Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pekhor Monastery

Day 5 - Visit Tashilumpo Monastery, drive 360KM to Rongbuk Monastery for overnight (dorm tent)

Day 6 - Morning visit from Rongbuk Monastery to Everest Base Camp, then drive back to Shigatse

Day 7 - Drive from Shigatse back to Lhasa

Day 8 - Drive 250KM to visit Namtso Lake and overnight at lake side guesthouse (no shower, public toilet)

Day 9 - Drive 250KM to back to Lhasa

Day 10 - Lhasa Departure

>> 10 Days Lhasa & Everest & Namtso Lake Group Tour

+ 5-7 More days for Ngari are to trek around Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasarovar

Mt. Kailash is the most significant peak in the world without any known climbing attempts. Taking a trek to explore the holy heart of Asian Buddhism.

Manasarovar Lake is one of the clearest lakes in the world. Camping on the bank of the holy lake, cleansed your soul, and staying away from the mundane world

>> 15 Days Mount Kailash Group Tour

For visitors travel to Tibet, you need to know that there are mainly 2 types of tours available, they are Tibet private tour, Tibet group tours.  Here we are going to guide you more of the differences of these 2 types of tours. 

Tibet Group Tour:

• Cheaper in price

• Fixed itinerary

• Shared Tibetan guide and vehicle

• Fixed airport/train station pickups and drop-offs

• Hotel is fixed, but we can exclude hotels for your own booking

• Group size is 12 persons at maximum, but mostly 4-8 persons

• Fixed 5-10 arrival dates in a month, or book 90 days ahead we can set up the tour based on your timeframe

Tibet Group Tours

Tibet Private Tour:

• Higher in price

• Flexible itinerary and fully customizable

• Private Tibetan guide and private vehicle

• Flexible airport/train station pickups and drop-offs

• Hotel is flexible to meet your standards

• The tour is just for you, NO other visitors will join in

• Flexible arrival date, fully customizable to meet your time frame

Tibet Private Tours

Should i choose a Group Tibet Tour or Private Tibet Tour ?

• If you are 1 to 3 person's group and in a budget, you can join in the group tour for great value

• If you are 3+ person's group, you may consider private tour for better quality and more flexible services, usually if you are more than 4 persons, the private tour price sill be same or even less than group tour

Can I travel Tibet alone? 

Independent travel without guide and driver is strictly prohibited in Tibet since the riots in March 2008. And Tibet has been annually closed in every March since then. You should book a tour with the local travel agency for the arrangement of the Tibet travel permit + tour guide + vehicle, otherwise you will not be able to enter Tibet.

Can i walk around in Tibet during my free days? 

Yes if you have 1-2 free days in Tibet, you can walk around the street on your own without guide.  BUT you are not allowed to visit any tourist attractions if without the guide's company, otherwise the travel agent will be seriously punished by government. So please never try to visit any thing if without guide. 

A case is that 10 years ago, a Germany visitor joined a group to Tibet, but he left the group and hide in a monastery with monk's help, the local policeman and travel agent spent a lot of effort to find him after 1 month later, the tour guide since then was fired and forbidden to work as a guide, and the travel agent was fined with a huge sum of money and almost bankrupt. So please take this seriously and follow the regulation.

Can you arrange the Tibet permit without tour? 

The answer is NO. Tibet Travel Permit is only granted to visitors who have booked a tour with local travel company, the travel company will be responsible to all your behaviours in Tibet. But you may book hotel on your own.  Read more.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is caused by a lack of oxygen in the body of individuals exposed to higher elevations. This usually occurs when they travel to an altitude over 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) without proper acclimatization before engaging in physical activities. Mountain climbers, trekkers, skiers, and travelers to the Andes or Himalayas, etc.

While individual tolerance varies, symptoms usually appear within several hours of ascending, with those in poor physical condition being most susceptible. Headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and poor appetite occur initially. Inability to sleep is also frequently reported. In more severe cases thinking and judgment may become impaired. 

The symptoms of acute mountain sickness can be prevented or minimized by gradually ascending (less than 500 meters/day) over several days to give your body a chance to acclimatize to the higher altitude.

Once the symptoms begin to occur, they usually subside over several days without treatment provided there has been adequate time for acclimatization. However, if they worsen, they can be relieved with the administration of oxygen or descent to a lower altitude.

