Tibet Travel Forum

Am I right in saying that if you get the train to Lhasa from Beijing, it doesn't stop anywhere that you can get out to break up your trip? How many hours is it please?

Where do you get the tibet travel permits in Beijing if you want to go as an independent traveller? Where can you travel as an indepedent traveller in Tibet? Which cities?

And where do you buy the train tickets? Ellyse mentioned in another thread that there is a lot of paperwork to fill out...does anyone know how long you have to wait for the permit? And can you get it for a friend (saves them the time waiting in Beijing for it?!)

Thanks for any answers you can help with me! I'm just trying to get all this info for a friend who will visit Beijing and Tibet in September and I found that even the most basic of questions, I did not know the answers to :( When I went a few years ago it was set up by the group I went with.

If they wanted to visit places like Shigatse and Gyantse, would you recommend they do it all with a guide? When I went I was very glad to have it sorted out for me as the distances seemed far from Lhasa and I don't think I would have known where to go in Lhasa to get a guide!

Sugarpuff.

You might have to shelve your plans for the time being, as Tibet Autonomous Region is currently closed.
Look on http://kekexili.typepad.com/life_on_the_tibetan_plate/2009/02/tibet-travel-update-2009.html for clear information and constant updates.

I think, that Tibet will be open for tourists in September again. The last months it was impossible to travel free in Tibet. You need to make arrangements for hotels an da guide in Tibet.

It is possible to do the train trip with a few breaks: eg Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xining. From Xining to Lhasa the train takes about 24 hours and it i snot possible to get off spontanously.

Good Luck
Ulrike

Ellyse...thank you so much for that really useful website..that's really great!

Nepalgoods...thank you for letting me know about the possible train stops..that will be great news for my friend as they were hoping to stop off at Xi'an to see the Warriors...

This is really great feedback..thank you.

One thing I have forgotten:

It is not possible to buy a train ticket from Beijing to Lhasa and hop off the train in between, as every train ticket is connected with a reservation. You just have to buy a ticket to Xi'an, then a ticket to Lhasa.

Anyway, the help of a travel agency is a must.

Happy travels
Ulrike

Oooooh...very important..thank you...again!

Don't stop off on the way IN, do it on the way OUT. Much easier to handle re permits.

Ah yes..another very useful tip...thanks Ellyse!

I sent my friend all this information earlier and he was so shocked that I had managed to gather so much in such a short space of time!!! He he!!! VT is great!

Hi Victoria...This site maybe of a big help for you...www.seat61 as it has all train info you may need...I am using it as I am heading to Beijing soon..cheers

No problem, you're welcome. :)

Thank you DennyP...i do know of this site but for some reason I always check Chinese sites..Its like I feel more confident that it will be right if it is in Chinese!!! Ha ha!

I also usually just go to my train ticket agency around the corner from my house and find info that way!

But thank you so much and have fun in Beijing..if you need anything while youre here, just email!! I am but a taxi ride away!

Hi Victoria ...and thank you for that..I am looking forward to my trip ..may message you for info...cheers Denny..

Hi!

Here a very usefule Chinese site for Trains and much more:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/

Hi :

FYI ... I called my local Chinese Embassy in the U.S and they said that the TAR was not closed.

INTERESTING!!!

Who is not telling the truth? Or who does not know the real deal!

Mind you, the Chinese Embassy told people that visas were still being issued in Hong Kong with no extra waiting time or price last year when that totally wasn't the case!

Hello!

I am working for a touroperator specialised on tours to China and Tibet. Our informations are very uptodate: it is not possible to travel as a tourist to Tibet in March. No Tibet-permetis are issued until the end of March. And it is not yet sure, whether they will open again in April.
Greetings
Ulrike

Now I've contacted four tour companies who all tell me that Tibet is not open until mid march at the earliest. Looks like the Chinese embassy doesn't really know what is going on.

As usual...!