Tibet Travel Forum

hi everyone,

currently i am nego. with wind hourse but yet come to final.
any one of you had try their service to tibet?
they offer quite a good price and fast respond on email and phone call..
just wish to have some advice from all my friend on forum to have more confident before i make my 1st payment..

thank a lot..

or can email to me ivan.woon999@gmail.com

Hi All,

Some buddies and I were planning to make an overland trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu, taking side trips to various spots including Everest Base camp. We were planning to do this ourselves, but everything I've read to date seems to indicate that a guide would make things really easy. The only problem I have with this is that we are a bunch of very independent travelers who do not like sticking to a schedule. Any bits of advice on the beat routes, when and how to get the Tibet travel visa and where would we obtain the permit to hit Everest Base camp?

Thanks in advance

Me and my wife are planning to visit Tibet from 3 -11 April 2010. Will be flying to Chengdu on 3rd and proceed to Tibet by train and fly back to Chengdu after 4 or 5 nights there.

I am seeking Malaysian with same interest to travel together (for lower cost) to Tibet. The more of us, the lesser it will cost.

Basically, we are flying Air Asia and then to experience the incredible train ride from Chengdu to Tibet. It is certainly an engeering marvel. Thereafter, will be staying at Lhasa for 4 to 5 nights there before flying back to Chengdu. Actually, we are quite flexible about our stay in Lhasa.

So, Malaysian planning to visit Tibet can contact me at setiahibur@gmail.com.

Hi

I am planning a trip to Tibet next year. I need the following information:

(1) any train from Hong Kong to Tibet? is it cheaper than flying?
(2) best times to visit Tibet?
(3) how long should I plan - is a week sufficient to visit this place?
(4) visas - i heard it is easier to apply in Hong Kong than in the States?

thanks

Dear all,
I just heard a very bad news from a travel agency in China that foreigners are not allowed to visit Tibet on 1 - 8 Oct 2009. They said it's because "Chinese Government close Tibet to foreigners during national holiday(Oct.1-Oct.8) for some optical purpose. from now on, all the Tibet Permit application is declined by Tibet Tourism Bureau"
In fact, I already booked and paid deposit since 2 months ago. To make it worse, I have purchased all tickets in and out the country. I can't cancel my flight tickets and my annual leave! Arrrgghhh!!!
My questions:
Is this true? Is there anyone plan to visit Tibet on those dates? Did you already get the Tibet permits? If yes, from what travel agency is that?
What should I do? My head is spinning now and can't think clearly. The agency will refund the money, but it's not the solution!

Thanks.

/Perucha
*desperately need help*

Hello

Has anyone booked tours to tibet through a travel agency called windhorse tours based in chengdu?
If so can someone please guide me on their reliability and performance?
Thanks so much

Hi everyone,

What is the weather like from mid to late September around the Lhasa area and the base camp of Mt. Everest?

Would it be cold at night?

Hi everybody,

We are two guys (Polish female and Peruvian male) who want to reach Lhasa from Nepal we’ll be in Kathmandu on 19th of September to the Dashain Festival and as well to try to get the permit to Tibet. We have been reading some post about the permit and as far as we understood we need to join an official tour it seems that the time of independent travel in Tibet for foreigners is over :-(. And now we need some tips to do it we appreciate any kind of advice from cheapest to expensive (well, I hope the cost is not expensive)

Besides, we are looking for people who want to going with us so we can form our own group to spend a good time. We don’t care where you come from or if you are male, female, old, young,…. Everything is fine we just want to find a nice people to share the Lhasa experience. Actually, we start our trip from Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Varanasi, Kathamandu and Pokhara too if you want to join you are welcome.

Thanks you so much in advance for any advice.

Edgar & Anna

I am trying to organize a trip in Tibet for mid to late September 2009. I will be getting quotes in the next couple of days and was curious if anyone would like to join me. I plan on doing something like a 15 to 20 trip from Lhasa to Mt. Kailash and back.

If you are interested please contact me ASAP. mcardoz@clunet.edu

I am interested in spending two days in Lhasa (day 1 &4) and then make a trip to Namtso Lake,departing for Chengdu on day 5.

Can anyone recommend a travel agent with Tibetan guide? I read that it is necessary to book a package tour in order to get into Tibet.

Hi,
My name is Jean, I'm a 25y.o Australian female and am planning to go to Tibet starting a trip around 10-20th of September.
I would like to do the Mt Kailash Kora and see EBC and maybe another trek around Lhasa but not essential.
If I can find 3 people to join me a 20 day trip will cost between 7000 and 12000 RMB, depending on ow long the trip is, with Tibetan connections which has a lot of good reviews from other travellers I have spoken to.
I am reasonably flexible with dates and locations.
If your interested to join me or already have plans around the same dates and would like an extra person to cut the costs down please let me know.
My email is thegreenbikini@yahoo.com.au.

Cheers,
Jean.

Hello,

My husband and I are planning to take a trip to Tibet. We are currently in Shangai, china and temporary residents here.

