Tibet in Facts

Tibet De Facto:
Traveling to Tibet can be tough and hectic but adventurous. The infrastructure of the Tourist industry in Tibet is not of much high standard due to being a remote country. Please be flexible in expectations of the standards of western world. However, every effort shall be taken under the circumstances to ensure a smooth and pleasant trip. We advise all travelers before considering a visit to Tibet to have a thorough consultation with your doctor about the history of your cardiac, lungs and anemic functional disorders.

Land Size:  2.5 million Square kilometers is the area which includes U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo provinces. While "Tibet Autonomous Region", consisting of U-Tsang and a small portion of Kham is measured at 1.2 million square kilometers

Political Status: Tibet is a controversially occupied country and is without United Nations' representation

Altitude: Average of 4,000 meters or 13,000 feet above sea level

Population: The total Tibetan population in 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 frosty cold weather 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 change 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 normally closed on weekends from Saturday afternoon to Sunday.

Currency: Tibetan official currency is RMB but is at extinction due to its political instability therefore Chinese currency YUAN is more circulatory in whole of Tibet. Yuan is found in the currency denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Yuan.

Airport: Lhasa Gonggar Airport, approximately 96 km far from Lhasa City

Air Ticket reconfirmation: Your guide will help you to reconfirm your air ticket upon payment of RMB 30 as a fee charged by China South West Airlines

Health & Altitude problems: Most commonly the cases of altitude sickness have been reported with simple headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders all occurring before acclimatization. Advisable steps, drink approx. 03 liters of water per day, do not strain your self, move slowly, breathe deeply and take regular rests.  

Tibetan Counterpart: All the packages in Tibet are handled by the Tibetan Counterpart and they 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.