Lhasa - travel requirements

[Happy Dude]

So the $1800 (I assume each) included everything from the moment you reached Lhasa, or did it also include getting you there. I have seen prices as high as $850 one way for a 1st class sleeper from Shanghai / Lhasa, so $1800 is very reasonably priced if it includes everything.

I would consider train to and fly back, that gives acclimatisation on the way - do you think that helped you?

munitalP

Yes, the $1800 was per person and included train from Chengdu and flight from Lhasa to Xian (which we organised ourselves). We had to buy our own lunch/dinner and pay for the odd entry fee but I've rounded up our "tour" price to reflect that. Note that the price we paid bore no resemblance to those quoted on LP TT. We got about 7 quotes for our itinerary and it got really confusing because some would include things others would exclude and vice-versa.

See Seat61 for prices of the train but you'll pay more depending on demand or commission etc. We travelled at a pretty busy time, but not peak, and our travel company were able to get the date/class we wanted. I personally dislike train journeys of 2 nights or more, so we started in Chengdu.

I don't think the train was pressurised (I opened a window because the Chinese smoke constantly and in ALL parts of the train!!) but there were outlets for oxygen but I didn't see any masks or such. It's a slow ride up and I do believe that it helped us with acclimatisation. I met a few people who'd flown in and they said they hadn't had any issues.

For clarification, you must book a "tour", however it can be just for one person doing their own thing. You must "tour" with a guide. There are also plenty of agencies selling group tours where one or more people join in. The route is scheduled. We often stayed at hotels with the same group of backpackers overlanding to Nepal. There were about 6 of them, from different countries, and they paid about half what we did for their 7 day trip. We liked the flexibility of our own itinerary.

 

[drron]

Thanks Happy Dude really good info.
So do you reccomend the company you went with?
With the Hans I guess you think it better to go sooner rather than later if we want to see Tibetan culture.
though for us it has to be at least 2012 before we can go.

 

[munitalP]

Thanks Happy Dude really good info.
So do you reccomend the company you went with?
With the Hans I guess you think it better to go sooner rather than later if we want to see Tibetan culture.
though for us it has to be at least 2012 before we can go.

I think that I will pursuade mrs m that Tibet is the better option. Happy Dude has quashed some of my fears, particually the lack of oxygen! My thoughts are December / January 2011/12 so I have 12 months to plan this now.

Thanks for the great posts in this thread!

 

[wandering_fred]

My information is a bit out of date as I traveled in Oct 2003

Chinese visa to visit Lanzhou / Xining / Golmud was not an issue with USA passports, mine issued in Perth - the others exUSA. A few days in each city allowed for the altitude acclimatization and none of the three of us had altitude issues. Train was used between the 3 cities. The excitement of Chinese entry was "special handling and transfer" in Chengdu on the way from HKG to Lanzhou.

In Golmud we arranged for a travel permit and "tour". At the time this was an overnight sleeper bus and I think 3+ days dormitory in Lhasa. Golmud still has a travel permit office. We chose the hotel because then permit office was attached. At the time hotels had a standard section and a backpacker/budget section.

When in Lhasa, arranged for a tour with another couple with a 4wd trip. Three or four monasteries on the way to Everest base camp and then down to the Nepali border. I had a Nepal visa the others got one in Lhasa. The hotel in Lhasa arranged for a Tibetan guide for the sights around town.

Seats out of Kathmandu were "limited", but upgrades were "available" on TG.

HTH with your wanderings

Fred

 

[Happy Dude]

Thanks Happy Dude really good info.
So do you reccomend the company you went with?
With the Hans I guess you think it better to go sooner rather than later if we want to see Tibetan culture.
though for us it has to be at least 2012 before we can go.

No worries drron (and others)...happy to help and give back what I've got in spades...

We travelled with chengdutolhasa.com, although I wouldn't overly recommend them owing to a few issues that annoyed us or made us uncomfortable at the time. However, they are part of CYTS, just like many companies offering tours to Tibet. There's a few recommendations on LP TT, but they were just too costly for us (we're travelling for 6 months).

Like most places, Tibet would have been better 10 years ago. Tibetan culture is centered around religion and the monastaries have been (mostly) preserved. In that sense, it's only the number of Han crowding in them that would spoil your trip.

 

[munitalP]

No worries drron (and others)...happy to help and give back what I've got in spades...

We travelled with chengdutolhasa.com, although I wouldn't overly recommend them owing to a few issues that annoyed us or made us uncomfortable at the time. However, they are part of CYTS, just like many companies offering tours to Tibet. There's a few recommendations on LP TT, but they were just too costly for us (we're travelling for 6 months).

Like most places, Tibet would have been better 10 years ago. Tibetan culture is centered around religion and the monastaries have been (mostly) preserved. In that sense, it's only the number of Han crowding in them that would spoil your trip.

Your advice has me running at about 82% sure I'm visiting Tibet now

SWMBO wants a relaxing holiday, surrounded by 5* luxury though, so the idea if doing it tough at high altitude VS say The Hilton in Beijing or Shanghai is a hard sell!

My trying my best though lol


cheers again for the excellent advice!

 

[drron]

Your advice has me running at about 82% sure I'm visiting Tibet now

SWMBO wants a relaxing holiday, surrounded by 5* luxury though, so the idea if doing it tough at high altitude VS say The Hilton in Beijing or Shanghai is a hard sell!

My trying my best though lol


cheers again for the excellent advice!

The St Regis Lhasa has opened so as an SPG plat I cant wait to go!

 

[wile_e]

SWMBO wants a relaxing holiday, surrounded by 5* luxury though, so the idea if doing it tough at high altitude VS say The Hilton in Beijing or Shanghai is a hard sell!

Um, if that's the case I suggest sticking well clear of Tibet. When I was last there ('07) it wasn't exactly a hub for 5* luxury anything...!!! However, the people and the sights more than compensated.

How did you cope with the altitude? Did you have the constant cough and nausia, or had you acclimatised at some other city prior to visiting.

Regarding altitude, SWIMBO experienced altitude sickness in Lhasa so took some Dymox (sp?) tablets. She was fine for the rest of the trip, including overnighting at base camp. A little tip for you though (if you're planning on visiting base camp), alcohol works MUCH quicker at that altitude... so a couple of "cheeky ones" had a little more effect than normal :shock:

FYI, we booked our trip (Nepal and Tibet) through GAP, and my oh my were the prices of Smirnoff vodka cheap in Kathmandu airport (see warning above...!!!) :mrgreen:

 

[Happy Dude]

SWMBO wants a relaxing holiday, surrounded by 5* luxury though, so the idea if doing it tough at high altitude VS say The Hilton in Beijing or Shanghai is a hard sell!

cheers again for the excellent advice!

You're welcome. I'm not sure there's anything above 2-stars outside of Lhasa so you may have your selling work cut out there. At least being chauffered around in a Land Cruiser is nice and easy, although some "roads", up to Everest Base Camp (where you'll stay in a yak tent) for example, can get quite bumpy.

 

[Ric]

Hi All,

Just came back from a trip to Lhasa/Xining. Started a pictorial TR. If interested it's at:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....a-xining-a-pictorial-tr-30394.html#post441868

Cheers,

Ric