Following are some useful medicine for AMS:

1. Diamox

This is the most tried and tested drug for altitude sickness prevention and treatment. Unlike dexamethasone, this drug does not mask the symptoms but actually treats the problem. It seems to works by increasing the amount of alkali (bicarbonate) excreted in the urine, making the blood more acidic. Acidifying the blood drives the ventilation, which is the cornerstone of acclimatisation.

For prevention, 125 to 250mg twice daily starting one or two days before and continuing for three days once the highest altitude is reached, is effective. Blood concentrations of acetazolamide peak between one to four hours after administration of the tablets. Studies have shown that prophylactic administration of acetazolamide at a dose of 250mg every eight to twelve hours before and during rapid ascent to altitude results in fewer and/or less severe symptoms (such as headache, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue) of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Pulmonary function is greater both in subjects with mild AMS and asymptomatic subjects. The treated climbers also had less difficulty in sleeping.

Gradual ascent is always desirable to try to avoid acute mountain sickness but if rapid ascent is undertaken and actazolamide is used, it should be noted that such use does not obviate the need for a prompt descent if severe forms of high altitude sickness occur, i.e. pulmonary or cerebral oedema.

Side effects of acetazolamide include: an uncomfortable tingling of the fingers, toes and face carbonated drinks tasting flat; excessive urination; and rarely, blurring of vision. On most treks, gradual ascent is possible and prophylaxis tends to be discouraged. Certainly if trekkers do develop headache and nausea or the other symptoms of AMS, then treatment with acetazolamide is fine. The treatment dosage is 250 mg twice a day for about three days. A trial course is recommended before going to a remote location where a severe allergic reaction could prove difficult to treat if it occurred.

Diamox

2. Dexamethasone

This is a drug that decreases brain and other swelling reversing the effects of AMS. The dose is typically 4 mg twice a day for a few days starting with the ascent. This prevents most of the symptoms of altitude illness from developing.

WARNING:  Dexamethasone is a powerful drug and should be used with caution and only on the advice of a physician and should only be used to aid acclimatisation by sufficiently qualified persons or those with the necessary experience of its use.

Dexamethasone

3. Rhodiolae (红景天), purchase in China only

A traditional healthcare product of Tibetans that can strengthen your body and alleviate high altitude sickness; take it at least 10 days in advance. 

As a natural plant growing in the pure snow area at 3500-5000 meters high, it contains rich Rhodioloside and Aglycone tyrosol which is not only resistant to fatigue, hypoxia, microwave radiation, but also can regulate nervous system and metabolism, and most importantly, can help you adapt to the environment. Normally its root and rootstock are used into medicines, but the whole plant can also be used.     

In fact, Rhidiolae has been applied over 2000 years ago by people from Tibetan Plateau into medicines to build up their bodies and resist the effects of disagreeable environment. It is also normal to see people put it in drinking water and wine to relieve fatigue or shield themselves from cold as well as to prevent diseases and supplement nourishment. Due to its functions of maintaining health and enriching blood and nourishing lung, it has been regarded by Tibetan doctors as one of the ‘three treasures ’. When there is inadequate oxygen, we will show symptoms of hypoxia, including headache, tiredness, difficult breathing and dizziness, etc, or coma or even death if it’s severe or sudden. Generally speaking, it usually happens on the plateau area, which will lead to mountain sickness or deadly complications. Hypoxia, a tension stimulation, will result in a series of stress reaction. As an adaptogen, Rhidiolae can improve the body’s nonspecific resistance against destructive stimulus together with its adaptation ability. In the case of hypoxia, it effectively raises the body’s adaptation to lack of oxygen by accelerating the oxygen diffusion of our cells or improving the use efficiency of the oxygen and our body’s oxidation resistance     

Rhodiolae (红景天)

4. GaoYuanan  (高原安), purchase in China only

A healthcare product beneficial for easing mountain sickness; take it after you arrive in Tibet Autonomous Region. The main contents of Gao Yuanan are Ginseng, Rhidiolae, Ginseng fruit, codonopsis pilosula, Poria cocos, Plantain herb, Semen coicis, Astragalus and Semen boitae. You can buy either the capsule or pellet or granule. The effective would be the best if you take it one day beforehand and continue it for another three days after in Tibet Autonomous Region. It can help ease the headache, dizziness, cyanotic lip, palpitation and shortness of breath.  

