Lhasa Travel Forum

Hi,
I am going to Lhasa, and read a lot about the limitations ("foreigners not allowed to roam freely").
What does it look like?
I arrived in Lhasa, come to my hotel, and am going to some palace next day (or go shopping at night, lets say).
Will a policemen meet me in front of the hotel, and say - "No, you are allowed to leave the hotel, only with the group"? How does it work?

And: August is a rainy season. Is it a good reason to delay travel, or it is no really rainy there?

Leo

Last time I was there, which is now couple of years ago, it was not 'that bad'. (That is if you don't mind the chinees breaking down tibetian culture. E.g. the beautyfull east gate was in the process of being destroyed when I was there last time). I had no problems with the chinees, even when there was a demonstration going on from tibetan monks. The city itself dies down at night anyway, so you are probl early in bed anyway. Ofcaurse you walk around in an occupied country, which comes with all the precausion needed in such situations. But as always, common sense does help a lot. Have fun, WP

Thanks for your answer. I still dont understand.
I was in many occupied countries (from Lituania to Bali to North Ireland to Basque Land to Ukraine). If you are in the country and dont offend policemen/dont discuss their current leaders, you are there as free as in New York. Will I be allowed to go into the temples or go shopping when I want, or will somebody follow me?
How do they control that I dont leave Lhasa?

I didn't know you were in a free world when in New Yrok! ;) But no, I did not have my 'personal guide'. I was free to walk around till nightclock. (and even if I was late, I was not hassled as a tourist by police to leave the streets, tibetans were). On the bus direction Nepal I had a chinees government on board, but not annoying. To go around in Tibet, for as far as possible, you did need a guided tour. Checkpoints are around the city. (But again I was there more then a decade ago! so not really up to date info; sorry). I guess there are more tourists nowdays, so its probl. more organized now too. Which has its ups aswell as its downs.

Thanks, Win-Peter. Yes, it sounds heavier, than Lituania or Bask Country.

Tashi Dele!

Been there as a single visitor last year and there are no restrictions and even no police controls or checkpoints in Lhasa. Despite seeing many soldiers and policemen you can walk around free like the wind. You also dont get checked entering or leaving Lhasa. (Some of this limitation hype is strongly supported by travel agencies, so that no tourist dares to do something on your own...)
But Lhasa is getting quite chinoise, there are shopping streets with noisy Chinese or even techno music, they even have disco and karaoke at Potala square in front of the Potala Palace. (Can you imagine to start a disco in front of the Petersdome in Rome???) It is quite shocking for a dreaming tourist from the past with all these books and movies in your head. Plus the consequences of a huge number of soldiers is prostitution. I havent been there myself but I was told by Chinese that they have kind of a quarter for these needs. Compared to the number of Lhasa inhabitants it must be the highest prostitution ratio of the world (Lhasa is rather small with maybe 200.000 people).

Anyway, if you avoid these places and stick to the cultural stuff Lhasa still shows its great heritage. The strong religious belief of Tibetans is still not broken. Everywhere you can see nomads and pilgrims with prayer wheels and om mani padme hum on their lips, circling the holy places sometimes all the way with theit full body length on the ground. And no matter how much money they have (or not have) they still got some for donations to Buddha....it is amazing!

Enjoy your trip!

PS: Nobody ever asked me for my Tibet permit;))))) It is totally unused, so to speak. But that does not mean it cannot happen to get checked.

don't forgett; its not that bad! Have fun!

Hi! I only have a visa to china .. I have heard of requiring authorisation for places like xinjiang, but do you need a special permit for Lhasa, and how does that work?

thanks!

Hi Janette,

for Tibet/Lhasa you have to get a permit from a travel agent. They say you dont get a flight ticket (for example)without a permit. So you have to pay some more...et voila. Ive heard that most of the times people dont ever get to see this so called permit. On my trip I wanted them to hand it out (if it really exists - well they gave me a kind of paper with a red stamp on it....still dont know).
You dont need to be in a group or take a guide anymore you can go on your own. Flight from Chengdu to Lhasa is about 1850 Yuan. For example Sims Cozy guesthouse offers that price.

BUT Ive also met people who went in by bus withhout any permits.....so maybe it is just a travel agency hype to make people pay more.
But my trip was sooo packed, I did not want to risk loosing any time by getting rejected.

Unless things have changed recently, there's no problem getting around Lhasa on your own, as has been stated. However, when I was there 1 1/2 years ago, it wasn't possible to get your Chinese visa extended in Lhasa, so get that done before you get there, if need be. If you intend on going out to Chamdo or the Western part of Tibet, getting permits could take a while (week+), as you need a number of pemits and sometime the people issuing them are busy/not aound/etc. The permit to Base Camp and on to Nepal only takes a day or 2, and I don't think you need one to go to Namtso Lake or as far as Shigatse.