We have no idea about, how to go, where to go in Tibet and what to do. We are planning to go in october for 6-7 days.

Any help is much appreicated.
Thanks a lot

I am going to join a group tour that will travel by bus from Kathmandu to Tingri. The route rises rapidly leaving Nepal and entering Tibet on a rough road cut into precipitous mountainsides with vertical drops into deep river valleys. I have seen this road listed as one of the world's most dangerous roads. Has anyone done this trip and how dangerous is it? The only information I have been able to find by googling are many reports that describe bus travel in Nepal as being a dangerous activity with many bus accidents and many people killed each year. I'd love to do the trip but the thought that I might plummet to my death off a cliff face in a run down bus freaks me out.

Hello,

we are planning a trip from Chendgu to Lhasa and then on to Kathmandu in September. We want to take the train from Chengdu to Lhasa. What is the best way to get tickets for the train?
Once in Tibet we want to stay in Lhasa for 3-4 days and then travel to Kathmandu via Gyanstse, Shigatse, E.B.C.,etc. More or less the standard tour offered by the travel agents. So far we are only 2 people, but still looking for someone to join. Does anyone have an indication about how much a tour like this will cost?
Further I am looking for a hostel recommendation in Lhasa??
Does anyone know what the weather is like at the end of September/beginning of October?

Thanks a lot!

Anna

Can anyone give the translation of "ELEONORE" in Tibetan language? How does one write it in Tibetan?

Does anyone out there know of a cheap way to get from Lhasa in Tibet to Kathmandu in Nepal overland around the end of April 2010?
I`ve searched a lot of travelagents as it seems we have to join a tour to leagally make this journey. But it looks as they all cost a bit to much(around 1000$- 1500$ pr person) for a budget traveler. I found cheaper options (400$-500$), but they all go the wrong way
Sofar i havent found any information on any of them going back for the same price. Does anyone know? Or know of any agencies that have "cheap" offers "the right way" (Lhasa- Kathmandu)?
If you have made this trip yourself I`d really like to hear from you aswell.
This would be the 2nd last leg of our 20 week Asian tour,(the last being from Kathmandu to Mumbai) so would be sad to change plans because of this, it would mean a wery long and expencive detour as we will start and end our tour in Mumbai.

We could fly, but i would really like to travel across the Himalayas on the ground, to se the nature in all its glory. Kind of the point in going there in the first place.

Or would it just be best to forget all about it an consentrate on the southeast and eastern parts of China (HongKong area, Shanghai, Beijing)
If so, is it possible to travel overland from Myanmar(Burma) to India\Bangladesh, i know it is "impossible" the other way round

I am looking to book a group tour in late September and have been communicating with discovertibettour.com. Does anyone know about this online site or can anyone recommend a site to book with? Thank you in advance.

Hi,
I will be in Beijing next week (4-Aug) for work and am wondering if I can visit Tibet.
Here is my plan:
Leave Beijing on Thursday morning on Air China non-stop flight to Lhasa, arriving at 10:50am. Fly back to Beijing on Sunday morning. This gives me about 3 complete days in Tibet. I am planning to spend first two days in Lhasa and nearby areas and a day trip to Namtso lake on the third day. I wish I could spend more time in Tibet, but this is the maximum time my work schedule allows. Does it sound even remotely manageable? I am reasonably healthy man in the late 20's, so I am hoping I should be able to cope up with high altitude (at least with the help of some medicine).

I will reach Beijing on Tuesday and will apply for TTB (Tibet Travel Bureau) permit right away. I should get it by Wednesday, right? (As I said, I am planning to fly to Lhasa on Thursday morning)

I will apply for PSB (Public Security Bureau) permit as soon as I arrive in Lhasa on Thursday morning. Will I get it in time such that I can visit Namtso lake on Saturday?

Do I need the "military permit" to visit Namtso lake?

Do I have to "design" the Tibet tour package from a travel agent in Beijing in order to get the TTB or I can just get the TTB from an agent in Beijing and design my tour with some agency/guide/driver in Lhasa? (I understand that I will have to use a tour guide/driver/land cruiser in order to see places in Tibet, but was just wondering if I have to sign up for that in Beijing or wait until I am in Lhasa)

I am actually an individual traveler, but would not mind being part of a group if that's the only way I get to see Tibet and in order to share expenses. The only thing is, it has to fit in my schedule.

Is there any hostel in Lhasa where I can hook up with some likeminded people to make a day trip to Namtso lake? That ways I can share the expenses of the driver/land cruiser

Would you guys recommend any agency in Beijing or Lhasa for these arrangements?

All the help is much appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi I am interesting in training from Xi-an to Lhasa. I hope to hang around Lhasa for a few days, looking around the city, get used the to altitude, that sort of thing. Then I want to head up on a tour of some of the sites in the region, 4-5 days, eventually ending at the Nepal border where I would catch a bus to Khatmandu. Seems simple enough right?

