Visa & Entry Procedure
Visa and entry procedure for Tibet depends on whether you are joining the trip from Kathmandu or China. If you are joining the trip from Kathmandu, then you will need a multiple-entry visa for Nepal which can be obtained either from your nearest Nepalese consulate or Embassy or after your arrival in Nepal. For Tibet, Himalayan Trek Nepal issues a group visa and in order to do this we will need a copy of your passport 20 days before the start of your trip, followed by your actual passport five days before the date of issuing the visa. And, if you are entering via China then you have to first obtain Chinese visa from you home country. Moreover, visa regulation in Tibet keeps changing and hence you need to consult your nearest travel agency to learn more about the exact details regarding Tibet visa.
Arriving Lhasa via China
If you are planning to arrive in Lhasa, the Tibetan Capital, via mainland China, you will need to apply for your Chinese visa from the respective Chinese Embassy in your country as stated earlier. Once you have acquired the Chinese visa, you will need to scan the visa and email it to us along with the copy of your passport. It should be noted that both the documents you send should be clear otherwise it will be rejected by the Tibet Travel Bureau in Tibet which then issues the permit for travelling inside Tibet. Once your Tibet permit is issued, you can then visit to any place inside Tibet without facing any legal difficulty or hassle.
Special note for consideration
If you are planning to travel to Tibet via the Nepali Capital of Kathmandu, you do not need to apply for the Chinese visa from your country. In case you had already applied for the Chinese visa in your country before your arrival in Kathmandu, it will automatically be cancelled when you acquire the Tibet visa for your visit here in Kathmandu.
Chinese Visa & Travel Permit
Our clients and customers are requested to submit their passport information and details at least 20 days before the trip itinerary begins for visa procedure. Moreover, original passports are required few days before the beginning of the tour and they need to reach here at our office so that we can proceed ahead with the procedure.
Transportation
We use the best luxurious vehicles (preferably Land cruisers or Toyota car) for the overland drive to the Tibetan highland. Since the vehicles are very strong, robust and spacious, you are set to have a comfortable and enjoyable journey in Tibet.
Communication
Communication facilities in Tibet have seen a vast improvement in the recent years. The Hotels we will be using for our travelers in Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, among other places, are sophisticated ones and all of them have all the modern facilities and services including services of phone, fax and internet. Internet cafes are also available at bigger towns and have become part of the modern trend.
Temperature & Clothing
The temperature and weather condition in Tibet is normally pleasing and the average temperature lies between 5-25 degree Celsius, between the months from April to November. However, during the trekking season, the night temperature in the mountainous region often falls below freezing temperature. Hence, if you are travelling in the trekking season, you need to have enough warm clothes to keep you warm. You are also advised to carry raincoat because snow or rain can occur occasionally in Tibet. So, the highly recommended time for the Tibet Overland Tour is from the month of April to the month of November. Likewise, for Mount Kailash tour and trek, the most favorable time is from April to the beginning of the month of October.
Clothing & accessories recommended
Thermal wears and undergarments, woolen or silk long sleeve tops & bottoms
Woolen shirts, pullover, pants, socks, hat, gloves & scarf
Down jacket and wind cheater
Walking boots and shoes
Sun hat, sun glass, suntan lotion, torch light, pen, knife etc.
Medicine for common cold, headache, diarrhea & some medicine (like Diamox) for altitude sickness.
Health
You need to be reasonably fit and healthy in order to successfully accomplish the Tibet tour. It would be ideal if you would consult your regular family doctor almost two months prior to the start of the tour, so that you would know about the existing health condition and perhaps prepare accordingly. Moreover, people who are suffering from high blood pressure, heart problem or diabetes are not recommended for the Tibet Overland Tour.
A Typical Day – Overland Drive
A typical day during the Tibet Overland tour begins in the morning from the Hotel you are staying in. From there, you will then start the Overland tour or the drive cruising on the drive for several hours while also stopping along the way for taking photographs. You will visit the major places of Tibet and Lhasa through a comfortable and pleasurable drive via the luxurious vehicle. You will stop for lunch at around noontime in the afternoon. After lunch, you will again continue the journey, arriving at the destination by 3 or 4pm in the afternoon.
A Typical day – While Trek
A typical day during trekking begins with a hot cup of tea brought in the tented camp in the morning. After packing bags and having a good and solid breakfast, we then set off on the walk resuming the hike from the earlier day. The things which you need to carry while trekking are a water bottle, camera, anti-sun lotion, hat for protecting against sun, rain-jacket, a warm jumper, among other stuffs. The porters or the Himalayan yaks will be carrying other heavy stuffs for you. After walking for around 3-4 hours, you will then stop for lunch at around noon. The afternoon’s walk is generally shorter and you arrive at camp in time for a nice cup of afternoon tea. The remaining time can be spent simply by resting at the camp, or exploring the nearby surrounding and the villages. Between 6 to 7 pm you will have dinner and for the rest of the time you will be talking with the crew members.