Influenced by different and complicated weather, it is not always suitable to visit Tibet all around the year. Generally speaking, the golden season for traveling is from May to October. During this time, according to scientific statistics the weather is fine and pleasant and the density of oxygen is the highest. In addition, several Tibetan traditional folk festivals are also celebrated in this season, such as the Shoton Festival (on Tibetan July 1st to July 5th), Buddha Unfolding Festival and Nakchu Horse Race Festival. These festivals provide tourists a perfect chance to get profound understanding of Tibetan culture and immense in.In fact, the best time to visit Tibet depends on many factors and it varies with different regions. Lhasa , Shigatse and Tsedang are equipped with convenient facilities for tourists, and most places of interest in these cities are historical or cultural attractions. People can visit them in any season at will. Winter is okay as well. In winter, when there is only a small tourist volume, it is easy to get discounts in hotels, ticket offices, and airports. You will be more enjoyable with few visitors. Renowned for its picturesque natural scenery, southeastern Tibet, especially Nyingchi Region , is fascinating throughout the whole year. Roads there are also in good condition, so tourists can list it in their itinerary at any time. In northern Tibet, the wind is too strong in spring; roads are too likely to be blocked by landslides in summer and are too treacherous in winter owing to the heavy snowfall. So May to July and September to October are best seasons to visit the northern Tibet. It is also the reason why we should avoid summer and winter to travel in the border area in the south.

To find out the best time to go, you should firstly work out your itinerary and then decide your time according to the information above. Or if you have decided your dates already, the information we provided above may help you make a proper itinerary. If you still have no idea of the best of visit, welcome to email us : contact@yunnantour.net at any times!

With the opening of the Tibet Railway and the construction of more airports, Tibet is more accessible for international tourists than ever before. However, to preserve the distinctive natural environment, the rare cultural relics, and the local customs of Tibet for years, and also due to limited transportation and other tourist facilities in Tibet, overseas tourists can only travel to Tibet in groups organized by a travel agency or by the offices of the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB). As a result, certain documents for traveling must be obtained before entering Tibet.

Overseas tourists to Tibet must hold a valid passport issued by his or her homeland and a visa issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate. However, tourists from a country that has agreed upon a visa-free protocol with China can visit Tibet without a visa with the max staying time of 30 days.

Besides their visa, overseas tourists (Non-Chinese passport holders) and Taiwanese must, obtain a Tibet Entry Permit issued by the TTB. Tourists can join a group organized by a travel agency, which will usually handle the permit for them in advance. For individual tourists the offices of the TTB will do it for you. One can only obtain the permit where he or she departs for Tibet. Visitors to Tibet from Chengdu, Golmud, Xi'an, Chongqing, and other places can only buy their airplane, train, or coach ticket and check in at the airport after submitting the original permit. And visitors from Katmandu still need the permit to obtain a paper visa or a signature on your visa from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal to buy their airplane tickets and enter Tibet. While in Tibet, you are not allowed to travel alone even with the permit.

The necessary materials to apply for the Tibet Permit are similar to those demanded for a visa including one's basic information, such as name, nationality, age, gender, passport number, occupation (journalists and diplomatists are excluded as common tourists to Tibet), tour itineraries, general tour schedule, and phone number, as well as a copy of the visa and the first page of the passport. The permit usually takes 2 days to issue. However, it is best to allow at least two weeks for mailing and processing. When you receive the permit you will have enough time to arrange the tickets, hotels, and your preparation for rest.

If you plan to travel into the closed areas of Tibet, such as Tingri, Dromo, Nyalam, Nhagartse, Medog ,Burang and Pemako counties, you must further apply for an Alien's Travel Permit which is issued by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) of Tibet. The opened areas of Tibet currently only cover about 16% of the whole region, so apply for one if you plan to have a deep exploration of the land. These documents can also be done by your travel agency. The information you need to submit is similar to those required for the Tibet Entry permit.

Other Permits

Travel into sensitive borders such as Mt. Kailash and Eastern Tibet still needs permits from the Military Area and Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet. A permit from the local Cultural Antique Department is also needed if you go to Tholing Monastery , Ruins of Guge Kingdom (Tsaparang) in Ngrai.

