Things To Know When Traveling To Tibet

If you will be traveling to Tibet, be prepared to immerse yourself in a place that’s rich in culture and full of wonder and awe. Tibet is considered a part of East Asia and borders India, Nepal, Burma and Bhutan. The region is located in the southwest portion of modern China and, given its historical territory, is considered the 10th largest nation in the world. With that said, Tibet is extremely large and has so much to offer as it encompasses approximately 463,000 square miles! Let’s take a look at some fun facts to know before travelling to Tibet!

Towns & Villages

Tibet’s traditional capital is Lhasa, which is also the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Lhasa contains three world heritage sites: The Potala Palace and Norbulingka, which were the residences of the Dalai Lama, as well as the Jokang Temple, which is the home to the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Lhasa is also home to significant religious temples and monasteries that include Jokhang and Ramoche Temple. Overall, Tibet has more than800 cities, towns and villages within its geographic region, so there is plenty to explore while traveling to Tibet.

Home To Mount Everest

Tibet is also home to the world’s largest mountain, Mount Everest, which is shared in the mountain range between Tibet and Nepal. Seeing Mount Everest is almost essential for anyone considering traveling to Tibet. It has a peak of 29,029 feet above sea level and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Nearly 4,000 people have scaled the mountain since it was first conquered by Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.Roughly 800 people attempt to climb it each year. The trek is exhausting and dangerous but the success rates for climbers has risen from 18 percent in 1990 to 56 percent in 2012. Even if you don’t get a chance to take the climb, it’s magnificent to see in person!

Obtain Permits Before Traveling To Tibet

Before traveling to Tibet, you’ll need to obtain a Tibet entry and road permits from the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Normal tours to attractions like the Everest base camp, Lhasa City tour and others will be required before you start the trip. There are some different permits you may need if you want to access restricted traveling areas, but it depends on which kind of permit you will need for that specific tour. It will generally take roughly one week to complete the permit for a normal tour and about two weeks for the restricted travel permits. However, the process is easier when you book your trip through a local Tibet travel agent!

Best Times To Visit

Generally speaking, the best times for traveling to Tibet are from May to October. This is because this window provides you with the opportunity to see all the sights. However, some of the best times to visit the Everest base camp and snow peak mountains are in April, May, September and October. Unless the weather is quite cold, November through February is highly recommend for the Tibet cultural and Everest base camp tours because there are few tourists and more local pilgrims. You will also appreciate the far less expensive price of a Tibet winter tour.

Currency

While you are traveling in Tibet, it’s important to understand what type of currency is accepted throughout the area. With that in mind, the Chinese yuan is used throughout Tibet and you may want to exchange some of your money to the Chinese yuan before traveling to Tibet. Or, you can easily convert it in the bigger cities like Lhasa and Shigaste, so you can have money to spend at local shops.

Are you ready to explore Tibet? Call Tibet Shambhala Adventure to book your dream Tibet trip today: +86-13908907271!