Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Last october, a train from Chengdu to Lhasa was 780 I believe, although I don't remember exactly. I think round trips around Kailash were low 20,000 for everyone. Including the train ticket, it's a few thousand more RMB.

trips were easy to find (just post at the major guesthouses), and you have to acclimate anyway. Early May might be a little early from the peak season, but most foreigners in Tibet are reasonably serious backpackers compared to, southeast asia, and probably don't care so much.

That being said, if you already get along, and the service is good, a few thousand RMB isn't too bad. So, you can save some money and you won't end up stuck in Lhasa, but it doesn't sound like a horrible rip off.

2

Ok, I don't know if this will help, but solving Tibet-related issues at the moment is much more interesting than working, so here it goes:

I went into the website of the Chinese tourism office (www.cnta.gov.cn) and it's got a section called "Travel Service" which seems to refer to some sort of State-owned travel agency. I clicked on the "Tibet" section and it contains a list of "TIBET TOURIST ADMINISTRATION’S DOMESTIC & FOREIGN OFFICES" which I assume are offices that handle travel to Tibet. The phone number for the one in Chengdu is (028) 3333988 ext. 229.

Also, if instead of clicking on Tibet you click on Chengdu, it comes up with a list of travel agencies -which I assume would be official agencies or something. Check the list here.

You could try giving "Tibet Tourist Administration...." a call, and see if they can give you any advice, or any references of the agency you're dealing with, or any information at all. You can also find out about those other travel agencies in Chengdu, and see if they are authorised to sell you trips to Tibet.

It's all I can think of, hope it helps and good luck!

3

It is better to arrange it in advance, since the other permits still takes about 3-4 days. But before you pay the deposit 20% in Chengdu, make sure you will get a guide in your tour. As well the Lhasa office address, contact person, phone number,

And the price seems quite expensive, i have just checked with my friend helen in Chengdu, she told me the price should be arround 25000-28000RMB, includes guide, permits, train tickets to Lhasa,. you may check with her, she is still operating the tours to Tibet. Her email address is heleninchengdu@hotmail.com

4

Y28,000 seems a very reasonable price for that itinerary. Bear in mind you have to factor in the return journey of the Land Cruiser from Kashgar back to Lhasa. I take it that price is to be divided between three (ie not per pax).

5

Leaving aside the current 'problems' for a moment, I was quoted Y25,000 last June for a Lhasa-Kashgar landcruiser trip; and Y13,500 for a Lhasa-Ali Shiqanhe trip, plus whatever paperwork the agency could provide for us to get to Karghilik (Yecheng), the main stop before Kashgar. We took the latter, though it must be said that the price would have risen due to fuel prices a week or two after the time we booked. I would dearly have loved to take a 4wd on this leg - i am a photographer and it pained me to speed past some of the most amazing landscapes imaginable on this 5000m plus road.

From Ali, we took the Antelope sleeper bus on a non-stop 40 hour ride to Karghilik, cost from memory about Y250 per person.

I would also much rather deal with agencies in Lhasa, which is the centre of action in the TAR tourist industry. I can't imagine calling Chengdu about a problem in, say, Da Hong Lui Tan in the Aksai Chin, to sort out much at all. If you can find any electricity or a phone that works!

All agencies are uneasy about doing the full Lhasa-Kashgar 4wd trip; it is a very long way over sustained tough, cold, dusty 'roads', plenty of opportunity for breakdowns, fuel availability and 'mishaps' - it is basically a military road.

I must say that the authorities were good-natured, being army not PSB, at the one checkpoint at which we had to disembark, at 1.30am on the second night.

So, the quote you received is in the ballpark...see if they can separate the trip components so you know what money buys what part of your trip. Then offer a little less, perhaps.