I want to Tibet

[ulanda]

I want to go to Tibet, China, who've been to can tell us about? I saw a travel site to introduce the good, but would like to hear everyone's recommendations.

[yanyan]

It is really very nice. You can see many beautiful natural sceneries and grand historical buildings.

[wowowo0080]

yes , but be aware of the altitude stress (a collection of symptoms, including shortness of breath, headache, and nosebleed, brought on by decreased oxygen in the atmosphere, such as that encountered at high altitudes)

[chocaholic]

Tibet is amazing, we visited it a few years ago. I think it is best if you go on a tour with a travel company. There are alot advertising on the internet.

You do have to be careful with the alititude, my husband was okay, but I suffered with nose bleeds every day. But the trip was definately worth while, so do not let this put you off.
_________________
Holiday Villas for rent

[PABO]

I suggest you to read the related policy about entrance to Tibet before starting out. Foreigners are not permitted to enter unless they take part in a esccorted tour.
_________________
China Tour
Yangtze River Cruises

[robertb]

I was going to say that it's quite easy to travel independently, but things have changed since I went.

Sim's Cozy Guesthouse is popular on the backpacker trail as they're good at arranging independent trips to Tibet, and sorted out my permit. They seem to concur that restrictions to Tibet have tightened again:
http://gogosc.com/enly_tibet_explanation.asp

Anyway, I went by train to Lhasa and then arranged a jeep tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu. It was awesome. The jeep tours have fairly standard routes, via places like Gyantse, Shigatse and Everest Base camp. We did have some interesting moments with our driver though - he turned up very hungover one morning causing a whole load of arguments!

As for the altitude, it's totally random how badly you'll be affected, it doesn't really make any difference how fit or healthy you are. To be on the safe side it's probably worth factoring in that your first day or 2 could be a writeoff when you plan your trip.
_________________
Robert
Own a travel business? Get your free account on Kiribu.com today!
My Travel Map

[AlpStyle Travel]

Tibet Permit
There are two main documents required for foreign tourists in Tibet.

Chinese Visa
Firstly, please be noted that Chinese visa and Tibet permit are two things, totally different.

To enter Tibet, or any part of China excepting Hong Kong and Macao (Visitors to Hong Kong, holding passports from some countries DO NOT need a visa when staying for a specified free period), a Chinese visa is necessary. It may be best to obtain it before leaving your home country unless you are taking a package tour to enter Tibet overland from Nepal.

The first rule when applying for a visa as an independent traveler is to expect that you maybe will be refused if you mentioned your plan to visit Tibet. There is a trick that when you apply for the Chinese visa, you can't tell the officer that you have the plan for traveling to Tibet; you can only inform them you want to travel to somewhere else in China. Or the application would become complicated and arduous.

Keep in mind
1. When entering China it is best to have a visa covering the expected duration of stay. Getting extensions inside China can involve delays and other difficulties.

2. You need to apply for a double- or multiple entry visa when you need to leave and re-enter mainland China. Please note that, even when you leave for Hong Kong or Macao from mainland China, you still need to have a double- or multiple entry visas.

Travel to Tibet through Nepal
If you entry Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal, you are required to obtain a Chinese visa in the consulate of P.R China in Kathmandu. The opening time for the Consulate of P.R China in Kathmandu is 9:30AM-11:00AM on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please note that visa application is compulsory even if you have already had a Chinese visa in your home country. This is regulated by the border treaty signed between Nepal and China.

The Chinese visa you get in Kathmandu is a "group visa". A "group visa" is not stamped in your passports but a separate sheet of paper issued in duplicate by the Chinese consulate in Katmandu, listing all members of the group. It usually allows a stay for 15 or 20 days. A "group" may be any number of travelers, even just one traveler. One or more travelers entering Tibet together may wish to have their own separate group visa so they are able to have their trips separatly. Obtaining a group visa requires at least two working days in Katmandu.