GaoYuanan  (高原安)

5. Ibuprofen

A study published in 2012 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine by Dr. Grant Lipan, a professor of emergency medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a climber, recommends that taking a few ibuprofen tablets can prevent and alleviate the symptoms of AMS. Lipman says, "Ibuprofen can prevent 26% of cases of altitude sickness and help people who are without symptoms to stay without symptoms."

Prior to the study, recommended medications for acute mountain sickness (AMS) included dexamethasone and acetazolamide or Diamox, a prescription-only drug. Now add ibuprofen to the list of altitude cures. Ibuprofen has lots of plusses; it is fast-acting, cheap, readily available, and quickly absorbed by the body. Both dexamethasone and acetazolamide have adverse effects and require a doctor's prescription, whereas ibuprofen has few side effects except for an increased risk of gastrointestinal and kidney problems in users who are dehydrated and it is availavle over the counter from your pharmacy. As we ascend to higher altitudes, our bodies adjust to decreased oxygen in the air and reduction in air pressure, which leads to a swelling of the brain in some climbers. This allows fluid to build up in the brain, putting pressure on cranial nerves and causing headaches, dizziness, and the other symptoms of altitude sickness.

Ibuprofen, an anti-flammatory drug, decreases the swelling, lowering the risk of headaches and helping the body to adjust to an oxygen-deprived environment.

6. Nifedipine

This drug is normally used to treat high blood pressure and angina, but also seems able to decrease the narrowing in the pulmonary artery (pulmonary vasodilation) resolving the pulmonary hypertension responsible for the high pressure leak in the lungs caused by low oxygen levels, thereby improving oxygen transfer. It can therefore be used in the treatment of HAPO, though unfortunately its effectiveness is not anywhere as dramatic that of dexamethasone in HACE. Oxygen saturations gusually improve slightly after administration of nifedipine. The dosage is 20 mg of long acting nifedipine, six hourly.

Nifedipine can cause postural hypotension; a sudden lowering of blood pressure so the patient has to be warned to get up slowly from a sitting or reclining position. It has also been used in the same dosage to prevent HAPO in people with a past history of this disease.

7. Frusemide

It may clear the lungs of water in HAPO and reverse the suppression of urine brought on by altitude. However, Frusemide can also lead to collapse from low volume shock if the victim is already dehydrated. Usage of frusemide without medical supervision is not routinely recommended. The treatment dosage is 120mg daily.

If you're going to China or Tibet, don't forget to pack your plug adapters and voltage converters along with your hair dryer and alarm clock. Because of various engineering influences, China has several types of electrical sockets, but with a good adapter set you should be fine.

Voltage Converters/Transformers

Voltage in China is 220V/50HZ. In Mainland China, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau, the common power voltage is 220 Volt 50 Hz AC.

Before you use an American appliance in China, you'll need a voltage converter or transformer. Most North American countries use 110V electricity, while China uses 220V electricity, and if you try to plug an an appliance in using just a plug adapter, you'll ruin your appliance and might destroy the socket and cause an electrical short. Voltage converters and voltage transformers "step down" electricity to 110V, so your appliances will run properly. You'll want to check how many watts your converter or transformer can handle: It's best to buy a converter or transformer that can handle at least 25 percent more wattage than the appliances you plan to use. Not all appliances will need a voltage converter 

The Accepting Wall Sockets in China

Now to the actual wall sockets, the photo below is what most wall sockets look like these days in China. The top socket takes a two-prong plug. The prongs must be the same size ("Type A"), although many modern devices with Type A plugs have one wider prong. This type won't fit into a Chinese wall socket and will require an adapter. This socket will also take a "Type C" or "Type F" plug that is standard in Germany.  

Adapters to Bring or Buy

You can buy adapters before you leave at travel-supply stores and electronic stores. Airports also sell universal adapters, especially in the international departure gate area. But if you don't get one before you go, you'll be able to pick them up easily in China (and they'll be a whole lot cheaper). Your hotel should also be able to supply you one for free during your stay.

