Lhasa Travel Forum

Hi,

I think it's been announced that Tibet is safe for tourists to visit again and I'm thinking of going to Lhasa next month. Anyone got any updates on visas / travelling / best points of entry? Also, I'm thinking of going on my own - anyone got any tips on joining a tour group or travelling alone?

Thanks!

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 have plan on landing in Beijing April 15. Will I still be able to go to Tibet, as planned, later in the month?

I have absolutely no political agenda -- just a desire to see regular tourist sites.

Hi There,

I will be traveling to Tibet in September so I was wondering if someone knows a good travel agency in Lhasa. I have plans to spend 20 days traveling around so I would like to get an idea how much it will cost me. I have my "itinerary" in mind:
Lhasa (3-4 days) – Gyantse - Shigatse - Saga - Paryang - Darchen - Kailash Kora starts: Trek to Diraphuk - Trek to Zuthulphuk - Trek to Darchen and get forward to Hor at the northern shore of Lake Manasarovar - Hor-Paryang-Saga-Old Tingri via Lake Pelkhutso - Ronbuk Monastery and Mt. Everest Base Camp - Nyalam - Kathmandu.

I would like to have some comments about this "route" as well if you had been to those places. Any comments are appreciated.

thank you very much

Vidya

Hi,

I'm planning to take the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa and fly back to Guangzhou in July. Is it true that the train operates on odd dates (1st/3rd/5th) or days (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)for July? Which airlines I can take from Lhasa to Guangzhou and how much is the air tickets? What about the flight schedule?

Hi,

I will be traveling in China in May. I plan to take a train from Chengdu-lhasa.
But for my return, I want to fly. Where can I find flights going from Lhasa to Shenzhen or elsewhere in China?

Thanks,
J

I am meeting my daughter in Beijing this May. We intend to train to Lhasa and travel the southern route to Kashgar. We have an itinerary from Windhorse Tours but need two additional travel companions to make it cost effective. Pre-packaged tours exceeded our time allowance. We have 12-14 days to make this trip at a cost of around $1,400/person. If interested email me at msurowiec@sbcglobal.net.

Hi All

Is there anyone who knows Yak Hotel's owners'page address. I've been surfing for it in Google, but given up.

Thanks a lot
Eastboy

Dear VTrs

i'm planning to visit Tibet, especially Lhasa this summer. i just wonder which month would be best to visit Tibet? How much the plane ticket costs from Huh Hot, Inner Mongolia to Lhasa, approximately? How many days would be enough to explore Lhasa, especially Buddhist Monasteries?

Thanks in advance

Hi! I understand that travelers need to obtain permit to get into Lhasa. But if is a traveler already have a China's visa,do they still need a permit to Lhasa? If necessary, where is the best place to get the permit done. I understand there're many touts and scams upon visa.Please enlighten me. Thanks!

Hi my name is lisa lee. I am an Asian American.
I am going to backpacking to tibet soon,,I am looking
for some good hotel advices and also potentially
travel mates if we get along ok.

Hi there,
i have been told by few travel agent in China that i must book a tour then only i can get a TTB to get into Lhasa and travel few days in Lhasa for sight seeing. is it true? if not how to obtain a TTB? i'm from Singapore.
is there any cheaper mode of transport to do the sightseeing in Lhasa such as Potala palace, Jokhang temple, Barhkor street, Drepund Monastery, Sera Monastery and Lake Namsto.
please reply
cheers
Nathan

I had not expected, to see the sad state of public toilets at the tourist spots (monasteries), in particular at the Potala Palace. However they are more or less the same everywhere, basically a hole in the ground or possibly a trough. I would advise that you bring your own toilet paper and prepare to hold your breath!

One pleasant surprise, at the viewing spot at Yamdrok Lake, they are in the process of installing new (modern sit-down) toilets (actually I don't believe there are any toileting facilities, there, at present).

Hi!
I read that a bus service from Kathmandu to Lhasa and back was inaugurated in 2005. Has anyone taken that bus and can you share any insights or info about the trip? Planning a trip to Tibet and Nepal in 2008 and searching for cheap travel options. So far, only the 4WD option is available.

Thanks for the help

I am planning a trip to Tibet in February (Lhasa, Shigatsè, Gyantsè), 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

Greetings from New York City.
My wife and I are communicating with Great Tibet Tour Co. in Lhasa ( GreatTibetTour.com), and wish
to book a tour with them before we fly to Chengdu and then to Lhasa to join them.
However, before wiring money to Bank of Clhina in Lhasa, we would like to be assured of thee company's being registered. How does one find that out?

Thank you,
Morty

Hi, I'm planing to travel to Tibet around October by train
I wonder to know if there's any tour agent can help me book train ticket and permit from Xining (capital of Qinghai) to Lhasa and do you know how much?
Thank you

I am going to be in Chengdu in early July, and would like to go to Lhasa from there. I was previously considering taking the train, but I think taking a jeep tour would be more fun.

