What to Prepare before Travelling to Tibet in 2024?

Tourists have a Lhasa tour with Tibet Vista.

If you are a would-be Tibet traveler but still have no clue what to prepare or where to go in Tibet, please check the following 6 steps for your upcoming Tibet tour in 2024.

a.Choose a well-established Travel Agency
Undoubtedly, one of the foremost priorities before traveling to anywhere is to find a well-established travel agency in the tourism industry. As a local Tibet travel agency with more than 10-year professional experiences in Tibet inbound tourism, China Tibet Visa is one of the most reliable Tibet tour operators you can depend on.

Over the past 10 years, we dedicated ourselves to optimizing Tibet travel with the idea of making memorable travel experiences for tourists and managed to serve more than 28,448 overseas tourists (til 6,30, 2015), covering world-wide individual travelers, diverse families, and package tours. 

Read more about Tibet Vista

b.Where to go
Different strokes for different folks. With abundant plateau natural scenery and a galaxy of sacred Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites, exotic customs, etc., Tibet promises virtually unlimited opportunities for you explore.

First time traveler with a weeklong tour:
If this is your first time to Tibet and you have limited a weeklong tour, you are recommended to first get acclimatized to the high altitude here and then focus your tour in Lhasa and around. In Lhasa, a number of attractions are something you couldn’t afford to miss.

First of all, visit Potala Palace. The iconic sacred complex is the religious and political symbol of Tibet. It’s also the Winter Palace of Dalai Lama. Every morning, there are lots of devout Tibetan pilgrims do the religious circling around it. The next stop will be Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred place in Lhasa city and all visitors will be deeply impressed by the reverence shown by pilgrims. Surrounding the Jokhang Temple is the famous Barkhor street. The bustling pilgrimage road is peppered with small boutiques, selling souvenirs. Do find a sweet tea house to get a true taste of Lhasa.

Next place comes the Sera monastery. The highlight would be the dramatic monk debate in the afternoon in this large Buddhist school. Going to Drepung Monastery which is surrounded by striking scenery is also a great option. During festivals, the gigantic Buddha unfolding is held here.

If you want to enjoy mind-blowing plateau lakes, then do not hesitate to visit Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake. The stunning scenery will never let you down.
Here are a few itineraries recommended to you:
6 Days Travel to Sky Lake - Lhasa and Lake Namtso Small Group Tour

5 Days Lhasa and Yamdrok-tso Lake Tour

Other options of Lhasa tours

Second time travelers or have more time:
If you are familiar with the traditional attractions in central or eastern Tibet, you are advised to explore the boundless wilderness of western Tibet. You can travel from Lhasa all the way to Gyantse, Tringi, Saga, Darchen, Tsada. You will be able to have a panoramic view of Tibet and discover its lost ancient civilization. A number of attractions are recommended to cover such as , Tashilunpo monastery, Sakya monastery, Pelkor Monastery, Rongpuk Monatery, Everest Base CAMP, Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Tsada Clay Forest, Gugekingdom, etc

Here are the highly recommended tours:

10 Days Grand Natural Beauty of Tibet

15 Days Kailash and Manasarova Small Group Tour

17 Days Western Tibet Himalayas and Kailash Adventure

Other options in Mt Kailash tours

c.When to go
Visiting Tibet in different seasons brings you utterly different experience and bonus. Normally, Tibet tourism opens to foreign tourists in early April and closes in late Feb next year.

As to the weather, April to October is the best time to visit Tibet, when Tibet’s weather is not too harsh and most areas of Tibet are accessible. In addition, it is also the best time to visit well-known tourist sites in Tibet, such as Mount Everest and Lake Namtso.

If you have a low budget or want to avoid to peak travel season, visiting Tibet in winter ( from Nov to mid-Feb) is a great choice. Unlike conventional wisdom, because of strong sunlight and high altitude, the temperature (average temperature is around 7℃ ~ 9℃ in Lhasa) in the daytime is much warmer than you expect. Yet, The drastic temperature change between day and night is something to you should pay attention to, esp in winter. Besides, tourists can enjoy more discounts in terms of entrance fees for attractions, accommodation, etc.

On the contrary, if you love mingling with locals or want to experience how Tibetans celebrate their traditions. Then why not visit Tibet during traditional festivals.

Check the 2016 Tibetan festival calendar.

d.Travel documents you need
We have talked so much about the Tibet tour. However, if you do not have two indispensable travel documents: a Chinese Visa and a Tibet Travel Permit. You would not be able to Tibet. Please check our detailed answers to how to get Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit.

e.How to go
In fact, two of the most convenient ways to Tibet are via flight and train. Both have their merits and demerits. For better acclimatization to high altitude (Lhasa 3658m) for tourists, we suggest taking a train to Tibet and flying out. In addition, you can have the spectacular scenic ride in the world’s highest train routes. The oxygen supply system inside the Qinghhai-Tibet train is available to tourists, and you can ask the conductor for help.

So far there are 8 major train routes leading to Lhasa. And Tibet Vista offers train booking service for you and arranges your itinerary. Check the Most Popular Tibet Train Tour Itinerary for details.

f.Travel tips
The high altitude and unique topography make Tibet travel different from elsewhere. The following handy tips may help you adapt to the plateau better.

1. For new comers, do not rush to do sightseeing from the airport or train station. Have a good sleep or rest in your hotel. Because your body is responding to the altitude change and having a good rest can minimize the symptoms of altitude sickness (such as headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, tiredness, and loss of appetite.) check how to avoid altitude sickness in Tibet.

2. Do not run fast or jump abruptly. The lower oxygen content means your body is working twice as hard as on the plain.

3. For the first couple of days, do not have a shower so as to avoid catching a cold.  

4. Do not eat or drink beer too much. It’s advisable to eat more vegetables, and fruits or drink more warm water.

5. Observe Buddhist traditions or customs. Ask permission if you want to take photos of the elderly or small children, Tibetan monks, and pilgrims, etc.

6. Pay attention to the dramatic temperature change between day and night. Dress properly.

7. Travel responsibly and ecologically.

*Still have questions in your mind? Why not send your travel inquiry to our travel consultants to sort out your itinerary and other details.