“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. |