12 Days Best Everest Base Camp Trekking -In Tibet
Is this trip for me?
Price: from 1797 USD Explain>>
1. Based on double occupancy.
2. Comfortable hotels in cities and guesthouses in some remote places.
3. Flight and train are not included.
4. Tour cost is only for reference, please inquire for detailed quotation.
5. The more people, the cheaper cost.
Trip Length: 12 days / 11 nights
Trip outline: Highlights of this tour:
1. This is one of the most challenging and adventurous Tibet Trekking tours.
2. It will offer dramatic close-up views of Mt. Everest and Mt. Lotse.
Activity: Cultural Spiritual Experienc, Everest Base Camp Tours, Plateau Trekking tours
Season: All Year Around, Summer, Autumn, Spring
Trip Level: 2. Comfortable hotels in cities and guesthouses in some remote places.
3. Flight and train are not included.
4. Tour cost is only for reference, please inquire for detailed quotation.
5. The more people, the cheaper cost.
Explain>>
In order to make it easier for you to choose the right trip, we have graded our trips with certain Trip Level System from 1 to 4 according to the degree of activities and altitude. We have also suggested the most suitable groups or individuals for each Trip Level.
In the Trip Overview of each itinerary there is also a brief description of what the Trip is like.
Our staffs at the Explore Tibet are always happy to answer any questions you have and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness.
1. Easy
Light walking and hiking that is suitable for all level of fitness, generally altitude range between 3500m/9800ft to 4000m/13000ft. Hotels and guesthouses accommodation.
Suitable for family with kids and senior groups.
2. Moderate
May included moderate level of hiking, biking, horse riding and maximum altitude of 5000m/16000ft. Hotels and guesthouses accommodation.
Suitable for family with kids bigger than 12 years, individual having average level for fitness.
3. Moderate to Strenuous
May include high altitude hiking up to 6 hours, long hour driving and sometimes overnight at around 5000m/16000ft, require a moderately high level of fitness, camping and basic lodging facility.
Suitable for adult family, individuals physically fit and have experiences of high altitude trekking.
4. Strenuous
May include high altitude trekking and mountaineering, camping and basic lodging facilities, altitude range from 3600m/9800ft to 6000m/19000ft.
Suitable for adventures and individual with physically fit and healthy.
Everest Base Camp in Tibet is located on the north face of the Mount Everest. Tibet Everest Base Camp trekking within the alpine terrain of Himalayans and stretches to the base camp of world highest peak Mount Everest with a height of (8844) which is one of the most challenging and adventurous Tibet Trekking. You will be greeted by our representatives at your arrival and in the first couple of days, along with acclimatization to the high altitude and alleviating jet-lag, you will slowly visit to the supernatural Potala Palace, mystical Jokhang temple, sprawling Drepung and spiritual Sera monastery around the holy city Lhasa. Also you can walk along with thousands of pilgrims from all around the Tibet on Bhakor street which is one of the most visited spots and crowded place in Lhasa.
Then it extends its way to the west, passing by the breathtaking views of the marvelous Yamdrok lake and blooming Nyenchen Khangsar glacier, distinctive Tsang (western Tibet) cultural heartland Gyantse and Shigatse. The Everest Trekking starts from Old Tingri where it offers a perspective of Mt. Everest and Mt.Cho Oyu in the south, the trail within the hilly Rachu valley across the Lamar la pass(5250m) to the Tibet Everest base camp Trek offers superb panorama of the young Himalayans and lonely nomads family tents and villages within the moonscape valley are distinguished feature of the Everest Hiking, the pictorial scenery of mighty Everest peak will be achieved after several days of challenge with the high altitude, overnight at the foot of Everest will offer the golden face of the peak under the morning sunshine. The summer is the best time to do the EBC Trek with its favorable weather conditions and even the Everest Base Camp Trek Cost will be reasonable which includes a private Everest Base Camp Trekking Guide who speaks good English with years of experience and experienced driver during your whole Everest Trip.
