Tibet in FActs

“Rooftop of the world” Tibet is a mystic, mysterious land of ancient Buddhist culture, amazing landscapes, artistic monasteries and centuries-old caravan trails. Eighty million years ago, India crashed into Asia, pushing up the Himalayas, lifting the ocean bottom above water, and creating this magical land.

Northern Plateau covers about half of Tibet's total surface area and is delineated in the west by the great Karakoram Range. Most of the part of this range never visited humans because of the worst climates on earth.

Outer plateau is the most crowded part of Tibet by the human settlements. The temperature and climate are milder, and consequently there is a richer distribution of flora and fauna. The area around shigatse and the Lhasa valley are clear examples of this. Lhasa has a pleasant climate, with nearly all its rainfall occurring in the summer. For most of the year the weather is sunny and dry, mild during the day from April to October. The other main geographical region is the southeastern plateau, comprising only one-tenth of the total area of Tibet and forests are very much a characteristic of this region.

Tibet Travel Information
Traveling to Tibet can be hard and adventurous. However, Tibet is a beautiful place to travel. It possesses a unique culture, firmly rooted in Tibetan religion. The infrastructure of the Tourist industry is still very basic in the remote country. Please do not expect the standards you are used to in the west. However, every effort will be made under the circumstances to ensure a smooth and pleasant trip. We request to all the travelers consult with a doctor about a history of heart, lung or anemia problems before considering a visit to Tibet.

Land Size : 2.5 million square kilometres, which includes U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo provinces. "Tibet Autonomous Region", consisting of U-Tsang and a small portion of Kham, consists of 1.2 million square kilometres.

Political Status : Occupied country and without United Nations' representation.
 
Average Altitude : 4,000 metres or 13,000 feet above sea level.

Population : The total Tibetan population in Tibet is 6 million.

Major Rivers : Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra in India), Machu (Yellow River in China), Drichu (Yangtse in China), Senge Khabab (Indus in India), Phungchu (Arun in India), Gyalmo Ngulchu (Salween in Burma) and Zachu (Mekong in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos).

Native Wildlife : Tibetan antelope, wild yak, wild ass and Tibetan argali, blue sheep, black-necked crane, Tibetan gazelle, giant panda, red panda, golden monkey.

Clothing Accessories : From Oct.-March warm clothes are required to fight the frostily cold and from April-September light clothes to shun the scorching heat. However a jacket and sweater are advised through out the years as the weather may unexpectedly changes at any time. The recommended items are: A domestic first aid kit; water purification tablets (mineral water can be bought as well) toilet and tissue papers, flashlight, comfortable walking shoes, dust masks, utility knife, sun hat and sunglass.

Customs : There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders or radios as long as they are for personal use or if commercial use should be registered with a custom official. Printed matters considered unsuitable by the Chinese Government is prohibited. Customs regulations forbid the export of art objects created prior to 1959 or souvenirs in amounts deemed to be excessive.

Food & drinks : Tibet has only a handful of towns, and Tibetan cuisine is not exactly the most varied in the world. It is handy to carry anything that can be brewed with hot water. Instant coffee, drinking chocolate, tea (bags), soup cubes. Other food items worth considering are instant noodles, nuts and raisins, chocolate, dry foods and biscuits.

Business Hours : Government offices are usually closed on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.

Currency : RENMNBI, the people's money used by millions of Chinese everyday, circulates in notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Yuan.

Airport: Lhasa Gonggar Airport is approx. 96km away from Lhasa.

Air Ticket reconfirmation : Your guide will reconfirm the air ticket upon payment of RMB 30, which is reconfirmation fee charged by China South West Airlines.

Health & Altitude problems : Traveling in Tibet involves high altitude and can be strenuous. Clients with heart and lung problems or blood diseases should consult their doctor before booking the trip. Very often the cases of altitude sickness have been reported. Simple headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders can happen before the acclimatization. Advised, drink approx. 03 liters of water per day, do not strain yourself, move slowly, breathe deeply and take regular rests.

Tibetan Counterpart : All the packages in Tibet will be handled by the Tibetan Counterpart and they will take over the arrangements immediately on landing at Gonggar Airport (Lhasa)/Kodari Nepal Tibet border which includes transportation, Accommodation and services of their local guide.

Guide : We request our Tibet Agent to provide best guides even the so called best guides need lot of improvements.