Introduction
Tibet
was opened to tourism in 1985. Before this it avoided influence
from the western world and developed its unique culture
and religion independently. To see a place like Tibet now,
before many modern changes take place, is a truly unique
experience.
Its
name the "Roof of the World" is no idle
statement. The valley bottoms of Tibet are higher than the
highest mountains elsewhere. Its snow covered plateau are
the highest in the world. Apart from the Everest, which
Tibetans see from the other side, many a mountain ranges
are over 15000 feet.
Now
you can fly right into Lhasa from Kathmandu, taking one
of the world’s most dramatic flights across the Himalayan
range. Lhasa (3650 Mts.), the capital lies in highest plateau
in the world amid arid wilderness.
Traveling
to Tibet is an incredible journey in which you can see the
world's highest mountains, travel on the world's highest
plains, meet nomadic Tibetan pilgrims, and walk amidst the
burning butter lamps and chanting monks of Tibet's ancient
and legendary Buddhist monasteries. This is a wonderful
and amazing trip. However if you are not up for a bit of
adventure, or for accommodations and amenities that may
be far from perfect, perhaps this trip is not for you or
your trip should be limited within Lhasa only. "Cold
and dusty" is the comment of many people who have visited
Tibet. While the trip to Tibet is not easy it is well worth
the effort. Even the most jaded traveler may feel like a
neophyte tourist.
Many
of the conditions described are still controlled by the Chinese
government. The trip is considered "Luxurious" by
Chinese standards, a definition with which you may not agree.
Some travelers have been disappointed with the accommodations;
Nonetheless, where one sleeps and eats breakfast for several
days while on the road seems very trivial compared with the
overall experience of traveling from Kathmandu, over the Tibetan
plains to Lhasa. Even writing about the lack of hot and cold
running water or flush toilets seems rather trite when the
conditions tourists experience are far superior to local standards
and hence, indeed luxurious. However, to be forewarned is
to be forearmed. Most folks have better experiences when they
know what to expect.
he
best time of the year to visit the Himalayas for both tours
& trekking is during spring(Feb, Mar, April) & autumn(Sept,
Oct, Nov). Winter months, December & January are also
good months for sight seeing tours & for low altitude
treks marked by sunny days with clear skies & good mountain
views. Monsoon(June, July, Aug) is usually marked by heavy
rains. But this period is best for trekking in Mustang, Upper
Dolpo, Manaslu & Tibet.
The
best period to visit Tibet is from April to November. And
for trekking/camping trips specially to Everest & Mt.
Kailash the best period is from May-June & Sept-Oct.
VISA
Nepal
– Visas for Nepal can be obtained from any Nepalese embassy
or consulate abroad or on arrival at Kathmandu airport or
any other land entry points. 60 days visa will be issued and
cost USD 30. Those traveling onto Tibet, Bhutan or Sikkim
should obtain single or double re-entry visas depending upon
ones requirement. Single re-entry visa cost USD 25 & double
re-entry visa cost USD 40.
Tibet
– Since tourism in Tibet is restricted by the state visa for
Tibet is issued only for group tours. At the moment the regulation
calls for minimum 5 pax in a group to be eligible for visas.
Once we receive your booking confirmation with deposit &
passport details, we process your visa via Tibet Tourism Bureau
(TTB) in Lhasa. We then submit your original passport to the
Chinese Embassy once your visa is approved by TTB. Normal
Tibet visa cost USD 30. And if visa is required to be issued
in less than 3 days then is a visa rush charge of USD 30.
The
journey from Kathmandu should be viewed as an adventure,
not just a sightseeing bus tour. The road itself was poorly
constructed and is prone to closure by landslides, particularly
from June through September. It can be very dusty and some
kind of facemask is a good idea to take along. As you drive
to altitudes of over 17000 feet at some points, altitude
sickness becomes a real possibility and most will feel some
symptoms. You must make sure to drink plenty of fluids to
help you acclimatize. The choice of hotels en route (except
Lhasa) is extremely limited. Hotels are basic with showers,
flush toilet, a small shop, a restaurant and the laundry
facilities only. Food is not readily available en route
until the stopover hotels are reached. We recommend you
carry packed lunch from the hotels. We suggest you bring
a canteen or water bottle with purification tablet or water
filter pump and refill your bottles at every opportunity.
Meals en route (until Lhasa) tend to be greasy and you may
want to bring snacks or other foodstuff with you. We therefore
suggest you to carry tinned food, biscuits, chocolates,
cheese, drinking chocolate/coffee, soup cubes, instant noodles,
vegetables, nuts and raisins, chewing gum, etc.
RECOMMENDED
CLOTHING:
Depending
on the trip grade & period, we give below a general list
of recommended clothing & accessories.
Sun
glass, Sun hat, suntan lotion, chopstick, comfortable walking
shoes/boots, flash flight, utility knife, medical kit, windbreaker,
rain coat/umbrella, few change of clothes, sleeping bags,
small rucksack. In the cold months heavier clothing such as
down jacket, thermal underwear, woolen sweaters are recommended.
We provide
insurance coverage to all of our field trekking staffs.
However, we do not have any insurance provision for trip
participants. Hence we strongly recommend all our clients
to get insured in their own home country that covers cancellation,
accident, health, emergency evacuation & loss of or
damage to baggage & personal effects.
CLOTHING
Casual
wear and comfortable walking shoes are the rule for Tibet.
Be sure to bring warm clothing as nights and early mornings
can be quite chilly to downright cold in winter months.
Bring all your own film, medicine, cosmetics, personal toilet
items, etc. as these are difficult if not impossible to
obtain in Tibet. A small first aid kid is also a good idea,
although our representatives also carry basic medical supplies.
TIME
China
time is 2 hours and 15 minutes ahead of Nepal time in winter
and 3 hours and 15 minutes in the summer.
ALTITUDE
SICKNESS
As Lhasa
lies at over 12000 feet, you are likely to experience some
of the minor symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness
(headache, mild nausea, loss of appetite) until your body
adjusts to the elevation. This can take from a few hours
to a couple of days, depending on the individual. Take it
lightly, but drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids. Proper
hydration is critical to acclimatization.
Satyam
Tours and Travels Pvt. Ltd. will make every effort to make
your journey very smooth and pleasant. However, all programs
in Tibet are conducted strictly under the rules and regulations
of the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Therefore, Satyam Tours and
Travels or its Tibetan counterpart cannot be responsible
for any change or alterations in the itinerary due to unavoidable
circumstances such as landslide, road blockage, flood, snow,
political unrest, cancellation of flights, delayed arrivals,
sickness or accidents. Any extra cost incurred thereof shall
be borne by the clients. It is most advisable all clients
to have full insurance against medical and personal accidents.
Cancellation insurance is also highly recommended.
MONEY
MATTER: Travelers checks and credit cards are
difficult to exchange. US$ cash is best for all Tibet tours.
The present rate of exchange is US$ 1 = Yuan 8.00 ( subject
to change)
AIRPORT
TAX: Departure tax when leaving China is 90 Yuan
(about USD $11). Also, airport construction fee of 50
Yuan (about USD $6) per flight has been levied on all domestic
flights. These fees must be paid in cash at the time.
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