Converter or Transformer

Most travelers to China will probably need only a voltage converter, a small box that uses a plug adapter to plug into the socket. A voltage converter is useful for small appliances like a hair dryer, electric toothbrush or an alarm clock. A dual-wattage voltage converter can switch from 50 watts (for non-heat producing appliances, like a clock) to 1,600 watts (for hair dryers or irons). It's not a good idea to use complex electronics on the 1,600 watt setting, though, as this will eventually burn out both the appliance and the converter. If you're planning to bring a large appliance that will use electricity for long periods, such as a television, you'll need a voltage transformer.

Plug Adapters

China has three types of plug. The most common type of plug is similar to an American two-pronged plug, but the Chinese plug has shorter prongs without the holes found in American plugs, so you'll still need to use an adapter because the American plugs will be too large for the sockets. Australian engineers brought the Australian three-pin plug to China; this "Type I" plug has three flat prongs, with the top two diagonally slanted toward each other. British "Type G" plugs, with three rectangular prongs, are also found, especially in the former British colony of Hong Kong.

Extra Tips

You might want the security of knowing you have everything you need before you leave, but it will be cheaper to buy plug adapters in China. Your hotel also might provide plug adapters. If you're bringing your laptop to China, you might not need to use a voltage converter because many laptops are designed to handle 220V electricity. Check your power pack, which should state the amount of voltage your laptop can handle. If you're staying in a mid-level or luxury hotel, your room already might have 110V converter plugs built in.

Many people complained that TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet have very limited information for Lhasa photography, what they have in the guide books are all about the Potala Square, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street and Yaowang Mountain viewing platform, are there any more locations for good photos?  Certainly Yes!  Professional photographers usually want to avoid the crowds and bright lights, which is quite different from normal visitors. As a tour guide who used to work for photography tours, I fully understand their needs and have listed some best photographing site for all picture loves, you will love them! 

No. 1   Pabengang  (帕邦喀宫)

Pabengang is a palace on the giant rocks, from where you can have panoramic views of Lhasa Old Town and Potala Palace. Pabenggang is one of the monasteries forgotten by visitors, but never lack of pilgrims. 

Pabengang is rich in legends and myths, it was used to be the meditation and living place of the ancient Tibetan king and his princess.

Tips: 

1)You can go to Pabenggang after the debate at Sera Monastery

2)It is about 900m walking away from the hill foot of Pabengang, and from the hill foot to the Pabengang is only 3km good paved road.    

3)It is ok to visit by taxi, biking, public bus (No.16, No.20)

No. 2   Lalu Wetland  (拉鲁湿地)

The Lalu wetland reserve is located just north of Lhasa. It is the largest and highest natural wetland in the world, covering 12.2 square kilometers, and is an important part of a unique landscape that also includes the sacred Potala Palace. Together the two exhibit an awe-inspiring combination of culture and nature.   It is a good location site for the sunset views of Potala Palace, the palace, the plantations and the water form an amazing picture. 

Tip: You can rent bike in the city, the Lalu Wetland is only 1km distance from the city, and after the photo at Lalu Wetland, you can keep riding 6km to reach Pabengbang

No. 3   Theater of Princess Wencheng  (文成公主剧场)

The theater lies in the southern bank of Lhasa River, it is a good place to photograph the sunrise and sunset views of southeast side of Potala Palace, and most important is has the Lhasa River in front.  

No. 4   Laoyufanju Restaurant  (老鱼饭局)

Laoyufanju Restaurant is absolutely the best place in Lhasa to photograph the sunset and night views of Potala Place. It is located on the top floor of the Lhasa Pingcuo Youth Inn,  

Tips: This restaurant is good view but food is common taste. 

No. 5   Yaowang Mountain Viewing Platform  (药王山观景台)

No. 6  Potala Square  (布达拉广场)

No. 7  Jokhang Temple  (大昭寺)

Jokhang Temple is a good place to witness the Buddhist culture and atmosphere, there are pilgrims 24 hours, praying and circling around the Buddha statues is common scene here.  

No. 8  Barkhor Street  (八廓街)

Barkhor Street is a shopping place, and also a good location to create Tibetan culture photos with the Tibetan shops, restaurants around, and the locals passing by, everything is really Tibetan, it could not be found elsewhere. 

Lhasa Sunrise Time

Here below is a table of the sunrise and sunset times in Lhasa City, for more info, please kindly inquire: service@travelchinatibet.com for details.  

