Tibet General Information

One of the most fasinating destinations of the world this ancient land has remained secluded in its mysteries for centuries.Only since early 1980s did this 'forbidden land' open its Traveling overland between Kathmandu and Lhasa is an incredible journey in which you can see the world's highest mountains, travel on the world's highest plain, meet nomadic Tibetan pilgrims and walk amidst the burning butter lamps and chanting monks of Tibet's ancient and legendary Buddhist Monasteries. This is a wonderful and amazing trip. However if you are not up for a bit of adventure, or for accommodations and amenities that may be far from perfect, perhaps this trip is not for you while the trip to Tibet is not easy it is well worth the effort. Tibet was opened to tourism in 1985. Before this it avoided influence from the western world and developed its unique culture and religion independently. The infrastructure of the tourist industry is still very basic in this remote country. Please do not expect the standard you are accustomed to in the west. However every effort will be made under the circumstance to ensure a smooth and Pleasant trip Tour departure.

Tibet is a culturally, religiously, ethnically, linguistically and geographically distinct region located to the north of India. The only aspect which isn't distinct is the one that counts for most these days: the political aspect. Immediately prior to 1951 Tibet was a defacto independent country with its own governmental, political and judicial systems. For centuries Tibet had remained stubbornly isolated and aloof from the rest of the world, partly through its own volition and partly due to Chinese encouragement. However its independent status, though self-declared, was never recognised by any outside party. China has made consistent territorial claims over Tibet and has in the past exerted varying degrees of political control. Since 1951 Tibet has been fully incorporated into the Peoples Republic of China.

For the purposes of this document and travel in general, Tibet is an area inside the borders of the Peoples Republic of China which is inhabited by Tibetan people. There are several other "Tibets" refered to by various people:

 

What is the best time of year to travel in Tibet?
Travel is possible at all times of year:

 

The climate:
Winter is cold, but with little snow (except in the Yadong / Chumbii Valley area). The sun still shines brightly, and keeps things bearable, but the air is cold.Summers are warm, but not really hot, though the sun can be very strong due to the altitude. In central and Western Tibet there is a mini monsoon in June, though little rain crosses the Himalayas. In the regions at the edge of the Tibetan Plateau (Eastern Amdo and Khams) the rain is not so predictable (apparantly the summer and autumn are dryer times of year). Trekking in mid-winter is not really feasable due to the cold and the shorter days: The daytime temperature can be as low as -40C (that's -40F); the sun doesn't rise till past 09:00 (or later if you are in the shaddow of a large mountain) and gets dark by 17:30

 

Certain times of year are politically sensitive:

* Tibetan New Year
* 10 March: Anniversary of the 1959 uprising
* 10? June: Anniversary of the big 1989 demonstration
* 15 December: International Human Rights day and anniversary of the various demonstrations.

 

Is individual travel possible in Tibet?
Yes it is possible, but restrictions are imposed on travel to many area

 

Arts culture

Thangka:Thangka is the Tibetan word for art images created on rolls of silk or satin. The art form recreates Tibetan anecdotes or folk customs and images of the Buddha. It's an art handed down over a thousand years. It's listed as a part of China's Cultural Herita

 

Building new house together:Since the beginning of 2008, the Panam County of Xigaze Prefecture has launched housing projects for the local rural people with fund from the government, aids from other places, the bank and the local people.

 

Carnival for man and nature:Tour in Tibet, you may see groups of Tibetan men and women gathered together. They are chatting, drinking and singing, circle surrounded singing and dancing happily on the lawns, on the open fields, the threshing land, in the yard, by the lake, near the temples or any other places. This is the Tibet

 

Tibetan local houses:During the period of Tubo I, the first palace Yumblagang was built on the top of a small hill in the Yarlong Valley. The following Btsan-pos built a series of palaces such as Potala Palace and so on.

 

Tibetan Costoms of guests:Tibetan people are very hospitable. When serve guests with barley wine, the host will take the full cup of wine to the front of guests, and at the same time, the guests should accept it with both hands, then hold the cup with one hand, while with your middle finger of another hand

 

Tibetan wedding tradition:Weddings or other events Tibetan people will draw a guide path or “万” design in front of the house also hang the Sutra streamer on the roof.