Tour Map
Then it extends its way to the west, passing by the breathtaking views of the marvelous Yamdrok lake and blooming Nyenchen Khangsar glacier, distinctive Tsang (western Tibet) cultural heartland Gyantse and Shigatse. The Everest Trekking starts from Old Tingri where it offers a perspective of Mt. Everest and Mt.Cho Oyu in the south, the trail within the hilly Rachu valley across the Lamar la pass(5250m) to the Tibet Everest base camp Trek offers superb panorama of the young Himalayans and lonely nomads family tents and villages within the moonscape valley are distinguished feature of the Everest Hiking, the pictorial scenery of mighty Everest peak will be achieved after several days of challenge with the high altitude, overnight at the foot of Everest will offer the golden face of the peak under the morning sunshine. The summer is the best time to do the EBC Trek with its favorable weather conditions and even the Everest Base Camp Trek Cost will be reasonable which includes a private Everest Base Camp Trekking Guide who speaks good English with years of experience and experienced driver during your whole Everest Trip.
Click on the map to enlarge
| Day | Trip Outline | Activity | Accommodation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Lhasa (3680m) | Pick up and transfer to hotel, rest at hotel. | Hotel in Lhasa | |
| Day 2 | Lhasa sightseeing | Bakhor street, Johkang Temple, Potala Palace | Hotel in Lhasa | |
| Day 3 | Lhasa sightseeing | Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery | Hotel in Lhasa | |
| Day 4 | Lhasa-Shigatse (3900m), 350km, approx 7hrs | Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Kumbum Stupa | Hotel in Shigatse | |
| Day 5 | Shigatse-Old Tingri (4300m), 360km, approx 8hrs | Shegar town, Gyatso la | Local guesthouse | |
| Day 6 | Trek from Old Tingri-Lhun Chang village (4500m), 12km, approx 4hrs | Traditional Tibetan buildings | Camping | |
| Day 7 | Lhun Chang village-Namla pass (5250m), 21km, approx 6hrs | Wild goats/wild asses | Camping | |
| Day 8 | Namla-EBC (5150m), 27km, approx 9.5hrs | Mt. Eevrest | EBC guesthouse | |
| Day 9 | EBC exporation | Rongbuk monastery, Everest Base Camp | EBC guesthouse | |
| Day 10 | EBC-Shigatse (3900m), 350km, approx 7hrs | Tashi Lhunpo monastery | Hotel in Shigatse | |
| Day 11 | Shigatse-Lhasa (3680m), 280km, approx 6hrs | Yarlung Tsangpo | Hotel in Lhasa | |
| Day 12 | Depart from Tibet |
|
NOTE: Hotels can be upgraded or downgraded based on your requirement, please check more hotels in Tibet HERE
Tour Cost Included:
Tour Cost Includes:
- All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
- Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included), SEE VEHICLE PHOTOS HERE;
- Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide;
- Lodging: available from 5 star hotels to budget guesthouses, SEE HOTEL PHOTOS HERE;
- Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Oxygen canisters: 2 canister for each person;
- Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
- First aid kit;
- Liability travel insurance;
- Basic camping gears: tents, mattresses and sleeping bags;
- Yaks and porters during the trekking days;
- Cook and cooking gears; (Optional)
- Full board meals during the trekking days; (Optional)
Tour Cost Excluded:
Tour Cost Excludes:
- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation(recommended);
- Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
- International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
- Gratuities for the guide and driver:
DAY 01. ARRIVAL IN LHASA EITHER BY AIR OR TRAIN.
Attraction: First sight of the Giant Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city.
At your arrival at the Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station, you will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver and transfer you to the hotel, from the airport it is about 70km to Lhasa and it takes 1:30 hrs, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half hour, check in the hotel and take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 02. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR.
Attractions; Potala palace and Jokhang temple.
