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so if you only have one jeep and .... if you count a guide as being a person then give them a seat in the landcruiser ...but if you think of them as something else then stick them in the back with your luggage and pretend they are used to this so it is ok for them to travel this way....actually having travelled with the luggage myself i can tell you it is not ok or comfortable for the amount of travelling you usually do on those roads
p.s.it would be a very rare thing indeed as a foreign tourist to have a driver who is guide as well.
So do clarify the matter with the agency, and try to ensure there is a reasonable seat for the guide too!
Sure it is not for western people. Not more than 4 pax in one jeep.
Alex - I don't think nationality dictates how many people can fit in a landcruiser - as far as I can tell.....my ass is about the same size as an Indian ass......... I've happily traveled with 5pax in a landcruiser and I've unhappily traveled with 3pax in a landcruiser....all depends who you travel with!
These days this debate is kinda pointless as minivans can handle most roads in Tibet. (well most tourist routes anyways) Agencies often call them "executive" vans - they are fine for Lhasa - EBC - border and also Lhasa - Kailash. But you'll likely want a 4WD if you're heading down to Guge or taking the north road back from Ali. Most executive vans can comfortably fit 6 plus guide (total 7). Best to ask your agency what vehicle they plan to provide for your trip rather than asking the rabble here!!
Western and Indian asses are same size, sure. But they have been habituated during their lifetime to travel 8-10 pax in one jeep. And they are pilgrims, while we are (mainly) gawkers. But you are right your fellas play important role in comfort.
I'm not sure about van for three reasons:
1) There aren't a lot of big vans (10-12 seats) in Tibet, so it is plenty difficult to hire such one. The main choice is small van up 6 seats only. And small van, sure, not so comfortable as a jeep.
2) Van runs slower than jeep
3) Van can not reach such places like Garuda, Piyang, Dungkar etc...
Edited by: alex_a
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3
This too was my concern when I was booking my Tibet trip . The 4WD Toyota 4500 we had can accomodate 6 people including the driver and guide. 2 in front, 3 in the middle and 1 behind. But if you have a lot of luggages then there might not be enough space for the person (usually the guide) to sit behind. We brought along a ~35ltr backpack each.9
as I said 5 people in total fit into a landcruiser/jeep !!!so if you only have one jeep and .... if you count a guide as being a person then give them a seat in the landcruiser ...but if you think of them as something else then stick them in the back with your luggage and pretend they are used to this so it is ok for them to travel this way....actually having travelled with the luggage myself i can tell you it is not ok or comfortable for the amount of travelling you usually do on those roads
p.s.it would be a very rare thing indeed as a foreign tourist to have a driver who is guide as well.
11
Well... we were a group of 4 and the agency booked a jeep and said the guide would sit in the back. However there was no seat back there and the guide had to sit on the luggage which wasn't comfortable or safe particularly when we went off -road. In the end we thought this was unacceptable and took pity on the guide and ignored her protest and squeezed her in on the back seat, which was uncomfortable for all but seemed more responsible.So do clarify the matter with the agency, and try to ensure there is a reasonable seat for the guide too!
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I've seen Indian pilgrims traveling in Tibet 5 pax in one jeep (1 was siting at the luggage rack)... But they are pilgrims... they are Indian.Sure it is not for western people. Not more than 4 pax in one jeep.
13
oh my - hard to resists this one.....Alex - I don't think nationality dictates how many people can fit in a landcruiser - as far as I can tell.....my ass is about the same size as an Indian ass......... I've happily traveled with 5pax in a landcruiser and I've unhappily traveled with 3pax in a landcruiser....all depends who you travel with!
These days this debate is kinda pointless as minivans can handle most roads in Tibet. (well most tourist routes anyways) Agencies often call them "executive" vans - they are fine for Lhasa - EBC - border and also Lhasa - Kailash. But you'll likely want a 4WD if you're heading down to Guge or taking the north road back from Ali. Most executive vans can comfortably fit 6 plus guide (total 7). Best to ask your agency what vehicle they plan to provide for your trip rather than asking the rabble here!!
14
Alex - I don't think nationality dictates how many people can fit in a landcruiser - as far as I can tell.....my ass is about the same size as an Indian ass......... I've happily traveled with 5pax in a landcruiser and I've unhappily traveled with 3pax in a landcruiser....all depends who you travel with!
Western and Indian asses are same size, sure. But they have been habituated during their lifetime to travel 8-10 pax in one jeep. And they are pilgrims, while we are (mainly) gawkers. But you are right your fellas play important role in comfort.
These days this debate is kinda pointless as minivans can handle most roads in Tibet. (well most tourist routes anyways) Agencies often call them "executive" vans - they are fine for Lhasa - EBC - border and also Lhasa - Kailash. But you'll likely want a 4WD if you're heading down to Guge or taking the north road back from Ali. Most executive vans can comfortably fit 6 plus guide (total 7). Best to ask your agency what vehicle they plan to provide for your trip rather than asking the rabble here!!
I'm not sure about van for three reasons:
1) There aren't a lot of big vans (10-12 seats) in Tibet, so it is plenty difficult to hire such one. The main choice is small van up 6 seats only. And small van, sure, not so comfortable as a jeep.
2) Van runs slower than jeep
3) Van can not reach such places like Garuda, Piyang, Dungkar etc...
Edited by: alex_a
