travel in Tibet

Replies: 25 - Last Post: 13-Feb-2007 21:46 Last Post By: Johnah

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Heike30

09-Feb-2007 19:34
Posts: 4

travel in Tibet

Hi all,

I am thinking of taking the train from China to Tibet.

I have searched seveal websites and can't find how to book a ticket in advance. Do I need to book in advance?

Has anybody travelled in Tibet? Can I travel on my own or is it only with tour operators? How do you get your permit when coming from China to Tibet on the train?

Many Thanks

Heike

ellyse

09-Feb-2007 19:53
Posts: 8,932

From Chengdu, contact Sim's Cozy Guesthouse for reliable assistance with paperwork and tickets to Tibet. Yes, it's advisable to book in advance if you already know your travel plans. Yes, you can travel on your own, no need to go on a tour.
Cheers!

pazu

09-Feb-2007 22:02
Posts: 2,177

You can only book your train ticket once you are in Chengdu, and you can book the tickets 10 days in advance. But if you are like a westerner then better make a reservation by Sim's or Mix. Both places are famous in Chengdu, I have just called Mix and they said you will have to pay only Y250 for the permit (and you have to buy the train ticket there too), it will take 2 days to process the Tibet permit, not on Saturday or Sunday. The train ticket from Chengdu to Lhasa, 48 hours, costs around Y712 for a hard sleeper (lower berth).

Unlike other tour agency, both Sim's and Mix let you guys to travel in Tibet almost independently, they let you to buy only the train ticket and permit, not necessary to pay for any extra reservation of hotel in Lhasa.

Anyway, Heike, are you from Austria?

Extensive FAQ about travel situation and permit restrictions in Tibet
Spinn Cafe , Lhasa, Tibet - we are based in Lhasa
Spinning in Tibet (ISBN: 9789881805966), published in Hong Kong.

Losang

10-Feb-2007 02:00
Posts: 1,526

Quote
Has anybody travelled in Tibet?

Yes, I have traveled a little in Tibet (about 100,000km overland over the past 5 years).

Read #74 on the Frequently Asked Questions thread at the top of the NE Asia branch or read the first article on my website. It will probably answer all the questions you have about permits.

Need more travel information for Tibet? Check these out…

The Land of Snows

Life on the Tibetan Plateau

lifeng

10-Feb-2007 07:46
Posts: 6

I have been there 4 years ago, people in Tibet is very nice. U may prepare some loose change, maybe some kids want u to give them money, Y1 is enough. When u in Tibet, please walk slowly in the first day and donot raise ur head abruptly, u may feel ur legs are tied and maybe some headache .
cheers!

pazu

10-Feb-2007 07:48
Posts: 2,177

Lifeng, I think Y1 is too much.

Extensive FAQ about travel situation and permit restrictions in Tibet
Spinn Cafe , Lhasa, Tibet - we are based in Lhasa
Spinning in Tibet (ISBN: 9789881805966), published in Hong Kong.

ellyse

10-Feb-2007 07:56
Posts: 8,932

Good grief, why should you be giving out money to random kids on the street just because they're asking for it?!
Cheers!

pazu

10-Feb-2007 08:08
Posts: 2,177

i think it's quite easy to develop the so-called "beggar fatique" in Tibet, you know what I mean. But we have a policy that we can give money to the old or disabled, but no money to kids, youngsters and monks (sometimes we gave money to nuns though).

But I do want to hear from you guys, should you give money to a monk if he approaches you for money?

Extensive FAQ about travel situation and permit restrictions in Tibet
Spinn Cafe , Lhasa, Tibet - we are based in Lhasa
Spinning in Tibet (ISBN: 9789881805966), published in Hong Kong.

tomernaor

10-Feb-2007 20:35
Posts: 16

hi! a question to Losanq (and to all of you)- I read what you wrote in your web site.
I will be in Tibet somewher betwin 15-31 March on my way to Katmandoo, first I waonder if you can give me some good advice, and second- so where can I get the cheapest Permit? and how badly can I burgen on it? (I am now in HongKong- should I cansider do it here?)
Tomer

WeiLong

10-Feb-2007 20:55
Posts: 1,735

My approach to beggers in Lhasa. The first one you meet for the day exchange one or two kwai for a stack of 1 jiao notes (make sure you get your change first) then pass them out as you go along. Even if you don't approve of begging it amounts to very little.

For travelling around in Tibet probably good idea to check the FAQ as Losang sugests though I can tell you I went to a few places without permits. Tsetang, Metrogongka, Tedrun I think are O.K. I just chanced it leaving Tibet by road.

WeiLong in Tibet

http://thewanderingant.com/travels/betel-nut.html

Losang

10-Feb-2007 20:58
Posts: 1,526

#8...There are probably some places to get your permit in Hong Kong so that you could take the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa, but I really don't think that would be the cheapest. Generally the cheapest place to get a Tibet Travel Permit is in Chengdu. In Chengdu it is around $50USD per person and only takes about a day to arrange (quicker if you contact places like Sim's ahead of time to arrange it).

Getting down to Kathmandu is easy. Every travel agency in Lhasa can arrange it. Usually people do a 5 to 7 day trip via Yamdrok, Gyantse, Shigatse and Everest which costs between Y4000 and Y5000 (depends on how new your 4WD is and how many days you take). To just go to the border without going to other places costs around Y2500, but can be done for cheaper if you get a ride in Lhasa with some local Tibetans who are on their way to Zhangmu. They do the trip in one long day (about 14 hours) and usually charge between Y600 and Y1000 per person.

Need more travel information for Tibet? Check these out…

The Land of Snows

Life on the Tibetan Plateau

Khema

10-Feb-2007 22:13
Posts: 219

to #7, I do give money to monks, may be because I believe the vows they have taken (one of them: to help all beings to break the cycle of suffering and achieve enlightenment) and I believe that this is their main occupation. this is entirely MHO, please don't comment on it :)
so, when they come out chanting at the dusk or often just do it all day on the main streets in Lhasa, I always keep some maos for them and never pass without dropping something. likewise when I visit monasteries I always put money behind statues or into donation boxes.

i notice however chanting nuns getting far less than monks, so i try to compensate :)

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Khema

10-Feb-2007 22:15
Posts: 219

to #8 and #10: i live in Hong Kong and so far have not found a way to get a TTB permit either here or in Guangzhou. and i sought hard :) including correspondence with the TTB in Lhasa. they used to have an office in HongKong which is now closed.
(may be the reason is that now the HK permanent residents no longer require TTB permit to travel to Tibet. they used to.)

the only way to get the TTB done for your in HK is to join a group tour originating from HK.

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pazu

11-Feb-2007 08:40
Posts: 2,177

Khema, the TTB permit office in Hong Kong (located at Jaffe Road, Wanchai) was totally a joke, they could help nothing and what they told us was to join a tour organized by the CTS, or some special tours organized by themselves, they were definitely not the cheapest, perhaps the most expensive in the world. I visited there in 1999, I wouldn't be surprised if it was closed.

Extensive FAQ about travel situation and permit restrictions in Tibet
Spinn Cafe , Lhasa, Tibet - we are based in Lhasa
Spinning in Tibet (ISBN: 9789881805966), published in Hong Kong.

Khema

11-Feb-2007 19:58
Posts: 219

to #14, do you have contact details of the agency in Guangzhou that can arrange TTB permit for individual travel? thanks

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