In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple. Jokhang temple is the most scared temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. You have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa since from long time, in the afternoon visit the famous Potala Palace, it is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7th century and later in 17thcentury rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 03. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR.
Attractions; Drepung monastery and Sera monastery.
This morning you will visit Drepung Monastery, once the world's largest monastery that housing more than 10,000 monks and resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, this truly amazing day will ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening everyday in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 4. Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse 370km;
Attractions: Yamdrok Lake, Glacier, Kumbum monastery and Tashi Lhunpo monastery.
In the morning you are driving with your guide and driver to Shigatse where you are visiting the Turquoise lake, Yamdrok (4300m) crossing the zigzag high Khamba pass (4990m). Then lunch stop at Nakartse town(4400m) drive via Karo La pass (5039m) you are going to see the Nyenchenkhangsar glacier (7191m) and another road driving to Gyangtse(3900m) or sometime its called the Hero’s Town where you are going to visit Kumbum monastery under the yellow hat sect. Moreover, you can see the Palchoe stupa erected during 1427 at the time of 1st Panchen Lama. That is kind of magnified stupa containing 100 thousands of wall paintings, murals, statues with the height of 32.4m itself around five floors to climb up in clockwise. Still you have to drive to Shigatse(3900m) from there like 90km. O/n Shigatse.
DAY 5. Shigatse to Old Tingri (4300m) 350km;
Attractions; Tashi lhunpo monastery ,Sakya monastery & Everest view.
This morning your guide needs to collect your passports for making ATP from PSB to travel Mt. Kailash. Where actually you are going to start quite late as today is a short journey to Lhatse. As you are going to visit the Tahsi Lhunpo monastery, the seat and administration office for Pachen Lamas which is actually erected by 1st Dalai Lama. There you are going to visit the four highest chapels in which you will find the biggest bronze and copper alloy statue of Buddha Jampa i.e the future Buddha & then stupas of some Pachen Lamas. Later you are going to drive via Tso pass (4500m) and able to reach there at Sakya monastery (4280m), another sect of Tibet and checking the ATP there. This monastery is unique that all ash grey with white and red vertical stripes. As the name of Sakya means grey color in Tibetan. As the colouring symbolizes the Rigsum Gonpo (the trinity of bodhisattvas) .Where, the monastery is divided into two parts dividing by the river called Zong chu or Trum chu. Then after lunch there, you are driving to Old Tingri by crossing one of highest pass called Gyatso (5147m) leads you to Shegar. The small town where you have to get all the entrance tickets to Mt. Everest by then another 70km to your next destination, old Tingri. O/n guesthouse.Attraction: First sight of the Giant Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city.
At your arrival at the Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station, you will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver and transfer you to the hotel, from the airport it is about 70km to Lhasa and it takes 1:30 hrs, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half hour, check in the hotel and take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 02. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR.
Attractions; Potala palace and Jokhang temple.
In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple. Jokhang temple is the most scared temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. You have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa since from long time, in the afternoon visit the famous Potala Palace, it is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7th century and later in 17thcentury rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 03. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR.
Attractions; Drepung monastery and Sera monastery.
This morning you will visit Drepung Monastery, once the world's largest monastery that housing more than 10,000 monks and resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, this truly amazing day will ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening everyday in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 4. Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse 370km;
Attractions: Yamdrok Lake, Glacier, Kumbum monastery and Tashi Lhunpo monastery.
In the morning you are driving with your guide and driver to Shigatse where you are visiting the Turquoise lake, Yamdrok (4300m) crossing the zigzag high Khamba pass (4990m). Then lunch stop at Nakartse town(4400m) drive via Karo La pass (5039m) you are going to see the Nyenchenkhangsar glacier (7191m) and another road driving to Gyangtse(3900m) or sometime its called the Hero’s Town where you are going to visit Kumbum monastery under the yellow hat sect. Moreover, you can see the Palchoe stupa erected during 1427 at the time of 1st Panchen Lama. That is kind of magnified stupa containing 100 thousands of wall paintings, murals, statues with the height of 32.4m itself around five floors to climb up in clockwise. Still you have to drive to Shigatse(3900m) from there like 90km. O/n Shigatse.
