Top Misunderstandings of Tibet Winter Tour

Do you know? Winter is also a good season to visit Tibet. Let us talk about some of the misunderstandings of Tibet winter tour.

Top 1: In Winter, Tibet is very cold, and even more colder than northeastern China, and snowing is heavy.

It is true that winter in northeastern China is really really cold and snows heavily. However, in Tibet, it is warm because there is enough sun lights and there is no snow. The winter of Tibet is from November to next February. During these 120 days, sunny days have about 110 days, account for 90%. For a mouth, there are up to three days rainy weather, and the rest are mainly days with blue sky and white clouds. The temperature is up 20 degrees and the lowest 10 degrees during the daytime, and at night the maximum is 10 degrees and the lowest is -10 degrees. The humidity is not heavy, so not as cold as in the southern China.

In Lhasa, it often has heavy snows from the end of March to early April, but for other months you will be disappointed if you come to Lhasa for the snow.

Top 2 In Winter, Tibet hasn’t enough oxygen content

Throughout a year, the season with the highest oxygen content is Autumn. The relative oxygen content is about 70%. Indeed, Tibet has the lowest oxygen content in the winter, but it is only 3%-4% lower than that of Autumn. In Tibet, it is true that there is low oxygen content, so how it is important when it is low a few percentage points?

Top 3 In Winter, Tibet hasn’t beautiful scenies

If you come to Tibet in Winter, you can see the face of Mount Everest and Namjagbarwa Peak easily. Especially for Namjagbarwa Peak, it is 95% visible probability. You can see the different beautiful sceneries of Tanggula Snow-capped Mountains because Namtso Lake face is frozen during the whole winter.

Top 4 In Winter, Tibet hasn’t leaves

As all known, Nyingchi is the “Jiangnan of Tibet” and “Eastern Switzerland”. In Nyingchi, influenced by the Yarlung Zangbo River, it is green all year round, incl. Green mountains, green trees, and even green water.

Therefore, travelling to Tibet in winter, you will enjoy different beautiful scenery.

When is the Best Time to Hike in Tibet

Advanced Everest Base CampTrekking

Tibet is a really great place for trekking and hiking. Then when is the best time to hike in Tibet?

My answer to this question is there is no best time of year for everybody. The best time for you will depend on how high you intend to hike, how you feel about Tibet, and your tolerance for cold, and dampness.

Each season has its pros and cons, April, May, September and October are relatively better than other months. In these months, there is less rain that can stop your hiking tour in Tibet and it is also not too hot to walk in the wildness of Tibet. You can also enjoy the beautiful landscapes and it is more safer during your hiking tour.

If you plan a Tibet hiking tour in Summer (July and August) or Winter (from November to February), I really advise you to reconsider your plan, because Summer is the rainy season, and during your trip it may be rain falling and even snow falling at the area of high altitude. It is very dangerous if you encounter heavy snow or rain.

In Winter, it is very cold and all regions are almost covered by snow among most of time. When it is snowing, it is almost impossible to have a safe Tibet hiking tour, such as:
3 Days Ganden Monastery Trekking to Samye Monastery, 
3 Days Shalu Monastery Trekking to Nartang Monastery, 
4 Days Tsurphu Monastery to Yangpachen, 
5 Days ABC Trekking (Rongpuk Monastery - Advanced Everest Base Camp - Rongpuk Monastery).

Shalu Monastery Trekking to Nartang Monastery

Tsurphu Monastery trek to Yangpachen

Nepal - West of Tibet, Cheaper than Thailand, Better than Bhutan

Towards west from Tibet, there is a country where gods as many as people, temples as many as houses. It is the birthplace of Shakya Mani, is the last piece of pure land, and is a lifetime dream of tourists.

Here, the landscape may not be said to be the first in Asia, but should be one of the top three.

What to attract tourists all over the world again and again to come back here is the humanities, the old buildings with unique characteristics in South Asia, the mysterious religious atmosphere which is the gift of the world, and Mount Everest - the world’s highest peak.

It is Nepal.

It is a poor but happy country, a tragic earthquake but still colorful travel destination.

Many people said, he, who ever travelled to Nepal, just is entitled to talk about travel. Why?

