Information About Tibet

'Shangri La', 'the Rooftop of the World' - locked away in its Himalayan fortress, Tibet has long exercised a siren's hold on the imagination of the West. Tibetans are used to hardship, and despite the disastrous Chinese occupation, they have managed to keep their culture and humour alive. The roof of the world is an unforgettable land of curious nomads, mysterious gompas and vast breath-taking panoramas. In Lhasa, long the Forbidden City, experience the timeless and most holy Jokhang temple and see the legendary eighth-wonder Potala Palace.Depong, Sera and many more….

Samye is deservedly the most popular destination for travellers in the Ü region. The monastery, in the middle of the sandy Samye valley and approached via a beautiful river crossing, has a magic about it that causes many travellers to stay longer than they had intended. It was Tibet's very first monastery and has a history that spans over 1200 years.

Visitors on vacation to ethnic Tibet can discover Buddhist monasteries and pilgrimage sites, as well as trekking routes through some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world. In addition there is Mt.Kailash the most sacred place in Asia.

Weather Overview –

Summer in Tibet is mild and, besides a few rainy days, quite pleasant. The low to mid 20°C (70-75°F) summer days give way to winter days that are not as cold as you might expect, still averaging around 7°C (44°F) during the day in January but plunging to around -10°C (14°F) at night.

Government Type
Communist republic

Visas Overview

All individuals entering Tibet must hold a passport valid for at least six months.

If you are entering Tibet from China, your Chinese visa will be valid, though only travelers with tourists visas (not business, resident or student visas) are permitted. You must also obtain a Tibetan Tourist permit (TTB) before you can enter Tibet.
Entering Tibet from Nepal currently requires you to go on a week-long group overland tour (around 400.00). You will have to get a group visa (a 'group' can be only one person but you'll be lucky to get more than two weeks validity, at which point you'll have to fly to another city in China to get the 'group' visa changed to a tourist visa), arranged by an agent.

Be aware that permit and visa regulations for Tibet change every year, sometimes every month, and are notoriously hard to keep track of. For the latest information please contact us.