I was wondering if anyone knew how much this would cost and how long it would take. Are there many travel agencies in Chengdu that deal with this? Will I have to get a group of people together on my own, or can I just join a group at the travel agency? Also, how long does it take to get the special visa for Tibet?

Thanks!

Hello folks...
Im a student at HSU in N-California, and I am going to be studying this semester in China and Tibet. We fly from SFO to Beijing on Jun 4, then kick it in China proper for a couple of days before taking the train to Lhasa. We will be spending the next five weeks within the TAR or Tibetan cultural region, then we head back to Lhasa where some of the group will get back on the eastbound train, while others will continue traveling on our own. What I really want to do is head to Dharamsala, then to Kathmandu. My research topic and general personal interest is in Esoteric Tibetan Spirituality, so those two locations are very VERY appealing to me... Here's my problem... I need to get back to China to fly out of Beijing. I am not sure if this is even possible. Anybody know anything about crossing the Himalayas eastbound??? Thanks guys...

Hi, all
Plan to meet up with friends in June 8.. I will fly from Bangkok/BKK

Is it safe to fly up there alone from BKK ? Or do I have to join a certain group tour.. is there such thing as visa on arrival in Lhasa ?

Is June a good time to travel to Lhasa ?

Thanks
Wasti

I am trying to figure out the best (and by that, I mean cheapest) way to get from Nanjing to Lhasa this summer. Would it be best to take a train to Shanghai, then catch a flight or....train to Chengdu, then another train to Lhasa...??? Does anyone have any recommendations? The problem with trains is that I could spend up to 8-10 days just taking trains--and then all my vacation time is gone...so I'm willing to take a flight if necessary.

Thanks!

Hey guys,
I was wondering if it was possible to see just major points of Lhasa as well as get a good view of the Himalayas in five days, possibly seven days if I have to. If so, what is a possible itinery. I've been searching these forums, but wasn't sure how far Lhasa is from the Himalayas. Is it possible to arrange travel to the Himalays from a Lhasa hostel? I don't want to spend money on those jeeps I've been reading about neither, but want to see a good chunk of the Himalayas. In Lhasa, I don't want to see everything, maybe where the Dalai Lama lives and where the monks recite prayers. In the Himalayas, I don't want to climb it or anything as I don't have climbing experience. I am not trying to brag (maybe just a little bit) as even old people climb Mt. Fuji, but I once climbed Mt Fuji at night in a T-shirt and jeans and sneakers without a hotel stay in the middle in freezing weather (don't ask why, it was August in Tokyo, who knew I was going to climb it). So I am quite athletic with good pain tolerace (long-distance runner). And I am traveling alone. What do you guys suggest I am capable of seeing in the Himalayas without risking death?

I am considering taking this train from Xian to Lhasa. Since it is so new there is not much information available. I am interested in hearing from individuals that have taken this train. We are US citizens traveling to China. We thought taking the train 1 way would be interesting. I am also interested in the feedback on the soft Sleeper units. Were they private, comfortable, clean? Was the view scenic & worth the 2+ days it takes to get to Lhasa? Did you feel safe? Did the train make stops? If so were you able to get off & take in the sights?

Hi All,
Just wanting to know how easily I can get a jeep tour with me and a mate in early november to go from Lhasa over to Kathmandu. Do i need to book or is it best to wait and arrange when i arrive in Lhasa

Hi all,
Just a quick question to find out what price is per night if I'm looking at staying in backpacker accomodation in Lhasa? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,

James

Hello All!
I will be traveling to Tibet from China in early spring and have found nothing but conflicting information about the Tibet Permit and Alien Permit. I am wondering if anyone know how I can apply for one? Possibly while I am in the states? Is the permit necessary for travel on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway? I have searched for this info everywhere and it all says different things. Thanks for any help you can give. Best Wishes from Boston, MA!
~Mike

I want to travel from lhasa to ktm in the middle of the winter, in mid january. In every guidebook it says this is not a good time to go, but what do you think, is it still possible, I mean, is there still some transport running. (I know that it will be cold)

...
max

Hi All,
Looks like I will attempt to get on one of these jeep tours in order to get to see the sights of Tibet. Can anyone tell me if I am able to cross the border on one of these jeep trips and fly out from Kathmandu?

Where can I find Indian meal in Lhasa? Is there any possibility of finding a vegetarian restaurants in Lhasa?

Thanx in advance.

I am a 68 yr old female who will be traveling to Lhasa alone. I will be met by a guide but will be alone on the train from Lhasa to Xining. I have traveled extensively but I wonder if you can provide any advice for traveling alone and whatI should beware of. I will be studying art in Hangzhou prior to heading for Tibet. I just want to feel comfortable traveling alone in Tibet.