string(38) "https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/feed/" Tibet Travel Blog https://www.tibettravel.org/blog Get to know us and discover Tibet with us Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:42:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 What to Pack for Lhasa Tour https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/packing-for-lhasa-tour/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/packing-for-lhasa-tour/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2020 02:07:05 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6582 Packing for a trip to Lhasa is a lot more important than many people think. You need to ensure that you have the appropriate clothing and gear for the time of year you are traveling. The climate of the capital city varies greatly from season to season, so here is a basic rundown on the things you need to make your tour as comfortable as possible.

Travel Documents

Your documents are one of the most important things to pack for the trip, as you will not even be able to travel without them. So making sure that you pack them first is a hugely important part of your packing. And you should make sure that you pack them somewhere easily accessible, so that you can produce them as and when needed.

Tibet Travel Permit

Tibet Travel Permit will be required to board the flight or train to Tibet.

As well as your passport and Chinese Entry Visa, you should also make sure you have the right documents for Tibet, or you will not be able to enter the region. The main permit for Tibet is the Tibet Travel Permit, which is obtained by your travel agency before you travel to Lhasa. Once you have booked your tour with us, we will use scanned copies of your passport and visa to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit on your behalf. Once approved, we will forward the permit to your hotel in China ready for your trip to Tibet.

Clothes

The clothes you need should be appropriate for the season in which you are visiting the plateau, as well as where you are going. Tibet may be a monsoon-affected region, but has four seasons, which makes it a lot easier for many western tourists to pack the correct clothing.

In spring, clothing needs to be warm and comfortable, especially if you are planning on trekking around Lhasa. Warm sweaters, layers of shirts, and fleece jackets are necessary still, and you should bring decent warm pants, but preferably not jeans if trekking. Gloves, hat, and scarf are also useful, though the weather may feel warmer in certain places than in others. And bring sunglasses and a decent hat for the bright Tibetan sunshine.

Visit Lhasa in Summer

Summer is one of the best time to visit Lhasa since the delighted weather condition.

Summer means less need to bring lots of thick sweaters and jackets, but you will still need a fleece for the colder nights. Lighter cotton shirts are easier to wear, and more comfortable in summer. And lighter pants make it easier to move around. Sunglasses and a sun hat are very necessary, as are waterproof jackets and maybe an umbrella for the rainy summer monsoon.

Autumn is similar to spring, but warmer, so light but warm clothing is needed. Layers can be useful, and you will need that fleece for the cooler nights. Light pants can still be worn, but you might want to bring some thicker hiking pants if you are planning a trip up to Lake Namtso.

Winter is the coldest time of year, and when you will most need those fleeces and thicker sweaters, even in the daytime. Warm down or quilted jackets are necessary at night, and gloves and a warm hat are also important packing items. Sunglasses are a must for the bright sunlight, and you will find that thermal underwear can be very useful.

For all seasons, good strong boots are necessary, even if you are not planning on trekking. The ground in many places can be rough, so sturdy hiking boots can be very useful. And bring some softer shoes for traveling in the car and in the hotels.

For more detailed information, check the monthly weather in Lhasa here to decide what you need to pack.

Medicines

Medications are not easily obtainable on the plateau, especially for those that are not Chinese residents. You may find that you cannot get even the basic medicines for headaches once you reach Tibet, so it is essential that you bring with you anything you may need. Medicines for headaches, nausea, and dizziness can be useful to help combat the symptoms of altitude sickness. – Check the expert tips about how to avoid altitude sickness in Tibet

You should also make sure that you bring with you enough of any prescribed medications that you are taking on a regular basis for any pre-existing conditions. Medications prescribed by your doctor will not be available to obtain anywhere in China, except on an emergency basis, so you should pack enough to cover your entire trip, plus a week for any emergencies.

Sunscreen and Skin-care Product

The Tibetan plateau is not a cold and hostile environment, as many people think it is. And you will find that the sun can be just as strong on the plateau as it can be in some tropical countries in Asia. Even in the winter months, it is still possible to get sunburn in Lhasa, due to the thinner atmosphere not filtering out as much of the sun’s UV rays as at sea level. Sunblock, the highest possible sun protection factor, is an essential item of packing throughout the year in Lhasa.

The winds can be quite strong too, and cold. Chapped lips and dry skin are a common concern for tourists traveling to Lhasa, so it is a good idea to bring along skin moisturizers and lip balm to protect your face, hands, and lips from chaffing. Protecting your head against the sun is also as important as protecting your face, so bring a decent hat to keep off the more dangerous UVB rays, which sunblock does not protect you from.

Cash and Cards

Paying for goods on the plateau is normally done mostly in cash, and while China has a large industry for cash-free payments, Tibet is yet to feel this system being implemented well. Most places you will buy things from will expect you to pay in cash. And in local currency.

Bank of China in Lhasa

Traveler can exchange dollars for yuan at Bank of China in Lhasa city.

The currency in Tibet is the Chinese Rénmínbì (RMB), which is also popularly known as the yuan (CNY – ¥). You can exchange dollars or other major internationally-recognized currencies for yuan at any of the major banks in Lhasa, including the Bank of China. Many of the higher-end hotels also have money changing facilities on the premises, and you should get the same exchange rate as from the banks. Keep your exchange receipts if you plan on changing currency back in the Bank of China in Lhasa before you leave the city. – See how to pay and use money when touring Tibet

Credit cards are more widely accepted in the major hotels in Lhasa, but you will have few opportunities to use them aside from hotels. Few shops accept credit cards for even large purchases, and those that do have a 4% surcharge added. If you need to make a cash advance on your credit card, the Lhasa branch of the Bank of China is the only place you can do so, with a 3% commission deducted from your card.

ATMs can be found in many places throughout Lhasa now. The best options are the ATMs of the Bank of China, which accept all of the major credit card providers, including VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, Maestro, Cirrus, and Plus. However, check the ATM you are using first, as some only accept local cards. ATMs have a 2,400 yuan transaction limit, but are not subject to daily maximum withdrawal limits. The limit is set by your own card provider.

Daily Gadgets

Gadgets are a major part of life today, and you should make sure that you have the correct chargers for your devices, from phones and power banks to cameras, laptops, and netbooks. It can also be handy to have spare batteries for your most-used gadgets, in case the battery runs out before you get back to the hotel.

You should also bring a small bag or backpack for daily use, so that you can carry your important documents and stuff without needing your main bag, especially when touring monasteries and other tourist sites. And bring a water bottle with you, so that you can carry water around when walking or exploring.

Conclusion

Packing for the Lhasa tour is not an immense task. Knowing what to bring is important, especially if you are traveling outside the peak season for tourism in Tibet. And making sure you have the right clothes, enough gear to use, and all the things you need is the most important part of your trip planning. So when you decide to take that trip to the City of Sunshine, follow our packing guide for the best things to bring with you.

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How to Plan a Tibet EBC Tour with the Least Altitude Sickness https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-ebc-with-least-altitude-sickness/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-ebc-with-least-altitude-sickness/#respond Fri, 08 May 2020 02:21:00 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6569 Planning a tour of Tibet usually means you will have to plan for getting altitude sickness when you arrive. Almost everyone experiences this to some degree, but there are ways that you can reduce your own risk of altitude sickness on your trip to Lhasa and Everest Base Camp. Here we have several options for helping you to reduce the chances of you getting altitude sickness when you arrive in Tibet, and how to manage it more effectively.

Enter Tibet from China instead of Nepal

It is a simple fact that, the more gradual your ascent to higher and extreme altitudes, the less likely you are to feel the effects of altitude sickness as you travel. This means that, if you really want to be able to reduce the chances, you need to enter Tibet from mainland China, instead of from Nepal.

Entry from Nepal means taking the road from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port, where you will cross the border to Gyirong Town. Within 48 hours of leaving Kathmandu (1,400m), you will climb to more than 4,300 meters. An ascent that quick will almost certainly leave you feeling altitude sickness.

The route from mainland China has more opportunity to acclimatize and ascend more gradually, giving you a better chance of not feeling altitude sickness as much.

Acclimatize Yourself for 2 Nights in Xining and Take the Xining-Tibet Train

Entry to Tibet from mainland China can be done by flight direct to Lhasa. However, this will not give you a chance to acclimatize before you get there, and is no better than entering from Nepal. Instead, a more gradual route is possible via train.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway

The stunning scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

While the trains from most of China ascend from low altitudes close to sea level to the 3,656-meter altitude of Lhasa, there is one train that starts at a much higher altitude. With most of the longer trains from mainland China to Lhasa, you will still feel the effects of altitude sickness more heavily when you arrive, as you are traveling in an oxygen-rich environment on the train, which does not aid in acclimatizing slowly. The train from Xining is the only train that starts its journey at an altitude above 2,000 meters.

