How to Plan a Tibet Tour

An entry permit to Tibet is to be applied at least 20 days prior to your trip. There are many travel companies and tour organizations that organize the entire trip including the entry permit to Tibet especially (when political conditions are stable) leaving no hassles for you.

During peak times, there is a scarcity of train tickets and plane tickets. You need about 2-3 days to get a hotel confirmation and another 10 days approx to obtain the Tibet entry permit via the Tibet Tourism Bureau.

Best Travel Time

The best time to visit Tibet will be from mid-spring to late autumn. Springtime in Tibet falls during April and May and it is a fine time to travel before tourists arrive in summer.

These festivals are Tibet's summertime. Horse races on grasslands, thangka unrolling, and Tibetan Buddhist events are some of the highlighted events. Hence the best travel time always is the summer with warm weather and high oxygen content.

Autumn time is September and October in Tibet. Because of the excellent weather during this time, it is advisable for hiking and camping and hence it is a very busy travel time.

Whilst all 3 seasons are favorable for tourists to enjoy their holidays in Tibet, winter is not a good time at all because of rough weather conditions. However, in the month of November just before it gets colder since there is a lesser crowd, you can certainly get decent hotel accommodation at a very reasonable price.

Transportation: a Flight or Train to Tibet?

In order to avoid high altitude sickness, it is always better to fly rather than get to Tibet by train. Though the Qinghai-Tibet Railways provide enough time for you to get accustomed, it goes higher than Lhasa (5072m comparing with 3700m). It will not be very comfortable on a train as it can make you very tired and unfit as you finish the journey and get off.

Booking a Tibet flight is very much easier than buying a train ticket because of the enormous number of passengers and the limited number of tickets available. While staying in Tibet it is good to travel by train for your enjoyment.

Going to Qinghai province from Tibet, you will observe and enjoy watching glaciers, mountains covered with snow, grassy lands, yaks, Tibetan antelope, Qinghai Lake, etc. seeing the highest railway in the world is a must as it is such an attraction!

Altitude Is a Sickness

Getting off the plane at Lhasa, one obviously feels sick and uncomfortable. About 90% of passengers get altitude sickness to a certain level. The stronger you are, the healthier you will be. Spending at least 2 days in Lhasa will help you to get accustomed to the high altitude.

If any passenger is not keeping well under these circumstances, it is advisable not to travel to Tibet. Getting a cold during this period can have a worse effect on altitude sickness.

Tips for Fitness

• Drink lots of water

• Eat only the 3 basic meals and avoid overeating

• Don’t get yourself over-exerted; even walking a long distance is not advisable.

• Avoid hot baths on the first day in order to avoid fainting.

Planning a Tibet Tour

It is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and tour. Apart from the cultural exploration in Tibet, bringing you close to the world’s highest mountain which is the Everest Mountain is a breathtaking event. The tour offers the unique opportunity to hike to the Mount Everest base camp in order to have a panoramic view not only of the mountain but the outskirts of the entire classical area.

Packing Lists

• Warm clothing is a must such as jerseys and sweaters. A long flannel coat is ideal for both men and women while going to Everest.

• Sunglasses or shades are also compulsory to protect your eyes from sunlight.

• Lip cream or lip balm is essential as it is very dry. This will avoid lip cracking lip drying.

• Comfy walking shoes are useful as most monasteries do have steep steps to climb.

• Snacks are good to carry especially during long road tours if you are not happy with local food.

• Suitable medicine for altitude sickness, motion sickness, and anti-diarrhea. You might not know that Tibetan food is quite different from what you eat day to day. Hence their food might not agree with you at times.

Photography

In most Tibetan monasteries, it is not allowed to take photographs of the Buddha statues. But at Tashilhunpo monastery, they allow tourists to take photos of the Buddha statues after making a payment.

Monasteries: You will not be allowed to smoke while visiting monasteries. You need to dress modestly at all times. Avoid short clothes, and shorts, and wear sunglasses.

Mannerisms: If you are having a meal with Tibetans, avoid eating with a mouth full of food and don't make noises while chewing the food. When food is served, receive it with both hands in order to respect and appreciate it.

Shopping: Avoid buying stuff that is made out of wild animal skin and bones as it can cause you a problem when you are leaving the area.

Don'ts

• Avoid talking about politics while being in Tibet.

• Avoid debating with lamas about their religions and lives.

• Avoid entering a monastery, without prior permission.

• In order to avoid trouble, always respect all Tibetan people.

• Avoid taking pictures of Buddha statues in monasteries.

What to Eat

Breakfast.

Tibetans mainly eat porridge made out of roasted barley flour which is called ‘Tholma’. Tsamba is dry dough and Tholma is a liquid with a consistency like porridge. Tholma is a common breakfast anywhere in Tibet.

Lunch.

Their lunch menus are splendid! They eat all kinds of curries with white or brown basmati rice and poories. They serve pork curry, chicken curry, beef curry, lamb curry, and a big spread of different kinds of vegetables. They also eat soups with poories and vegetable fried rice and noodles, and chicken fried rice or noodles,

Dinner

They serve bread, soups, salads, and desserts.