DAY 5. Shigatse to Old Tingri (4300m) 350km;
Attractions; Tashi lhunpo monastery ,Sakya monastery & Everest view.
DAY 6. First day of your trek from Old Tingri to Namla (5250m)
Attractions; the traditional houses of Tibetan villages & rich geographical areas.
Today is your initial day for your trek, where you start with your guide to 50km for your camping. On the way, you can see the growing grasslands and Rachu River flowing on your right hand side. The traditional houses of Nangtsang village, where you will see the attached yak pats on the out side of the every houses wall using for burning and cooking. Also the views of the Snow Mountains will give you a peace and simplexes feeling. Then yaks and Dees (female yak) all over the grass lands, and if you are lucky enough then you are also going to see some of the wild animals like wild ass, wild goats and deer as well. This is all for today. O/n camping.
DAY 7. 2nd day of your trek Namla to Junction (5000m)
Attractions; fascinating views of Himalayans and lonely nomads families..
On this day the scenery is almost same and there you are going to see the same views but the difference is on the other side you can see the Tibetan nomadic black tents, herds of Yaks and sheep grazing within the narrow valley, where the river conditions some greens. They always live on this kind of the altitude and they always feed themselves by exchanging the needed things with their butter, milk and meats but now a day even they businesses as well. O/n camping.
DAY 8. The Last day of your trek Junction to EBC.(5200m)
Attractions; Picturesque scenery of mighty EBC peak and world highest Rongbuk monastery.
Today you are passing with the rocky road and there one thing you can explore is the wild eagles flying above you here and there. From the road, you are passing with one humble village. There leads you to the last destiny, EBC via some of narrow and zigzagged roads. O/n guesthouse or camping.
DAY 9. EBC exploration
Rongbuk monastery, Everest Base Camp
O/n guesthouse or camping.
DAY 10. EBC to Shigatse. 350km.
Attractions; Golden view of Everest under the morning sunshine.
Early in the morning you can see the sunrise of the Everest, which sometimes called the “Golden Top of Everest”, then after breakfast, you are taking to EBC, the last point of Everest. Right after that you are driving back to Shigatse. O/n Shigatse.
DAY 11, Shigatse to Lhasa. 370km.
Now you are going to drive back to Lhasa. O/n Lhasa.
DAY 12, Send-off day.
Your guide and driver will send you off either to train station or Gongkar Airport of Lhasa.
Tour Cost Includes:
Tour Cost Includes:
- All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
- Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included), SEE VEHICLE PHOTOS HERE;
- Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide;
- Lodging: available from 5 star hotels to budget guesthouses, SEE HOTEL PHOTOS HERE;
- Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Oxygen canisters: 2 canister for each person;
- Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
- First aid kit;
- Liability travel insurance;
- Basic camping gears: tents, mattresses and sleeping bags;
- Yaks and porters during the trekking days;
- Cook and cooking gears; (Optional)
- Full board meals during the trekking days; (Optional)
Tour Cost Excludes:
Tour Cost Excludes:
- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation(recommended);
- Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
- International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
- Gratuities for the guide and driver:
Tibet is a country, which is totally different from any other places around the world, just because of its political sensitivity, rich culture diversity and peculiar geographical formation. Although this means it is not the easiest place to travel, which is also what makes it so special.
In order to make your trip worry free and indisputable, here we have carefully collected all the essential information that will give you a clear image of the trip as well as logistics during your stay in Tibet, this also will be helpful for your trip preparation before you leave, so please go through it and make sure you are well prepare for the trip, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our tour consultant or write us on sales@exploretibet.com
Legitimate Claim;
As we mentioned above, Tibet is politically very sensitive and any political activities are restrictedly prohibited, so we always advising our clients to keep away from any political conversations or activities that bound against the policy of People’s republic of China. Your involvement in such activities would influence the whole group as well as future of all your guides, driver and the company. If any one does, then we have the full right to cancel the trip and we are not responsible for so caused hassle and costs.
