Toilet has always been a very important part of traveling. Do you have any basic idea about Tibetan toilet? Frankly speaking, the sanitary condition of toilets in Tibet is not so good. Please kindly do not hold high exception for that in your Tibet trip. In this post, I’ll introduce some typical Tibetan toilets for you, including toilets on Tibet train, hotel toilets in Tibet, toilets at Tibet tourist sites, etc.

1. Tibet Train Toilet

There are two toilets available at the both ends of each carriage. One is squat-style and the other is western-style. Each bathroom is equipped with a water sink but you’d better bring your own toilet paper!

Western-style Toilet on Tibet Train
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Dustbin: Yes
Fee: None

In fact, when you first get on the Tibet train, the toilets are clean and tidy. And our attendants would clean them regularly. But after one day’s driving towards Tibet, they become dirty and smell bad. However, compared with other toilets in Tibet, especially the ones in remote area, they are really acceptable.

Squat-style toilet on Tibet train
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Dustbin: Yes
Fee: None

2. Toilets in the Tibet Hotels

With the development of Tibet tourism, the accommodation condition of Tibet has been greatly improved. Most standard rooms of the starred hotels in Tibet have private bathrooms with water heaters. The clean western-style toilets must make you feel at home. But in many Tibetan-style hotels and guest houses, you would have to get used to the squat toilets.

Toilets in the Tibet Hotels
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dustbin: Yes
Fee: None

3. Toilets in Lhasa City

Generally speaking, washrooms in Lhasa urban area are similar to those in mainland China. The only difference is that Lhasa toilets have no separate doors. Whether it clean or not totally depends on your luck. And one thing I want to mention here is the public toilet in Potala Palace. It’s already had a long history of more than three hundred years. Located at the altitude of 3700 meters, Potala Palace toilet is reputed as one of the highest toilets in the world. If your personal belongings like cellphone, wallet, keys fall down, it’s impossible to get them back for this toilet has a vertical drop of over sixty meters! Thus, it’s worth your visit while touring Lhasa.

Potala Palace Toilet
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Dustbin: None
Fee: None

4. Toilets on the way from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake

If you join our 5 Days Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake Small Group Tour, you’ll frequently experience this typical squat toilet en route. Just a kind reminder here, once traveling out of Lhasa, you are likelier to be charged One CNY for using the public toilet.

Toilets on the way from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Dustbin: Yes
Fee: One CNY

5. Toilets on the way from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp

It’s also easy for you to find squat toilets while touring between Shigatse and Everest Base Camp. But the squatting pan has become a ditch directly connecting with the outside. Thanks to the regular cleaning, it still looks clean and tidy. Usually we would face to the corridor and hide ass to the wall.

Toilets on the way from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Dustbin: Yes
Fee: One CNY

6. Toilets at the check point of Everest Base Camp

This toilet is really awful. You are strongly suggested to have some mental preparation for the pungent odor. I think it must be one of the worst toilets in Tibet. The garbage smell and feces flavor are pervading over the whole toilet. And there is no trash inside. Toilet paper can be only thrown into the ditch. You’d better wear a mask and take a deep breath before entering it.

Toilets at the check point of Everest Base Camp
Sanitary Condition ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Dustbin: None
Fee: None

7. Toilets at Everest Base Camp

It’s time to practice your squat technique now. Someone said that once squatting down, you must sit on the defecation and urination. Exaggerated as it may sound, this simple description shows you the filthy condition of Everest Base Camp toilet. Inside the room, you’ll see the deep holes in the ground with feces littered all over the wooden floor.

Toilets at Everest Base Camp
Sanitary Condition ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Dustbin: None
Fee: One CNY

8. Toilets on the way from Shigatse to Namtso Lake

This toilet is located at the monument of Qinghai-Tibet Highway. It looks fashion with separate wooden doors. But the inside condition is no better than toilet at the check point of Everest Base Camp. Upon stepping on the ground, you’d like to flee off. So please don’t be cheated by the luxuriant appearance, or you’ll let yourself down.

Toilets on the way from Shigatse to Namtso Lake
Sanitary Condition ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Dustbin: None
Fee: None

9. Toilets on the way from Lhasa to Namtso Lake

While driving from Lhasa to Namtso Lake, you would come across this kind of toilets in the open air. Compared with toilets above, this outdoor toilet has a super advantage. That’s to say, you’ll be free of offensive smells. And it’s worth every penny!

Toilets on the way from Lhasa to Namtso Lake
Sanitary Condition ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Dustbin: None
Fee: One CNY

10. Toilets around Mt.Kailash and Lake Manasarovar

On the way to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar stand several pit toilets. They were built by local Ali people and smell really bad. The inner condition is very basic. Although lights and waters are not available here, the starry sky over head must be a compensation for you!

Toilets around Mt.Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
Sanitary Condition ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Dustbin: None
Fee: One CNY

In a word, most sanitaries in Tibet are very humble and smelly. Clean water is not always available at Tibetan toilets. Therefore, it’s wise to bring enough toilet papers as well as wet tissues. Hope it would not be a big headache for you. If you still have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email and Tibet Vista is always ready to help you out!