General Travel Information

Facts for the traveler: To visit Tibet, the legendary, forbidden land on the roof of the world, has been the dream of many Westerners.

Getting there:

Customs regulations : art objects and antiques in Tibet fall under special restrictions forbidding their export. Anything made before 1959 is considered an antique. Rugs may be bought and exported, so may the small religious objects that are sold in open markets, providing only one or two are taken as souvenirs. Customs officials have been known to confiscate jewellery or other objects if they consider that a tourist has purchased 'too much'.

Climate, clothing and equipment : Tibet is cold in winter, cool in summer and generally dry, receiving only 450 millimeters or rain or snow. Sunlight is extremely intense. The thin air neither blocks nor holds heat, so sunshine feels warm, shadows are chilly, and temperatures can vary greatly within a day, exceeding 29 degree Celsius (84 f) in desert areas in summer, and plunging below 4 degree Celsius (40 f) the same night. The most pleasant months for tourism are from April to October.
Clothing should be simple and consist of layers, which can be added or removed as the temperature varies during the day. A warm windbreaker and stout comfortable shoes are especially recommended. Formal attire such as a necktie or dress is never needed - trousers and sweaters are the style.

Lhasa now has many pharmacies selling Tibetan, Chinese and some westerns medicines but, it is advisable to bring your own comprehensive first-aid kit, sunglasses with good ultra-violet protection, sun block and lip cream and a flashlight is important because many interesting sights are poorly lit.

Transportation : there are no air routes within Tibet. The distances are huge and the only recommended mode of transportation is hiring the vehicles from the travel agent.

Altitude & health tips:
Traveling in Tibet is an adventure involving high altitude and could be strenuous. While most visitors have only minor effects from the altitude, we advise specially the guests with known heart or lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Mild headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder can take place in a process of acclimatization. Our advice for better acclimatization, drink 4 liters. Of water minimum a day, do not exhaust you so much, breath deep and take rest more than usual.

Emergency evacuation : seriously ill travelers should not consider trying to leave Tibet by road, as the difficulties and uncertainties of such a journey pose unacceptable risks. Your only choice is to fly.

Money: banks in Tibet/china are closed on Saturday & Sunday. So, you are kindly requested to carry about US $ 100 per person in cash over and above the tour cost to cover your extra expenses for main meals and others enroute until Lhasa. If it is cash dollars, even local people help you to get them exchanged in Chinese Yuan. Travelers' cheques & credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks especially Outside Lhasa. The unit of currency is Yuan.Us$ 1 = 8 Yuan.

Communications : international mail is reliable and quite fast if sent by airmail. Idd phone and fax services are available in up market hotels.

Medicine
You are suggested you to bring your own first aid kit with adequate medication regarding altitude sickness, nausea, dehydration and some painkillers.

Insurance
We highly recommend all clients to be insured to insure themselves against a comprehensive claim policy, which should also include Helicopter Evacuation if necessary. Please note that our Kailash Tour Package does not include any rescue or evacuation expenses in emergencies. Any emergency arrangement other than regular straightforward tour itinerary service should be borne by the clients themselves.

Physical Fitness
Before booking for this trip with us, clients should be in sound good health preparation for this trip. We advise bit of exercise like morning or evening walk or jogging.

Documentation & Visa:
You must be in possession of a valid passport. We will obtain your visa for Tibet, and the following information when making your reservation:

ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Those with chronic health problems should consult a doctor before making travels plans. Most people visiting Tibet rarely suffer more than mild discomfort before getting acclimatized. Suggested remedial measure.
a) Take plenty of rest.
b) Refrain from physically exhausting activities.
c) Drink plenty of water.
d) Do not expose yourself to direct strong winds particularly your head when atop a pass
e) Take diamox against altitude sickness.

INSURANCE:-
All travelers visiting Tibet are strongly recommended to provide for their own trip insurance at home that adequately covers for medical, emergencies rescue expenses, trip cancellations or nay others eventual mishaps.
All of our staffs on field trips are adequately insured by the company that covers for medical assistance, accidents or death.

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES:-
Warm clothing is required throughout but more specifically from October to April. In general dressing in layers is recommended. Few change of clothes such as shirt, sweater, jacket and cotton inner lining with tops and bottoms, comfortable walking shoes, pair of pants should suffix. During the month of October to April more heavy woolen or down clothing and boots will be required.
Other recommended accessories – water bottle, water purification tabs, chopstick, suntan lotion, utility knife, flash light, battery operated shavers, dusk mask or bandana, medicine for common colds, headache, fever, stomach disorders and diamox for altitude sickness. A good Tibet guidebook by lonely planet or the Rough Guide and a route map is strongly recommended.

CUSTOMS:-
There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders or any other electronic equipments for personal use as long as they are declared in the customs declaration form at the point of entry. Export of art object dating back prior to 1959 are prohibited and may be seized.

BOOKING AND PAYMENTS:
All clients are required to fill out our ‘Tour Booking Form’ and must carefully read and sign the column ‘Assumption of Risk, Release and Guarantee’. We also require your copy of passport and a trip deposit of USD 284(airfare KTM-LXA) for confirmation of all bookings. Those booking directly with us from abroad may make this trip deposit with credit card by filing out ‘Credit Card Authorization Form’ which will be sent to you on request. Please add 3.5% for all payment made with credit card. The balance payment must be paid in full before trip departure either in cash or travelers checks.

VISA:-
All tourist visiting Tibet requires Valid china Visa and a special Alien Travel Permit which they can obtain only by joining tour organized by recognized travel agencies. Those who arrive in kathmandu with a Chinese visa issued by Chinese Consulates outside of Kathmandu will find it useless for entry into Tibet.