Tibet Permit
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permit
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permits are necessary for entry to Lhasa or any other part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and are obtained through tour operators as part of arrangements for travel; A T.T.B. permit does not obviate the need for an Aliens' Travel Permit for any closed areas that may be visited.

Important Issues about Tibet Travel Permit
1. All people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who would travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.
2. After having a permit, a travel agency could buy you the air tickets, and you can check-in at the airport.
3. TTB permit is only can be used within Lhasa, if you want to go to other places out side of Lhasa, then you need another permit named as "Aliens' Permit".
4. Generally it needs three days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents.
Aliens' Travel Permits (PSB's)
These are required to visit closed areas - much of the Tibetan Autonomous Region outside the Lhasa prefecture-level district, and scattered counties elsewhere. They are usually only obtainable through tour operators, for tours by four-wheel-drive car.
Permits to visit places that are not opened are known as Aliens' Travel Permits, or PSB's. They are issued by the police (Public Security Bureau, "PSB"). A single permit is normally issued to all the people who are traveling together, the permit naming just one of them and stating how many others are accompanied; the passports, or at least photocopies of passports and visas. All travlers must present in order to obtain a permit.
If you want to do an overland tour from Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai or Xinjiang province to Tibet, you must got the PSB permit before your tour starts.

Notice:
1. Generally it takes three days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents. After having a permit, a travel agency could buy you the air tickets, and you can pass the check-in at the airport.

2. The following details of the travelers are required for Permit: name, nationality, passport number, sex, date of birth and occupation.
_________________
Travel Freely and Easily
www.alpstyletravel.com

[Red Tape]

foreigners apparently are not to be trusted.
_________________
My flight map. A million miles and counting....Where I’ve been around the globe.

[p.toth007]

Hehe, you are in komunist country, no stranger is trusted

[Nepal_Himalaya]

Major places in Tibet to tour are Lhasa, xigatse, Gyantse, Mt. Kailash, Everest Base Camp, Guge Kingdom and Mancho Lake.

It all depends upon your interest and available time. So if you hava about a week, it is better to stay around Lasha. Visit Scorpion Lake (Yamdrok Tsho) and make a round trip of Gyantse and Xigatse.

If you are more adventurous, drive to Everest Base Camp and then to western tibet to Mt. Kailash and Guge Kingdom. These are more natural and remote. This round trip might take you around 15 - 20 days.
_________________
Nepal Trekking Picture
Complete Nepal Tour
info@itournepal.com

[TTGTP]

Yes,it's the most beautiful land on the earth.
Tibet to have a lot of restrictions on foreign travel, it is best handled through a travel agent.
You find websites about Tibet from my signature below .
_________________
Visit China Now!!!|
Travel Meet Tibetan!
Men's Underwear

[emilycheng114]

Here are some sights of Tibet, hoping it 's useful

POTALA PALACE
JOKHANG TEMPLE
NORBULINGKA (SUMMER PALACE)
SERA (KLOSTER)
PALALUMPUK
GANDEN KLOSTER
NAMTSO LAKE
NECHUNG KLOSTER (STAATSORAKEL)
DSA NONNENKLO STER ANI SANGKHUNG
_________________
China Tour Compass--Great Wall tours, Beijing Kongfu tours, Beijing Spring Festival Tours, Tibet Travel Guide

[lorena]

I'm off to Dharamsala in northern India to work in the TIbetan community there for a few months. Although it's not strictly Tibet, it's where the Tibetan Government In Exile is located and where the Dalai Lama lives, so it's probably a good alternative if you're having trouble visiting 'real' Tibet.

[tour_lynn]

Tibet is quite attractive to many people. But be sure that one should do some practice to themselves well-prepared before going there.
_________________
http://www.chinahotels.hk

[startravel]

Tibet is a really nice place. You will be astonished by the amazing sight. For more information please view our website.
_________________
http://www.startravelchina.com