Emergency contacts:
Being a responsible company, we are always available for 24 hours a day, in case if you need any emergency help. It is best to first call your designated travel coordinator or sales person (whose contact numbers are will be listed on your tour agreement), for any reason if you are not able to reach to him/her then please ring us on the below numbers;
Lhasa Head Office: (0891)-6329441 (the area code 0891 is not necessary if you are calling from Lhasa)
Chengdu Office: (028)-86262365
Note: office working time is 9am – 7pm from Monday to Friday.
Sonam Jamphel (Sales Manager) 0158890904080 or 013398000993 (Available for 24 hours a day)
Chinese Visa
Every one should have the valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity) and Chinese visa to travel into China and the Chinese visa is also valid in Tibet, generally the Chinese visa is can be applied either by your self or use a visa service agency in your home country, but the visa application and requirements are little vary in different countries, so please check with your regional Chinese Embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements.
NOTE; It is your responsibility to obtain the Chinese visa, so just for your information it is better not to list Tibet as your travel destination on your visa application form, just list Chengdu or Beijing, whichever your in-bound city is as your travel destination. If you enter Tibet from Nepal then you don’t need the Chinese individual visa and please check the next line for what you need.
If You Enter Tibet From Nepal
If you enter Tibet from Nepal, then the permit and Chinese visa formalities are slightly different, to enter from Nepal, you don't need the Chinese individual visa and instead you should obtain the Tibet group visa from Chinese Embassy in Nepal, you can’t apply it directly and you should have a local Nepalese agency to apply for it, so our Nepalese partner agency will assist you for that application, normally the application takes 2 to 5 working days for different cost and it only can be applied when you arrive in Nepal, because your original passport is needed along the application. More about the Tibet Group Visa and cost please check here
Tibet Travel Permit and Its Process
Tibet travel permit is compulsory for all the travelers to visit Tibet and it can be obtained within 15 days prior to the trip starting dates, once you have booked the tour with us, we will obtain it for you which is included in the tour package. We need clear scan copies of your Chinese visa and passports to apply for the permit.
For more detail and latest permit updates, please check here
Etiquettes and Taboos:
Cultural Considerations: Be aware that your cultural values may differ from those of locals. These may include different concepts of time, personal space, communication, etc., which are not wrong or inferior, just different. Making the extra effort to respect local customs and cultural differences will enhance your interactions with locals during your time in Tibet and contribute to building mutual respect between locals and tourists.
Appropriate attire: Most Tibetans are pretty conservative from our western perspective so it is always polite to wear long pants at all times (guys and girls). If you wear shorts in rural villages or in the Bakhor district in Lhasa you will definitely get stranger looks than normal! Women should wear long pants or skirts. Shirts should not be revealing and bras should be worn. Unfortunately, many tourists ignore these cultural norms and can be seen in towns and villages wearing shorts and revealing summer attire; while it may be comfortable, it is not appropriate, especially when visiting monasteries. Don’t be shy to inform other tourists of the proper dress for monasteries; perhaps they are not aware of the cultural considerations and etiquette.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Generally we adhere to the original itinerary that we described but sometimes little alterations can be born due to the situations that are beyond our control. On the other hand, in order to make our trip for your personal experiences and flexible, we allowed our clients to make minor changes by discussing with us (office staff) and guide (field staff). The trip detail itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destination or activities is by no means of guarantee that they will be encountered or carried due to the local circumstances and climate.
Keeping in touch with folks at home
If your family members or colleagues or friends want to connect with you during the tour, then you can either provide your guide mobile number to reach you during the trip or if you don’t know your guide number at the time, please don’t feel hesitate to provide our company contact numbers listed in the Emergency Contact section and we can find a way to reach you through guide mobile.
