Five Tips of Tibet travel 2013

Another peak season to Tibet’s tourism starts from early April when some areas of Tibet get warm. If you are going to visit Tibet this year, the following ten tips of Tibet travel 2013 may be helpful for you.

 

1. Apply for Tibet travel permit 2013

 

If you have gotten a Chinese Visa, you still need to apply for another permit or visa to visit Tibet, that is, Tibet travel permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. The policy on Tibet permit 2013 makes it quite easy for solo travelers to get Tibet permit, so if any Tibet travel agency still asks you to travel in a group with at least two or five travelers from the same country, do not believe it or maybe you have gone back to 2012.

 

But it is true that application for Tibet permits can only be processed through authorized Tibet travel agencies, such as Tibettour org or Tibettravel org. Along with the application, you need to submit scanned copy of your passport and Chinese visa, and your Tibet tour route, like Lhasa tour, Tibet Nepal tour.

 

2. Pack suitable clothing for your Tibet tour

 

Summer is regarded as the best season to travel Tibet, but do not think that short pants and short-sleeved shirts are what you should pack for you Tibet tour. Even in summer, you may experience winter weather at mountain areas in Tibet, so a warm coat or down coat is also needed. Besides, the temperature varies greatly between day time and night. At day time, it is very hot, but in early morning and at night, it is very cold. In addition, comfortable walking shoes are important for travelling in Tibet.  

 

3. Cut down your Tibet tour cost

 

Due to the harsh environment of Tibet, the cost on a Tibet tour is usually much higher than a tour in other place with the same standard. But you can figure out some ways to cut down the cost, such as taking a join-in Tibet group tour instead of a private Tibet tour, travelling to Tibet by train instead of by air, staying at a guesthouse or hostel in Tibet, etc. Tibettravel org, a local Tibet travel agency, offers various small Tibet group tour packages covering most important tourist sites in Tibet. If you choose the group tour packages, you can share the cost with other travelers and cut down your tour cost.

 

Though taking a train to Tibet will cost you more time, but it is a little cheaper than by fight to Tibet. At present, there are several trains to Tibet from mainland China each day, such as Beijing to Lhasa train, Chengdu to Lhasa train, Shanghai to Lhasa train and Xining to Lhasa train for your option. 

 

4. Tips your tour guide and/or driver

 

Though tipping is not a customer in China, the Tibet tour guides and drivers serving you have served many foreign travelers before and were tipped for their good service. Therefore, they also expected to be tipped especially when they have worked very hard to provide you the best service. In addition, your tip to hotel staff, porters and other staff serving you will make them happy, too. Actually, tipping is not limited by cash, some special gifts, such as music CDs, perfumes/colognes, hats or t-shirts are also appreciated. 

 

5. Choose souvenirs

 

You may find that the tourist souvenirs in many tourist cities are just similar, but you will find unique items in Tibet, like Tibetan carpet and Textiles, Tibetan Thangka, Tibetan medicine, wooden bowls, jewelry, jade, prayer wheels, knives, local boots and beads. The best place to choose souvenirs is the famous Barkhor Street where you can find various Tibetan items, but the shop owners always ask a high price. Just bargain with them and you may get what you want at a price that is only 1/3 or 1/5 of the original price.