Tibet uses the Chinese currency---RMB, or CNY. Detailed currency exchange guide please kindly check this link for reference: www.boc.cn/sourcedb/whpj/enindex.html

ATM

ATMs are available in Lhasa and Shigatse area. The Bank of China accepts Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, American Express and Plus. The Agricultural Bank accepts Visa, Plus and Electron. Check before trying your card as many ATMs can only be used by domestic account holders. The maximum amount you can withdraw per transaction is RMB2000/per day. 

Money Exchange & Credit Card

Bank of China is the only place to change foreign currency and travelers cheques. The currencies of Australia, Canada, the US, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, the euro zone and most of the rest of Western Europe are acceptable at the Lhasa Bank of China. Some 4 to 5-star hotels in Lhasa also have exchange services for guests.  The official rate please kindly check this link for reference:  www.boc.cn/sourcedb/whpj/enindex.html

Outside of Lhasa, the only other locations to change money are in Shigatse, Zhangmu, Purang (cash only) and Ali, and at the airport on arrival. Other than that, credit card acceptance is rare. This will undoubtedly change in the future but, right now, it means that you need to use cash for most transactions.

Lhasa Central Branch of Bank of China is the only place to officially change RMB back into foreign currency. You will need your original exchange receipts. It is not possible change RMB into dollars at Lhasa Gongkar airport.

Moneychangers at Zhangmu (by the Nepal border) will change RMB into Nepali rupees and vice versa. RMB can also easily be reconverted in Hong Kong and many Southeast Asian countries.

Budgeting

Living cost of Tibet is much cheaper than western countries, might be slightly higher than some Asian countries such as India or Vietnam. So, the cost is relative depending on your standard. The common meal cost in Tibet is around USD7/per person per meal. 

Many parents concern about this question before planning a Tibet tour, traveling to Tibet with kids is something you should pay special attension, as experienced Tibet travel agent, we have the most correct answer for you as follow.  

What is age limit for kids to travel to Tibet

Age is not a very strong factor to the high altitude sickness, there are many little kids going to Tibet with their parents, and mostly the altitude sickness happen on adults according to our year’s experience, so people even said high altitude has less effect on kids.. But better go and ask your doctor for sure, having body examination before coming to Tibet.   We do not suggest any baby less than 2 years old or any pregnant female to travel Tibet.

And here below are some solutions to prevent from altitude sickness: 

• Do not get a cold or fever before going to Tibet, these may cause altitude sickness.

• Do not take train directly to Tibet from low altitude cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc.  Instead you can take flight to Xining first, which is the start point of the Qinghai –Tibet railway, the altitude of Xining is around 2300 meters, having 2-3 days tour in Xining is good for acclimatization, then you can continue with another train from Xining to Lhasa by arriving next day.

• If you fly straight in to Lhasa you should medicate with Diamox, after arriving Lhasa, having more water and enough rest, oxygen is available in Lhasa, and the medical facility in Lhasa is good enough for altitude sickness. Most of the tour will stay 3 nights in Lhasa before going to higher places, so you can get used to the altitude with the 3 night’s stay.  

• Make sure your children and you yourself know about the symptoms, and keep checking with your children about these as a child may not be able to recognize the symptoms of high altitude illness, so parents and other adults must carefully watch for any signs of high-altitude illness in children. If they get symptoms, stop going higher.

• Drink more water, have some fruits on the first 2 days, and having a happy & relaxing mood is good to avoid altitude sickness. 

  
  

  

  
  

There are various visa types for travel to Tibet, for foreign visitors of China orginal but holding a China Q2 visa, we need your China family invitor to provide an invitation letter to prove you are their family members.  See sample below: 

Visa Type: Q2  

Purpose of visit: China Family Visit for visitors of Chinese origin. 

Required documents:   

>> Passport copy

>> Visa copy 

>> A document from your Chinese family member, it must be in Chinese and with invitor's Chinese ID card copies.

Why not mentioning Tibet travel when applying China visa

It is because Chinese embassy requires Tibet Travel Permit when you are applying China visa, but the case here in Tibet is the government will not issue Tibet travel permit unless you provide passport + visa copies, so it is a contradictory policy, and very stupid actually.  That is why travel agents suggest you not to mention your Tibet tour to the embassy, you can just tell the embassy that you are visiting China mainland.  Visitor do not follow this advice will 100% be rejected. 

