How long does it need to travel to Tibet?

When making a Tibet tour plan, some tourists may be a little confused about how long does it need to travel to Tibet?

 

Firstly, you should know the Tibetan plateau which is as large as the Western Europe and dotted with thousands of tourist sites in different sizes. The Tibetan Plateau is divided into Tibet Autonomous Region, Amdo Tibetan Area and Kham Tibetan Area. Generally, making a trip to Tibet means a tour to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR for short). The TAR itself is further divided into several geographical regions, Lhasa – Capital of Tibet, Shigatse, Lhokha, Nyingchi, Ngari, Amdo and Chamdo areas. The most popular areas in Tibet among foreign travelers are Lhasa, Shigatse and Lhokha. 

 

If you are looking for a mainly cultural experience, Lhasa, Tsedang and Shigatse may be the right areas for you. It only takes five to ten days to visit these areas. You can visit famous monasteries and palaces in Tibet, like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung and Ganden Monasteries in Lhasa, Samye Monastery in Tsedang, Tashilhunpo and Sakya monasteries in Shigatse. On the way to the monasteries, you can also enjoy beautiful natural sights in Tibet.    

 

If you are interested in Tibet’s natural sights, it is best to make a trek in Tibet. There are many funny Tibet trekking tour routes, such as Ganden to Samye trek and Mt. Kailash trek. It usually takes a week to half a month to finish a trek tour in Tibet. During may find the mighty peaks of the Himalayas enthralling but it would be wise to choose a guide to lead these activities. You may even be able to explore ruins dating back to the Guge Kingdom and follow in the footsteps of local pilgrims.

 

If you are interested in Tibetan nomadic culture, it is best to visit the Northern and Far-Western regions of Tibet, where the nomadic culture is prominent. There are also many other attractive features in this landscape such as many beautiful lakes and the mystical Mt. Kailash. To explore Northern Tibet, it is recommended that you take at least 15 days to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and mystery of this region. 

 

The way you choose to get to Tibet will also determine how long you will spend on a Tibet tour. At present, travelers can get to Tibet by train, flight, buses and bikes. Of course, the most time-saving way is to fly into Tibet. There are several flights to Tibet from mainland China and Nepal.

 

But the most popular way to Tibet is taking a Tibet train to Lhasa. By this way, you will enjoy more sights on the way. Most importantly, you will have a chance to witness the world’s highest railway, the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is amazing. Surely, it takes a longer time to Tibet than travelling to Tibet by air.

 

Among Chinese tourists, cycling to Tibet is a very popular way to Tibet, especially among young travelers. It usually takes one month to cycle into Tibet. Besides, it asks more energy and perseverance.