Lhasa Travel Forum

Hi! I plan to travel to Lhasa next month. At the same time I worry about the current situation in Lhasa. I just wonder is it safe to travel to Lhasa? Is it possible to fly in there/ get the TTB permit done in / Nepal (Katmandu)/ Chengdu ? Thanks!

I doubt very whether any permits will be issued in the next few weeks.

Please read up on the postings about the Tibet travel and permit situation on the Lonely Planet ThornTree forum, North-East Asia branch: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=19
It's usually more advisable to enter from Chengdu instead of Kathmandu.

This is currently posted on the UK foreign office website:

Following widespread unrest, including violent protests in the city of Lhasa, Tibet and in some Tibetan areas of the provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai and at Xiahe in Gansu in China, the situation remains tense. The Chinese authorities have said there is no curfew in force in Lhasa, but they have also said that they will not process applications for travel to Tibet at this time. We are also aware of reports that the Chinese autholrities are preventing travel to Tibetan areas of Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces. You should not attempt to travel to Tibet without permission from the Chinese authorities.


Reports indicate a number of fatalities and numerous injuries. You should avoid all areas where demonstrations are taking place and be aware of heightened tensions and disruption to travel at this time. You should keep yourself informed of developments, including by regularly checking this travel advice. See the General (Tibet) section of this advice for more details.

check out more at:http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/china

Jocelyn, unfortunitely if you are in China you are not getting a lot of news about what's going on in Tibet. For the rest of this year I don't think anyone will be able to enter Tibet or advisable to do so. Sadly I think it will be a while, perhpas a copule of years, if lucky, before tourism will re-open in the region.

Excuse me, but I never professed to know a lot about the happenings in Tibet. I'm really not that interested, thus I don't bother looking for the news. What I know is that factual information is regularly posted on the forum that I previously mentioned, thus I advise travellers to look there instead of here.
What's wrong with that?! I don't see how my being in China makes my previous answer an uninformed one.

easy J, I didn't mean to get you all upset, but if you are going to give someone advises you need to stay on top of things, cannot just refer someone to "old news" when they may not be accurate anymore.

Actually Phil I quite agree with Ellyse - I thought your inital reply to her help was patronising and rude. She didn't offer any "old news" at all, merely pointed to a better source of information. People in Shanghai are quite as likely to be in the know like that as are people in Indonesia.

Yes, John is absolutely correct.
Posters on the forum that I mentioned earlier come from all around the globe, and some of them are in Tibet itself or involved in Tibet travel, so they would know a lot of up-to-date, first-hand information.
I suppose you never tried taking a look there yourself, since you mistakenly assumed that what I posted would be "old news"? Sorry, I found your reply rather lame.

Well, here is "newer news" of the last few days.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/travel/06practibet.html?8dpc

This New York Times article basically says that all tourism has been shut down in Tibet. You will see in the article that most tour operators have already canceled their upcoming trips, although some are hanging on to tour bookings in August, just in case the situation changes. It's wise to keep up with what's going on, as the situation could change at any time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/10/tibet

Hi, I had planned for Tibet trip too in May since half a year ago, but now I have to make an alternative plan. I have been in touch with a Tibetan agency for the trip who will let me know if situation has changed to be better. China gov. has announced last week to re-open Tibet on 1st May but day after the announcement, a fresh riot happened in Gansu.. so far, my agency has not contacted me, i.e. no permit is allowed to be issued and I also heard that China gov. has started to tighten China visa issued to foreigners.. anyhow, Olympic game certainly makes the world have better understanding about China.. suggest you make an alternative plan then!

John,
I was in Shanghai from March 25-31 and you think there was any negative news about the Olympic or Tibet, think again! Also, I was writing my last comment from Canada where I just returned from Indonesia. At least when I type in Tibet on my Google search I got something, try that inside China! Also check out my Tibet site, I also do not agree with lots that is going on there but tried to be netural in providing facts and infomation to travellers who are spending a lot of money to travel there.
There is one thing the world still do not understand about China or the Chinese thinking, the more you made the Chinese government "loose face" the more they will fight back, not the other way around. So go check all the sites you need, they may say they will let people in May 1 but foreigners, no way, it is China's way to "punish" the world, shut Tibet down! I do not see any foreigners letting into Tibet until after 2008. Those let in will be "staged evernts".