Meals
In order to provide you the maximum flexibility of what, where and when to eat, we generally doesn’t include meals in the tour cost except breakfast included at the hotels, but our local guide will suggest you good local restaurant per your requirements. In the cities like Lhasa, Tsedang, Gyantse, Shigatse and Zhangmu you can find good restaurants serve wide range of Tibetan food, continental food, Nepalese food, Indian food and Chinese cuisine, but in Tingri, EBC and in remote places, there is a limited choice for noodles and pan cakes. Approximate cost of a meal in Tibet is USD3 – USD10 per person/meal depending on your individual requirement.
Destination Guide & Recommended Reading List:
Tibet is a unique travel destination with some special considerations. It is highly recommended that you undertake some background reading before travel to Tibet. The more you learn about your destination, the more rewarding your travel experience will be. While we include a recommended reading list, which you can refer to for in-depth information, the following is a recommended reading list that might be helpful for you.
| Tibetan History | Tibetan Culture & Arts | Tibetan Religion |
Lhasa and the TAR:
Kham and Amdo regions:
Domestic Flights and Trains to Tibet
There is only one international flight to Tibet, which is from Kathmandu (Nepal), and then there are lots of flights from different cities in Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and so on. Please Check Flight Schedule and Cost Here
There is no international train to Tibet and all the trains are from Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xining and so on. Please Check Train Schedule and Cost Here
Responsible Tourism Initiative:
Tourism has the potential to have positive and negative effects on the local environment and peoples. Making a conscious decision about how you travel can make a difference. Whether you are traveling to the Amazon rainforest or to Mt. Everest Base Camp, taking the initiative to reduce negative impacts and help sustain local communities is the responsible thing to do. Read more how we practice Responsible Travel
How & What To Pack
It is important to pack light and effectively, specially when you travelling to a new place, you need to know some necessary items should be carry with, depending on the length of your trip and where you go, you can get away with a minimal amount of clothing. One medium-large backpack or rolling duffle and a day pack should be just right for a 2-4 week trip. We suggest you to check our packing guideline here
Complaint & Feedback
We are always trying to provide the best service that can achieve a memorable Tibet tour for you, but sometimes you might be dissatisfied with some arrangement as different people has various aspirations and requirement, so please let us know instantly and we will try to solve everything right away to avoid repeating mistakes unknowingly. As we are looking for every single opportunity to improve our services, so your valuable suggestions and constructive complaints are very much appreciated.
In order to make your trip worry free and indisputable, here we have carefully collected all the essential information that will give you a clear image of the trip as well as logistics during your stay in Tibet, this also will be helpful for your trip preparation before you leave, so please go through it and make sure you are well prepare for the trip, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our tour consultant or write us on sales@exploretibet.com
Legitimate Claim;
As we mentioned above, Tibet is politically very sensitive and any political activities are restrictedly prohibited, so we always advising our clients to keep away from any political conversations or activities that bound against the policy of People’s republic of China. Your involvement in such activities would influence the whole group as well as future of all your guides, driver and the company. If any one does, then we have the full right to cancel the trip and we are not responsible for so caused hassle and costs.
Emergency contacts:
Being a responsible company, we are always available for 24 hours a day, in case if you need any emergency help. It is best to first call your designated travel coordinator or sales person (whose contact numbers are will be listed on your tour agreement), for any reason if you are not able to reach to him/her then please ring us on the below numbers;
Lhasa Head Office: (0891)-6329441 (the area code 0891 is not necessary if you are calling from Lhasa)
Chengdu Office: (028)-86262365
Note: office working time is 9am – 7pm from Monday to Friday.
