General Information:
1. When is the best time to come?
The best time to visit Tibet is from early May to late October. Because the weather in Tibet would be not harsh, and secondly it is best time to visit Mt. Everest Base Camp (if you plan to go there).
2. What’s the weather like in Tibet?
Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhatse - Tingri - Nylam:basically in good conditions year around. But from December to February, the thawed road could make some trouble. Try to avoid August - landslide might happen in the rainy season.
Mt.Everest Area: Early May and early October are the best time to visit Mt. Everest. If you are luky, you might have great chance to see Mt. Everest's true face. From December to February, you'd better not to go to this area because it is too cold.
Ali (Mt.Kailash): Even without climate restrictions, this area is already inhospitable. Heavy rain and snow could make the journey worse. However, the appropriate time are in May, June, July, September and October.
Eastern Tibet: Don't go to this area in July or August as the rain could ruin the road, and make terrible landslides. In winter, the road could be frozen.
Northern Tibet: With the average altitude of 4,500m, this area offers very limited time for tourists. July to August are the prime time to enjoy the great plain in northern Tibet.
3. What to bring?
We do suggest casual attire and layered clothing. In the day time you may need only a T-shirt or at most a jacket, but at night you may need a coat. Down coat is necessary if you go beyond Lhasa and Shigatse to remote areas, the Everest Camp or further to Mt.Kailash.
Sun glasses, sun blocking cream, moisture scream are very necessary to be in your packing list.
4. What currency do I have to use in Tibet?
The legal tender in Tibet is Renminbi (RMB). Foreign currencies can not be used directly but could be converted into RMB at all banks, or hotels .The Bank of China in Tibet is the bank which specializes in money exchange.
5. ATM in Tibet?
You won't have any problems finding an ATM in Lhasa and Shigatse, although you probably won't be able to find one in remote areas or the smaller towns. However, this situation is changing, and ATMs are gradually spreading out in more and more places.
6. What credit cards are accepted?
Actually it is often accepted in big cities in Tibet. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's club, and the JCB are accepted only in large shopping stores.
Travel Document
1. What documents do I need ?
A valid passport, and China visa and a Tibet travel permit (sometimes people call it Entry permit or TTB, or Tibet visa).
2. Do I need Visa for China?
All visitors traveling to mainland China, do need a visa. No Visa is required prior to enter Hong Kong,and will be issued upon arrival. If you travel beyond Hong Kong, even for a few hours, you will need a China visa .
3. How can I get China visa in Hong Kong?
It is usually very easy to apply for a China visa in Hong Kong. You can get a visa yourself at:
Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
5th Floor, Lower Block
26 Harbor Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: ++852-25851657 OR ++852-25851680 OR ++852-25851794
Please Note:
1) You need to go there Monday to Friday during business hours.
2) 'Fast Process' means: the visa should be processed the same day.
Requirements to obtain a Visa in Hong Kong
- One recent passport photo.
- Passport which needs to be valid at least more than 3 months.
- Call the office before your visit.
- China Tourist and Business (F) Visa can be obtained easily in Hong Kong. It can be obtained with the help of a travel agent but at least needs 3 full working days .
4. Do I need double/multi-entry visa if I come to Tibet from China mainland and return China mainland after the trip?
No, because Tibet is a part of China, if enter Tibet from other cities in China mainland and after the trip in Tibet, only a single entry visa is required.
5. If I travel via Nepal to Tibet, are there any special requirements on China visa?
Before you coming to Lhasa from Katmandu, you must get China visa in Katmandu because no matter you've already got the visa in your country or not, you must get a visa in Katmandu, which is regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal. The fastest way is that we send the Invitation Letter to Katmandu at least one day prior to your arrival in Katmandu, then you can apply for China Visa in the second day easily, which will takes 1-2 days. Chinese Visa fees: US$ 50.00 payable in cash upon arrival in Katmandu [US$ 70.00 for US Citizens].
The Chinese embassy in Katmandu only opens for visa application on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am to 11:30am. The application will take at least one working day, please confirm your schedule for the visa application.
6. What’s the procedure to get China visa in Katmandu?
Step 1: After you book the tour, please provide your copy of passport information.
Step 2: We will apply the ‘Visa Invitation Letter’ from Tibet Tourism Bureau, we will fax it to our Nepal business partner before your arrival in Katmandu.