When ascending to high altitudes, it is recommended to stop at an intermediate altitude of around 2,000-3,000 meters for at least 24-48 hours. This allows you to acclimatize to the lower altitude properly, which can aid in easier acclimatization to the altitude of the plateau. Xining lies at an altitude of 2,275 meters above sea level, and is the perfect place for intermediate acclimatization when traveling to Lhasa. A stop of two nights in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, will allow you to acclimatize to that altitude, reducing the risk of altitude sickness when you arrive in Lhasa. You can then take the 21-hour train from Xining to Lhasa, which has some of the best scenery along its route.

Add One Night at Sakya Instead of Heading for EBC via Shigatse

Once you arrive in Lhasa, at 3,656 meters, you will normally spend a couple of days in the city, acclimatizing to the higher altitude and visiting the famous sites of the city. For those heading off to visit the Everest Base Camp (EBC), the change in altitude is once again rather high, rising to 5,150 meters at the base camp itself. The normal tour takes you from Lhasa to Shigatse, at 3,845 meters, and then on to EBC the following day, rising another 1,255 meters in a few hours. This can sometimes mean that you may experience some of the effects and symptoms of altitude sickness at EBC, where you stop for the night.

Sakya Monastery

You can spare some time to explore the holy Sakya Monastery.

A good way to counter that, if you do not want to ascend so quickly, is to add an extra day, and take the road to the famous Sakya Monastery on the way to EBC. This allows you to acclimatize to the altitude of Sakya, before reaching EBC. Normally, it is recommended that you should only ascend by around 400-500 meters per day, at most, and sleep at an altitude below the highest altitude you reached for the day. Sakya Monastery lies at an altitude of 4,310 meters, just 465 meters higher than Shigatse. This means that, after you have rested for the night near Sakya, you will only ascend by 790 meters to reach EBC, which can greatly reduce the chances of getting altitude sickness at Mount Everest.

The most recommended route is: 9 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp in-depth Travel

Stay Overnight at Old Tingri Instead of EBC

Many tours of Tibet that include EBC have a stopover at the base camp, in the Rongbuk Monastery guesthouse, or the tent guesthouses on the site itself. While you will be sleeping at a lower altitude than you reached throughout the day, the altitude difference is minimal, and it is actually better to stay in the nearby town of Old Tingri instead. At an altitude of just 4,390 meters, around 710 meters lower than EBC, you can rest assured that you are highly unlikely to feel any of the effects of altitude sickness by the time you get there to rest.

Not only is the altitude low enough for you to not feel much altitude sickness, but you also have an amazing view of the range of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest and some of the other highest mountains in the world. And the accommodation is much more comfortable than at EBC, with better medical care should you need it.

The most recommended route is: 12 Days Trekking Tibet Everest Base Camp: from Tingri to EBC via Ra-chu Valley

Tips for Avoiding Altitude Sickness

There are a number of ways to help you avoid the worst of the symptoms of altitude sickness, and possibly prevent it altogether. Using the recommendations we have already given in conjunction with some handy local tips on acclimatization, you can reduce the risk to something close to negligible for your trip to Tibet.

Arriving in a new city usually prompts people to get out and explore immediately. At high altitudes, this is not recommended, and you should spend time resting and allowing your body to adjust properly before heading outside to roam the restaurants and teahouses of Lhasa. Allowing your body to rest will help to speed up the adjustments that your body will need to make to help you get over any effects of altitude sickness.

Potala Palace in Lhasa

After arriving at Lhasa, you’d better take a good rest and visit attractions the next day.

Exertion is a major factor in altitude sickness, and you should try and avoid any severe and extreme exertions until you are properly acclimatized. And even then, you should take care and take more time in doing things such as trekking and climbing up to the Potala Palace. Keep your strenuous activity for later on in your trip, when you will be better able to do it after acclimatizing.

Hydration is another great tip to help reduce altitude sickness in Tibet. While it may be cold, the altitude can increase your rate of dehydration, which means you need to drink lots more water to stay hydrated properly. A good sign of dehydration is a tense headache, or darker urine when you go to the toilet. If you feel very dehydrated, hydrating salts can help increase your hydration faster.

Eating well is another positive action that can help you get over any effects of altitude sickness faster. High protein foods, such as lean red meat, organic green vegetables, and noodles, are ideal for aiding in acclimatization, as they help the body make more red blood cells, which are needed for the body to adjust. Maintain a good protein-rich diet for the duration of your trip, and you will definitely feel the good effects.

Conclusion

Traveling to a high-altitude location such as Tibet does not mean you will be guaranteed to get altitude sickness. Some people find that they do not feel the effects at all, even when flying into Tibet from mainland China. However, not everyone is the same, and even those that did not feel it the first time, often feel it on subsequent visits. Altitude sickness is not dependent on your level of fitness and health either, and is indiscriminate in who it hits. Almost everyone feels this when they arrive. By simply following our guidelines on getting to Tibet and using the handy hints we have provided, you can help to reduce your chances of getting altitude sickness, and better enjoy your time on the Roof of the World.

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Best Restaurants in Lhasa https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/best-restaurants-in-lhasa/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/best-restaurants-in-lhasa/#respond Fri, 17 Apr 2020 05:10:38 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6555 As the capital of Tibet, Lhasa has numerous restaurants serving authentic Tibetan cuisine. Foreign dishes, like western, Nepalese, and Indian, are also available in Lhasa due to its flouring tourism and boarding location. When traveling in Lhasa, having delicious meals at restaurants with the pleasant ambiance is the icing on the cake.

Tibetan food

With an average altitude of 4,500m/14,760ft, Tibet is not a suitable place for most crops to thrive there. Because of particular geographical features, religious beliefs, and other factors, Tibetan gastronomy remains quite distinctive from most others. Nepal and India food, for the most part, influence the local cuisine. Furthermore, cooking is hardly an option here since water doesn’t boil as well as at lower altitudes due to lower air pressure. Therefore, both Tibet and its capital city feature unique characters in the food and diet.

The high-altitude barley is among rare cereals present in the diet of the Tibetan people. Tibetans rely on yak, the domesticated cattle-like mammal, to provide further essential dietary components, such as meat, butter, and milk. From butter and milk, they produce butter tea and yogurt, for example. As you can assume, the local food is rich in proteins, allowing the residents to withstand the local climate.

Tibetan Food

The Tibetans preserve their diet as authentic as it has been for centuries.

There are many typical local dishes you can eat in Lhasa when traveling Tibet. Some you shouldn’t miss while around are:

Tsampa

Tsampa, a barley flour, is the most common ingredient of the local cuisine. For the Tibetan people, Tsampa is their companion throughout the day and life. Of course, you do not eat the flour directly, you need to add some liquid, most of the time tea, sometimes milk or yogurt to it.

Noodle

Noodles are the next main dietary ingredient in the Roof of the World. It is among the most beloved dishes in Lhasa among residents and pilgrims. Besides noodles, prepared in alkaline water, they include yak meat and some vegetables.

Tibetan Momo

This favorite dumpling dish is highly versatile since it caters both to meat-eaters and vegetarians. The typical filling of  Tibetan Momo is yak meat, with vegetables, such as cabbage, mushrooms, and onion, serving as replacements when needed. Steaming and frying are the usual methods in preparing this local specialty.

Tibetan Hot Pot

The main ingredients of this dish favorite among the Tibetans are yak meat and bone. The meat is juicy and tender, while complementary components, such as the local dipping sauce, tofu, and a few vegetables, add a variety of flavors.

Tibetan Yogurt

Yogurt made of yak milk and “enriched” with raisins is a local snack absent additives. Probably tasting mellower than most yogurts you have ever tried, Tibetans like this iconic specialty so much. And the Shoton Festival is proof enough of how popular Tibetan Yogurt is among the members of the local community.

Butter Tea

Consisting of yak butter, tea leaves, water, and salt, Butter Tea is a highly-nutritious beverage that keeps you warm in harsh weather conditions. Furthermore, the tea alleviates symptoms of high-altitude sickness, helping travelers accustom to the elevation more easily. Your friendly hosts like to drink Butter Tea while having Tsampa.

Best Restaurants in Lhasa, Tibet

Lhasa, the principal city of the Autonomous Province of Tibet, is the culinary hotspot of the Roof of the World. Since you are as good as granted to visit the capital during your Tibet tour, don’t miss to visit some of its reputable restaurants.

Tibetan Family Kitchen

Tibetan Family Kitchen

Guests enjoying their dishes at Tibetan Family Kitchen.

Location: No1. Pozhang Saba Alley. Bhakor South Street, Lhasa 850000 China

Tibet Family Kitchen is a family-run restaurant offering travelers a relaxing atmosphere, friendly service, and healthy and tasty Tibetan food. If interested, ask your attentive hosts for a cooking class to take home something else alongside pleasant memories from the trip. Some dishes you can order at Tibet Family Kitchen are Momo dumplings, Tsampa, noodles, and sweet rice.

Since the owners and staff speak Chinese and English, you will communicate with them easily. The ambiance exudes authenticity, and the food selection is excellent.