Questions:

1. Is it difficult to get a train ticket from Xi-an to Lhasa? (someone mentioned on another thread that it was)

2. I want to avoid paying for a tour guide while in Lhasa city to help cut the costs of the whole experience, is this possible? Is it advisable?

3. What will the cost of the 4-5 days tour/vehicle and driver cost to the Nepal border? And should I just book this VIA the message boards in Lhasa?

4. Is the trip from the Nepal border to Khatmandu a viable option?

Dear all,
My friend and I are planning to travel Tibet-Kathmandu overland on budget. Will arrive in Beijing on 25 Sept 2009 and ready to go to Tibet soon after we get the Tibet travel permit.
Can you recommend a reliable travel agent in Beijing that organize Tibet-Kathmandu tour overland (7 days + 3 days train) with Tibet permit? We don't mind join other group to get cheaper price.
Thank you.

Hello!

Can any one tell me if there is any way to Lhasa-Katmandu or the other way around overland that doesn´t include a tour? Any kind of public transportation maybe... Meaning leaving in any date and spending less time and money.

If so how many days would it take?

And by air which would be the company with the best airfares?

Thanks a lot!
Patricia

Hi! I will be in chengdu and I would like to visit Lhasa. It is posible to go from chengdu to lhasa by train? Thanks, Sandra

We're planning a trip to Lhasa (via train from Beijing- Xining - Lhasa), and were thinking that to save money, we could find a travel agent willing to get us the train tickets and travel permits, but hire our own guide just for a couple of days, staying without a guide in Lhasa itself. Does anyone know if this is feasible? Is it legal to travel in Lhasa city without a guide?

On a side note, Any hotel rec's for Lhasa, Xining, Chengdu, Dunhuang, or LanZhou? We've got too many places we'd like to visit! Trying to decide which are the must-see, kid-friendly places in this part of the country (Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, & Tibet). Many thanks for any advice you can give us. Have a great day!!

Hi everyone,

I'm arriving in Chengdu in the middle of July next and plan on going to going to Lhasa as soon as I can. I'm looking to spend a little while in Tibet, but then take the Friendship Highway to Kathmandu. Does any one have any recommendations for the best way to get into Tibet?
I am in touch with Sims Cozy guesthouse as I will be staying there, while in Chengdu. They have told me that at the moment you need a guide, a permit and be part of a tour at all times in Tibet. Is this true? Has anyone had any dealings with them? Really I'm looking for something inexpensive-but safe and reliable. Im wondering what should I be paying, and do I really need to pay for a guide?
Can I book when I get there or should I organise a trip before I leave?
I wold be really grateful to hear about experiences from travellers who are currently in or just returning from Tibet, so I can figure out what's best to do.
Thanks very much!

i recently saw a documentary on Tibet and i want to ask some questions about entering and travelling inside Tibet

According to the documentary it is not premitted for foreigners to travel into Tibet. Also i heard another story saying that you can travel there, but only by special permission of the Chinese governmen. Is this true? you cant just on your owm travel into Tibet by your self?
According to the documentary it is not allowed to travel around in Tibet by your slef. You need special permission and guides to travel and trekking in the country. Is that true?

Hi out there,

I'm looking to book a private deal with Great Tibet Travel but wanting confirmation they are a good company. Can any one recommend a company , this or other please

Cheers

We plan to take the train from central China to Lhasa in mid August, spend a day or two in Lhasa, and then take the Friendship Highway and cross the border into Nepal. We only have 3-4 days to get from Lhasa to the Friendship Bridge as our Chinese visas will be nearly expired.

Given that you need to be on a tour to get a permit, how possible is this plan? Could we, for example, organise a one day tour in Lhasa to get the permits, and then travel independently with a driver to Nepal?

Does anyone have good experience and references of reliable local Tibet guides/tour operators? I am organizing a trip there with my family this summer (late July). I have been there a couple of years back and know exactly where I want to go visit again and what to avoid. My hope is to hire a local guide (English speaking) with a 4x4 vehicle for a week. It will fit perfectly with our family of 4.

Any recommendation will be greatly appreciated.

Hi all,

I'll be in Yunnan (Lijiang) till April 15, and am keen to head over to Tibet to explore.

Want to check if there're any travellers interested in travelling together. I'm extremely flexible on timing and costs, and am easygoing and adventurous.

Thinking of spending anywhere from 9-12 days in Tibet, so prob can't hit all the sights, but would love if could get together with like-minded travellers for part or all of the Tibet leg.

Hi

A friend and I are planning a trip to Tibet... in the initial stages, so we're considering possibilities now.

My preference is to travel overland for better acclimatization... and because i'm guessing the scenery will be breathtaking.

Would appreciate your tips on:
(1) which overland route is good - I'm inclined towards Kathmandu - Lhasa because we haven't got that much time, but there are so many agencies advertising online... recommendations and actual travel experience would help.

(2) also contemplating the Yunnan (Zhongdian) - Lhasa route, but have no contacts for that at all and no idea about costs

(3) also, wondering about safety for these overland routes.

(4) other helpful information - e.g. costs, must-sees, to-avoids, etc.

Thanks so much!