There is no minimum group size requirement for traveling into Tibet. As long as one is traveling in an organized tour visa will be issued for even individuals. Please note Tibet visa regulations often change and hence given information may not be true at the time when you travel.

Diplomatic passport holders must get clearance from Beijing for travel into Tibet, which often takes long time. It is advisable to travel on non-diplomatic passports. If you have one….

We require at least 7 days notice to process your Tibet visa via Lhasa and at least 4 days in Kathmandu for the Chinese Embassy to handle your passport. Consular section of the Chinese Embassy is open for business between 10-12 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only. Visa also can be issued in less than 3 days upon payment of visa rush fees. Normal group visa fee is USD 28 and visa rush fee is another USD 17. For USA nationals the group visa fee is USD 42.
Those entering via Mainland China must pay a handling charge of USD 25 to our china agent for handling Tibet permits booking and issuing flight tickets.

60 days Nepal visa is readily available at the Tribhuvan International Airport or any other land entry points on payment of USD 30 visa fee. However, tourist transiting through Kathmandu and pending less than 3 days are now issued with giants visas. Also national of SAARC countries and people Republic of China are not longer required to pay visa fees.

KTM-LHASA FLIGHT:
CHINA AIR (CA) is the only airline currently operating flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa sector. M/S China air operates regular flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa sector – 2 flights from April-June and 3 flights July – October. During the winter months from November thru March the flight is temporarily suspended.

Payment may also be telex transferred into our following bank account.

ACCOUNT NAME: Sony Tours & Travels
ACCOUNT NUMBER:
BANK: --
SWIFT CODE: --

CANCELLATION POLICY:
We levy a handling fee of USD 100 if a trip is cancelled after confirmation of booking. However, this amount can be applied for a future trip booked through Tibet Travels. Notice of cancellation must be made in person by those booking locally and for those booking from overseas cancellation notice must be sent in writing and refund will be made as follows.

Less than 15 days before trip date : 20% or USD 100 whichever is higher
No Shows : No refunds

N.B : As per China Airlines regulation there is 35% cancellation charge if an air ticket is once issued and cancelled for what so ever reason. Please note this regulation is strictly enforced and adhered to by CA.

What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) And How to Avoid It ?

The high altitude and people's reaction to it is one of the difficulties to travel to Tibet. But it is not so serious as you imagined if you know it and get prepared for it.

What is High Altitude?

When acclimatization lags significantly behind ascent, various symptoms occur. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) represents the body's intolerance of the hypoxic (low oxygen) environment at one's current elevation

What kinds of physiologic reactions will occur?

Tibet Travel Permits
There are two kinds of permits for traveling in Tibet: the entry permit (TTB permit) and the Alien's travel permit (PSB permit). You can get them easily from Access Tibet Tour.

TTB Permit - Tibet Entry Permit
When you fly from any city to Lhasa you will need to show this permit when you check in at the airport. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight to Lhasa you need to show this permit. TTB permits are also needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser but this will be arranged by the travel agency organizing the trip. Here is a picture of TTB permit (click on the picture to enlarge):

PSB Permit - Alien's Travel Permit
If you want to go further to the "unopened" areas, you need an Alien's travel permit issued by PSB of Tibet. It is called "Alien's Travel Permit" or "PSB permit". Here is a picture of PSB permit :

Tibet Entry Permit (PSB permit)

How to get the travel permits?
Because we are a LOCAL travel agency, it's quite easy for you to get a travel permit with our help. Simply send us your

1) Full Name
2) Gender
3) Date of Birth
4) Passport Number
5) Nationality

All exactly the same as on your passport. And you need to tell us your occupation because journalists and people that could be involved in political matters could be revoked (they need more complicated procedure to get a permit).

You need to apply for the travel permit at least 10 days prior to your entry date.

Please note that if you do not book any tour from us, we can not help you get the permits. No travel agency can provide "permit-only" service. Here is a note from Lonely Planet:

"Lhasa PSB will not issue travel permits to individuals and will direct you to a travel agency. Agencies can arrange a travel permit to almost anywhere but only if you book a Land Cruiser, driver and a guide."

Important Issues about Tibet Travel Permit

How much is Tibet permit?
Answer: as mentioned above, it is only 7 US dollars if you book a tour with a travel agency. But if you come to Tibet from Kathmandu of Nepal, you have to obtain the China Visa no matter if you have already had it or not. In this case, the permit will be 20 US dollars including insurance and Travel Alien’s permit. Please note that the above is the service charge, not a selling price.

Question: How long can I get Tibet Permit?
Answer: Generally it needs three days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents. But if it needs another 3 days (or more) to Express Deliver the permit.

There is a trick that when you apply for China visa, please do not mention Tibet. After you get China visa you can easily get Tibet permit. Otherwise you have to wait for Tibet permit and then you can get China visa. Of course you will face the risk of that you might be refused to come to Tibet even if you get China visa but your destination is Tibet. In our experience seldom does TTB refuse tourists if they are not of those three kinds of people mentioned above: diplomat, journalist, government officials.

PHOTOGRAPHY
As Tibet is very rich on its cultural & scenic beauty, one would be lured to catch all those in his camera. As Tibet get very bright sunlight due to thin air, taking photographs could be quite glare. Please take the advise from the photographic shop choosing the best film rolls for Tibet. Photography is free on the way but in some of the places, you may be charged especially at the monasteries for taking the photographs, please ask your guide before taking photographs inside the monastery or the army camps.

Other documents:

Other documents are the same as you travel to other places of China - you need hold a valid passport with valid visa (issued by Chinese Embassy).

If you are coming to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you'd better get China visa from Kathmandu because no matter you've already got the visa in your country or not, you must get a visa in Kathmandu, which is regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal. to their repertoire.