Most importantly, all travelers traveling in
Tibet are kindly requested to bear in mind that Tibet being
extremely remote isolated by the most formidable Himalayas ranges,
remains still one of the most captivating but least developed
parts in the world. With its very short history of tourism (just
about 12 years), the facilities for tourists although being
upgraded are still at basic and limited scale. So, the visitors
are requested not have high expectation in terms of facilities
in Tibet. You can rather take this tour as an adventure from
every point of view. However, we will always put all our efforts
to make your journey as pleasant as possible.
Overcoming
altitude problems: Traveling in Tibet is an adventure
involving high altitude and could be strenuous. So far, most
visitors have only minor effects from the altitude. However,
we advice especially the guests with known heart or lungs or
blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Mild
headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder can take
place before acclimatization. Our advice: Drink 4 ltr of water
minimum a day. Do not exhaust yourself of much and breathe deep
and take rest mote than usual. Bottled water is available in
each hotel where you have overnight and in the restaurant en
route where you have your lunch.
Landslides: As Tibet tours
get opened mainly during the monsoon time; there are high chances
of landslides mostly in the Nepalese part (also in the early
part in Tibet). In case of landslides, to over cross them and
the gap in between, extra vehicle with porters may have to be
arranged. In that case, you are kindly requested to contribute
nominal charges for porters and vehicle, ranging from Rs. 200
to 300 per person. We wish there will be no hassles as such.
Money: Banks in Tibet/China
are closed on Saturday and Sunday. So you are kindly requested
to carry about US$ 100.00 per person in cash to cover your extra
expenses for your main meals and others en route until Lhasa.
If it is cash dollars, even local people help you to get them
exchanged in Chinese Yuan. Travelers Cheques and credit cards
are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks especially
out side Lhasa. Exchange rate from US$ to Yuan is about 8 Yuan
from 1 US$.
Next, if any of the clients pay for the Tibet
tour in TC, one afternoon you are kindly requested to accompany
the guide to the bank in Lhasa for about 15 minutes and please
make an extra counter signature on the TCs you have paid. Your
direct present and counter signature ensures immediate encashment
of the TCs to our agent in Lhasa. Otherwise, it may take months.
Your kind co-operation in this regard will be highly appreciated.
Guide: we always try to provide
a good English Speaking Tibetan guide. However, as Tibetan guides
do not get enough exposure to English Language in Tibet, please
do not expect fluent and spontaneous explanation from him/her.
Your frequent questioning will encourage him/her to explain
well, question by question.
Monastery fee: It is included
through out your tour for the monuments and monasteries as mentioned
in the itinerary.
Visa Arrangement: The Chinese
visa with special Tibet permit for traveling to Tibet will be
procedure by us. Your passport should reach us at least 2 weeks
prior to departure date to procedure Chinese visa and Tibet
Permit. Normal procedure for Chinese visa and Tibet Permit takes
5 working days. Normal visa fee is US$ 26.00 Per Person. An
urgent fee of US$ 17 additional is applicable for the visa to
be procedure within a day.
The Embassy of China (in Kathmandu) is open
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09 AM - 11 AM for Chinese
visa/Tibet Permit.
Hotel en route: As the facilities
in Tibet are very basic, hotels, although they look gorgeous,
do not have proper facilities even in Lhasa. So, in the remote
areas, it is obvious that hotels may not have enough double
rooms and clients sometimes may have to have triple, four or
five bedded rooms in the some places. However, we always try
to provide twin bedded rooms. Especially, first two nights have
to be spent in such hotels that may not have bathrooms attached
and could require you to use common toilets. So, you are kindly
requested not to have a high expectation from the tour in the
term of the facilities in the Hotels.
Recommended Restaurants in Lhasa: Eating
out in Lhasa is enjoyable. The following restaurants are recommended
that serve cheap and best food ranging from Tibetan to Chinese,
continental to semi-Chinese.
01. Snow land Restaurant/Barkhor
02. Crazy Yak Restaurant/Barkhor
03. Kailash Restaurant/on the roof top of HTL Banaksol
04. Duniya Resturant/Borkhor
05. Barkhor Cafe/Barkhor
06. Make ame Resturant/Barkhor
07. Lhasa Kitchen/Barkhor
Estimated expense for food in Tibet:
En route in Lhasa
Lunch Aprox. 20 Yuan 35 Yuan
Dinner Aprox. 25 Yuan 60 Yuan
Breakfast: From the first day
onward, breakfast will be offered after an hour's drive from
Kathmandu at a Mountain Resort at Dhulikhel. So, please do not
bother for breakfast in your Hotel, which may cause delay to
report to the bus stand. Breakfast is included through out your
tour.
Tipping: Guides and drivers
are not paid well in Tibet. So, you are kindly requested to
tip the guide and driver so as to enable us to have them happy
for our future groups as well.
Last minute checking: very
importantly, on the last day, if you are traveling in a group,
please make sure your guide has the original visa copy with
him (if you are traveling in group) and other necessary travel
documents (travel permit for the group and alien's travel permit
for the individual travelers) before you leave your hotel for
the airport for the final departure. This is all to enable you
to check out from the immigration without any hassle.
Clothing Accessories:
From Oct.-March warm clothes are required to fight the frostily
cold and from April-September light clothes to shun the scorching
heat. However a jacket and sweater are advised through out the
years as the weather may unexpectedly changes at any time. The
recommended items are: A domestic first aid kit; water purification
tablets (mineral water can be bought as well) toilet and tissue
papers, flashlight, sleeping bag, comfortable walking shoes,
dust masks, utility knife, sun hat, sun glasses, suntan lotion
and a limited number of clothes. A good guide book on Tibet,
Kathmandu - Lhasa route map
Airport Tax: Airport tax in
Lhasa airport is Yuan 90 (US$ 12).