What documents to show the embassy

You might (or might not) need an invitation letter from travel agent to prove that you have already book a China tour with a local Chinese agent, once the embassy sees this invitation letter, they will let you go and issue the visa in a few days.  So your travel agent can make an invitation letter for you, in the invitation letter your Tibet tour will be replaced by a China tour, so that you can use it to show the embassy and pass the application.  

Invitation Letter from our agent

For making the invitation letter, the travel agent needs your China arrival date + arrival city name, China departure date + departure city name, once we have these info, a invitation letter will be worked out.  

Tips

The embassy will NOT need to check your China domestic flight/train booking as they know those domestic flights or trains are usually arranged by local travel agents, while international flights are usually arranged by travelers. So embassy will see your international flight booking only.  

There is no direct flight from abroad to Tibet, so you probably will fly like this route: Home-China-Tibet-China-Home, which means you will book the international flights for Home-China & China-Home, these 2 section tickets are what the embassy wants to see, just show the embassy with these international flight booking paper, and bring the invitation letter issued by us , then you can get the visa.  

Last but not least----If you are doing Kathmandu-Tibet route, you will NOT need any China visa to be applied at home, instead you need a so called Tibet Group Visa, which is also called TGV, which allows you to travel from Kathmandu to Tibet and mainland China. For more info of this Tibet group visa, you can check our article:  www.travelchinatibet.com/tibet-permit-visa/tibet-group-visa.html

See a sample of invitation letter for China visa application

Many travelers are not very clear of the local regulations in Tibet, here TCT will tell you more about the facts and regulations of Tibet travel.

1) Can i just buy Tibet permit from you and then travel Tibet on our own? 

Government's regulation----Tibet permit can only be issued for those visitors who have already booked the tour with local agents. Only Chinese and HK citizens can travel Tibet without Tibet permit, but they still need other permits if going to Everest or certain places outside of Lhasa. You can NOT just buy Tibet permit from the Tibet agent without tour booking, otherwise the agent will be seriously punished or might be bankrupted. Tibet is very different from China other places of the world. 

2) Do i still need to pay for a guide during my free days in Tibet? 

Government's regulation----Even during free days in Tibet, a guide is also need to be arranged. Even though visitors do not wish the guide to show up or accompany them in their free days, but the agents still have to arrange a guide in case of anything unexpected---For example: some groups might have spy or terrorist inside, some visitors always try to visit some monasteries without guide, some try to talk to the monks for sensitive topics, or hang a anti-government flag on a mountain top or important sqaure, or try to escape from the group and stay with the monks to learn Buddhism, etc. All these behaviors are NOT allowed in Tibet. 

Some agents ignore this regulation as they think most of travelers will just walk around for shopping only and will not be doing anything against government's rules, but if anything really happened, it will be really big trouble to the agent. The government will also question the guide, if the agent did not arrange guide in free days, then no guide dares to stand out to carry on the responsibility, because the guide might lose his/her license forever. But if the agent did pay to arrange the guide in free days, it will be less responsibility to the agent. That is why a guide needs to be arrange even during free days.  

Free Day Guide Fee

The free day guide fee is as follow, please kindly check and decide if you really need free days. 

If you do not need the guide's accompany in free days, the guide fee is USD46/per day

If you need the guide's accompany in free days, the guide fee is USD62/per day. 

Case Study

There is a case in this June that----One Indian traveler got lost on the scheduled airport drop-off day, the policemen found him one day later and got to know that Indian traveler went up to a mountain top for meditation, and he said the god told him to stay and meditate.  Even this case is not the agent's fault, but the agent was still seriously punished by government.  So please do remember----NEVER try to visit any monastery/temple/park without guide's accompany, the consequence could be serious.

3) Can i get to airport/train station on my own without guide?

Same reason as stated above, it is not allowed to take taxi or airport bus on your own to airport/train station, it has to be accompanied by the guide. For our Tibet group tours, there will a 3 free airport/train station transfers at different timming, but if you want to get to airport/train station at different timing, you will need to pay for a private guided transfer at price around RMB400=USD63/per time to airport, and RMB300=USD47/per time to train station. 