Sonam Jamphel (Sales Manager) 0158890904080 or 013398000993 (Available for 24 hours a day)
Chinese Visa
Every one should have the valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity) and Chinese visa to travel into China and the Chinese visa is also valid in Tibet, generally the Chinese visa is can be applied either by your self or use a visa service agency in your home country, but the visa application and requirements are little vary in different countries, so please check with your regional Chinese Embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements.
NOTE; It is your responsibility to obtain the Chinese visa, so just for your information it is better not to list Tibet as your travel destination on your visa application form, just list Chengdu or Beijing, whichever your in-bound city is as your travel destination. If you enter Tibet from Nepal then you don’t need the Chinese individual visa and please check the next line for what you need.
If You Enter Tibet From Nepal
If you enter Tibet from Nepal, then the permit and Chinese visa formalities are slightly different, to enter from Nepal, you don't need the Chinese individual visa and instead you should obtain the Tibet group visa from Chinese Embassy in Nepal, you can’t apply it directly and you should have a local Nepalese agency to apply for it, so our Nepalese partner agency will assist you for that application, normally the application takes 2 to 5 working days for different cost and it only can be applied when you arrive in Nepal, because your original passport is needed along the application. More about the Tibet Group Visa and cost please check here
Tibet Travel Permit and Its Process
Tibet travel permit is compulsory for all the travelers to visit Tibet and it can be obtained within 15 days prior to the trip starting dates, once you have booked the tour with us, we will obtain it for you which is included in the tour package. We need clear scan copies of your Chinese visa and passports to apply for the permit.
For more detail and latest permit updates, please check here
Etiquettes and Taboos:
Cultural Considerations: Be aware that your cultural values may differ from those of locals. These may include different concepts of time, personal space, communication, etc., which are not wrong or inferior, just different. Making the extra effort to respect local customs and cultural differences will enhance your interactions with locals during your time in Tibet and contribute to building mutual respect between locals and tourists.
Appropriate attire: Most Tibetans are pretty conservative from our western perspective so it is always polite to wear long pants at all times (guys and girls). If you wear shorts in rural villages or in the Bakhor district in Lhasa you will definitely get stranger looks than normal! Women should wear long pants or skirts. Shirts should not be revealing and bras should be worn. Unfortunately, many tourists ignore these cultural norms and can be seen in towns and villages wearing shorts and revealing summer attire; while it may be comfortable, it is not appropriate, especially when visiting monasteries. Don’t be shy to inform other tourists of the proper dress for monasteries; perhaps they are not aware of the cultural considerations and etiquette.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Generally we adhere to the original itinerary that we described but sometimes little alterations can be born due to the situations that are beyond our control. On the other hand, in order to make our trip for your personal experiences and flexible, we allowed our clients to make minor changes by discussing with us (office staff) and guide (field staff). The trip detail itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destination or activities is by no means of guarantee that they will be encountered or carried due to the local circumstances and climate.
Keeping in touch with folks at home
If your family members or colleagues or friends want to connect with you during the tour, then you can either provide your guide mobile number to reach you during the trip or if you don’t know your guide number at the time, please don’t feel hesitate to provide our company contact numbers listed in the Emergency Contact section and we can find a way to reach you through guide mobile.
Meals
In order to provide you the maximum flexibility of what, where and when to eat, we generally doesn’t include meals in the tour cost except breakfast included at the hotels, but our local guide will suggest you good local restaurant per your requirements. In the cities like Lhasa, Tsedang, Gyantse, Shigatse and Zhangmu you can find good restaurants serve wide range of Tibetan food, continental food, Nepalese food, Indian food and Chinese cuisine, but in Tingri, EBC and in remote places, there is a limited choice for noodles and pan cakes. Approximate cost of a meal in Tibet is USD3 – USD10 per person/meal depending on your individual requirement.