Step 3: After your arrival in Katmandu, our Nepal business partner will try to find you in your hotel, then go to the Chinese Embassy together to apply the Chinese Visa. With the ‘Visa Invitation Letter’, you can get your Chinese Visa very easily.
7. What is Tibet Travel Permit?
Tibet Travel Permit is the official document for foreign traveler to enter Tibet. It is granted by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Tibet Travel Permit sometimes is also called Tibet Entry Permit or TTB permit.
There are two kinds of permits (Tibet visa) for traveling in Tibet: the entry permit (TTB permit) and the Alien's travel permit (PSB permit). You can get them easily from U-WayTours.
TTB Permit - Tibet Entry Permit (Tibet visa)
PSB Permit - Alien's Travel Permit
How to get the travel permits?
It's quite easy for you to get a travel permit with our help. Simply send us your information of:
- full name;
- gender;
- date of birth;
- passport number;
- nationality
And you need to tell us your occupation because journalists and people that could be involved in political matters could be revoked .You aslo need to apply for the travel permit at least 10 days prior to your entry date.
Please note that if you do not book any tour from us, we can not help you to get the permits. No travel agency can provide "permit-only" service. Here is a note from Lonely Planet:
"Lhasa PSB will not issue travel permits to individuals and will direct you to a travel agency. Agencies can arrange a travel permit to almost anywhere but only if you book a Land Cruiser, driver and a guide."
Important Issues about Tibet Travel Permit
1. All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.
2. With the permit, you could buy the air tickets, and check-in at the airport and the check point reroute.
3. Only our guide could hold the permitwhen you are in Tibet.You are not allowed to travel to anywhere with it wherever you want because you do need another permit named as "Aliens’ Permit". Otherwise if you are stopped by the police you will be sent out of Tibet or have trouble politically and economically. Furthermore, the travel agency which helped to get you the permit will also be in big trouble.
Therefore seriously not any legitimate travel agency could sell you the Tibet permit if you do not book a tour with them. Weare quite sure you would like to be in trouble due to a "sold" Tibet permit after you pay a lot of money for the tour.
4. There is a service charge (by the government) to get the Tibet permit. And it also takes time, paper work, transportation fee and delivery fee to get a permit for you, so UWT will charge an extra fee for the permits.
Question: How much is Tibet permit?
Please note that we never SELL a permit. We only help you abtain a permit from the local authority. As mentioned above, the cost for a permit includes the charge by the government and the service fee by UWT. Usually this cost is included in the quotation for a package tour.
Question: How long can I get Tibet Permit?
Generally it needs three days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents. But if it needs another 3 days (or more) to Express Deliver the permit.
There is a trick that when you apply for China visa, please do not mention Tibet. otherwise you have to wait for Tibet permit and it is much easier to get the permit with the Chinese visa. In our experience seldom does TTB refuse tourists if they are not diplomat, journalist, government officials.
Other documents:
If you are coming to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you'd better get China visa from Kathmandu because no matter you've already got the visa in your country or not, you must get a visa in Kathmandu, which is regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal.
8. What do I need to do to obtain the Tibet Travel Permit?
You need provide us with the high quality scanned copies of your passport and China visa, and the following information as well.
- full name;
- gender;
- date of birth;
- passport number;
- nationality
9. When do I need to apply for the Tibet travel Permit?
You need to apply for the travel permit at least 10 days prior to your entry date, which means you should prepare all the information and documents in hand before this period of time.
10. With this Tibet Travel Permit, where can I go in Tibet?
Tibet Travel Permit (or TTB) only endorses you to enter Tibet, to stay in Lhasa area and two another major towns of Tibet like Gyantse and Shigatse. If you are planning to travel beyond and farther, you are required to prepare the PSB Permit for which Access Tibet Tour could help you to apply.
11. How can you send the Permit to me, or how can I receive it?
a. If your last stop before entering Tibet is in China mainland, we can mail express the travel permit to the place you will be staying, e.g. your home address, postal code if you work and live in China, or the hotel name, address, postal code if you are travel in China. You will be receive the permit by EMS.
b. If you only have a flight connection in one certain city, we will have someone come to the airport to pass the permit.
12. Besides your sightseeing tours, any other special tours like trekking, hiking, rafting, horse riding, etc?
Yes, we do provide all the above special tours you mentioned, and the mixture of different kinds. We offer the trekking tour, adventure tour, hiking and even rafting. we do offer two kinds of rafting: one is mild for elder people .The other kind is the exciting rafting which will cost a few hours covering 30 km. For trekking, you will have yaks and a chef besides our guide.
