Lhasa Travel Forum

I am planning a trip to Tibet in February (Lhasa, Shigatsč, Gyantsč), coming from Guangzou by train. How cold is it? How hard could be travelling that time?
About train tickets: are independent travellers allowed to buy the ticket to/from Lhasa by themselves at the railway ticket office, as for any other destination in China? Is it easy to get it in February (after the Cinese New Year's Day? I do not want to buy a package tour from any local travel agent, if not indispensable.I read on the Lonely Planet that there is a way to avoid tourist services sold by travel agents, when travelling by bus, but what about train? And for the Tibet Visa ? Where is it issued? Can be obtained by an independent traveller? Thank you MARINA

the weather is not as hash as we immaged,due to my experience, it should not be difficult to buy the train tickets, we traveled to Tibet last winter, we were worried about the tickets, but finnally,the Great Tibet Tour.com had arranged the tickets. you may contact then for the updates. I think it should be almost the same situation this year.

I will get there in the early March, it's difficult to get the train ticket for the duration of Chinese NEW Year is from 23th,Jan to 2en,Mar.

The Tibet permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. The following is the document issued by it:

Travel Documents
10:00:55 26-11-2007

Non-Chinese passport holders (including those of Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and other countries) must have an Alien's Travel Permit as well as a valid passport and a visa (Travelers from countries having visa exemption agreement with Hong Kong do not need a visa) to visit Tibet. A visa can be obtained from the local Chinese consulate in your country. Since the government encourages group tours to Tibet the permit is issued only to tour groups traveling with a Chinese tour operator. Your travel agency will represent you to facilitate the application process. A permit for Tibet usually costs around 200 Rmb.

Hope it helps!