The government of Tibet is preparing to simplify these procedures now so this mysterious land can be unveiled to the world. Soon traveling to Tibet will be less of a headache.

Extremely high elevations such as those encountered on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau may present unique problems to people who are not accustomed to these high altitudes. Fortunately, the following are some tips to prevent or at least alleviate the uncomfortable feelings caused by altitude sickness.

First of all, a physical examination before the trip is necessary as people with heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, serious anemia, and other cardio and respiratory problems should not travel in the extreme altitudes encountered Tibet. Even if you do not believe that you have a health problem, the sudden change to a high altitude possibly make a latent one apparent. We strongly suggest that you had better take proper precautions. It is best to ask your doctor to advise you about precautions you can take and items to bring along on your trip that may assist you to adjust to the climate and altitude. It is also a good idea to pack some commonly used over-the-counter medicines, such as those used for cold, inflammation, insect bite, and sunstroke. But, even with these OTC items, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that the brands are safe in very high altitude environments.

Secondly, work out a reasonable itinerary. It is a favorable choice to travel from relatively low elevation to get used to the attitude sickness step by step. ?For example, you can travel firstly in Nyingchi Region , the average elevation of which is about 2,900 meters, then to higher places. It is better to travel by plane than by road or by railway. The latter ways will not help adapt tourists gradually to the plateau, but rather make tourists too tired to adapt.

Thirdly, take good rest after your arrival. People cannot feel altitude sickness until several hours after the arrival. If you are too excited in the first hours, you will suffer a lot when it comes. Do not eat too much. Your stomach may not work as well as it does on the plain. Besides, do not drink alcohol.

Fourthly, when altitude sickness comes, do not be panic. You can just sleep or take medicines following the doctor's advice. Tibetan doctors know too well procedures for curing it. Do not depend on inbreathing pure oxygen. It will only slow your adaptation process.

Fifthly, try to not catch a cold. On the plateau, a cold can easily turn into dangerous high altitude illness. Wearing warm and enough clothes for the plateau is usually extremely cold. Take special care when having a bath.

Sixthly, please keep a good mood and be optimistic all times. Fight your fear of altitude sickness. When you overcome it, it will do you no harm. Generally speaking, this process takes 2-4 days or a little longer depends on individuals.

Finally, some experts suggest that children younger than 10 years old should not travel to Tibet. Their lower immune resistance slows recovery from altitude sickness and the altitude can adversely affect their normal growth. Again, always check with your family physician about your decisions before your trip.

The weather on the plateau is quite changeable and there is a large temperature difference between day and night. It is very important to keep warm and avoid getting chilled. We recommend that during the day you wear loose, nonbinding clothes that are layered along comfortable walking shoes and absorbent socks, if possible extra clothes for emergency. A brimmed hat and a pair of sunglasses are advised to protect you from the ultraviolet radiation which is much stronger than low plateau due to the thin air. Skin care products with sun block are a must to avoid sunburns.

Your high altitude diet should consist primarily of foods that are easy to digest, such as light soups, cereals, noodles, fruits and cooked vegetables. This is one time when sugar in your diet is a plus as a source of energy, especially brown sugar which works well to relieve altitude sickness . Moreover, avoiding cigarettes, cigars and alcohol is very important.

Tibet has an abundance of exquisitely beautiful lakes. However, it does not mean that water in those beautiful lakes is safe to drink. The local people say that after drinking the water from some lakes people may experience serious long term health problems, not just a minor upset stomach. So please be cautious at all times. Pay attention to the instructions given by your guides. On the contrast, please note that thawed snow is usually very safe to drink.

Stay away from wild animals. Some animals are in the habit of racing along with cars. This may seem amusing and the animal may give the appearance of harmlessness. But it is not always so and a direct encounter with wild animals may turn out to be very dangerous. Always, be careful.

Due to special location and limit condition of Tibet, the star-rate hotels in Tibet are not as the same as you experienced in other relatively modern cities in China. Especially the 4-star hotels in Tibet possibly equal the 3-star hotels in other cities. So does the 5-star hotels. Please take this into your consideration if you are serious about the accommodation.