13. What is the way to pay us?
1). Wire transfer (we will send you our company bank account info via email);
2). Credit card (we will send you a credit card authorization letter via email);
3). Paypal (we will send you the Paypal payment link via email).
14. How can I pay the balance?
You can pay the balance either by cash or by credit card upon your arrival in Lhasa.
15. Why is the money you charged to my credit card more than that you claimed to me?
The rules of Tibet (China) Government do not allow us to charge in foreign currencies. Credit card payments charged in CNY (RMB) are based upon the prevailing rates in China. Your card issuing bank will debit you in local currency and U-WayTours will have no control on the rate of conversion used by your card company.The amount charged from your credit card might be slightly different from the amount on the credit card authorization form.
16. What is your cancellation policy?
We suggest you book your Tibet tour at least 45 days before your arrival date, especially for the peak season of August and September. Below is our reservation policy.
a. If the booking is made two months (60 days) prior to your arrival in Lhasa, a deposit of 30% of the total tour cost plus transportation fares (flight, train) is required to secure your reservation when you confirm your trip with us.
b. If the booking is made within two months (60 days), but 15 days prior to your arrival in Lhasa, a deposit of 50% of the total tour cost plus transportation fares (flight, train)is required to secure your reservation when you confirm your trip with us.
c. If the booking is made within 15 days prior to your arrival in Lhasa, you are required to pay in full, i.e. total tour cost and transportation fares.
Note:For your finacial safety, we will send you the reservation informations of the hoels, airtickets,train tickets and other reservation with the recomformation of your tour, so you could make sure that your money does to the right way!
Alteration, Cancellations and Refunds
• Alteration
We provide free service to modify your itinerary two times after you confirm to book your tour. We do provide unlimited alteration to meet your ultimate satisfaction, but from the third time we charge a $20 surcharge for every new modification. Too late alteration might not be accepetable.
• Cancellation
You may cancel your confirmed booking, but this must be in writing. But cancellation occurs after your confirmation to book the tour, or if you fail to pay the full cost of the tour within the specified time, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges.
• - If you cancel your tour more than 30 days before the start of your tour with us you forfeit $100 from the deposit you paid. We will refund the rest of the deposit back to you in 30 days. (Other travel agencies require the full deposit.)
• - If you cancel your tour within 30 days but more than 7 days before the start of your tour you forfeit 30% of the cost of your tour.
• - If you cancel your tour within 7 days of the start of your tour you forfeit 50% of the cost of your tour.
• - If you cancel the tour programs due to your own reasons when touring in Tibet, there is no refund of any expense you have already paid.
• - If you want to book some extra programs, you need to pay for the cost.
**The effective date of notification regarding cancellation will begin when the notification is received at our premises in writing (email or fax).
• Refunding
- If you have paid your deposit but then cancel the tour more than 30 days before the start of your tour, we will refund all the deposit except $100 cancellation fee.
Responsibility
According to the Tibet government's policies, diplomats, journalists, and government officials should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government. U-WayTours will not arrange any travel service for these people. If any one of your party is of one of the above occupations, please contact the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet government directly. If we found (from your passport) any one of your party is a diplomat or a journalist or a government official upon your arrival, we will have to send you back immediately, or transfer you to Foreign Affairs Office.
The responsibility of U-WayTours and its affiliated companies is strictly limited. As a tour operator, UWTorganizes, promotes, and sells tour programs consisting of certain travel services, including surface, air, and water transportation, sightseeing excursions, and cruise/hotel accommodations that UWT purchases or reserves from various suppliers. UWT does not own or operate any of these suppliers. The Suppliers providing travel services for UWT’s tour programs are independent contractors, and are not agents or employees of UWT. Our company is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any supplier or of any third party. Some tours include visits to shops and merchants. UWT is not responsible for any purchases you make during your trip, whether that merchant is part of the scheduled itinerary or not. By utilizing the travel services of the Suppliers, you agree that you will look to such Suppliers for any accident, injury, property damage, or personal loss to you or to those traveling with you, and that neither UWT nor any representative of UWT shall be liable.
Without limitation, UWT is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay, or inconvenience in connection with the provision of, or failure to provide, any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from—but not limited to—acts of God or force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of airplanes of other means of transportation or for the failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time, sanitation problems, lack of medical care, or for any other cause beyond the direct control of UWT.
