Tibet Travel

---

General Information

Best Time to Visit

The best time to travel to Tibet is between April and October, expect snow outside these months. The weather during other time is quite cold and makes sightseeing more difficult.

In July and August be prepared for temperature of 0 C at night and up to 30 C during the day. And Lhasa can also be rainy in August.

Clothing

You are reminded to bring thick, warm coats when traveling Tibet. Temperature differs dramatically between daytime and night. Lhasa, the capital city, could have a temperature during daytime of around 10 to 25 C, but at night, temperature may drop to 0 C or lower.

The roads are very dusty so you may wish to consider wearing dark colored clothing.

Accommodation

5 star hotels are quite limited in to Tibet. Newer a href="/china-hotels-flights/#china-hotel">hotels, away from the city center, have central heating which is used in winter but no cooling is available in summer. The facilities and service standard may not be as good as its rating in other parts of the world.

Older hotels located in the city have good locations may not have any central heating. The service and facilities may be quite basic. Staff will probably not speak much English.

Hotels in small cities and the Everest Base camp are very basic. They will usually have a shared bathroom with squat toilet.

Food

The quality of restaurants will not be as high as in other parts of China. There are no 5 star dining experiences.

Tibetan cuisine is the main fare with yak and mutton being the most favored meats. Curries and stews are common.

Chinese and western food is easily found. The Chinese food is a more westernized variety. The eating houses are usually clean even if they are basic in some areas.

---

Travel Permit to Tibet

Visiting Tibet requires a special travel permit. The easiest way to get this permit is apply for it through a travel agent, like Yes!ChinaTour.

Travel permits are issued by Tibet Tourism Administration. Applications require a copy of passport and Chinese visa, together with other information such as your occupation.

Journalists and people that could be involved in political matters may be refused a permit. Multi-entry travel Permits are not available. Travel to places other than those specified on the application is forbidden.

The following information is required for these documents:

1. Name as in Passport
2. Passport Number
3. Date of birth
4. Gender: Male/female
5. Occupation
6. Nationality
7. Photo copies of passports

---

Health Concerns

Almost every visitor is affected by the high altitude as Tibet is over 3000 meters above sea level and many areas are above 5000 meters. Most of the visitors get acclimatized to the high altitude by taking it easy for one or two days.

Suggestions to those considering going to Tibet are following:

1. People with serious heart diseases should not visit Tibet. Those with less serious heart problems need to consult a doctor before traveling. People with high or low blood pressure need to consult a doctor before traveling.

2. Try to keep healthy and not to catch a cold before entering Tibet. The first day arriving in Tibet, visitors are advised not to take a bath and smokers not smoke.

3. Drink plenty of water while traveling in Tibet. Eat light, high-carbohydrate meals for more energy and avoid alcohol as it may increase the risk of dehydration.

4. It is advisable to use sunscreen, sunglasses, lip creams to protect your eyes and skin, for Tibet's high altitude and the atmosphere allow the sun's solar radiation to strike the earth with unusual intensity.

5. In addition to the normal medications for traveling it is advisable to bring high altitude medication. Ask your doctor for suggestions.

6. Tell your guide quickly if you don't feel well and follow the guide's advice.

---

Taboo in Tibet

Tibet people are religious people and visitors may find their customs and practices are very different to that in the countries they come from.

Some basic etiquette rules that should be followed when in Tibet include:

1. Never touch Tibetan People on the head. The head is considered a sacred part of the body.

2. When visiting a temple, follow the pilgrims and circle the temple clockwise, never counter-clockwise.

3. Do not talk the sensitive issues like politics and religion.

4. Take your hat off when entering a chapel.

5. Do not take photos during a prayer meeting and in some larger monastery, you may need to pay a small fee for the privilege of taking a photo.

6. Do not touch or remove anything on an altar.

7. Dress modestly. Do not wear shorts or short shirts in a monastery and do not smoke in a monastery.

8. Do not eat horse, donkey and dog when in Tibet.

---

Tibet Train Travel

Purchase of Train Tickets

Train tickets to Lhasa begin to sell 10 days in advance. Every passenger can only purchase at most two berth tickets or three seat tickets once. It's very difficult for individual travelers to get a ticket on their own.

Yes!ChinaTour will purchase train tickets and arrange Tibet travel permits for customers who purchase a Tibet Tour package. Those services are only available when you book a Tibet tour through us.

Trains to Lhasa

There are currently five train services to Lhasa from Beijing, Xining/Lanzhou and Chongqing/Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

Beijing West-Lhasa: around 48 hours
Xining-Lhasa: about 27 hours
Lanzhou-Lhasa: 30 hours
Chongqing-Lhasa: 47 hours
Chengdu-Lhasa: 50 hours
Shanghai-Lhasa: 53 hours

Train Conditions

Trains to Tibet are specially equipped for highland traveling. Each train is equipped with an oxygen-supply system to maintain the air pressure at a suitable level. Each seat will be equipped with an oxygen mask which can be used by individual passengers if needed.

All railway cars are equipped with double-layer glass which is covered with anti-ultraviolet radiation film.

The staff on trains running on the Qinghai-Tibet railway can all speak some English. Simple communication is ok.

Scenery Along Qinghai-Tibet Railway

There are 45 stations along the 1972 km long Qinghai-Tibet railway from Xining to Lhasa and every station has unique scenery.

To provide travelers better opportunity to enjoy the stunningly beautiful scenery on that way, scenery-viewing platforms have been set up at nine stations, which includes: Yuzhu Peak Station, Chumaer River, Tuotuo River, Buqiangge, Tanggula Mountain, Lake Namtso, Nagqu, Damshung, Yambajan.

The train will stay for around 15 minutes in each station.

Heath Report

All travelers are required to complete a heath report on the train to Tibet.

---

Featured Tibet Tours