Arranging Travel to Tibet

Arranging Travel to Tibet is very easy, yet we frequently hear from people who want to visit Tibet are having trouble planning their trip. They believe that planning a trip to Tibet will be too tough for them. It will most likely be difficult if you use the wrong travel agent, but it does not have to be.

We’ve arranged travel in Tibet for over last 30 years and have personally organized over 50,000 unique excursions around Tibet, so we can assure you that planning a trip to Tibet is not difficult! In fact, planning a trip to Tibet is really simple. we’ll tell you everything you need to know in this post to plan the perfect trip to Tibet.

1. The first thing you should do is investigate where you wish to go in Tibet. Tibet, which includes the Amdo and Kham areas, is vast, covering nearly 25% of China’s geographical mass, making it the world’s fourth largest country by area.
   There are a plethora of fantastic routes and itineraries from which to pick. Because Tibet is so large, it has a diverse geography to offer.
   A copy of Lonely Planet’s Tibet guidebook is highly recommended. This newly revised handbook is your best bet for learning about the most popular overland routes that start in Lhasa. It provides detailed directions from Lhasa to Mt. Everest Base Camp, the Nepal border, or Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in western Tibet.
2. Contact a respected Tibetan-owned travel operator after you’ve done your research on where you wish to go in Tibet.
   When traveling across Tibet’s difficult and inaccessible terrain, it’s critical to employ a reputable travel service. It is critical for budget travelers to investigate which agency to choose.
   The cheapest agency is usually not the best choice. Not all agencies care about their clients, and some plan unsafe routes that don’t allow enough time to adequately acclimate to high altitude. Because obtaining travel permits and tours in Tibet might take several days, it is preferable to contact a travel agent at least 4 to 6 weeks before your planned departure to Lhasa.
   Foreign visitors visiting the Tibet Autonomous Region must take part in a pre-arranged trip that includes travel permits, a tour leader, and a private car with a driver (no vehicle is required if you are just staying in Lhasa).
   There aren’t any exceptions. Without your travel permissions, you will not be permitted to take a train or airplane to Lhasa.
   Only a travel agency may issue these permits. This is not a new regulation; it has been in effect for the past 30 years on and off.
   The Tibetan Plateau’s Kham and Amdo regions, which cover half of the Tibetan Plateau, have no travel restrictions, however they do close from time to time due to political disturbances.
3. Once you’ve decided on a Tibet travel route and located a decent travel agency to work with, you (or the agency) may start planning your trip. All of this may be accomplished via email. You do not need to physically go to a travel agency to book your Tibet tour.
   As previously stated, contact a Tibet-based travel agency four to six weeks before your planned arrival in Lhasa.
   You must scan and submit a high-resolution image of both your passport and Chinese visa to the agency you hire in order for your travel permits to be completed.
   You’ll need these to apply for your travel permits.They’ll hire a guide, a vehicle, and a driver for you. Most agency can also help you book rail tickets and cheap flights to Lhasa.
4. Before issuing your travel permit, travel agencies usually charge a payment of 10% to 50%. Deposits for tours can be made using bank transfer, Western Union, or PayPal. Once you arrive in Lhasa, the remaining balance of your journey must be paid. You may be required to pay the complete tour amount before arriving in Lhasa by some agencies. I see no problem paying the complete tour amount before arriving in Lhasa as long as the agency is credible.
5. If you want to travel to Lhasa in flight, you must provide the address of a hotel in mainland China where you expect to stay so that the original permission can be mailed to you. In order to fly to Lhasa, you’ll need the original permit. The majority of visitors arrive in Lhasa via Chengdu. A copy of the permission is all you’ll need if you’re taking the train to Lhasa. The permit will be emailed to you, and you will need to print it (both pages). Before you may board the train to Lhasa, you’ll need to show officials a copy of your permit.

There isn’t much more to planning a trip to Tibet than doing some research and sending a few emails. It’s not tough to accomplish. In my years of organizing Tibet tours, I’ve organized several excursions with just four or five short emails. In conclusion, planning a trip to Tibet is not difficult!

Please email me at losal@tibetuniversaltravel.com for further Tibet travel information on getting to Tibet or for recommendations on which travel agency to utilize.