The Roof of the Word
Today in the age of information with jet aircraft, highways and computer networks mysterious places are rare to be found; but Tibet is an
exception.
Refereed as Shangri La, The forbidden Land, The Roof of the World, and by many more, the mysterious Buddhist Kingdom remained long closed to foreigners, exerting a strong hold on the imagination of the world. For centuries, it has fascinated mankind. It was hardly accessible to the outside world and has been always a challenge to human beings. Tibet, a "forbidden land" not only by man but also by nature, attracted many explorers, scholars, and pilgrims and adventure lovers, all in pursuit of "Real Shangri La". It is not only the geographical and natural enchants but also a long historical culture and religion that appeal the foreigners to visit Tibet at least once in a lifetime. Climate
You can travel to Tibet throughout the year but mid July through to the end of September is the best period. The temperature varies sharply from the south grassland to north plateau. The south is warm and rainy. Most rain falls during May to September. It is warm from June to August. The coldest months are from December to February and crossing over the passes becomes almost impossible. Below given is a table of average temperature, rainfall and sunshine hours in Tibet. Accommodations
Hotels/guesthouses have basic facilities and even a hotel in Lhasa may not meet your expectation. We always try to provide our clients a twin room but it may not always be possible. Sometime, because of weather factor or road condition, we may not be able to bring you to the hotel of our contract or rooms may be already sold out due to delay arrival and we may have to request you to adjust in whatever accommodation available at that moment. In Lhasa, Gyantse and Xigatse, you can expect twin room with attached toilet/shower but other places; you will have to adjust with common restroom facilities.
Electricity and hot water supply may be disrupted although the hotels of cities promise them. Transportation
From Kathmandu, you will be transferred by a van/coach to Kodari (Tibet border 116 km) accompanied by our escort and from Tibet border onwards, Tibetan crews will drive you all the way to Lhasa. In the event of landslides or road blockade by any reason and service of porters are required to carry your luggage or hire another means of transport between the two landslides or for onward journey, you will be asked to contribute a nominal sum of money.
During the change of vehicle in the border, you are requested to help yourself about your luggage. Guide
Tibetan guides are reported to have limited English and you may not expect a fluent explanation about culture and religion or any other academic topics. He will serve more as a geographical guide and will be responsible for dealing with bureaucracies on the way. However, we will try our best to assign you the best guide available though. Clothing
The weather is cold, harsh and dry. You will need enough warm cloths , tennis shoes, suntan cream, sunglasses, hats, scarves, lip guards etc. Food
Your trip includes only breakfast. So, you may want to carry with you energy bars, dry foods like chocolates, cookies etc to eat on the way. Restaurants in Lhasa,Gyantse and Xigatse
serve varieties of cuisines ranging from Chinese to Continental but in other places, you will find basic Tibetan foods. Money
In China, you will have to use RMB (Chinese money). Saturday and Sundays, banks are closed but in the border sides, you may encounter with a moneychanger everyday. Travelers' cheques or credit cards are not accepted in most parts of Tibet. So, you may want to carry about 100 dollars in cash for lunch/dinner and for small souvenirs. Tipping
Guides and Drivers would be happy to receive tip and in fact it motivates them to work harder and provide better service. Altitude Sickness
Travelers to Tibet are reported to exhibit mild symptoms of altitude sickness. So, some measures of precaution and remedies should be taken. Complaints of headache, fever, loss of appetite, uneasiness, stomach disorder etc can come up before acclimatization. Travelers with heart, lungs and blood diseases should consult with their doctors before they sign up for a trip.
Consumption of enough liquid food (not a liquor!) and enough rest is recommended if you notice the symptoms of sickness. |
