"TIBET: unique people in unique land... and Beijing" Top 5 Page for this destination Tibet by Bonobo2005

Tibet Travel Guide: 1,582 reviews and 3,688 photos

About travelling Tibet...

The time I was in Tibet was one of the most memorable during my Asiatrip.

After flying in from Chengdu, I spent 2 great weeks in and around Lhasa, astonished by the devotion of the colourful Tibetans and their lively and welcoming monestaries.
Lhasa had superb facilities for travellers that made it also a very pleasant town just to hang around and doing some daytrips.

I went for a few days to Nam Tso, a holy and stunningly beautiful high altitude lake (4718m) although reaching the lake was half of the fun!

After that I hooked up with 2 fellow travellers, we made several plans only to find out that we could get no individual permits for travelling outside Lhasa-area, including the Friendship Highway to Nepal. Mount Kailash was completely out of reach, even with a jeeptour from the state run travel agency with Chinese monitored guide.

The whole system depressed us so much that we decided to take a rushy 2-day jeeptour to the border and we started to find others to join us. Then we met someon who told us about the PSB in Shigatse. We went there and got our permits for the trip to Nepalese border surprisingly easy (see also under "general tips") !!!!

Now that we were able to travel in relative freedom, using local buses, hitch hike and trek from village to village to Everest BaseCamp, we could finally see some more authentic Tibet and the way of life.

The landscapes were just amazing, the highlight the moment that Mt. Everest appeared for the first time. Also the road all the way down to Nepal is breathtaking, since you cross the barren dry and dusty Himalayarange over 5000m+ passes, surrounded by 8000m+ mountains and watch the surroundings change until finally arriving in the Nepalese jungle!

I travelled in Tibet nov 2001, when China was extra cautious after the 11 sept. attacks. It was not possible to travel from Kasgar to Lhasa or to Mt. Kailash. Hopefully things loosened up already a bit again!

TIBET: unique people in unique land... and Beijing - Tibet

Pros and Cons

Pros:people & local custums; amazing landscape, unforgetable experience !
Cons:Dominant Chinese presence, travelrestrictions, "huge" entrance fees

Last visit to Tibet: Nov 2001
Intro Updated Sep 26, 2006
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Reviews (36)

Punishment if climbing Everest without... Warnings Or Dangers (2)

You're not allowed to climb Mount Everest without permission When I arrived at the Everest Base Camp, the whole site... more travel advice

A trip to Nam Tso: enjoy the colours of... Off The Beaten Path (19)

I even have been lying on the - 2 meter wide - beach for some time! Fantastic to watch the beautiful blue colours of the... more travel advice

A trip to Nam Tso: smelly busride to... Off The Beaten Path (19)

We took a bus from Lhasa to Damxung (on the Lhasa-Golmud Road); takes, depending on the driver and the bus, 3-5 hours.... more travel advice

Don't miss the nightmarket foodstalls Restaurants (1)

Well, if I have to say anything positive about the Chinese "influences" in Tibet than It might be the food. Some... more travel advice

Things to Do (7)
See All Majestic views on Mount Everest
Favorites (2)
See All Walking the Kora

Nightlife (1)
fun for a night in Lhasa
Local Customs (4)
See All Sky Burial 4

Comments (131)

titti Jun 30, 2007 at 1:53 AM Report Abuse

Great page! Brings back memories, although my trip wasn't as adventurous as yours.
nixca316 Feb 23, 2007 at 8:35 AM Report Abuse

Great tips, Bo! (BTW, before I saw your face, I thought I should call you Nobo =) )
JessH Feb 12, 2007 at 4:06 AM Report Abuse

What a fantastic page here! Such an inspirational and underestimated travel destination. I very much enjoyed your tips. Thanks for sharing your insights & experiences. Greetings from the desert :-) Jess
Confucius Nov 13, 2006 at 8:54 AM Report Abuse

Gyantse is spelled as "Gyangze" in the VT database. Maybe you can move a tip or two there?
nepalgoods Nov 11, 2006 at 8:31 AM Report Abuse

Spectacular adventure! Impressive page!
tzuki Sep 14, 2006 at 3:33 PM Report Abuse

Namaste! I am travelling to Tibet soon and I have found your tips very interesting for my trip. thanks!! :-)
gwen_tifa Sep 8, 2006 at 11:54 PM Report Abuse

can't believe i am seeing those bloody goats' heads. ewwww....
Helga67 Sep 4, 2006 at 3:06 AM Report Abuse

Useful tips and great photos. I'm looking forward to going to Tibet myself.
maysue Aug 30, 2006 at 9:41 AM Report Abuse

Just got back from Tibet after having spend 2 days on the train to Lhasa and 5 hours flight back to Beijing - Overall, it's tiring! But your pics are great!
qiuxy Aug 30, 2006 at 4:38 AM Report Abuse

Amazing adventure & nice pic!Railway's been built up fr. SHA to Lhasa where congested w/h tourists since July 06. Potola even limit daily visitor no. to protect building structure. don't know it's a good thing on ecology wise. Tashi dele!