In Nepal, there are 4 world cultural and natural heritages. Although many heritages were devastated by the earthquake 2015, they has been rebuilt. It has an unique meaning.

In addition, the world famous tourist sites are waiting for you, including Mount Qomolangma as the symbol of the Sagarmatha National Park, Royal Chitwan National Park with many wild animals, and Lumbini as the birthplace of Shakya Muni.

Nepal is also worthy of the name of “Mountain Country” because travellers can see 9 of 14 mountains over 8,000 meters in the world.

Thus, trekking in Nepal is one of the most popular outdoor activities here. Travellers measure mountains with their footsteps, touch and feel the magic nature with their body. Step by step working closer to the heart of the sacred mountain is the dream of many travellers.

How to get Tibet Travel Permit in Nepal & China

Many foreign travelers asked their travel agency in Tibet to mail their Tibet Travel Permit to their home before they depart from their country. But it is almost impossible, because there are only several days after your travel agency get customers’ Tibet Travel Permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau. Therefore, travel agency in Lhasa can only mail the original permit to one of cities in China.

There is three situations:

1. Travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa

Foreign travelers needn’t get their Tibet Travel Permit in advance. They just need ask travel agency in Lhasa to help them apply for Group Visa Invitation Letter and ask travel agency in Kathmandu to help them apply for Tibet Group Visa from Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal. Finally, they can board the flight with holding their passport, Group Visa and flight ticket.

2. Travel from one of cities in China by train

Nowadays, there are trains to Lhasa from Beijing, Chengdu, Xining, Xian, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, etc. If you board the train from Xian, Chongqing and Lanzhou, you need hold the original permit, so travel agency in Lhasa need mail it to you. If from other cities, you just need the copy of your Tibet Travel Permit, so you can ask Lhasa travel agency to send you the scanned copy of your Tibet Travel Permit, and you print it in color and then hold it to board the train to Lhasa.

3. Travel from one of cities in China by flight

No matter which city you will fly to Lhasa from, you need hold the original permit to board the flight. So Lhasa travel agency need mail the original permit to you.

The best way is that you arrange one night hotel in one of cities in China, and then ask Lhasa Travel Agency to mail your Tibet Travel Permit to your hotel. When you arrive at your hotel, you can pick it up at the hotel reception.

If you do not plan to arrange one night hotel, you need arrange enough time of flight layover. And your travel agency in Lhasa need find a man to transfer your Tibet Travel Permit to you. The method has a certain risk. If Lhasa travel agency can not find a man to deliver the permit or he can not deliver the permit to you on time, you can not board the flight and may miss the flight. So, many travel agencies in Lhasa ask clients to book one night hotel in China and then fly to Lhasa, Tibet. 

How to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit?

As is known to all, all International travellers must apply for Tibet Travel Permit and then travel to Tibet. Otherwise, you can not board the flight or train to Lhasa, Tibet. 

How to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit? 

This is a great problem. There are many good permit application guides online. I am here making a conclusion.

To apply for Tibet Travel Permit, there are two situations:

1. Enter into Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal

If you plan to travel to Tibet from Nepal, you needn’t apply for your China Visa in advance because you need apply for Tibet Tour Visa in Kathmandu and your China Visa will be expired automatically.

Firstly, travellers need find a travel agency in Lhasa and book Tibet trip with them. It takes several days to discuss about the itinerary. But contact with Tibet Vista, and you will get prompt response and it shorts the time.

Secondly, travellers need ask your Lhasa travel agency to help you apply Group Visa Invitation Letter from Tibet Tourism Bureau. It takes about 6 working days. At the meantime, Lhasa travel agency start to apply for Tibet Travel Permit.

Thirdly, after travellers arrive at Kathmandu, they need find a travel agency in Kathmandu to help them apply for Group Visa from Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. It takes about 1-3 working days according to travellers’ needs.

When travellers are boarding the flight, they just need hold Group Visa, passport and flight ticket. After they get off the flight, the tour guide in Lhasa will hold their Tibet Travel Permit to pick them up at Lhasa airport.

