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Top 10 Tibet Travel Tips

First time to Tibet? Want some practical tips for traveling Tibet easier?

We have done all the work for you. Here we provide you everything you want to know about what to do to prepare for Tibet tour, including Tibet permits and Visa, best time to go to Tibet, packing list, Tibet high altitude sickness, how to get to Tibet, Tibet Taboos, etc.

Tibet Travel Permits

When you travel to Tibet, besides a valid passport and a valid Chinese visa, there are two main permits needed for: TTB Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) and PSB Permit (Aliens’ Travel Permit).

All foreign tourists and Taiwan tourists must apply for a Tibet Entry Permit issued by the TTB (Tibet Tourism Bureau) for entry to Lhasa or any other parts of Tibet. If you want to explore these "unopened" places, like Mt. Everest, you must further apply for a PSB Permit, issued by the Local Public Security Bureau of Tibet (PSB). Your travel agency will help you to obtain both of them.

Please Note: Recently, it is earlier to issue Tibet permits if there are more than 6 people with the SAME nationality in a group. So if you decide to travel Tibet in next few months, it is time to find your travel mates or creatie your travel group now.

Best Time to Visit Tibet

What is the best time to visit Tibet? It is said that the suitable time for traveling to Tibet is from April to October while the golden time is August and September. But if you only stay in Lhasa, you can to there any time of the year. Read more details about Tibet weather

High Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Worry about Altitude Sickness when traveling in Tibet? Here we will help you to know how to avoid it and what you need to prepare for AMS.

• Keep fit, both physically and psychologically, Don't be too nervous.
• Avoid catching a cold or respiratory problem before entering Tibet.
• Avoid brisk walking or running immediate after you arrival.
• Drink more water.
• Don't take shower at the first day.
• Avoid alcohol and don't smoke.

What to Pack for Tibet tour

Besides the passport and camera what other important items you need to pack for Tibet travel? Here we list the must-have item to make you Tibet tour more safe and comfortable as follows:

High altitude medications, proper clothing, high SPE sunscreen cream, sun block, skin cream, lip balm, sunglasses and some trekking equipment.

Tibet Taboos & Etiquettes – Do's and Don'ts

Tibetan people are friendly and hospitable. However, they have different ways to behavior in many aspects due to their unique culture and religion. Here, we list some of them to make you Tibet travel more smoothly.

• Don't take photos without permission.
• Don't talk the sensitive issues like politics & religion.
• Don't enter a monastery without permission.
• Don't touch the head of a Tibetan.
• Don't drive away or hurt eagles, because they are considered holy birds in the hearts of Tibetan people.
• Don't step on the threshold when entering a tent, house, or monastery.
• Take your hat off when entering a chapel.
• Walk around monasteries, temples, dagobas and other religious structures in clockwise order with the exception of the Bon sites.

Tibet Travel - How to Get to Tibet

Nowadays, in the wake of developments in Tibet transportation, getting to Tibet is very easily. There are many ways to get to Tibet: by air, rail or road.

• By plane – for international visitors from far way, flying to Tibet is a great option. Flying in to Tibet is much faster and you can save more time to explore Tibet. Additionally, it is very difficult for individual travelers to get a ticket on their own.
• By train – It is the first choice for most travelers to take a train to Tibet, because you will travel on the highest plateau of the world and enjoy stunning plateau scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway. There are regular train services from Beijing, Xining, Lanzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai to Lhasa.
• By road – Traveling to Tibet by road, especially through Qinghai-Tibet Highway or Tibet Friendship Highway, has become increasingly popular because it is a more authentic way to explore Tibet. Along the way, you can enjoy the unique snowy plateau scenery but you will be able to fulfill with exquisite driving skill.

Foreign exchange

In Tibet, the currency is still Chinese Yuan (RMB). Foreign currency cannot be used directly. You can exchange foreign currency and traveler’s check at the Bank of China only with your passports. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sundays in Tibet. There are several up-market hotels in Lhasa offer currency exchange service, but only available for their guest.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are not recommended as a way of payment in Tibet because they are only accepted by the Bank of China and few hotels in Lhasa. ATM is not widely available. Most of time, you couldn’t get cash by ATM from branches of the Bank of China. You need to go to the Tibet Branch of the Bank of China (the main office in Lhasa).

Tibet Food

Tibetan and Nepalese food is the main fare in Tibet with yak and mutton being the most favored meats. Tourism in Tibet is still in its infancy so the quality of restaurants will not be as high as in other parts of China. In Tibet, Chinese and western food are easily found and the standard is ok. Curries and stews are common.

Accommodation & Hotels in Tibet

With the rapidly developing of tourism in Tibet, Accommodation conditions in Tibet have been greatly improved. However, the overall level of accommodation in Tibet is lower than that in other parts of China. There are many star-rated hotels in big cities of Tibet such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Tsedang and Lyingchi, but hotels in small cities and remote areas are very basic, usually having a public bathroom with squat toilet.