| Tibet Travel Guide |
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Country Information Quick Facts of Tibet:
Getting Into Tibet
By Air: Flying to Lhasa always requires a stopover in either China or Nepal. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is located about 98 kilometers (about 61 miles) to the south of Lhasa City. The only international flight to and from Tibet is between Lhasa and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Travel Permits & Restrictions to Travel Tibet Aside from visas for China, travelers to Tibet must also obtain permits from the Tibetan Tourism Bureau. Himalayan Glacier Trekking will do this for you.more detail ... Airport/Customs Formalities All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry. It is important to remember NOT to carry any material relating to free Tibet like for instance Dalai Lama books or flags, masks etc carrying such slogans. Climate Generally, April to the beginning of November is considered apt for traveling in Tibet. August and September are considered as the ideal time; however, Lhasa can be visited throughout the year. The sun radiation is strong in Tibet. Lhasa is also known as the ‘Sunlight City’ due to the extremely intense sunlight there. Tibet is cold during winter; cool in summer and is normally dry, receiving only about 450 millimeters of rain or snow. Communication Facilities Post Office: The biggest post office in Lhasa is located on the West Beijing Road, at the east side of the Potala Palace. It not only offers full postal services but also sells various kinds of postcards. Telephone: China Mobile coverage is available in some areas of Tibet, but there is no coverage in villages or remote places. Therefore, cell phones are not a reliable mode of communication. You can use telephones found in the post office, hotels, street booths and shops. However, with the exception of the major cities like Lhasa, Xigatse, Gynatse, Lhatse and Tsedang, communication facilities including telephone and postal services are absent in other parts of Tibet. Internet: Internet cafes are available in Lhasa. Hotels in Lhasa like the Xigatse hotel also provide internet facility to its customers. Accommodation In most of the cities and towns hotels and guest houses are available. Lhasa boasts of accommodation ranging from simple guest houses to four star hotels. Shigatse, Gyantse and Tsedang offers up to three star hotels. While other smaller or remote areas, accommodation is available mainly in guest houses. Forex and Banking The unit of currency is Chinese Yuan. The Bank of China can exchange all foreign currencies. The banks in Tibet/China are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Travelers Cheques and credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks especially outside Lhasa. ATM facilities are easily available in Lhasa and Shigatse; however, it may be difficult to find one in other smaller towns or in remote places. Electricity If you wish to bring along electric devices for use during your stay, a transformer is necessary. Most of the hotels in Tibet have both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in the bathrooms, though in guest rooms usually only 220V sockets are available. As the shape of a socket varies between countries, a portable plug adapter may also be necessary. Health and Safety Tibet being a region of high altitude, travelers may experience Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) which is characterized by mild headaches, nausea, altered breathing patterns at night and loss of appetite. This can be reduced by frequently drinking non-alcoholic liquids such as water and juice. Travelers should also protect themselves from the strong sunlight which can cause sunburn.
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