Generally speaking, China domestic trains start to check in 15-30 minutes before departure. Train stations are large and busy especially in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian, etc; it takes a while to get the tickets from the counter and find your train. Therefore, it is advisable to arrive at the rail station at least 60 minutes before departure, and during spring festival or other Chinese national holidays, you’d better to arrive 2 hours earlier. 

Here are some basic steps for train boarding.

Important Tips:

• Usually the travel agent will book the ticket for you online, and send you the booking code. You need to get to the train station at least 1.5 hours early and line up at the ticket counter to get the train tickets by showing the original passport + booking code.  Please do remember this. 

• If you are boarding a train to Tibet, the travel agent will send you the Tibet Travel Permit beforehand, which you need to print out TWICE for boarding the train. 

• The train offers some food and drinks, but you may also prepare some drinks, fruits, snacks, etc for the long train ride. 
  

Step 1 Security Check

Which you will be requested to show your ticket and passport when entering the rail station. There are security checks (including X-ray luggage checks) at the entrance of each railway station, where your baggage will be checked. 

Step 2 Find the right waiting room

After the security check, you should check from the electronic screen and find out the right waiting room to go. In some big cities, departure information is in both Chinese and English, while some other cities may only show Chinese, but do not worry, you could always get the help from the train station staffs or other passengers, or simply find your train by yourselves according to train info shown on your ticket.  Note: One waiting room usually will be used by a few trains rather than just one. 

Step 3 Passing the ticket gate and get into the platform

In most cases, check-in starts 30 minutes before the train's departure. But sometimes G, C & D trains may start check in 15-20 minutes. When your train starts the check-in process, you should stand in a queue and go through the ticket barrier. At the barrier you need to show your ticket and passport. 

Step 4 Board a train compartment correctly

There is specific compartment and seat number on you train ticket. You are required to board a train from the certain compartment and take the certain seat according to your ticket.

>>How to Read A Train Ticket in China

There is boiled water supply in each Tibet train. The water will not be ready for drinking until the temperature is up to 100℃, but as it is hard to boil the water on high altitude place, so the Tibet train has created new water supply facility, which water will be fully boiled at 70℃, these measures guarantee passengers  to have clean drinking water.  And the Shanghai to Lhasa train has water purifying system, so water is drinkable even not full boiled. 

The water tank is usually located between 2 cars, serving hot water 24 hours in a day. You will need to bring your own container for getting the water, but please be careful of the hot water as the train is moving. You may also contact the train attendants for hot water supply, they can bring it to you at 08:00-18:00 in a day.  Tip: Hot water is also available at Sink Area on Tibet train for cleaning or washing something, but the hot water at sink area is usually undrinkable.

There is unlimited access to boiling water from a tap in the hall on all Tibet trains so instant noodles, instant oatmeal, tea and anything else that just requires hot water are good things to pack with you (you can also buy instant noodles on board).

Electricity in China is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. This is twice the standard voltage than in North America and some Latin American countries which run on 110V 60Hz.

The standard wall plug in most households in China has a grounding pin and two power conducing pins in a V-shape. If your device's electrical plug has a different shape than the one above, you may need an electrical adapter.

An adapter does not change the voltage of the device, the converter does that. When buying an Electric Adapter for China pay attention that you are getting the one with the V-shape that will fit the Chinese socket. Most of the Universal sets will include it but double check, sometimes the sets are only US to Europe or US to UK adapters.

Some sets also include the converter, some only the adapters, so make sure you buy what you need.

In China, GSM networks operated by China Mobile is the best so far, while CDMA network run by China Unicom is the second option, so if you have a dual band or tri band mobile phone or use COSMOTE card, then you can use your mobile phone in China, though any calls you make will be considered long-distance. A cheaper option is to buy GSM or CDMA SIM card. Our guides will help you to choose the right one you may need. 

The following is how to dial international call from China: 

00+country code + region code + phone number

The country code for USA and Canada is 1, 44 for UK, 61 for Australia, 43 for Austria, 41 for Switzerland, 852 for Hong Kong, 39 for Italy, 31 for Holland, 64 for New Zealand, etc. For the other countries, please check the instruction book in the hotel room.

