2012 TIBET PERMIT SITUATION UPDATE

@ Muchan : I think its a good idea to extend your trip from Old Tingri to Nepal Border untill Zhangmu and if you have time also towards Nepal but if you dont have then come back from Nepal border. The view is very beautiful as going from Higher land 4400m to the top spot of Nyalam Tong la pass(5150m) and then drive all the way down to Zhangmu (2300m) which is green and waterfall. It will be good idea to see the changes of nature between Zhangmu and Old Tingri.

Thank you very much, Tenzinintibet!

Our schedule is very tight, so I don't think we will have time to go to Nepal boarder - we need to go back to Lhasa. I am personally would not go to Tingri, if EBC is closed, but other members of the group (and we have to travel as a pack) want to go. It is a long drive from Shigatse and if weather not so good we will not be able to see anything. I would better to explore monasteries ...

We are waiting for Tibet permit and today our agent said we would have to pay extra 400 CNY p/p for the permit above the price they quoted to us before ...

There is a rumor in Lhasa saying that Tibet will be closed from September 1st to October 18th. Anyone have heard the same? Thanks!

While I haven't heard this specific rumor, it would coincide with the general feeling on this travel forum that the Chinese will not make it easier to get a Tibet Travel Permit until after the transition of power which is supposed to occur in October.

Ruth

Thanks Ruth. I forgot about that

#562, I hope you've included a stop at Sakya in your itinerary. Its a town where you'll have plenty of opportunity to interact with the local kids/ teenagers. They gave freely of their smiles and laughs and tomfoolery in return for nothing more than seeing their photos on the screen of a digital camera.

@Muchan : If your agency asking extra money when you are almost their then its better to make sure everything with them before getting to Tibet so that when you travel you wont get any other problem.

@Muchan :Good news is Shoton Festival is coming soon so do not miss it. ALso called Yogart festival. (its on 17th August) One of the biggest festival in Tibet. Celebrated even bigger than Tibetan new Year. You will see one of the Biggest Thangka at Drepung monastery and Opera dance at Norbulingka Palace.

Thanks, Tenzinintibet!

We are planing to arrive to Lhasa on August 26, and will miss the festival unfortunately.
Indeed I worry not about extra 400 CNY for permit but what more extras might occur later. Till now we have no contract and have not paid any money at all, but sent our papers to the agency. According to the agency they already submitted our documents for Tibet permit.

Thanks Tenzinintibet, well noted!

Dear all, i did a communication with one of the travel agent. We agreed to do the tour and we transfer the deposit to their account. But a few days later they said that the Travel Bureau wants us to transfer the money to their account to make sure that our trip is not a fake. This is very confusing. Why we have to transfer to Travel Bureau?

Please advice.