 

Tibetan Racing Festival in Damxung:It is said that Horse Racing Festival in Damxung is introduced from Mongolia to Tibet. So far a singer who can sing the song in Mongolian comes to sing Mongolian song. Damxung Horse Racing Festival (Dang Ji Ren Horse Race Festival in Tibetan language means Lamas chant sutras.) starts on every July.

 

Tibet Landscape:

PARANOMIC VIEW OF MT.EVEREST:Virtual reality 360 degree panorama from the top of Mount Everest.

MOUNT QOMOLANGMA(Mt.Everest):Mount Qomolangma, also called Mt. Everest, is the highest peak in the world. Its Tibetan meaning of 'Goddess the Third' adds more mysterious color and magic power to the subject.As a result, it has intrigued all kinds of people since it was first discovered. Pilgrims trek long distances to present a pious worship, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude and the common tourists also yearn for a reverent look at this holy peak.

TIBET AIRPORT:With an altitude of 3,600 meters, Lhasa Gonggar Airport lies beside the Yarlung Zangbo River, and there are mountains on both sides of the river. Surrounding the airport, within a radius of 30 km there are peaks with up to 5,362 meters, rising to 6,126 meters within 60 km. The airport runway is 4,000 meters long and 45 meters wide. Ranking the highest civil airport in the world, Gonggar Airport reached a passenger-receiving capacity of 700,000 in 2003.

Domestic airlines in Lhasa Gonggar Airport can reach Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing, Xian, Xining, Kunming, Diqing and Chamdo Region. One international airline connects Katmandu and Lhasa.

There are ticketing service hall, departures hall and baggage claim area on 1 F; while on 2 F you can find Waiting Hall, restaurants and shops.

The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon:The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is a deep and long canyon in China. The Yarlung Tsangpo River, usually just called "Zangbo" (also spelled "Tsangpo", meaning "purifier"), originates from Mount Kailash and running east for about 1700 km drains a northern section of the Himalayas before its enters the gorge near Pe, Tibet. The canyon has a length of about 150 miles as the gorge bends around Mount Namcha Barwa (7756 m) and cuts its way through the eastern Himalayan range. Its waters drop from 3,000 m near Pe to about 300 m at the end of the gorge. After this passage the river enters Arunachal Pradesh, India, and eventually becomes the Brahmaputra.

 

Mt.Cho Oyu :Cho Oyu stands high above the Tibetan plains on the Nepal / Tibet border, and is an ideal choice for mountaineers ready to test themselves on the eight thousanders. The world's sixth highest mountain was first climbed by S. Moechler, H. Tichy and P. Dawa Lama in 1954. On a good day the view from the summit plateau is breathtaking, in a sweep you take in the entire panorama of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Chamlang, Ama Dablam and other peaks of the Khumbu.

 

Tea- horse ancient road:For thousands of years, only humans and horses treaded the mountains of Southwest China as they followed an ancient pathway through the Chinese hinterlands and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Along the unpaved and rugged pathway that was formed, commodities like tea, salt and sugar flowed into Tibet. Meanwhile, horses, cows, furs, musk and other local products made their way to the outside world. The road was called the tea-horse ancient road, and it stretched across more than 4,000 kilometers, mainly through Southwest China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
The ancient commercial passage first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It also experienced the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties - or a period of more than 1,200 years. The road promoted exchanges in culture and religion, and saw ethnic migration that closely resembled what was experienced on the well-known Silk Road.

 

The gorge has a unique ecosystem with species of animals and plants barely explored and affected by human influence. Its climate ranges from subtropical to arctic. The rare takin is one of the animals hunted by the local tribes.

The tour starts from Kantipath Thamel at 5am, you report and embark on your journey to the Friendship Bridge [116kms/6hrs drive]. Enrobe, breakfast stop is made at the Dhulikhel lodge resort. An early start is made on the first day as china time is 2hrs 15minutes ahead of Nepal time in winter & 3hrs 15minutes in summer.

After completing immigration formalities on the Nepal side, drive uphill to Zhangmu [8kms/45min]-immigration post. The Tibetan guide will meet you here and will take care of your entire tour arrangement.