Destination Guide & Recommended Reading List:
Tibet is a unique travel destination with some special considerations. It is highly recommended that you undertake some background reading before travel to Tibet. The more you learn about your destination, the more rewarding your travel experience will be. While we include a recommended reading list, which you can refer to for in-depth information, the following is a recommended reading list that might be helpful for you.
| Tibetan History | Tibetan Culture & Arts | Tibetan Religion |
Lhasa and the TAR:
- Tibet: The Lonely Planet Country Guide
- Trekking in Tibet: A Traveler's Guide by Gary McCue
- Tibet Handbook: Moon Travel Guide
- Fodor's Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan: Expert Advice and Smart Choices: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore On and Off the Beaten Path
- To a Mountain in Tibet by Colin Thubron
- The Mount Kailash Trek by Constance Roos/Sian Pritchard-Jones
- Trekking Tibet by Gary McCue/George Schaller
- The Heart of the World, A Journey to the Tibet's Lost Paradise by Ian Baker
- My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Neel
Kham and Amdo regions:
- Footprints Tibet Handbook by Gyurme Dorje
- Lonely Planet China (See Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu Provinces)
- Bradt Guide Tibet by Michael Buckley
Domestic Flights and Trains to Tibet
There is only one international flight to Tibet, which is from Kathmandu (Nepal), and then there are lots of flights from different cities in Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and so on. Please Check Flight Schedule and Cost Here
There is no international train to Tibet and all the trains are from Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xining and so on. Please Check Train Schedule and Cost Here
Responsible Tourism Initiative:
Tourism has the potential to have positive and negative effects on the local environment and peoples. Making a conscious decision about how you travel can make a difference. Whether you are traveling to the Amazon rainforest or to Mt. Everest Base Camp, taking the initiative to reduce negative impacts and help sustain local communities is the responsible thing to do. Read more how we practice Responsible Travel
How & What To Pack
It is important to pack light and effectively, specially when you travelling to a new place, you need to know some necessary items should be carry with, depending on the length of your trip and where you go, you can get away with a minimal amount of clothing. One medium-large backpack or rolling duffle and a day pack should be just right for a 2-4 week trip. We suggest you to check our packing guideline here
Complaint & Feedback
We are always trying to provide the best service that can achieve a memorable Tibet tour for you, but sometimes you might be dissatisfied with some arrangement as different people has various aspirations and requirement, so please let us know instantly and we will try to solve everything right away to avoid repeating mistakes unknowingly. As we are looking for every single opportunity to improve our services, so your valuable suggestions and constructive complaints are very much appreciated.
Tashi Delek Sonam!
We had a wonderful time traveling in Tibet and I thank you for making our trip so fabulous.You are an amazing and special man Sonam. I thought you might like some copies of the photos I took when we went out with you. Your mother is a beautiful person. Thank you again
-------Amon and Margaret. Traveled in 28th April,2012.
Our most heartfelt thanks go out to Jamphel at Explore Tibet for making this journey such an insightful and joyful experience.
-----Paul Pritchard. Traveled on 19th September, 2011.
“Base camp was very nice. The stay with a Tibetan family very interesting. “
----From Silke Neumann (Germany), traveled on 15th May, 2012.
“Overall had a great trip and were very happy with the driver and the guide. Especially Phurtse was always available to help and was very knowledgeable, especially on the monasteries and temples. Greatly enjoyed the personal touch on my birthday from Phurtse and Explore Tibet. Thank you.”
----From Janie Neumann (Germany), traveled on 15th May, 2012.
“We had a wonderful time travelling in Tibet and i thank you for making our trip so fabulous.”
----From Margaret (Australia), traveled in April, 2012.
“We had a wonderful time travelling in Tibet and i thank you for making our trip so fabulous. You are an amazing and special man Sonam Jamphel.”
----From Amon Clerc (Australia), traveled in April, 2012.
“We love both our guide Namgyal and drive Choephel very much, they are great people and it was really nice to travel with them”
“wir lieben beide unser Führer Namgyal und fahren Choephel sehr viel, sie sind tolle Leute und es war wirklich schön, mit ihnen zu reisen “
----From A group of German Family, traveled on 31st March, 2012.