The special geographic features of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau nurture the flavorful Tibetan cuisine. However, it is also largely influenced by the flavors of Indian cuisine, Nepali cuisine, and other cuisines in China. These flavors mix together, making Tibetan food exquisite. While you are admiring the fascinating scenery of Tibet, do not miss the chance to have a taste of Tibetan food.

Tibetan cuisine tastes very light, while aromatic, sweet and crisp food is a local favorite. Most food is boiled, deep-fried or steamed, because it is not easy to cook stir-fry food on the plateau with a high pressure. Generally speaking, a Tibetan meal consists of a staple food, meat, drinks and vegetables.

Tibetans have rice, wheat and barley as staple foods, and usually they eat food made of barley, such as Tsamba. The so-called tsamba is actually stir-fried barley. Different from the process of dealing with wheat among the Han people, barley is first stir-fried, and then milled into powder without being peeled. Tsamba is often accompanied with yak butter tea. Pour out half a bowl of yak butter tea, then add tsamba into the tea, stir it with your fingers, crush it up and it is ready to eat. During festivals, Tibetans throw tsamba into the air to pray for a good luck.

Tibetans like eating meat to fight the cold. The meat of yaks and sheep is the most favored. The meat of goats is disliked, while that of dogs, horses, and donkeys is taboo. In some areas, people do not eat fish for they regard fish as the incarnation of the god of water. Other people do not eat chicken or even eggs. Food Taboos differ from area to area. Just keep it in mind and do in Rome as Romans do. Tibetans are used to eating raw meat. In winter, they cut the meat into slices and hang them high up. The meat will keep fresh in the coldness and gradually dry. In the next spring they can either eat the air-dried meat as it is or cook it.

Yak butter tea is a daily drink in Tibet and a drink to greet guests as well. Almost every Tibetan family keeps a lot of yak butter in storage. When they make yak butter tea, they put yak butter into a bowl of tea, and after it is thawed, heat it up in the cooking pot. It is very convenient and rich in calories.

Chang is a kind of low-alcohol liquor that is brewed using fermented barley. It is enjoyed by all Tibetans, men and women, children and elders. It is also a necessity for festivals and religious ceremonies. These days, Tibetans dance freely and drink sweet chang to their content on the grasslands.

Sweet tea and yogurt are the other two common drinks. Sweet tea is what you get when you add milk and sugar to boiling tea. It is very popular to propose a toast of tea when seeing somebody off. Yogurt is more popular in pastoral areas.

Tibetans do not eat vegetables very often. In recent years, the situation has changed a lot, but vegetables are still much more expensive than those in inland China.

If you are not used to Tibetan food, there is no need to worry since there are restaurants of other cuisines in Tibet, especially in Lhasa. You can choose dishes of Sichuan cuisine, Guangdong cuisine and, if you like, western food. In Lhasa , Shigatse , and Tsedang you can find restaurants that are specifically for tourists. They are dedicated to providing conveniences to tourists.

Temples are the most distinguish sightseeing in Tibet. In most temples, you should walk clockwise. However, in a local temple called Ben Jiao, you should walk counterclockwise. In case you had better ask your local guide every time before your visiting if you cannot distinguish the difference.

Do not eat garlic if you are planning to visit a temple. Take off your hat/cap before your enter of Buddhism Palace. Without permission, you are not allowed to shoot any photos or record videos.

Tibetan sticks out his tongue to the guest to show his moderation and respect and make wonderful wishes to guest by Zen Gesture.

Tibetan is a language abundant in dialects. Some of these dialects are similar, but some are so different that a Tibetan speaker may be confused when speaking with a Tibetan from another region. To reduce the difficulty in communication, some scholars are calling for the standardization of Tibetan. They are making efforts toward this purpose and have gained a series of achievements. Before you know the exactly meaning of a word in Tibet Language, do not use it to avoid misunderstanding and embarrassing. Besides Tibetan, they also know Mandarin, English, or Nepali. There is not too much difficulty for tourists to understand them or to be understood.

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