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General Travel Information
1.Chengdu-Lhasa: at least 2 or 3 flights (two hours) daily; 2. Kunming-Lhasa: no direct flight from beginning of November to April next year, 1 or 2 flights every week from May to October; 3.Xining-Lhasa: no direct flight from beginning of November to April next year, 1 flight between Xining and Lhasa daily from May to October; 4. Kathmandu-Lhasa: (55 minutes) on Tuesday and Saturday; 5.Chongqing-Lhasa: (2 hours flight) on Wednesday and Sunday; 6. Beijing-Lhasa: (four hours) daily from May to October, no flight from November to April next year. 7. Xi’an-Lhasa: (two hours 40 minutes) daily from May to October, no flight from November to April next year. Tickets to Lhasa can be obtained from China Airline offices in Chengdu, in Beijing, in Kathmandu, in Chongqing, in Xi’an, in Xining and in Hongkong, but at first, you must have a special Tibet entry permit which is processed in Tibet, your travel agent will arrange it for you, so it’s easiest to liaise with your travel agent. China Airlines have connections to Bangda Airport near Chamdo from Chengdu on Tuesday and Friday(1 hour 10 minutes), because of the high altitude of the Bangda Airport, the flights are instable and must be canceled sometimes. In addition, it is usually also very difficult to obtain the tickets. All gateway cities offer the full range of luxury to budget accommodation (five star-hotels, four-star, three-star, two-star, one star hotels and guesthouse). In Tibet, four-star hotels, such as Lhasa Hotel and Tibet Hotel (the new building) are at the top of the range. Outside of the main towns (Lhasa,Tsedang, Shigatse,Naqu and Gyantse), be prepared to sleep in simple or very simple guesthouses which are highly variable and often unclean. So you’d better take sleeping bags for accommodation in simple guesthouses. Or you can also set up a camp if you will. Camping is often much preferable. For accommodations in those simple guesthouses in small places, bring your own disinfectant and toilet paper. Click hier to get information about hotels in Tibet. The major hotels in Lhasa, in Tsedang and in Shigatse have international IDD telephone connections, in these cities (in hotels), you can send and receive international telefax messages. In Lhasa, in Tsedang, in Shigatse and in Naqu, travelers can use IP cards which must be purchased in Tibet, it will be much cheaper to call by IP cards than in hotels. In many small towns, DDD calls can also be made andreceived locally. Travelers can also use their own mobile in Lhasa. Tibet international dialing code is 86 The national currency is the Yuan or Renminbi (RMB), popularly called “Kuai”, 1Yuan=10 Jiao, 1 Jiao=10 Fen. The exchange rate is approximately US$1=8 Yuan. Major currency denominations are easily changed in the larger cities. In Tibet, man can change money only in Lhasa hotel, Tibet hotel and the Bank of China, the Bank of China has branches in Lhasa,Tsedang and in Shigatse, travelers’ cheques and credit card can be used in the Bank of China in Lhasa, sometimes also in Lhasa hotel and Tibet hotel. Remember to carry a sufficient amount of RMB for long overland drives or treks. Tip for guide and driver on your tour can also be given in cash (US dollars, Euro etc.). Travel Permit and Military Permit For Tibet tours, foreign travelers must have not only a standard Chinese visa but also a special travel permit which must be issued in either Lhasa,Chengdu, Kunming, Beijing, Xi’an or Xining. That means that a standard Chinese visa is not sufficient for Tibet tour, and individual travel for foreigners is not permitted within Tibet, in some special places, travelers must even have military permit also. Chinese visa are generally obtained from most Chinese embassies and consulates. To obtain such permits, it is necessary to make your travel arrangements through a bona fide agency, providing details of full name, sex, nationality, date of birth, occupation, and passport number. Please note that it’s also impossible to obtain flights to Tibet without the Travel permit. The permits themselves specify every destination and town that you wish to visit and can not be changed once you have arrived in Tibet, therefore be certain to detail all possible destinations in your request as well as the route you wish to follow. Most monasteries extend a warm welcome to foreign guests and in remote areas will often offer a place to stay for the night. Maintain this good faith by observing the following courtesies: Always circumambulategompas and other religious objects clockwise, thus keeping shrines and choertens to your right. Don't touch or remove anything on an altar. Don't take prayer flags or mani stones. Don't
take photos during a prayer meeting. At other times always ask
permission to take a Don't wear shorts or short skirts in a monastery. Take your hat off when you go into a chapel. Don't smoke in a monastery << back |
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