Credit card payment via PayPal is acceptable, but the credit card fee is high, so it is expensive especially when the amount is huge. 

If you are paying us a huge sum of money more than USD1500, we suggest you to pay via Western Union or regular bank transfer.  But if the amount is less than USD1500, you can pay via credit card via PayPal.

The Western Union is fast and low transfer fee, we can get the payment in a few minutes. The regular bank transfer is also low transfer fee but takes 3-10 working days for us to get the money. 

It is better for us to arrange the train or flight tickets for you, because the domestic flights in China frequently be cancelled or change timing, the updates will be sent to you via email, but Gmail is not able to use in China, or you do not always have access to emails while traveling, so you might miss these updates. While if we book for you, we will get the emails and cellphone message from the airline companies, and will inform you immediately and help you to negotiate with airline companies for alternative solutions. We do have a few groups missed the flights which they booked on their own. 

We are booking the international flights from the same booking platform as you,  you will pay more if booking international flights with us as there is credit card fee or transfer fee involved. So we suggest you to book the international flights on your own, and we can do the China domestic flights/trains for you as we can get good price. 

Tibet is considered as part of China and a domestic stop, BUT Hong Kong is considered as an international stop:

Single Entry Visa for: 

1) China-Tibet-China route

2) HK-China route

3) HK-China-Tibet-China route

4) HK-China-Tibet-Nepal route

5) Nepal-China route

Double Entry Visa for: 

1) China-Tibet-Nepal-China route

2) HK-China-Tibet-Nepal-China route

3) HK-China-HK-China route

Tibet Group Visa for:

1) Nepal-Tibet-China route

There are 2 ways to get visa in your country: 

1) Apply by yourself at the Chinese embassy in our near your city, we may send you the invitation letter to assist your application. 

2) Pay a local agent in your city to deal with the visa application for you. 

Note: HK and Macau is consider to be an international stop, while Tibet is considered to be domestic stop. 

Single entry visa is required for HK-China-Tibet-China route

Double entry visa is required for HK-China-HK-China route. 

China is generally a safe country to visit as Chinese are friendly and the government cares about foreign visitor's safety and security very much. But there are still some typical tourist traps and important travel advices that you should be aware of.  Click here for more.

The 3 major Chinese national “Golden Weeks” to avoid are: 

Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)

This is the worst time to travel. The exact dates each year varies since it’s based on the Lunar Calendar, but it’s usually around late January to mid-Feb. Technically about 2 weeks but many Chinese will just get the first week off. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional holidays, kind of the equivalent of Christmas in the West. A huge chunk of the population — from white collar to migrant worker — takes off work to travel back to their hometowns to spend time with their families. Most businesses shut down completely, so your options for eating and shopping also become severely limited in smaller towns. Of course, if you don’t mind the crowds, it can be lots of fun (festivals, street activity, etc).  But if you hate crowds and the incessant noise of firecrackers going off at all hours, I’d suggest earplugs and/or a lot of beer. 

National Day (1st to 5th Oct) 

A 5 days-long holiday that celebrates founding of People’s Republic. In particular, avoid Beijing sites (Forbidden City, which is next to the parades at Tiananmen Square, as well as the nearby Great Wall of China).

Labor Day (1st to 3th May) 

Until 2007, this was a week-long holiday but has since been scaled back to a long 3-day weekend.  So not as crazy as before but still definitely want to avoid being in transit during this time.

Please kindly check this link for more: www.timeanddate.com/weather/china

China Travel Season Division:

High season: April to May & Sept to Oct. 

Shoulder season: June to Aug & November

Low season: December to March

Avoid National Holidays: 

1) National Holiday (1st to 5th May,  1st to 5th Oct) 

2) Spring Festival (Jan of Chinese Lunar Calendar) 

The following is a reference table for tourists to prepare clothing on their trips.

• Spring: 10-22 centigrade, Western suits, jackets, sports coats, woolen jackets, long sleeve shirts and travel shoes.

• Summer: 22 centigrade and above, T-shirts, short sleeve shirts, skirts, sandals, caps, rain wear.

• Autumn: 10-22 centigrade, Western suits, jackets, sports coats, light woolen sweaters, rain wear and travel shoes.

• Winter: 10 centigrade or lower, overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats. In very cold areas a cap, gloves and cotton-padded shoes are required.