Chinese Visa and Tibet Permits

Chinese visa and Tibet Permits are not that complicated as they sound to be. If your travel begins in Nepal, we will have to pre-process your visa application but final visa work will be done in Kathmandu upon your arrival only. We will take care of all the visa works. If your travel begins in Bangkok or Honkong or any mainland Chinese cities, all you have to care is obtain Chinese visa on your own from the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate in your come country and provide us a copy of it about a month ahead of your travel. Then, leave rest of things to us

Trip Difficulty Level

This is a medium to difficult graded trekking with altitudes ranging between 4400 m (14, 432 ft.) and 5300m(17, 384 ft.). We walk 5-6 hour in average but some days can be longer. Subfreezing temperatures can occur even in summer at higher elevations and, hot gusty winds in May and June can make walking tough due to sweating. The itinerary does allow enough time for acclimatization and trekkers should not feel the symptoms of the altitude sickness, yet trekkers are recommended for training exercises at least a couple of months ahead of the trip date.

Accommodation

Lhasa has some choices for accommodation but we use Tibetan managed mid range hotels located in the Barkhor area. We use Denkang or Gyangyen hotels which are new additions of Lhasa. Other hotels of our choice are Dhod Gu, Kyichu, Gorkha and Yak hotels. In Gyantse and Shigatse, there are very few choices of tourist standard hotels and obviously we pick the best one. We use Gyantse Hotel in Gyantse and Manasarovara in Shigatse which are 3 star standard properties. These hotels promise private bathroom with hot and cold water but at times, hot water supply may be disrupted due to electric outage. As we leave Shigatse behind, we have basic accommodations in Shegar (New Tingri), Everest Base camp and Tingri. Guest houses provide very primitive facilities. We will try to get you private room with two beds. We will have to use share toilet which is Tibetan style squat toilet and we may miss hot showers in guesthouses. If they do have one, we may end up paying extra as usually, its not included in the room rent. In Zhangmu, we have a 3 star standard hotel but its not the same quality as others in the major towns. Please, do not compare Tibetan hotels with the Western hotels. Tourism infrastructure and facilities in Tibet are still underway and professionalism is yet to develop.
For trekking, we provide complete camping gears that include 2 persons sleeping tents, kitchen tent, dinning tent, toilet tent, camping chairs and tables, mattresses and kitchen utensils. On request, we can also provide sleeping bags but usually we recommend bringing your own.

Meals

Our tour features breakfast only when you are in the cities. Breakfast can be western or Chinese or Tibetan style. There are choices of restaurants in the cities serving western, Chinese, Indian and Nepali dishes. You can expect to spend US$ 8 -10 per meal in regular restaurants. Meals in the hotels can be priced higher.

During trekking, there will be a special cook and some helps (depending on group size) to prepare 3 tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. After a long day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert.Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh produce as possible and our cooks and kitchen crew maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness and food preparation hygiene. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for.

Besides, its advisable to bring on your own some dry fruits, energy bars, chocolates, supplement vitamins etc to eat on the way.

Guide and Crews

Right upon arrival at Lhasa airport, you will be met by your guide who will accompany you throughout the trip. We pick knowledgeable, friendly and flexible guides who are also recommended by our former clients. The guide, beside working as an interpreter and giving a valuable insight into the Tibetan way of life, he helps you check in hotel, co-ordinates with drivers and other crews and deals with local bureaucracies as and when required. Your guide carries all necessary vouchers and documents required in connection of your trip. On trekking trips, besides guides there will be a special cook and additional helps depending on group size and animal drivers. The crews are responsible for setting up and breaking down camps. We do use pack animals (Yaks or ponies) to transport the gears and supplies during trekking. The drivers and animal drivers do not speak English but you will be impressed by their sense of hospitality and service.

Transportation in Tibet

There is rehabilitation works going on in Tibetan roads. So, at times, it can become quite rough and impassable for many vehicles, so for this reason we use Land cruiser 4WDs (Toyota 4500). These vehicles are extremely reliable and will make the journey as comfortable as possible. As for the trekking trips, depending on the duration of the trip, we might require to hire additional vehicle, usually a truck to transport gears and supplies to the trail head and again bring them back from the finish point. As road condition is not so good, we might come across flat tires or other mechanical issues but the driver will fix it while you are engaged in capturing the scenes. Usually, we drive 6 hours in average, stopping along the way for photography or places of special interest and also stop for tea and snacks and lunch and arriving in the destination usually by 4 or 5 pm.

