'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 humors alive. Travel in Tibet comes
with some ludicrous permit requirements. The present Chinese policy
on individual tourism in Tibet seems to be one of extorting as much
cash as possible from foreigners, but not so much as to scare them
off completely. Full country name: Tibet
Area: 1.2 million sq km
Population: 2.7 million
Language: Cantonese, Tibetan, Mandarin
Government: Government in exile
Head of State: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso Facts
for the Traveler
Visas: All individuals entering Tibet must hold a passport valid for
at least six months. Entering Tibet from Nepal or by air from another
country requires a separate visa valid for Tibet from a Chinese embassy.
You have to get a group visa (minimum of two people in a group and
you must leave China with this person unless you can change the visa
inside China ), arranged by an agent and enter on a tour. Be aware
that permit and visa regulations for Tibet may change every year,
sometimes every month, and are notoriously hard to keep track of.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8
Dialing Code: 86
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric How to Go: Air: Kathmandu to Lhasa
From April to October there are 2 flights a week available between
the Kathmandu and Lhasa . Schedule air services fly from Kathmandu
to Lhasa , and back every Tuesday and Saturdays. This flight last
a little over one hour and gives you a panoramic view of the Himalayas
. Land: Kathmandu to Lhasa , as with the Qinghai-Tibet Highway , the
China-Nepal Friendship Highway is a popular route for travelers. This
route brings you close to a number of famous sights, such as Shigatse,
Gyantse, and the Everest Base Camp (Tingri). |