Regarding prices, you may pay a little more here than at other restaurants of this type in Lhasa. However, you can consider Tibet Family Kitchen an affordable eatery, especially by western standards.

Makye Ame

Makye Ame

You can admire hustle and bustle of central Lhasa streets while having a meal.

Location: Southeast corner of Barkhor Street (yellow establishment)

Makye Ame is among the most popular eateries in Lhasa, serving local, Nepalese, and Indian specialties. Besides delicious food that ranks the establishment among the finest Tibetan restaurants by many patrons, you can enjoy authentic local architecture. Finally, Makye Ame, meaning “Pure Lady,” was a site of a beautiful love story the sixth Dalai Lama wrote a poem about.
So, you will benefit from learning the story besides enjoying delicious Tibetan and Asian food. Also, you can sign up for a cooking class. Some specialties you should order are home-made yogurt, Grassland Grilled Mushroom, Tashi-Delek (beef in a sauce), and Cheese Balls.

Menus are in English, so you don’t need to worry about language barriers. Regarding prices, Makye Ame is a mid-range Lhasa restaurant. When visiting the eatery, arrive before 5 pm to avoid waiting for a table.

Pure Lady overlooks Barkhor Street, allowing you to admire hustle and bustle of central Lhasa streets while having a meal.

House of Shambhala Restaurant

House of Shambhala Restaurant

The agreeable ambiance in House of Shambhala Restaurant.

Location: No.7 Kirey 2nd Alley, across Muru monastery alleyway, Lhasa China

Located at a namesake hotel, the House of Shambhala Restaurant welcomes everyone. Besides Tibetan, you can have Nepali, Indian, and western-style food at this reputable eatery. Friendly employees speak English and are very forthcoming.

You may say that the House of Shambhala Restaurant is a mid-range eatery. Some dishes and beverages you should consider ordering are Yak Pizza, Yak dumplings, Roti Prata, milk tea, and lemon and ginger tea. Finally, most foreign visitors like local-style ambiance and decoration.

Besides dishes for gourmands, House of Shambhala prepares meals for vegetarians and vegans. To enjoy views of the capital of the province while dining, go to the restaurant’s outdoor rooftop.

Snowland Restaurant

Snowland Restaurant

TSnowland Restaurant

Location: 1/F, No.8 Zangyiyuan Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa

Snowland is a moderately-priced restaurant that is especially popular among budget travelers looking for good value for money dining. Besides Tibetan and Nepali food, you can find western-style dishes here. Options for vegans and vegetarians are available.

Consult menus in English when deciding what to eat, but take Yak Pepper Steak and Crepes Suzette into consideration. However, the selection of dishes is quite extensive, and you may find a variety of specialties to your liking.

When visiting Snowland, make sure to bring cash since the restaurant doesn’t accept cards. If you grow hungry after 9 pm, come to this eatery to have discounted cakes.

Dunya Restaurant

Tibetan dishes

Both international and Tibetan food are available at Dunya Restaurant.

Location: 100 Beijing Dong Lu

Dunya, serving international food, is a little more on the expensive side compared to most Lhasa restaurants. Still, you shouldn’t overextend yourself (spend over 10 USD) even if you try to. The restaurant’s owners come from various parts of the world (Tibet, Europe, and the US), so communicating in English won’t be a problem.

Besides international dishes, you can order Tibetan food at Dunya, as well. So, if you long for Italian specialties, order pasta or pizza. As for local specialties, Yak Sizzler is a safe bet.

Lhasa Kitchen

Local food in Tibet

You can have authentic Tibetan food in Lhasa Kitchen.

Location: No.3 Minchi Chang East Road

As its name suggests, Lhasa Kitchen prepares local dishes, but you can find international specialties here, too. You can order Indian, Nepali, Chinese, and Western food, and it seems that travelers are particularly fond of the first two foreign cuisines. As you probably guess, the staff speaks English, so you don’t need to worry about the language barrier.

Lhasa Kitchen is an affordable dining venue, and the picture accompanying every specialty on the menu will make your decisions easier.

Where to drink sweet tea in Lhasa?

Travelers wishing to join Tibetans practicing their favorite pastime should visit Canggu Nunery or Guangming Gangqiong Teahouse. These teahouses popular among the local populace and pilgrims frequent these establishments to have delicious teas featuring strong fragrances.

Tibet tea house

You can feel the daily life of the Tibetans in a teahouse.

When visiting Guangming, make sure to drink your sweet tea before 5 pm, which is the closing time no matter how many patrons are present.

Eating etiquette and taboos in Tibet

When your host fills you a cup, don’t start drinking right away. First, have a conversation with your host. When you need to use hands for eating, use your right hand. Also, don’t eat loudly and with open mouth, which the local people consider offensive.

Furthermore, practice using chopsticks before traveling to Tibet since eating local dishes usually doesn’t involve forks, knives, and spoons. If you receive an invitation from a local to dine, start eating after your host. Finally, refrain from eating before everyone receives their portions at a restaurant.

Conclusion

When you start having Tibetan food, you may need a little time to get used to it. If so, be persistent, and you will have a great time enjoying local food in a short time. Note that the local cuisine in Lhasa and Tibet features little fruit since geographical features don’t suit the cultivation of these.
As for restaurants and eateries in Lhasa, the ones we mentioned above cater to international travelers, and their employees speak English. But, if you intend to visit other Lhasa restaurants, certain knowledge of Tibetan or Chinese would benefit you.

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Tibet Travel Restrictions You Should Know Before Visiting Tibet https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/restrictions-on-visiting-tibet/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/restrictions-on-visiting-tibet/#respond Thu, 02 Apr 2020 03:14:11 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6549 Different from other places in China that are easy and convenient to go, there are some restrictions to travel Tibet such as Tibet Travel Permit and traveling with tour agency. Knowing these restrictions before visiting Tibet and making plans in advance will assure a smooth and pleasant Tibet trip for you.

Independent travel is not allowed.

The first thing to know is that independent travel of international tourist is not permitted inside the TAR. While you can go to Tibet independently, once in Tibet, you will require a guide to travel with you, as well as a driver and private vehicle in order to explore the Roof of the World. The use of public transport is prohibited outside Lhasa, except for taking the train to Shigatse, so all international travelers use private tour vehicles to get from place to place.

Jokhang Temple

You can join a group tour or customize a private tour to travel Tibet.

All international tourists to Tibet must be on a pre-arranged tour of the region. Travel agencies operate tours of the region for international tourists, and provide all of the necessary requirements for travel on the plateau. This includes your guide and driver, as well as the vehicle. These are all part of the tour that you book to travel in Tibet. Without booking a tour from registered tour operator, not only can you not travel in Tibet, you cannot even get to the region from either China or Nepal.

Tibet Travel Permit is a necessity to enter Tibet.

For booking the tour with a registered Tibetan travel agency, you will first need to apply for the Chinese Entry Visa, unless you are entering Tibet from Nepal. In that case, your visa is applied for when you arrive in Kathmandu. For those entering from mainland China, we will first need your visa, as this is required to allow us to process the application for the Tibet Travel Permit.

Tibet Travel Permit

Tibet Travel Permit will be required to board the plane or train to Tibet.

The renowned Tibet Travel Permit is the main permit you will need to enter the TAR. Issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, the permit is not available for personal application, and can only be applied for by a registered travel agency or tour operator. Moreover, the tour operator cannot just provide you with the permit to allow you to get into Tibet. You must be on a pre-arranged tour of the region first, before your permit can be applied for.

Once we have the scanned color copies of your passport and China Visa, we will make the application for the permit on your behalf. Processing of the permit can take up to 10-15 days, and once approved, we will forward the permit copy to your hotel in China. However, for those #traveling Tibet from Nepal#, this permit can be applied without your China Group Visa.

Not all the places in Tibet are open to foreigners.

There are some parts of the Tibet Autonomous Region that you cannot visit, even with all the approved permits. For example, while international tourists can travel overland to Tibet along G318 National Highway, it is not possible for them to travel along the G317 National Road, the northern route from Chengdu to Lhasa.

G318 National Hihgway

Besides taking a car tour, you can choose to cycle to Tibet along the scenic G318 National Highway with us.

Aside from that, there are also certain places in the region that are prohibited to international visitors, even if they have all the permits for Tibet. At this time, the places that international tourists are unable to visit includes, but is not restricted to:
• Pangong Lake in Ngari Prefecture
• The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Nyingchi
• Nanyi Valley in Nyingchi
• Tsonag County in Shannan Prefecture
• Yadong County in Shigatse Prefecture
• The sacred Lhamo La Tso, the holy lake of Tibetan Buddhism
• The Tombs of the Tibetan Kings in Tsedang, Shannan Prefecture
• Chamdo Prefecture
• Any Sky Burial site, as these are sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism
• The slopes of Mount Kailash, which are sacred

Additional permits are required for some places.