2. Enter into Tibet from cities of China

Most of International travellers plan to travel to China and then to Tibet. Nowadays, they can choose to fly or take a train to Lhasa from one of cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xining, etc.

Firstly, travellers need find a travel agency in Lhasa and book Tibet trip with them. It takes several days to discuss about the itinerary. But contact with Tibet Vista, and you will get prompt response and it shorts the time.

Secondly, travellers need send their passports and China Visa (L Visa is good) to Lhasa travel agency, and ask them to apply for Tibet Travel Permit. Usually, the application needs 14 days in advance.

If they do not have China Visa and the time is urgent, travelers can send their passports to Lhasa travel agency and then passport. China Visa can be received within 3-4 working days. Especially notice, when you are applying for your China Visa, do not mention Tibet as one of your trip destination. If mentioned, your China Visa might be rejected.

Thirdly, when travellers arrive at China, Lhasa travel agency will mail their permit to their hotel if they fly to Lhasa or email the permit copy to them if they take a train to Lhasa. The mailing process needs about 3 days.

After they arrive at Lhasa, they need give the original Tibet Travel Permit to their tour guide. It is illegal for them to take their permit privately.

In next blog, I will introduce how to get Tibet Travel Permit in China. 

Is it Safe to Travel to China & Tibet Nowadays

Yesterday, I received an inquiry asking about travelling to China and Tibet about 20 days, but I was shocked by his comment. In his email, he said that he was a little nervous because he had travellerd many places like India and thought travelling in China even more challenging, and he hopes it is safe and easy to meet people.

Actually, there is no need to nervous because travelling in China and Tibet is very safe. Although it might be challenging in aspect of language barrier, but more and more young Chinese can use English to communicate. If lost at the street, try to find young person for help.

For 20 days in China and Tibet, I recommend:

3 Days Shanghai Private Tour (Yuyuan Garden, the Bund, )

4 Days Beijing Group Tour (Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall)

2 Days Xian Group Tour (Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Big Goose Pagoda)

3 Days Guiling & Yangshuo Private Tour (Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill)

3 Days Chengdu Private Tour (Panda Base, Wuhou Temple, Leshan Buddha)

6 Days Tibet Group Tour (Potala Palace, Jokhang Templ, Namtso Lake or Tashilunpo Monastery.)

Tips and FAQs of Tibet Travels and Tours

According to the recent customer’s inquiry, I listed several travel tips and FAQs as below, incl. Best Time to Tibet, High-altitude Sickness, Tibet Travel Permit, Popular Tourist Attractions.

Best Time to Tibet

When is the Best Time to Travel to Tibet?

Most of local Tibet travel service website says: Summer to Autumn or April to October are the best time to travel to Tibet because in the period the temperatures are comfortable and oxygen content are higher than other period. You can visit more high altitudes with sun and enjoy the stunning views of the mountains.

That is true. In Tibet, the tourism starts from April and till December. In January and February, it is very cold and the road is often frozen. Some roads are closed, such as the road to Namtso Lake and Mount Kailash, and sometimes the road to Mount Everest is closed.

April, May and early June are the 1^st good time to visit Tibet, and the price is not high and there is no a number of Chinese visitors.

From late June to late August, there is a long Summer Holiday for Chinese students. Some of their parents choose to bring them to travel around the world. Tibet is one hot destination. During the period, it is hard to buy train ticket to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc; the price of flight ticket is also full price; it is also very experience by checking Tibet tour price from most of local professional Tibet travel service websites.

September and October are the 2^nd good time to visit Tibet and many sightseeing visitors choose to have their vacation in Tibet.

In November and December, visitors to Tibet become less and less. The prices of hotel, car rental and travel service also become very less. If you have a little budget, it is also a good time for you to visit Tibet.

High Altitude Sickness in Tibet

How to Prevent / Reduce High Altitude Sickness?

1. Avoid catching cold before you go to Tibet;

2. Drinking plenty of water is a must as it will prevent dehydration;

3. Eat light food rich in carbohydrates;

4. Avoid alcohol and smoking during travel to avoid dehydration;

5. Ascending slowly is the best way to avoid altitude sickness and avoid strenuous activity;

6. Get prophylaxis medications;

7. Please do as what your professional English-speaking Tibetan tour guide when you get the high altitude sickness.

If you need more details how to avoid the High Altitude Sickness in Tibet, please click to read.