UWT reserves the right to correct promotional or pricing errors at any time, or to increase the program price in the event of cost increases due to changes in airfares, cruise fares, currency fluctuations, park fee increases, taxes, or fuel surcharges. UWT reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of any tour or to cancel or alter the tour without notice, in which event your sole remedy shall be a prorated refund for any unused portion of the trip. Hotels and other accommodations are subject to change.
Due to the special geographical conditions in Tibet, sometime your tour itinerary must be changed in case of road collapse, and construction, military or government injunction, etc. If any extra cost incurred in such cases, the passengers are responsible to pay for the extra cost.
Air Arrangements
Any penalties resulting from flight changes at your request after flights are ticketed will be your responsibility. If you cancel your trip after receiving your tickets, you must return your tickets to UWT before your refund (if applicable) is processed.
Air routings are subject to availability. Routings cannot be guaranteed, and are subject to change at any time. UWT is not responsible if an airline cancels or delays a flight. If that occurs, you should work with the airline to ensure you arrive at your destination but with our help. UWT will not provide any refund for portions of trips missed due to cancelled or delayed flights. If an air schedule requires an overnight stay in a gateway city, UWT can assist with hotel reservations; however, if a flight requires a layover, overnights are at your expense.
Medical Issues
You must advise us in writing, at or prior to booking, of any physical, emotional or mental condition which may require professional attention during the trip or may require the use of special equipment. If you fail to disclose any such conditions, UWT may refuse to allow you to take the trip and you will forfeit the trip cost;
If you are so challenged, you must bring and be responsible for all necessary items related to your condition. If any such condition arises after the trip is booked, you must advise us in writing immediately. Failure to advise us shall release UWT and all professional personnel from any liability related to such condition or its treatment.
If you require a wheelchair, you must provide your own small, collapsible wheelchair. Certain features, and certain trips, are not wheelchair-accessible. We cannot guarantee any wheelchair assistance or accessibility in international destinations. UWT reserves the right to decline any trip participant whose condition, in our opinion, may affect the health, safety or enjoyment of other participants.
UWT is not responsible for the costs of any medical treatment you may require during the trip. Under no circumstances is our responsiblity for the quality of medical care, or lack thereof you may receive while on the trip.
17. What are the hotels like in Tibet?
4 Star hotels is quite limited in Tibet. The newer hotels have been built away from the city center in order to protect the city history and environment. These hotels have central heating in winter but no cooling is available in summer. We would still warn that the facilities and service standard may not be as you would expect from a hotel with this rating in other parts of the world. Older hotels located in the city have a good location but will not provide the level of comfort of the newer hotels and may not have any central heating. The level of service and facilities may be quite basic. Staffs will probably speak little English. Hotels in small cities and the Everest Base camp are very poor. They will usually have a public bathroom with squat toilet.
18. Can explain what the budget guesthouse, comfortable hotel and best available hotel are?
One thing you should bury in mind is that hotels in Tibet concerning its facility and service are not as what you imagine. Not like hotels in big cities in China and other cities abroad.
Budget guesthouse has a few kinds. One is the twin room with or without the bathroom in it. The other is triple, four-bed rooms, and more beds rooms named dormitory which all have no private bathroom in them. Former one can be easily found in Lhasa and Shigatse, while later one is often the choice in remote area in Tibet.
Comfortable hotels on our website refer to middle class hotels, or standard hotels regarding to its location, or price, or comprehensive service ability. They are usually three star hotels, or comparatively good 2 star hotels.
The best available hotels are the 4 star hotels. But can only be reached in Lhasa. The best available hotels in the region out of Lhasa are generally 3 star hotels, and in some places hotels with no star, but comparatively of good condition.
19. What are the hotel rooms like in hotels in Tibet?
Often, in a room, there are two beds. Some hotels have queen bed room and some even have triple room. But the number of queen bed room and triple is very limited.
20. Does the hotel room have access to internet?
Some hotel rooms, not all, in Lhasa have access to internet, so you should inquiry your travel advisor for accurate information before making decision. But some hotel has business center where you can use internet service.
21. Is there 24-hour hot water running?
Due to basic condition in Tibet, sometimes with the poor pressure, the water flow may small and water sometime is not hot but just warm. In remote area, the condition can be even worse.
22. What can I eat in Tibet?
In Lhasa, you can choose Chinese food, western food, Nepali food and Tibetan food as well. But in remote towns and areas, choices are limited, Chinese food or Sichuan cuisine is the best choice.