Aside from the Tibet Travel Permit, you will also need other permits and passes for travel to different places in Tibet. Different permitted regions of Tibet have a different permit or pass that is required for entry and travel.

The Tibet Travel Permit is required for entry to Tibet and travel only in the area of Lhasa, which includes even the outlying areas such as Damxung County. For travel outside Lhasa to what are known as the “unopened” areas of Tibet, you will also need to have the Alien’s Travel Permit. This is required for travel to places such as Shigatse, Mount Everest, and parts of Nyingchi.

Aliens' Travel Permit

Aliens’ Travel Permit is needed for Everest Base Camp tours and can only be obtained when you are in Tibet.

The third main permit is the Restricted Areas Permit, also known as the Military Permit. This is required for entry to certain restricted areas of Tibet, including Bome County, Nang County, and Ranwu Lake in Nyingchi, all of Shannan Prefecture, and all of Ngari Prefecture.

You will also need to have the Frontier Pass for all tours that take you within the area of the Chinese borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and India, including visiting Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash in Ngari.

People with some disease are not suggested to visit Tibet.

While altitude sickness is normally relatively easy to get over after a period of acclimatization, there are some who should refrain from traveling to high altitudes due to pre-existing conditions. You should always talk to your doctor about high altitudes and altitude sickness before traveling if you have any medical conditions.

Everest Base Camp in Tibet

Though these is no age limit to viist Everest Base Camp, people with heart or lung disease are not suggested to do so.

Ideally, pregnant women should avoid high altitudes above 3,000 meters, as the thinner atmosphere can affect the pregnancy. People with heart or lung disease should only ascend to high altitudes if their condition is under control, and people with mild forms of coronary artery disease and high blood pressure are at no higher risk than anyone else if they are already treating the conditions.

However, there are certain diseases and illnesses that make it very dangerous to travel to Tibet. These include such diseases as sickle cell anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe emphysema, and severe heart disease.

You can only access Tibet from China or Nepal.

Tourists can only enter Tibet from two places – China or Nepal. For most travelers, entry through mainland China is preferable, and many tourists spend time in other areas of China before moving to the TAR. As they already have their visa for entry to China, they can travel easily from mainland China to Tibet once they have their Tibet Travel Permit.

Gyirong Port

Toursits can travel between Tibet and Nepal via the Gyirong Port.

Nepal is the only country in the world with international access to Tibet, and has the option of either direct flights to Lhasa or overland travel across the Sino-Nepal border. At present, you can go to Tibet from Nepal by air and overland. Flights to Lhasa from Nepal run daily throughout the year, and take just 90 minutes to reach the Tibetan capital from the exotic city of Kathmandu. The overland trip takes you over the border crossing point between Rasuwa Gadhi in Nepal and Gyirong Port in China. This border crossing is the only one open for tourists to enter Tibet from Nepal, though there are other crossing points for locals for trade.

China Group Visa is required to enter Tibet from Nepal.

When entering Tibet from Nepal, the usual Chinese Entry Visa that you would use to enter China elsewhere is not actually valid. The requirement for tourists from Nepal to Tibet is the Chinese Group Visa, which is applied for completely differently. The visa, which is only valid for tourists entering Tibet from Nepal, is issued only once you arrive in Kathmandu for the trip to Tibet. Once you arrive, we will meet you at your hotel to collect your passport and completed application forms. The visa can only be applied for by the travel agency on your behalf, and personal applications are automatically rejected.

China Group Visa

Usually it takes at least 3 business days to obtain the China Group Visa.

Processing of the visa actually takes around three working days, so you should plan to arrive in Nepal at least 4-5 days before your trip departs for Tibet to allow time to process the visa. Standard processing will release the visa in the morning of the third day from application, and we will collect your passport and visa from the embassy and deliver it to your hotel with the rest of the permits.

Conclusion

Travel to Tibet may sound extremely restrictive, but the restrictions are in place for the benefit of the tourists as much as for the protection of the environment. Allowing tourists to wander freely as before can cause irreparable damage to the delicate environment of the plateau, and preservation efforts help to maintain the delicate balance. Travel on the plateau can also be dangerous, with altitude sickness, extreme weather conditions, and wild animals. However, as all the details are taken care of for you by the travel agency, these restrictions are only beneficial, and can help make your trip even more amazing and special.

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Sakya Monastery, Do I Need to Add it to My Tibet Trip or Not? https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-sakya-monastery/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-sakya-monastery/#respond Fri, 20 Mar 2020 06:42:15 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6542 Sakya Monastery is the seat of the Sakya Sect, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Situated at about 4,300 meters on the way from Shigatse to Lhatse, this monastery is quite worth visiting especially for those heading for Everest Base Camp.

Introduction of Sakya Monastery

Located around 130 kilometers to the west of the city of Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet after Lhasa, the Sakya Monastery lies in Sakya County of Shigatse Prefecture, around 30 kilometers to the south of the G318 Friendship Highway between Shigatse and Lhatse.

A stunning monastery that was built in the 11th century AD, the walls of this unique Buddhist temple are a typical red-brick color, trimmed with yellow adornments and topped with golden roof spires. The monastery is more of a combination of Nepali and Tibetan architecture than having much influence from Chinese architecture, with few of the typical pagoda-styled roofs in evidence.

Sakya Monastery

Panorama of Sakya Monastery

The monastery was built in 1073, and lies on one of the sites where the Indian sage Atisha is said to have rested and seen visions of the future emanations of Avalokiteshvara, Mahakala, Manjushri, and Vajrapani, who he said would be born there. A small shrine was erected first, and then the main northern monastery was constructed several decades later, by the Nyingmapa lama, Khon Khonchong Gyalpo. The southern monastery, on the other side of the Zhongqu River, was built in the late 13th century, and grew to its current status over the centuries since with many additions.

The southern monastery was commissioned by one of the founders of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism, Choygal Phakpa, who insisted that the walls be painted red, white, and grey in honor of the Buddhist Tulkas. The Sakya School is important in Tibetan history, as it was the Sakya Pandita who was requested to teach Buddhism in the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol Warlord, which introduced Vajrayana Buddhism to China.

Why visiting Sakya Monastery is recommended

Sakya Monastery is the head monastery of the Sakya School, and has a long and famed reputation as one of the best learning centers in ancient Tibet. This unique monastery is well worth visiting on a tour of Tibet, and should be added as an additional itinerary item, if you can.

You can see invaluable treasures at Sakya Monastery

Known locally as the “Second Dunhuang”, after the famous Dunhuang Mogao grottoes in northern China, this amazing monastery has a library of more than 40,000 Buddhist texts and books. The cloister of the monastery is home to many thousands of volumes of the ancient sacred Buddhist scripts, including many of the first translations from Sanskrit to Tibetan. A single bookshelf along the walls of the library holds more than 10,000 scrolls and scriptures, and each bookshelf along the length of the library is around 57 meters long, and stand eleven meters high.

Library in Sakya Monastery

The library in Sakya Monastery houses more than 40,000 Buddhist scriptures.

The library is also the home of the largest book of scriptures in the world. Known as the Burde Gyaimalung, the book is six feet long, four feet wide, and around two feet thick. A unique record of the history, culture, philosophy, religion, and literature of Tibet, this massive book weighs more than five hundred kilograms.

Other treasures that can be found inside this amazing monastery include the famous four sacred pillars, which can be found in the main assembly hall. Made from entire tree trunks and carved with intricate designs, the pillars are famous across the plateau. It is even said that one of the pillars was a gift from Kublai Khan to the Sakya monastery. The famous White Conch Shell was also a gift from the Mongol warlord, which was brought from India and is set in a mandala box in the center of the hall.

The main hall of the monastery is also lined with tall statues of Buddha, many of which are unusual in that they are reliquaries for the former abbots of the monastery. One is even said to contain the tooth of the primordial Buddha, Sangye Wosum, while another is reputed to contain the golden faeces of Padmasambhava.

You can experience magnificent religious ceremonies at Sakya Monastery

One of the best times of the year to visit the monastery is during the religious festivals that are held in the grounds and courtyard of the unique monastery. The famous Cham Dance Festival is one of the main highlights of the Buddhist calendar at Sakya Monastery, and is held in July for around 10 days. The festival features dances from the lamas and monks of Sakya, with intricate masks to perform the holy dances, which are often stories of the deeds of the Buddhist saints.

Library in Sakya Monastery

Cham Dance Festival in Sakya Monastery

The Basiba Cultural Festival, which is held in the Basiba Square in front of the temple at Sakya, and celebrates the period of Sakya dominance in Tibet in the 13th century. And the monastery is also one of the few places in Tibet that has a different New Year festival, In Sakya, the New Year is actually held on the first day of the tenth month in the traditional Tibetan calendar, and is a huge celebration in the area around the monastery.

It is very convenient to visit Sakya Monastery

Visiting the Sakya Monastery really is more convenient that you might imagine. Lying just about 30km off the main Friendship Highway on the way from Shigatse to Tingri, it is very convenient to add Sakya Monastery into your Tibet trip as you head west through Tibet.