About our Trekking Trips in Tibet

Our all trekking trips in Tibet are fully catered by our qualified and experienced crew from Tibet. Depending on group size, we may also hire professional Nepali Sherpa Crews who are well renowned for organizing trekking trips. We hire English speaking Tibetan Guide for all our trips but on large expeditions, there will also be a Nepali Leader who will be responsible to control the trekking arrangement part.

A typical trekking day begins with a hot cup of tea or coffee served at your tent early morning. You are provided a bowl of hot water for washing. You will pack up your stuff and appear in the breakfast table by 7 or 7.30am. We leave the campsite usually from 8 to 8.30 am for days trekking. Your luggage is carried by porter or pack animal and all you need to carry is a small day pack containing a water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain-jacket and a warm jumper, just in case. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter and we arrive at camp in time for a nice cup of tea. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent exploring the nearby villages, doing a bit of washing or simply relaxing with a good book or give hands to the kitchen crews to add your taste. Dinner is usually served between 6 and 7pm and after dinner, the evening is often spent playing cards or talking with the crews. If it’s a large group, the crews might take initiative in singing and dancing before turning into the tent for a well-earned sleep.

Health Concerns

There are no mandatory vaccination required to travel to Tibet but you may consider vaccination against rabies and Hep A. Travelers with cardiac-pulmonary issues or any other medical conditions are recommended to consult their physician before you sign up a trip to Tibet. The main health consideration in Tibet is altitude related illness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). You may experience some mild symptoms initially, such as headache, lethargy, nausea and sleeplessness, but these should lessen within a few days. A supply of bottled oxygen is carried in the vehicle at all times should it be required. We also carry a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) on all our Tibet treks. We also carry basic first aid kit, but it’s good to bring your own as well. Hotels in Lhasa are equipped with oxygen. Doctors will also be available on call.

Based on our experience, less than 1% percent of our clients got altitude sickness but that was nothing serious. In case of a serious sickness or a casualty, which generally does not happen; you shall be driven by a land cruiser to nearest Nepal border or flown out of Lhasa. It’s recommended that you should bear a valid travel insurance covering emergency medical transportation.

You should start some physical exercises like jogging, swimming, cycling, hiking and aerobics about several weeks ahead of the trip that keeps you fit and lessens the chance of getting altitude sickness. You should have a good sleep the night before you fly to Lhasa and take complete rest on the first day. Its also advisable to drink 3-4 litres of water daily and consume liquid food.

Best Time to Trek in Tibet

While trekking trips can be undertaken from April through late October, May, June, September and early October are the best period. High Himalayas blocks the monsoon cloud and Tibet is generally dry but still there is some chance of rain during July and August. Trekkers must be prepared for the extremes in climate, even in the middle of the summer. Weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly. Night temperatures at 4500m (14,760ft) and above can fall below freezing even in July and August and its very much windy on high passes.

Clothing

During the day a light shirt or jumper and lightweight pants will be suitable, but a warm fleece or down jacket is recommended for the evenings. Below is the general clothing and equipment list for trekking in Tibet.
• Down jacket or warm fleece top
• Thermal underwear (top and bottom)
• Cotton shirts (short and long sleeved)
• Warm and cotton trousers
• Sun polarized sunglasses
• Beanie or warm woollen hat and gloves
• Scarf (to keep out dust as well as cold)
• Sandals (flip-flops)
• Towel
• Sleeping bag (for camping/trekking)
• Rain jacket
• Strong sun cream and lip protector
• Moisturizer
• Water bottle
• Camera (and plenty of film and spare batteries)

Note on Itinerary

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed; it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Booking and Cancellation

When you are sure you are traveling, it will be wise to initiate reservation in time so that we can ensure preferred hotels, guide and transport for you. A deposit of US$200 on land plus the cost of internal airfares is requested along with complete trip application form and passport copies.Balance payment is due 60 days prior to your departure. Depending on the number of applicants, we may set an early payment date. If balance of payment is not received by the requested date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking without prior notice.

Cancellation

• 90 days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 50 per person.
• 60-89 day's prior departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 45 days to 59 days prior departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 30 days to 44 days prior departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• Less than 30 days: 100%

Highland Asia Travel

We are an active adventure travel company, based in Minneapolis, USA with destination management offices in Kathmandu, Thimphu and Lhasa. We are BBB acredited business and an active member of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). We have set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Our managers and guides have more than 15 years of experience in organizing and leading adventure trips in the highlands of Asia. For us travel is not just a business, but a way of life.

Travel Protection Plan

While we plan and do our best to make your trip smooth and seamless, there may be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, and flight cancellation or missed connection or loss of baggage etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation or medical transportation when you get ill or involve in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. Highland Asia’s Tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses and so we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.