Tibet Travel Tips

Posted by johnnyyy on April 22nd, 2019

Tibet Travel Tips

1.Things to prepare to Tibet

If you have a Tibet tour plan, apart from a passport and China visa, all foreigners allowed to enter Tibet must have Tibet travel permits(some people also called it Tibet visa). You need the Tibet travel permit to board a train or plane to Lhasa. If you want to travel outside Lhasa such as Shigatse, Shannan, Nyingchi, and so on. You are required to apply for the Alien’s travel permit issued by The Public Security Bureau.

Carrying some medicine to Tibet is necessary to prevent altitude sickness. If you are going to the area such as Namtso, Everest, Ngari, remember to bring some thick clothes to keep warm. Do not wear short clothes or pants because it’s harmful to expose your skin to the ultraviolet. You can enjoy your iPad or other electronics on the train. In a word, we suggest traveling with a light pack.

2.Physical requirements

If you are not confident about your body condition, go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination, consult with your doctor and staying physically strong and healthy are a must before making the decision to travel to Tibet. To avoid high altitude sickness, you can take Rhodiola one or two in advance. To restore the balance of your body, stop exercising one week prior, make sure your body is in good condition, especially avoid getting cold before entering Tibet. Catching a cold in Tibet is very troublesome which can even lead to pulmonary edema.

3.Transportation to Tibet

We don’t suggest travelers take a shuttle to Tibet, cause it’s a waste of time and energy. Besides, many uncertain insecurity factors exist. If you fly for the first time to Tibet, it would increase your difficulty adapting to the local altitude and the chance to cause altitude sickness. It’s Tibetan travel peak From July to August and a great number of people take a train to Tibet. It’s quite difficult for you to purchase a train ticket to Tibet. Remember to book your train tickets in advance and you’d better leave Tibet by plane.

4.Attentions along the way to Tibet

The first choice for travelers to enter Tibet is to take a train. Train tickets are cheaper than flight tickets, in addition, you can adapt better to high altitude and meet many different friends on the train. You will spend a long time on the train which can exhaust you, so make sure you have enough time to rest. To deal with the big daily variation of temperature, remember to keep warm and don’t catch a cold. Keep your valuables with you, set your cash in several different places, stay alert while sleeping. In a word, take care of your finances. You can relax a little outside the train while the train stops, but do not go too far and remember your car number and seat number. Keep the train tickets with you all the way, and the cabin crew will check on the train. If you lose your train ticket, you will be asked to pay for a replacement train ticket. When fetching the boiling water, carry your water steady in order not to hurt others.

5.Attentions when just arrive in Tibet

When you just arrive in Tibet, avoid frequent activities and keep calm, ensure you have enough time to rest and drink a lot of water. Usually, we suggest travelers stay in Lhasa for the first 1 or 2 days to acclimate the environment, then you can go to some other places of higher altitude gradually. In the first 2 days after entering Tibet, it's not recommended to take a bath, or you may catch a cold and lead to altitude sickness. Many travelers suffered from headaches on their arrival to Tibet, they usually recover on the second day if they get enough rest. If you, unfortunately, get altitude sickness, don’t be panic and take some medicine and have a good rest to remit, the discomfort often disappears the second day. If your altitude sickness is severe, you’d better go to a nearby hotel or buy some oxygen to breathe. It’s efficient to release your symptom.

6.Skin protection in Tibet

 Protecting your skin against the ultraviolet when you travel to Tibet is important, you may inadvertently receive the gift of Tibetan red. The sun in Tibet is strong and contains intense ultraviolet. You should go out with thin and long sleeves and pants, smear some sun scream, wear sunhat and sunglasses. The air in Tibet is dry, so we recommend you to drink sufficient water and have adequate vegetables, in addition, remember to moisturize your skin. It’s normal if you get nosebleeds when you just arrive in Tibet, don’t worry and you’ll adapt the plateau environment in several days.

7.Precautions for traveling in Tibet

To get a better acclimation of altitude, you could start your tour from Nyingchi or Shannan prefecture with lower altitude relatively. If you’ll travel to Everest, Ngari or other places, you are required to take your border permit. The average temperature throughout the year in Everest and Namtso is low Due to their special geographic position, remember to pack some thick clothes. The rainy season in Tibet is from July to August, some natural disasters such as mudslides or landslides may occur. Inquiry more about the weather to locals before your departure, then go with caution. July and August are also tour peak, the tour price could get higher than that in usual season, even you can hardly purchase one ticket for Potala palace, then you’d better join a group to see the Potala palace to avoid the intricate ticketing process.

8.Tibet shopping tips

Barkhor street is a good place for shopping and you could see varieties of goods there. Here are some famous Tibetan specialty such as Thangka, Tibetan knife, cow horn comb, cordyceps, Tibetan red flower, yak meat, dzi bead, Tibetan incense and so on. Please be patient when you shop in Barkhor street. You could shop around and bargain with the sellers. You’d better be accompanied by a local as locals have better distinguishability than travelers. You can’t board a train or a plane with Tibetan knife, If you buy a Tibetan knife, you should consign it in advance. If you are not interested in a certain commodity, do not ask about its price, otherwise, the merchant may pester you.

9.Tibet local customs and some taboos

(1)Killing is taboo for Tibetan. Some Tibetan don’t eat mutton or horse meat,  even eggs or fish.

(2)There are some customs restored such as celestial burial, we should not presume to watch without permission.

(3)Fire is sacred for Tibetan, we should not throw sundries in a fire.

(4)Tibetan stick there tongue to show their respect to others, the gesture of putting their hands together is a sign of blessing to others.

(5)The direction of prayer is clockwise, you should walk clockwise around temples, mani heaps, and pagodas, etc.

(6)Do not clap or spit behind other people’s back, in Tibetan eyes, it’s impolite behaviors.

(7)Do not touch others’ heads or put your arm around others, they’re both insolent.

(8)Don’t take out the garbage or whistle at night which may attract ghost.

(9)When you visit a Tibetan house, do not drink off the tea provided by the house host to show your respect.

(10)Don’t relieve yourself in the place where tied a cow or a sheep.

(11)When walking across a low prayer flag, we can’t step over them.

(12)While visiting the temple, you’d better not to wear sunglasses or a hat, keep silence and don’t touch the Buddha, you can’t take a photo without permission.

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johnnyyy
Joined: April 22nd, 2019
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