The monastery makes a great little addition to the usual tours across the plateau, and you can even stop overnight at Sakya County, where you will find decent accommodation and some delicious foods. The town around the monastery, which has grown up over the centuries, may be set off the main route through Tibet in a somewhat remote area, but it has some great places for you to stay. The few hotels that the town has are well furnished and are considered to be quality accommodation. The hotels in the town include the Sakya Manasarovar Hotel and the Sakya Lowa Hotel, which are both modern-designed hotels.

Walls in Sakya Monastery

You can appreciate the delicate and colorful walls inside Sakya Monastery.

Food in Sakya can be found in the hotels, most of which have their own restaurants, and in the small cafes and restos that are dotted around the town. Most of the food in the cafes is local Tibetan cuisine, while that of the hotels does vary a little more, with some Chinese dishes available. However, you should be aware that there can still be some water shortages due to the remote location, and food can occasionally be limited due to the limitations in obtaining ingredients this far from the larger cities.

What’s more, situated at about 4,300 meters above sea level, visiting Sakya Monastery and staying overnight at Sakya offers an opportunity for tourists to better acclimatize to the altitude before heading for Everest Base Camp. You can visit Sakya Monastery by joining 9-day tour from Lhasa to EBC, which incorporates a trip to Sakya on the way to Mount Everest, and our 8-day Lhasa to Kathmandu tour, which takes you to the Sakya Monastery as you travel across the Tibetan plateau to Nepal, and the 9-day Kathmandu to Lhasa tour, taking you to visit the monastery after departing from EBC and before you head into Shigatse.

Conclusion

As one of the oldest monasteries in Tibet, not to mention being the founding monastery and seat of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, this unique monastery is well worth a side-trip off the beaten track to discover the beauty and treasures it contains. So if you are heading across the plateau, take a short ride down the small road that runs to the monastery, and discover the wonders that this amazing temple holds.

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Small and Simple, Why Rongbuk Monastery is Still the Must-see Site for any Tibet Tour? https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/why-visit-rongbuk-monastery/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/why-visit-rongbuk-monastery/#respond Fri, 13 Mar 2020 04:58:10 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6529 Compared with the grandeur and historical monasteries in Tibet, Rongbuk Monastery is quite simple and small. However, it ranked on the top of CNN’s ‘Great Places to be a Recluse’ in 2011 and is always listed as one of the must-see sites because of its stunning scenery and special experience.

Introduction of Rongbuk Monastery

Lying at the foot of Rongbuk Glacier at 5,009 meters (16,434 feet) above sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world and one of the highest-elevation settlements ever built. It is about 25 kilometers to the summit of Mount Everest and a few kilometers from the newly-moved Everest Base Camp.

Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world.


Rongbuk is a Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect built in 1902 by the Nyingmapa Lama Ngawang Tenzin Norbu. It once provided protections and supplies for early climbers though they were regarded as heretics, and climbers would perform a pious pray here as a ritual before starting their mountaineering. The monastery once housed about 500 monks and nuns but now there are only dozens of monks and nuns.

Since it was built, the monastery has been a major site of religious importance to the Sherpa people of the Khumbu region of Nepal, who make regular trips through the mountains to visit the monastery and walk the kora around its outer walls. The monastery was actually built on a sacred site in an area of meditation caves and huts that had been used by Buddhist monks since the early 18th century.

Highlights of Rongbuk Monastery

Best Place to view Mt. Everest

With its excellent location, the monastery is one of the best places from which to view the stunning peak of Mount Everest, and is a popular stopping point for tourists and pilgrims alike. Whether you choose to stand in the car park of the monastery, outside the monastery guesthouse opposite, or on the top of the small hill behind, you can get an unobstructed and amazingly clear view of the top of this massive mountain.

Mount Everest

You can get unobstructed view of Mount Everest at Rongbuk Monastery.

And for many, the ability to stay overnight only enhances their enjoyment of the view. For those stopping overnight around Rongbuk Monastery, you can get some great sunset and sunrise photos of the mountain, the sun turning the slopes a burnt orange color.

Unique Building: walls with superb murals, statue of Padmasambhava

Built at the hillside, the Rongbuk Monastery possesses five storeys, only two of which are used today. The second floor of the monastery has two halls. The outer hall of the monastery is the main hall, where monks and nuns can both pray. The inner hall contains the spectacular statue of Padmasambhava, the ancient Indian sage responsible for the dissemination of Buddhism throughout Tibet in the 8th century. The history of the monastery tells of how Padmasambhava stayed here in the meditation caves more than 1,200 years ago.

The frontage of the monastery is also adorned with an ancient stupa that contains the reliquary of the former abbot and founder of the monastery, Lama Ngawang Tenzin Norbu. The outer wall of the monastery, around the kora route, is also adored with prayer wheels, for the pilgrimage of the Buddhists that perform the kora ritual around the monastery.

Stupa at Rongbuk Monastery

Once you are at Rongbuk Monastery, don’t forget to rotate the prayer wheel around the stupa to pray at the religious site closest to the heaven.

The monastery was once noted for its vast treasures of Buddhist books and other religious regalia. Much of this was moved to Tengboche for safe-keeping in the 1970s, but was lost due to a fire that broke out in 1989. However, the halls of the monastery are covered with murals and paintings that depict the various aspects of Buddha.

Experience authentic life of Tibetan monks and nuns in one monastery

Rongbuk Monastery is one of the most unusual monasteries in Tibet, in that it does not segregate monks and nuns, as many traditional monasteries do. Here, monks and nuns practice and pray together, though there are separate lodgings. This unusual practice has come about due to the many meditation caves originally being used by nuns in Tibet, with the monks coming later to use most of them. When the monastery was built, it was agreed that nuns would be permitted to remain and stay in the monastery along with the monks.

Building of Rongbuk Monastery

At present, only two storeys of Rongbuk Monastery are used.

At its height, the monastery once contained more than 500 monks and nuns in total, though this number has dwindled dramatically over the last 50 years. Now, the number of occupants is much smaller, with reports telling of there being only around 30 monks and nuns in attendance at the monastery, Nevertheless, the monastery is one of the most amazing examples of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries there are, thanks to its allowance for monks and nuns to be under the same roofs.

Religious ceremony in Tibetan festival

The largest and most popular festival held at the monastery each year is the renowned Saga Dawa Festival, which celebrates the life, enlightenment, and death of Sakyamuni Buddha. Held on the 15th day of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar, this amazing festival is held in great esteem by the locals, as it is the closest instance of the festival for many of the region’s Tibetan Buddhists and Sherpas.

Wall painting in Rongbuk Monastery

The elegant wall painting inside Rongbuk Monastery.

The festival is held in the main courtyard of the monastery, and is attended by many of the devout Buddhists from the nearby towns and villages. The monks and nuns of the monastery, though small in number, dress up in the traditional costumes to perform Cham dances and other performances based on the life of Buddha. Lasting for three days, this festival really brings Rongbuk Monastery to life and is filled with color and excitement.

Travel Tips

How to go to Rongbuk Monastery

Getting to Rongbuk Monastery is not hard for travelers to the plateau. International tourists are required to be on a pre-arranged tour of the region with a registered Tibetan travel agency, and visit Rongbuk with Tibet Travel Permits which will be applied by the travel agency on the behalf of them.

Tibet Travel Permit

We provide 100% guarantee tibet permit service for tourists book tour with us.

The #classic Mount Everest and Rongbuk Monastery tour# departs from Lhasa, and heads past Lake Yamdrok, and through Gyantse, Shigatse, and Tingri, as it snakes its way to the monastery. This makes it a drive of around 691 kilometers from Lhasa to Rongbuk, which takes two days.
https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-group-tours/lhasa-everest-base-camp-tour-8-days.html

For travelers visiting Tibet from Kathmandu, though the drive from Gyirong Port to Rongbuk Monastery is much shorter, it still takes around three days to get there. After leaving Kathmandu, you will travel first to Syabru Bensi, then stop for a second night in Gyirong Town to acclimatize the altitude. The last leg of the trip takes you from Gyirong Town to Rongbuk, a total distance of 496 kilometers.

Best time to visit Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery lies close to both the Everest Base Camp and Mount Everest, and as such, its best visiting time is as the same as the best time to visit Mount Everest, in spring and autumn. However, there is no reason that you cannot visit this amazing monastery at any time of the year. Spring and autumn, from March to May and September to November, are the best times to travel, as the skies are clear and bright and there is no rain.

Additional bonus to visit this monastery

A bonus to visiting the monastery these days is the relative closeness to the base camp for Mount Everest, not to mention the Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse and Rongbuk Restaurant on the other side of the dirt road.

Rongbuk Restaurant

You can get decent and hot food at Rongbuk Restaurant opposite to Rongbuk Monastery.

