7 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour (without Mount Everest)

FAQs of This Trip

1. What is a Tibet Group Tour?

   Save money, make lifetime friends on the way!

   Getting more people in the group is a great way to save money. Our group tour is very suitable for solo travelers and students. When inquiring, please ask our travel consultants if there are other people also travel alone and indicate if you would mind to travel with like-minded people.

   Our group tour is a join-in tour. You will travel with other visitors from all over the world. You will share the costs of hiring vehicle, guides and accommodation with other visitors. 

   Our group size is from 2-20 people. To make sure the tour guide is able to take good care of everyone in the tour, there will be less than 8 people for most of our group tours. We had handled tours only had 3-4 peoples, which is like a private tour.

    

2. Recommended Tibet Packing List

   For clothing, we suggest casual style and layered clothing because temperatures in Tibet vary greatly during a day. Down coat is necessary if you go beyond Lhasa and Shigatse to remote areas, e.g. the Everest Camp or further to Mt.Kailash. Sun glasses, sun block,moisture cream are necessary too.

   For food, 2L of water each day, and some snacks. We also find the energy drink Red Bull is a great energy boost while traveling in Tibet.

   For medicines, we suggest that you take some pain-killer pills with you and enough medicine for colds, diarrhea, nausea and fever. Some nasal ointment andthroat-moistening pills will be of great help for those who are sensitive tochilly weather conditions. Please consult your doctor prior to your travel toTibet. Medicine is a must for travelers to Tibet.

    

3. Tibet Travel Permits and China Visa

   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 the Tibet Autonomous Region.

   We will take care of all necessary Tibet permits in all of our Tibet tours. It is included in the price quotation and it is part of our tour services. It's advisable to apply for your travel permits at least 10 days prior to your entry date. The earlier, the easier for us to get a permit for you.

   Please tell us your real occupation when applying a tibet travel permit. Journalists and people involved with political matters (such asdiplomats and government officials) require more complicated procedures to beissued a permit.

   A valid passport and a valid China visa is needed when applying a Tibet travel permit. The cost of a Chinese Visa is not included in our tour, so you have to apply for your China Visa in your country by yourself. If you have any question in terms of applying a China visa and filling out the application form, feel free to contact our Travel Consultant.

4. Meal Information

   Breakfast: If you are staying in a star hotel, breakfast is usually included. If you are staying in a guesthouse or tent, breakfast is not included.

   Lunch and Dinner:
   We don’t usually include lunch and dinner in our tour itinerary. We do arrange lunch or dinner for you at your request though. However, we prefer to give you the freedom to choose the food you want and pay on the spot. From our previous customers' responses, we find that most of our clients prefer to leave the dinners open on their own so that they can enjoy some time to themselves. They can choose either to go to a local restaurant for a little adventure or to have a simple dinner in the hotel where they stay. They may also prefer to choose a restaurant which appeals to their own unique tastes.

   We have created a list of our favorite restaurants in Tibet and hand-picked some local restaurants to recommend to our customers. In Lhasa, you can choose Chinese food, Western food, Tibetan food as well as Nepalese food and Indian food. In "off-the-beaten-road" destinations, choices are limited. Our tour guide will be more than happy to recommend good restaurants for you and take you to the restaurants available according to your tastes and preferred style of dishes. Soon you’ll develop your favorite Tibetan dishes!

    

5. Questions About Attractions and Tour Activities

   Acclimatize: We suggest that you take it easy for your first few days in Tibet. Don't push yourself physically since your body will require some time to get used to the high altitude.

   Photography: When photographing Tibetans, please be sure to get their permission first. Also, when inside the religious sites, please be aware that if photography is permitted. It is not allowed to take pictures while inside the halls of Potala Palace and JokhangTemple. Make sure you bring a flashlight if you want to see the inside of the monastery, though please ask for permission when taking pictures in the monastery. Some Monastery might charge visitors a 10-30RMB fee for taking pictures. Please ask your tour guide if you are not sure.

   Free time: During the free time of your trip, like the rest of the first day and the last day before departure, you can walk around on your own and do some shopping if you wish.

6. High Altitude Sickness Information: How can I prepare for high altitude adjustment?

   Anxiety is the common cause of mountain sickness. Our customers age range from 20 years old to 70 years old, there is no evidence that suggests that age has anything to do with the occurrence of mountain sickness.

   Taking a Tibet tour with Tibet Discovery, our tour guide will take care of you and give advice on how to avoid high altitude sickness on arrival. A bottle of oxygen will be prepared for each person for emergency use when the tour includes visiting places like Mt. Everest, Lake Namtso, Mt. Kailash and activities like trekking and biking. Always remember that if you have any problems or feel uncomfortable, please tell your guide immediately or contact our travel consultant.

    

    

7. Tibet Discovery’s Service and Value

   Tibet Discovery’s Service and Value:
   
   Travel Insurance: We provide a limited Accident/Casualty Insurance in Tibet through China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance which only covers accidents that occur within Tibet. This policy’s indemnity is relatively low, so if you would like a more inclusive plan, then it is best to purchase one in your home country before your departure.
   
   Refund Policy: Cancellations made…
   30 or more days prior to departure result in a 90% refund
   29-15 days prior to departure result in an 80% refund
   14-7 days prior to departure result in a 70% refund
   6-2 days prior to departure result in a 50% refund
   Less than 2 days prior to departure or a no show result in no refund.
   Note: Additional cancellation fees, if applicable, imposed by the service providers other than Tibet Discovery tours (i.e. flight ticket booking, train ticket booking, hotels reservation, etc.) will be deducted from the money refunded. While this is the official policy, in cases where our customers face unexpected and unavoidable problems, we can sometimes offer a more generous refund.
   
   Before the trip: Before your trip, feel free to contact our Travel Consultants for any further information you need. All of our tours are fully customizable, so if you are not satisfied with any part of a tour pakage, just let us know and our expert Travel Consultants will do their best to design the perfect tour for you.
   
   During the trip: If you have any questions or concerns during your trip, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your Travel Consultant will do his or her best to resolve any problems you have and ensure that your trip runs as smoothly as possible.
   
   After the trip: Once you have returned home and have had a chance to settle back in, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome your comments, suggestions, pictures, and whatever else you want to share with us about your trip. We are always striving to improve our customers’ experiences, and also love to hear about their adventures!

8. Best time to visit Tibet

   Best time to go:

   Peak Season: June, July, August, September (June to October 15th )
   In July and August, the crowds will be considerably larger and the costs for vehicle, food, accommodation, and tour guides are higher. June-August generally has great weather, though during July and August, Tibet tends to be extremely crowded as many Chinese travel there for their summer vacation. As July and August is the peak season to travel to Tibet. We highly recommend you avoid those two months to reduce the costs.

   Best Value: April, May, and Late October to November (April 16th to May 31st)
   Late April to Early June, late October to November is the best value time to go, as the weather still nice and the cost is considerably less. The tour costs between this time is usually a few hundred dollars cheaper than peak season.

   Shoulder Season: Late November December, January, February, early April (Nov 16th to April 15th)
   December-February tends to be a slow period for travel to Tibet. The weather is generally quite cold, though there will be no crowds like there are during the peak season. Another benefit to traveling during the shoulder season is that prices are considerably lower. The view might not be as vivid but you can enjoy another side of Tibet.

   Note: Above information applies to most Tibet tours. For specific best travel time, please contact our travel consultant.