Australia to Tibet Tour: My Amazing Tibet Experience Began with a Simple Internet Search

Hi everyone! In October – November 2024 I visited Tibet with the amazing team at Tibet Vista. Tibet has always been a place that I have wanted to visit as it was such a mysterious, sacred, and remote place in the world.

I come from Australia and didn’t know too many people who had gone to Tibet before, so I simply did a search on the internet for companies that did tours for foreigners.

There were a few companies that did tours in Tibet, however I found that Tibet Vista had itineraries that were simple to understand and also the most affordable when comparing tour groups.

Picture with Tibet train before departure.

How Tibet Vista Helped Me Book a 6-Day Tibet Tour on a Tight Schedule?

In getting to know more about the tour, I added one of the Tibet Vista workers (Amy) on WeChat (I recommend any tourists visiting China to get this app – it will make life much more easier in China!).

I discussed my options with Amy, (particularly since I was on a tight schedule, coming from an Inner Mongolia tour, and then needing to go to Shanghai to visit a girl I like – that’s another story though!), and we settled on the Tibet 6-day tour from Lhasa to Shigatse.

During this time, outside of booking the tour, we also worked through getting to Tibet, which included getting a proper train ticket for a 20+ hour train to the heart of Tibet, Lhasa. They will also provide you with a Tibet travel permit that YOU NEED with you when travelling to all places to Tibet, do not lose this.

Tibetan Mastiff.

My Tibet Train Tips: Choose a Soft Sleeper, Bring a Book and Snacks

For those that are planning to take Tibet train, I strongly recommend you get the soft sleeper bed, which while may cost a bit more, is 100% more comfortable, convenient, private and safe (sharing with 4 people), rather than the other options of hard sleeper (sharing with 6 people), or a normal seat.

You will get on the train from a city of your choice (for myself, it was from Xining via Zhangye), and the ride is roughly 20+ hours. I recommend you bring a good book or two, as it will help pass by the time when you are on the train.

Besides this, bring lots of food and snacks, you will be able to purchase items, but the stock is quite limited in options. The train has basic toilet and wash facilities, and has a station to re-fill hot water. Drink lots of water to keep hydrated as it will be a long journey and hydration will help you cope with altitude sickness if you get any.

Feel free to meet and mingle with other foreigners while you are on the train! You will meet some great people while you are on the train from all places in the world (and most likely, as was in my case, they will be part of your tour group, so be nice to everyone, otherwise it could be an awkward tour!)

Once you arrive in Lhasa, you will get off the train and once you exit there will be the Tibet Vista group that will welcome you, sign your name off and present you with a local Tibetan scarf. From here you will go to the hotel of your choice (basic, intermediate, best class) depending on your requirements.

Soft Sleeper of Tibet Train.

Pick up at Lhasa railway station by Tibet Vista with a white Hada.

The First Highlight of My Tibet Tour: Exploring Lhasa and Its Iconic Gems

Lhasa: Lhasa tour is great. Unexpectedly to me, it had the feelings of a modern Chinese city and you won’t have any trouble getting your basic amenities or snacks, as you would in any other Chinese city. It is quite well established and clean for the most part.

The main places you will visit are the Drepung, Sera Monasteries, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace and Barkhor Street. The monasteries and temples are really for understanding the Buddhist culture and you get to see many statues that are devoted to the Buddhist religion.

Your tour guide will be able to explain things such as the use of candles, the different statues, and the chanting / prayers. The Potala Palace is the home of the Dalai Lama and the tour here is amazing.

You are able to see the local devotion to the religion and the local public volunteering to paint the Potala Palace white. It is HUGE and prepare to be in awe of its magnificence. Barkhor Street is a great place to relax and see Tibetan people circle around the street, keeping dedicated to their religion.

There are shops here that you can buy small items from. I would recommend walking to a few stalls and also checking out the stalls outside of Barkhor street as well, as you may get a better deal. Stallholders aren’t that keen to bargain too much, so just keep that in mind.

The Potala Palace.

Drepung Monastery.

Picture with group members and our Tibetan guide.

The Second Stop of My Tibet Journey: Shigatse - Tibet’s Vibrant Second-Largest City

Shigatse: You take a bus for the majority of a day, and pass by some spectacular mountain passes and Lakes. Definitely this is the part that nature lovers will be in for. There is lot’s of snow and scenic places to take photos.

There are a few pit stops that you can take photos with Tibetan Mastiffs, small goats and other animals. During the trip to Shigatse, you also get to have lunch with a local Tibetan family. The food is so simple, but delicious. You really feel the care when a home cooked meal is prepared for you.

I personally had to break off from my tour group as the rest of my group were going to Everest Base Camp (I had previously gone earlier in the year in Nepal), and for me I visited Tashilhunpo Monastery, which was more sacred for the Panchen Lama.

Tibet Vista were great in helping organise a private tour guide for me, and also organising a train back to Lhasa for me.

Stunning views of Yamdrok lake on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse.

Bird-eye view of Shigatse City.

Respect and Awareness: Navigating Sacred Spaces and Cultural Nuances in Tibet

I am someone that’s quite adaptable, so during my visit to Tibet, I didn’t find many big challenges while I was visiting. The locals are friendly and willing to help you if you need it. One thing to note, particularly in some of the temples/monasteries is that you need to be mindful of the rules there.

Do not take photos inside, as this is a sacred place and can be seen as very disrespectful behaviour. Occasionally as a tourist/foreigner, there may be a few people that will literally stop and stare/glare at you (usually in the temples) as they will hear your guide speaking English to you.

This was a bit unsettling not just for foreigners, but even our local guides I could see at times they felt a little bit uncomfortable. Just be mindful and respectful in all interactions you have.

Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest in Shigatse.

The crystal clear blue water of Manla reservoir.

Beyond Expectations: Embracing Tibet’s Wild Beauty with an Exceptional Guide

My advice to any foreigners that wish to visit is to immerse yourself before and during your visit to Tibet. Expect it to be different to the world you know and come without any pre-conceived notions.

I would return to Tibet in future if the opportunity came up. I would say I would be looking to do more nature hikes/tours as opposed to staying in cities.

I believe that tour options may be limited for foreigners, and is more widely available for Chinese nationals, but hopefully one day there will be a chance for more foreigners to see the beautiful landscapes of Tibet, in more remote areas.

To end, I have to say a special thank you to my tour guide Lhakpa. He stayed with our tour group the whole time, has a great grasp of Tibet and explains things extremely well. I threw him some curveball questions and he was always able to respond. Great experience and hope you have the chance to visit too!