With over 100 beds in about 30 rooms, Rongbuk Guesthouse is open all the year around even in the winter days. Though small with simple and basic equipment, it is clean and cozy. The Rongbuk Restaurant just lies next to the guesthouse, it supplies hot water and decency food. These make the trip to the monastery a little more comfortable for tourists, with better food and warmer rooms especially in the winter.

Conclusion

As the world’s highest Buddhist monastery, a trip to Rongbuk is one of the most exciting parts of a tour across the Tibetan plateau. While it may not be the oldest monastery in Tibet, it is one of the most important in Western Tibet, and one of the most well-known around the world. And with the amazing views of the World’s Highest Mountain right outside the door, this is a great place to end your exploration of the Tibetan plateau.

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From Nepal to Tibet or from Tibet to Nepal, Which One Should I Choose for My Tibet and Nepal Trip? https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/from-nepal-to-tibet-or-from-tibet-to-nepal/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/from-nepal-to-tibet-or-from-tibet-to-nepal/#respond Fri, 06 Mar 2020 08:30:10 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6515 Planning a trip between Nepal and Tibet can be done in two ways. Do you go from Nepal to Tibet or from Tibet to Nepal? Which is a better way to travel? We recommend the route from Tibet to Nepal, instead of the other way around, as the best route to take.

Travel from Tibet to Nepal saves time on the tour

One of the main considerations people when people planning an overland adventure on the Tibetan plateau is time. And the overland trip from Nepal to Tibet will take you longer time than the overland trip from Tibet to Nepal.

If you are thinking of starting in Nepal and traveling overland to Tibet, then you will need an extra 3-5 days for the tour. This is because it takes at least three days to obtain the entry visa to get into Tibet from Nepal. The Chinese Group Visa can only be issued once you arrive in Kathmandu, as it requires your original passport and takes around three working days to process.

China Group Visa

A sample of China Group Visa which obtained in Nepal

The visa can only be applied for by your travel agency. This means that instead of heading off to Tibet as soon as you reach Nepal, you need to wait at least three working days before your departure onto the plateau.

Altitude change and potential to get altitude sickness

As the highest region on the earth, Tibet Autonomous Region has an average elevation of about 4,500m. However, Nepal, which neighbors Tibet closely, has a low altitude. When traveling from Kathmandu to Lhasa, there is a very sharp increase in altitude all the way. This means that the risk of altitude sickness is increased, due to the faster ascent when entering into Tibetan plateau from Nepal.

Tourists enter into Tibet from Nepal via Gyirong Port, and go further into Tibet via Gyirong County which is about 100km away from the port. While Kathmandu sits at an altitude of 1,400 meters, Gyirong Port lies at an altitude of just 1,850 meters, Gyirong Town, which is about 25km away from the port, is increased to 2,700 meters above sea level. Usually, Kathmandu to Tibet tours have an overnight stop here, before heading to EBC or Kailash via Gyirong County which stands 4,200 meters high and about 70km away from the town.

Everest Base Camp in Tibet

You will experience sharp altitude increase from Gyirong Town (2700m) to Everest Base Camp (5200m).

For those visiting EBC during a Nepal to Tibet tour, there is an increase in altitude of 2,700 meters without a full day to acclimatize. After departing from Gyirong Town, you ascend quickly through the Gyirong Valley to more than 4,000 meters in just 70 kilometers of driving, and then head directly to EBC, at an altitude of 5,200 meters. Then, you will cross Gawula Pass (5,211m) again to Tingri (4348m) and stay overnight there. In the following days, you will pass Gyatsola Pass (5,248m) and Tsola Pass (4,600m) on the way to Shigatse (3,900m), and climb over Simila Mountain Pass (5,150m) and Gampala Pass (4,998m) on the way from Gyantse (3,977m) to Lhasa.

For those visiting Kailash from Nepal, after departing Gyirong Port, you will drive to Zhongba County (4,772m) via Gyirong County and stay overnight there before heading to Lake Manasarovar at 4,590m and Darchen at 4,575 meters.

Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash is the one of most sacred pilgrimage sites in Asia.


However, if you travel from Tibet to Nepal, you have time to acclimatize the altitude change to EBC or Mt. Kailash. When you arrive in Lhasa, you are able to acclimatize to the higher altitude for a couple of days, before heading out across the plateau. This is important for the trip across Tibet to Nepal, as you will ascend to altitudes of more than 5,000 meters at various locations across the region.

After leaving Lhasa, you travel first to Gyantse (3,977m) and Shigatse (3,900m), and stay overnight there to ascend gradually. Then you will reach Tingri at 4,390 meters before reaching EBC itself. From EBC, it is all downhill to Kathmandu, which makes the trip easier in terms of altitude.

Nepal to Tibet means no overnight stay at EBC

When traveling from Lhasa to Kathmandu, because you are fully acclimatized to high altitudes before you depart from Lhasa, you will also acclimatize more as you travel overland, ascending gradually to reach EBC. This means that, as you should be well acclimatized by the time you get there, you can stay overnight at EBC, the base camp at the foot of the world’s highest mountain. This gives you the chance to get some great sunset and sunrise photos of the orange glow on the slopes of the mountain. You also get to see the multitude of stars that can be seen at this altitude, including the rest of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. And you can experience staying in a traditional nomad tent in the renowned tent guesthouses.

Milky Way over Mt. Everest

Tourists from Nepal to Tibet are not recommended to stay overnight at EBC.


When traveling from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you will not have the added days to acclimatize to the higher altitudes, which means that you will not be able to stop overnight at the base camp. Instead, you will depart from Gyirong and drive to the base camp, then depart in the afternoon to stop overnight at Tingri, on the road to Shigatse. This means that you miss out on some of the most outstanding aspects of a trip to EBC.

Traveling on a Small Group Tour to Mount Kailash is not available from Nepal

Another option for small group tours that run from Lhasa to Kathmandu is the chance to take a longer tour to trek around Mount Kailash, before crossing the border into Nepal. However, small group tours from Kathmandu to Lhasa never take the extended trip to Mount Kailash for the trek around the sacred mountain, which means you have to book a private tour if you want to make this trip. A private tour to Mount Kailash and then on to EBC and Lhasa from Kathmandu is an expensive option, and not one that is budget-friendly.

There are other small group tours from Lhasa to Kathmandu that run all the way to EBC, as if you are taking the normal tour to Kathmandu. Then you turn north for an added trip up to the sacred mountain, to tackle the hardest trek in Tibet, before heading back south to Gyirong Port and across the border into Nepal. These amazing tours make traveling to the sacred mountain easier and cheaper than taking a private tour from Kathmandu.

Flexible traveling ways

For anyone that is keen on cycling, taking a trip across the plateau is one of the most outstanding cycling routes on the planet. The cycyling from Lhasa to Kathmandu is one of the most popular of all the cycling routes in Tibet, and takes you through several stunning locations to get to Nepal. A ride of more than 1,270 kilometers, the route begins in Lhasa and heads through Gyantse, Shigatse, and EBC, before heading to Gyirong Town and the border crossing into Nepal.

Mount Kailash

It is very popular to cycle from Lhasa to Nepal.

While a tour of Tibet from Lhasa to Kathmandu by bike is “possible”, it is not really feasible to take a tour in the opposite direction. Primarily, you cannot really cycle from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port on the border due to the extremely poor road conditions on the route up to the border.

Also, for anyone thinking they would be able to cycle across the plateau in the reverse order, from Gyirong to Lhasa, you will need to spend at least two days in Gyirong County before continuing on across the plateau towards EBC to acclimatize to the massive increase in altitude. Not acclimatizing leaves you open to more severe altitude sickness, which could be potentially fatal in the long run.

Conclusion

So, if you are thinking of whether to travel from Nepal to Tibet or Tibet to Nepal, it is pretty clear that the easiest, fastest, and most convenient route is to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu, rather than the other way around. And with it being the cheapest option for almost every tour in Tibet that crosses the border, booking a trip from Tibet to Nepal is the obvious choice for anyone with a desire to cross the Himalayas.

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Is Staying Overnight at EBC during a Kathmandu-Lhasa Tour Recommended? https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-ebc-during-kathmandu-lhasa-tour/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-ebc-during-kathmandu-lhasa-tour/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2020 09:13:22 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6505 As the world’s highest mountain, the majestic Mount Everest has attracted more and more tourists from around the world. When doing a Nepal-Tibet overland tour, visiting Mount Everest is a high priority to road trippers. Regarding that, Everest Base Camp (EBC) seems a logical destination for an overnight stay. However, sleeping at EBC isn’t recommended for visitors heading from Kathmandu for various reasons. To learn why you came to the right place.

1.Sharp altitude increase from Kathmandu to EBC

En route from Kathmandu to Tibet, travelers typically spend a night in Gyirong Town after they cross the border at Gyirong Port. The next leg of the journey takes them through Gyirong County, from where they continue the trip to other attractions.