Tibet Travel Permit

How to travel to Tibet better？

Independent travel to Tibet is not allowed recently. Travelers must reserve an organized Tibet itinerary from a Tibet local travel agency, such Tibet Vista, Tibet Tour Org, China Tibet Train. Tibet travel agency will organize the Tibet permit, tour guide and vehicles for you. If you would not like to join a Tibet group tour, you may take a private tour in Tibet.

How to get your Tibet travel permit?

To enter Tibet, you need apply for Chinese Visa form China Embassy in your country and Tibet travel permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau. Without a Tibet permit you will not be able to board a flight or train to Tibet. And you will not be able to get other travel permits you need to continue travelling throughout Tibet.

1. Apply for your Chinese Visa.
When you send the application letter to the China Embassy, please do not list Tibet as your travel destination. In most instances, your visa application will be rejected when you say you will travel to Tibet. (In another instance, if you plan to enter Tibet from Nepal, please do not apply your Chinese Visa in you country, because you will need reapply for it in Kathmandu.)

2. Send your passport and Chinese Visa.
After you confirm your itinerary with Tibet travel permit, you will need send the scanned images of your passport and Chinese Visa to them, and they will use the scanned images to apply for your Tibet Entry Permit, also known as Tibet Travel Permit, from Tibet Tourism Bureau.

3. Get your permit from your Tibet Travel Agency.
Several days before your travelling dates, and after several time to ask for stamps on permit, your travel agency will get your original permit, and they will send it to you. (If you choose fly to Lhasa, you will need the original permit to board the flight and they will mail it to your hotel or appointed point in China; if you take a train to Lhasa, they will send you the pictures of your Tibet Entry Permit and you can print it in color and hold it to board the train.)

  

Popular Tourist Attractions

Depending on a deep study of our travel service to our customers these years, I listed below top 5 popular tourist attractions that travellers must-see and shouldn’t miss whether you are first-time visitors or second-time visitors.

Top 1: Potala Palace

Being one of the UNESCO World Heritages and the Dalai Lama's former residence, Potala Palace is definitely a highlight for your Tibet tour. With its various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts, you will find so much history and culture to be absorbed in Tibet.

Top 2: Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple is another UNESCO World Heritage in Tibet, a Spiritual Center for Buddhists in Tibet. Watch pilgrims prostrating themselves on the ground while saying their prayers. You will be deeply moved by their devotion to Buddhism.

Top 3: Mount Everest Base Camp

Mount Qomolangma, usually known as Mount Everest, is one of the highest and the most famous mountains in the world. Everest Base Camp in Tibet side actually allows travelers to see the summit of Everest, without days of hard trekking. A tour bus can drive you up to the Base Camp at 5,200m.

Waking closer early in the morning to see the sunrise and the silver crests of the Himalayas. No words can be used to describe the feeling of watching the king of all mountains and imagining a short moment that you are there - at the top of the world!

Top 4: Lake Namtso

Lake Namtso, meaning heavenly lake in Tibetan, is the 2^nd lake of Tibet and the 3^rd largest saltwater lake in China. The lake is truly gorgeous. The turquoise water and Snow Mountains make for spectacular pictures. 2 days tour from Lhasa to Lake Namtso is better than one day tour. 4 days biking tour from Lhasa to Lake Namtso and back is chosen by most of biking lover.

Top 5: Mount Kailash & Lake Manasarovar

Mount Kailash, also named as "Gang Rinproche" in Tibetan, is the highest peak in the Gangdise Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet.

As one of three holy lakes in Tibet, Manasarovar Lake, also named as "Mapam Yumco, Mapham Yu Tso", is the highest freshwater lake in the world. In Sanskrit, it is called as "Mansarovar", which is a combination of the words Manas ( mind ) and Sarovar ( lake ). 3 days Mount Kailash kora about 52km or 4 days Manasarovar yatra around 90km is often chosen by most of Tibet trekking tour lovers.

Tibet is a place of mystery and wonder where you can witness timeless religion, people and landscapes. Come and explore it yourself.