Transportation:
23. What are the baggage regulations when flying inside China?
Carry-on baggage: The maximum carry-on baggage allowance for each economy class passenger is 5kg. First class passengers can have 2 pieces of carry on luggage.. The size may not exceed 20x40x55cm. Carry-on baggage in excess of the limit is subject to an excess baggage fee and must be carried as checked baggage.
Check-in Baggage: Adult and children are entitled to a free checked baggage allowance of 40kg, for first class, 30kg, for business class, and 20kg, for economy class while traveling on domestic airlines in China. No free baggage allowance is granted to infants.
Groups traveling together are able to combine their baggage allowance if they check in together
Prohibited Items:: The following items are prohibited and cannot be carried in checked or carry-on luggage:
Flammable, explosive, corrosive, poisonous, radioactive, polymerizable and magnetized materials. Passengers are forbidden to carry arms, sharp or lethal weapons during flight.
24. Can you help buy the domestic flight ticket in China？
Yes, we do offer the help to get a demostic air ticket within China.
25 Is it easy to purchase a train ticket to Tibet now?
The popularity of train travel to Tibet has resulted in the huge demand for train tickets. It's very difficult for individual travelers to get a ticket on their own. Reliable travel agencies can NOT guarantee successful booking. We do suggest fly into Tibet and return by a train which is much easier.
Timetable and Ticket Prices for Trains to Tibet
Timetable and Ticket Prices for Trains to Tibet
| Train # | From | Dep. Time | To | Arr. Time | Total Distance | Total Hours |
| T27 | Beijing | 21:30 | Lhasa | 20:00 (3rd day) | 4,064km | 46hrs 30min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Daily | ||||||
| T28 | Lhasa | 08:30 | Beijing | 07:34 (3rd day) | 4,064km | 47hrs 04min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Daily | ||||||
| T22/3 | Chengdu | 20:36 | Lhasa | 17:21 (3rd day) | 3,360km | 44hrs 45min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec, Even Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct | ||||||
| T24/1 | Lhasa | 10:45 | Chengdu | 08:25 (3rd day) | 3,360km | 45hrs 40min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec, Even Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct | ||||||
| T222/3 | Chongqing | 19:42 | Lhasa | 17:21 (3rd day) | 3,654km | 45hrs 39min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct, Even Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec | ||||||
| T224/1 | Lhasa | 10:45 | Chongqing | 09:17 (3rd day) | 3,654km | 46hrs 32min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct, Even Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec | ||||||
| K917 | Lanzhou | 17:15 | Lhasa | 21:50 (2nd day) | 2,188km | 28hrs 35min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct, Even Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec | ||||||
| K918 | Lhasa | 11:20 | Lanzhou | 15:27 (2nd day) | 2,188km | 28hrs 07min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec, Even Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct | ||||||
| N917 | Xining | 20:28 | Lhasa | 21:50 (2nd day) | 1,972km | 25hrs 22min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec, Even Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct | ||||||
| N918 | Lhasa | 11:20 | Xining | 11:44 (2nd day) | 1,972km | 24hrs 24min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct, Even Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec | ||||||
| T164/5 | Shanghai | 20:08 | Lhasa | 21:00 (3rd day) | 4,373km | 48hrs 52min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec, Even Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct | ||||||
| T166/3 | Lhasa | 10:00 | Shanghai | 10:58 (3rd day) | 4,373km | 48hrs 58min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct, Even Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec | ||||||
| T264/5 | Guangzhou | 13:07 | Lhasa | 21:00 (3rd day) | 4,980km | 55hrs 53min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct, Even Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec | ||||||
| T266/3 | Lhasa | 10:00 | Guangzhou | 18:10 (3rd day) | 4,980km | 56hrs 10min |
| Frequency (Year 2007): Odd Days in May/Aug/Nov/Dec, Even Days in Jun/Jul/Sep/Oct | ||||||
26. Do I need a heath report when I travel by train to Tibet?
All travelers are required to complete a heath report on the train to Tibet.
27 What vehicle do you use in Tibet?
If the tour is mainly around Lhasa, you are suggested to use minivan as the road condition around Lhasa is pretty good, and the minivan costs less as well. If the tour is covering some places with bad road condition and long distance, we are offering 4WD off road vehicles.
28 What should we pack befor the travel?
What do you need to pack for your Tibet tour?When you travel in Tibet; do you know what you need to take during your tour? there are some tips please click Here!