Kathmandu, the starting point of the overland tour, sits at 1,400m/4,600ft above sea level. Gyirong Port, the Nepal-Tibet border crossing, lies at the 1,850m/6,070ft altitude. When you arrive at Gyirong Town which sits at the 2,700m/8,850ft height, you won’t experience elevation increase symptoms.

Gawula Pass

After leaving Gawala Pass at 5225m, you will traverse along the winding road to Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

However, on the following day from Gyirong Town to EBC, you will experience a sharp altitude increase. At first you will climb to the 4,200m/13,800ft height while traversing Gyirong County which is about 70km away from Gyirong Town. To get from the county to Everest Base Camp, you will get through various Himalayan mountain passes, such as Kongtanglamu Pass at 5,245 meters and Gawula Pass at 5,225 meters. When arriving at EBC at 5,200m/17,050ft above sea level, the high altitude and the the sharp altitude increase within a day can cause altitude sickness easily.

2. Entirely different climate between Gyirong and EBC

Gyirong and Everest Base Camp feature opposing climate conditions. And this is another reason why you should avoid an overnight stay at EBC during Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tours.
When traveling from the county to the base of Mount Everest, you may experience climate change from a pleasant spring to a freezing winter in just several hours. Additionally, take the level of oxygen content in the air into account, too.

Gyirong weather conditions

While you are in Gyirong, you are likely to experience balmy weather. Albeit the county doesn’t have distinctive seasons, it features a subtropical, mountainous climate. Winter tends to catch up at times, true, but it remains short.

Most of the days, South Gyirong features daily temperatures over 10°C/50°C. Sometimes, highs tend to approach 20°C/68°F. Furthermore, lush vegetation, consisting of dense forests and valleys with perennial flowers, is proof of high precipitation. On average, this part of Tibet receives 1,000mm/40in of rainfall per year. So, oxygen abounds in the air here.

EBC climate

From April to September, air temperatures are above 0°C/32°F at EBC, with the highs rising over 20°C/68°F in summer. In October and November, average temperatures fluctuate from -8°C/17°F to 17°C/63°F. The rest of the year, average lows drop down to -15°C/5°F, while highs are around -5°C/23°F. What’s more, the temperature at night is much lower than that of daytime.

As for rainfall, precipitation is insignificant most of the year. Only in summer, during the monsoon season, things change. From June to September, Everest Base Camp receives approx. 170mm/6.7in of rain per month.

Everest Base Camp in Tibet

The temperature at Everest Base Camp in Tibet is much lower than that of Gyirong Town.

With practically no vegetation and high elevation, oxygen is scarce at the base of the highest Himalayan mountain. The entirely different climate and temperate drop is more likely to cause a code. Tourists traveling from Gyirong to EBC and stay overnight there can catch a cold more easily than those visiting EBC from Lhasa. The likelihood of this increases after the entire day on the road and sleeping in poor conditions.

3. Basic accommodation at EBC

The accommodation at EBC is very basic. Given that you would be traveling the entire day to sleep in a company of several people in a room/tent should make you reconsider the intention.

You can stay at tent guesthouse or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse. Upon arrival, you would quickly realize that the accommodation status at EBC are the most basic since Kathmandu, Nepal. What’s more, you won’t find a doctor on duty around, much less a hospital.

EBC Base Camp

Usually, a tent guesthouse is shared by about 10 guests.

Tent guesthouse at EBC are tents made of yak wool on offer and are operated by local Tibetans. Usually a tent is shared by around 10 travelers and is heated by a yak-dunk dove.
Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse is opposite to Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest monastery. The guesthouse has about 30 rooms, and rooms come as twin or dorm rooms. There is not dove or air-conditioner in the room.

4. Stay in Tingri and still visit Mount Everest

Instead of putting yourself at health risk, think about staying overnight in Tingri after you take photo shots of snow-capped Mt. Everest. Located roughly 200km/125mi from Kathmandu and 350km/220mi from Lhasa, Tingri sits about 4,300m/14,100ft above sea level. From the highest Himalayan peak, the settlement is just over 100km/62mi distant.

Mount Everest

After visiting Mt. Everest, you will head for Tingri and stay overnight there.

So, by sleeping there, you would meet two primary objectives. The first is spending a night at a lower elevation from the highest you reached that day. The second would be sleeping at the altitude approximate to that of Gyirong County, which means higher levels of oxygen.

Speaking of accommodation status, Tingri offers the best lodging conditions between Gyirong Town and Shigatse. The accommodation is basic, true, but you will enjoy a greater comfort than around the base camp. Needless to say, the medical service in Tingri is much better than EBC.
What’s more, Tingri is an excellent base for experiencing the sunrise over the world’s highest mountain. And this would be among the highlights of your trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa. To do so, you will need to rise early.

Conclusion

Considering the sharp altitude increase, the cold weather at EBC, and the very basic accommodation status there, it is not advisable for travelers from Kathmandu to stay overnight there. However, during our Kathmandu to Lhasa tour, you will still visit the Mt. Everest and Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world. What’s more, you can have a sound and safe sleep in Tingri at a lower altitude.

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Why should We Stay Overnight in Gyirong Town after Passing Gyirong Port? https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/stay-overnight-in-gyirong-town/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/stay-overnight-in-gyirong-town/#respond Fri, 21 Feb 2020 10:12:59 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6496 Gyirong Town, the closest habitation on the Tibetan plateau to the Gyirong border between Nepal and China, is about 25 kilometers from Gyirong Port. After passing the port, it is advisable to stay at Gyirong Town for at least one night instead of continuing on your trip to Tibetan plateau, even if you have only traveled around 40 kilometers from Syabrubesi in Nepal and arrive at this town before noon.

To effectively help you acclimatize to the sharp altitude change to come

Tibet is often called The Roof of The World due to its high elevation. The average altitude on the Tibetan Plateau is 4,500 meters/14,750 ft. When traveling from Nepal to Tibet, tourists will come across high increase in altitude, rising from 1,300 meters in Kathmandu to over 4,500meters with some passes at altitudes above 5,000 meters. While traveling to places above 3,000 meters may cause Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), also known as altitude sickness, the only way to deal with the sharp altitude change from Nepal to Tibet is to give your body time to adjust to the increase in altitude by resting for a day at lower altitudes, before moving up higher.

Gyirong Port

Our Tibetan guide will meet wait for you outside China Customs of the Gyirong Port.

The altitudes of Kathmandu (1,300m) and Gyirong Port (1,800m) are still quite low. Gyirong Town, lying at an altitude of around 2,700 meters above sea level, is within the range of elevations recommended for acclimatization to higher altitudes. The next accommodation place is Gyirong County about 75 km away from Gyirong Town, however, with an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level, the county is not a suitable place to acclimatize altitude change.

All the tourists need to pass through Gyirong County to visit Tibet from Nepal, and you will be rising to altitudes of more than 5,000 meters during the following trip. Considering the altitude change, you will need to rest and acclimatize before you go any higher.

For those visiting EBC at 5200m

Gyirong County lies at an altitude of around 4,200 meters, while the highest point you will reach on the trip from Kathmandu to EBC, at 5,200 meters, and you will cross mountain passes that also lie at altitudes over 5,000 meters. Lalung La Pass lie at an altitude of around 5,050 meters, while Thong La Pass reaches up to around 5,150 meters. Within the first hour of leaving Gyirong County, you will rise to more than 5,200 meters, as the road snakes up the mountains and down the other side towards Lake Peiku Tso. Even that lake itself is high on the plateau, lying at an altitude of around 4,590 meters above sea level.

Everest Base Camp

You can visit the majestic Mt. Everest during a Nepal-Tibet overland trip.

While the altitude does drop a little as you cross the plain towards Tingri, 170 kilometers from Gyirong County, and again as you drop down into the valley of the Pum Qu River, Tingri itself still lies at an altitude of around 4,300 meters. And from there, the drive to EBC itself rises in altitude constantly for the whole 100 kilometers of road to the site, which lies at around 5,150 meters above sea level. For anyone taking this trip and rising that high on the plateau, the stop at Gyirong Town to help you acclimatize a little better is very necessary.

For those visit Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash

Mt. Kailash

With the highest pass at 5,630 meters, the 3-day Kailash trekking is a challenge for tourists.

The trip from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar also takes you across some of the highest passes in Tibet. From Gyirong County, it is around 553 kilometers to Lake Manasarovar, a drive that is normally done over two days. Along this long and arduous route, you will travel at an average altitude of around 4,600 meters, with increases at the various passes to altitudes well above 5,000 meters, including the Mayom La Pass at 5,112 meters. The first stop, at Saga, is at an altitude of 4,450 meters, while Paryang, the next large town on the road, lies at an altitude of 4,600 meters. It is usually advised to stop at either Saga or Paryang for a day to acclimatize further before continuing on to Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. Lake Manasarovar itself lies at an altitude of almost 4,600 meters, while Darchen, the small village at the foot of Mount Kailash, lies at over 4,700 meters.

To replenish yourself for the following trip

Another good reason to stop in Gyirong Town before continuing on into the rest of Tibet is for you to be able to replenish yourself and your stocks for the coming trip. The town has a number of decent guesthouses, so that you can get a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed before heading to EBC and the tent guesthouses with no heating and outdoor toilets. You can also try some of the restaurants this small town has to offer, and enjoy your first taste of the delicious Tibetan cuisine that will be your friend along the road. You can also stock up on snacks and things, get a local SIM card for your phone so you can use it in Tibet (SIM cards from Nepal do not work in Tibet), and make sure your batteries are fully recharged for the next part of the trip, for both you and your gadgets.

To enjoy the beautiful scenery of Gyirong Town

In Chinese, Gyirong Town in known as Jilongzhen, and lies in one of the most beautiful valleys on the planet. Surrounded by the high Himalayas, this lower valley is lush and green throughout the year, and is one of the secret gardens of Tibet, a mostly unexplored area of the plateau region. Virgin forests line the slopes of the surrounding hills, while lush green meadows and trickling streams fill the valley floor as it rises up towards the northwest. This entryway into Tibet is not just a gateway to the plateau, but a veritable feast of beauty for those travelers wise enough to see it for its true incomparable beauty.

Gyirong actually means “comfortable village in a happy valley”, and this stunning place has plenty of its own amazing sights to enthrall you. The climate is milder than in the higher areas of the plateau, more akin to the climates of the mid-range of Nepal to the south, with heavier monsoons and milder winters. Known as the Back Garden of the Himalayas, this beautiful valley is an untamed wilderness in which people live alongside and in harmony with nature.

Nai Village, or Nitsun Village as it is sometimes known, is a small community of smaller villages in the valley, and has some of the most stunning mountain panoramas in Tibet. A major farming area, the people work their fields between the small villages together, in much the same ways their forefathers did, taking the eco-system of the valley into consideration at all times. The people are just as interesting as their villages, and are unique in their own off-shoot of western Tibetan culture. Friendly and relaxed, you will always get a warm greeting here.

Pakba Monastery

You can visit the Pakba Monastery in Gyirong Town.


The Pakba Monastery, built by King Songtsen Gampo for Princess Bhrikuti to guard the border towns, is renowned for its truly Nepalese style of temple architecture. A storied pagoda-like monastery, this copper-roofed temple is the local temple for the people of the area, and a monastery of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Conclusion

Traveling from Kathmandu into Tibet is an amazing experience, and while you may want to rush in and get started, taking some time to acclimatize at Gyirong Town is an important part of the tour, At an excellent intermediate altitude, Gyirong Town is a great place to acclimatize overnight, with some good restaurants and a decent bed to sleep in, for the last time for a few days. And with the stunning beauty of the Gyirong Valley to enthrall you while you wait, what better place to hang around for a bit. So if you are in a rush to get to Tibet, try to slow down and take a look around while you rest, you will be pleasantly surprised at what this valley has to offer.

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Having Seen Mt. Everest in Nepal, do I Still Need to Visit EBC in Tibet? https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-ebc-in-nepal-and-tibet/ https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/visit-ebc-in-nepal-and-tibet/#respond Fri, 14 Feb 2020 05:42:42 +0000 https://www.tibettravel.org/blog/?p=6485 Standing as high as 8,848 m (29,029 ft) above sea level, Mt. Everset is Earth’s highest mountain and attracts tourists all over the world. Located on the border of Tibet and Nepal with its north face in Tibet and the south face in Nepal, the part in Tibet is universally referred to the “North Slope” while the south part in Nepal is taken as the “South Slope”. Even though you have already visited Mt. Everest in Nepal side, a visit to the North Slope in Tibet is still well worth taking for the following reasons.

You can enjoy the different scenery of Mt. Everest in China side

The Mountain is situated in Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, Tingri County of Shigatse City, Tibet. Due to the different climate and landscape, the scenery of Mt. Everest in Tibet side is very different from that in Nepal.

On the Nepal side, the terrain is very different. Trekking to the South Slope of Mt. Everest from Lukla, you will ascend through beautiful forests and valleys to the lower slopes of the Himalayas.

Mt. Everest in Tibet side

You can appreciate the peak of Mt. Everest at EBC in Tibet side.

On the Tibetan side of Mt, Everest, it is high-altitude plateau landscape with mountains all around. Instead of trees or grass, you can only see the sketching snow belts and feel the relentless cold gale. However, in the Tibet side, you can appreciate much more significant Himalaya Mountains and more stunning panoramic mountain views. What’s more, the summit of Mt. Everest, which is invisible from base camp in Nepal, can be clearly visible from the Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

You can also visit Rongbuk Monastery in China side

Another addition to the attraction of EBC in Tibet is the famous Rongbuk Monastery. Known as the “official” highest Buddhist monastery in the world, Rongbuk lies alongside the Everest Base Camp, and has played a very important role in the history of Mount Everest.

Rongbuk Monastery

Standing at 4980 meters above sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is regarded as the world’s highest monastery.

Founded in 1902, the monastery is part of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and houses both monks and nuns inside its walls. It is classed as the best place to get great views of Mount Everest, as well as the record-breaking altitude.

Nowadays, the monastery is a prominent tourist attraction for visitors to EBC, and the new base camp for tourists visiting Mount Everest lies alongside the monastery. And you can even stay in the modern monastery guesthouse while you visit.

You can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawu La Pass on the way to ECB in China side

Also known as Geu La Pass, Gawu La Pass (5198m) lies in Tingri County of Shigatse, between the villages of Che and Tashizom on the Zhufeng Road towards Mount Everest. One of the most beautiful mountain passes in Tibet, this amazing site is one of the best places from which to view the major Himalayan Mountains over 8,000 meters in height. The panoramic view of the Himalayas from Gawu La is outstanding, and is well worth the long drive on its own.

Gawula Pass

Standing at the Gawula Pass, you can have a panoramic view of the world’s top 4 highest mountains.

From the crest of the pass, where tours normally stop to admire the view, you can get a good and clear view of the main mountains that exceed 8,000 meters. These mountains include Mount Everest (8,848m), Mount Makalu (8,463m), Mount Lhotse (8,516m), and Mount Cho Oyu (8,188m).

A visit to EBC China side is safe and time-saving

While visiting Mt. Everest in Nepal means a long and possibly dangerous hike of around nine days, a trip to EBC in Tibet is actually safe and time-saving. And with the road running all the way to Rongbuk Monastery and the Everest Base Camp itself in China side, it is the easiest way to access Mount Everest.

For those visiting EBC from Nepal side

For those visiting Tibet from Nepal, the route to EBC takes you through Gyirong Valley and Tingri County to get to the base camp. The ascent from Gyirong Port on the border to the base camp is immense, in terms of altitude, so visitors that cross the border and head straight for EBC do not normally stay overnight at the base camp for safety. Usually, you will need to stay overnight in Tingri when visiting EBC during a Kathmandu to Lhasa tour.

From Gyirong Port itself, the road to EBC is just 322 kilometers, and can easily be driven inside a single day. The route from Gyirong Town to EBC takes you along the G216 north, until you reach the G219, where you turn southeast and head past Lake Peiku tso to reach the base camp and Rongbuk Monastery. The road from Gyirong to EBC is a very well paved route, with asphalt for the entire distance of the road.

For those visiting EBC from Lhasa

For those traveling to EBC from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, the route is much safer, as you will acclimatize firstly in Lhasa and then along the way. Once you arrive in Tibet for your trip to EBC, you will spend the first few days in Lhasa, sightseeing while you acclimatize to the increase in altitude. Then you will travel overland from the capital to Gyantse and Shigatse, stopping overnight at around 4,000 meters. This allows you to adapt to the increases in altitude between Lhasa and EBC.

Gawula Pass

During a Lhasa to EBC tour, you can appreciate the stunning sunset and sunrise over the peak of Mt. Everest at lodging area.

During our classic 8-day Everest Base Camp small group tour from Lhasa, the altitude acclimatization means that you will be able to stop overnight at EBC, staying in either the Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse, or one of the Tent Guesthouses if you prefer. And there are distinct advantages to being able to stop overnight. Not only do you get to view the stunning snow-clad Mount Everest at sunset and sunrise, but you also have the opportunity to enjoy the starry nights at EBC. The base camp is one of the many locations in Tibet from where you can get a good view of the Milky Way, our own Galaxy, as well as many other stars and heavenly sights. For stargazers, this is the perfect chance to get a good view of stars you might not normally see from lower altitudes and other places.

Conclusion

So the question of whether it is still worth going to EBC in Tibet after already visiting EBC in Nepal has a very simple answer: Yes, it is. There are definite advantages to visiting EBC in Tibet, with things you can do and see in Tibet that you cannot in Nepal. So if you are already planning a trip to EBC in Nepal, why not pop over to Tibet while you are there and view the summit of Everest from the best location on the planet – The Northern Base Camp on the Roof of the World.

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