Tibet is an eternal topic and dreams of so many people, with its unique high attitude, exotic culture, unique highlauxind landscapes, and friendly people - roof of the world .

The climate in highland Tibet belongs to the typical downy special climate. Climates are much different in different areas in Tibet and temperatures vary greatly within a single day.

Climate in southeastern Tibet (e.g. Nyingchi) is gentle and temperate with the average temperature of eight degrees; In western Tibet (e.g. Nakqu), the average temperature is below zero degree; While in Lhasa and the central part of Tibet, the climate is normal and nice for traveling. Visitors would not feel cold in winter nor hot in summer, especially from March to October, the best seasons for traveling. Most annual rainfall comes in the rainy season that starts from May to September, when the precipitation covers 90 percent of the whole year. Usually it rains at night in Lhasa, Shigatse and Chamdo area. The precipitations gradually decrease from 5000 millimeters in the lower part of southeast to just 50 in the northwest.

So generaly speaking, the best time to travel Tibet is between April and October, and peak season is from May to September. The best months are May, June, September or October as July and August are rainy months. Those who travel in their own car or on foot should avoid the rainy season especialy when entering Tibet along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and the sections between Lhasa and Nyingchi and between Lhasa and Ngari. There will be mudslides, cave-ins and mire on certain sections of the road, blocking the passage of vehicles. However, if you are only planning several days in and around Lhasa and getting there by air. There will be no problem for you to travel at any time from April to October.

There are overall four documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel freely in Tibet.

1. Chinese Visa - you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your country; or we will help to get it from Kathmaandu.
2. Tibet Entry Permit - It is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau and is a must for foreigners entering Tibet;
3. Travel Permit: It is required when you are planning to travel to the closed areas in Tibet,which you can obtain it after you arrive in Tibet
4. Military Permit - you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to some military sensitive areas.

As a local travel agency, Earthbound Expeditions is able to assist you to process all of those above documents if you book a Tibet tour with us.

Tibet Tours: Top Sights of Tibet

It is always hard to make a choice from the best of best in Tibet. Get free quotation and tour arrangements from our experienced travel advisors who will design you a perfect tour according to your specific requests.
There are so many sights to visit in Tibet. But with only several days there,we highly recommend some of the must visit ones for you to choose in order to plan your trip to Tibet.

The Potala Palace - Lhasa

Although it was first constructed in the 7th century, the Potala Palace was almost totally destroyed by fire in a thunder-storm. During the rule of the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century, large-scale reconstruction began on the original site. Renovation of sorts was carried out by several of the successive Dalia Lama, but never on a scale as that which took place during the last few years. The present architectural group covers 41 hectares of land and consists chiefly of the 13-storeyed,117-meter-tall red and white palaces, towering over the city of Lhasa from a mountain top. Its imposing scale and unique style make it the symbol of Tibet. As the official residence of the Dalai Lamas, the Potala Palace was representative of the region’s former theocracy. Aside from that, it is also the site of an art museum and a treasure house of historical documents.
Sighatse and Gyantse are also equally beautiful sights.

Lake Namtso Tibet

Namtso means Heaven Lake or Scared Lake in Tibetan.At the juncture of Damxung County and Nagqu Prefecture,it is 4,718 meters above sea level.Being 700 kilometers from east to west and 30 kilometers from south to north.,it covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers.It is the second largest salt-water lake in China next to Qinghai Lake.The three islands in the lake are habitats of wild ducks in late spring and early summer.Then their eggs can be found everywhere.The vast shore of the lake is a natural pasture with glossy grass and plenty water.By the lake flocks of wild yaks,blue sheep,hare and other wild animals play and look for food.Also the lake is rich in alpine fishes without scale or with small scales.The lake is a good place for sightseeing.

Mt. Everest North Face

Mt Everest Base Camp : Most hikers who go to the base camp area begin walking from the main Shigatse-Nepal highway, 11 kilometres west of the checkpost, itself several kilometres beyond the turn-off to New Tinggri.Two hundred metres past kilometre stone 494 is a small bridge,and just after this a dirt road leading off to the left.This is the beginning of the trek.The first village,Che,is reached after an hour's walk.From here it is possible to see the road winding its way ahead to the 5,200-metre Pang La Pass.By staying to the right side of the valley it is possible to take a short cut,saving precious energy during the ascent.

The trek is taxing. If you are not fit and well acclimatized,do not attempt it.Plan one four days of walking to reach base camp from the main highway,althought it can be done more quickly.Above all,attempt this trek only if you are well equipped and able to bring enough food to remain self-sufficient for eight to ten days.

A second,less well-known route to the base camp begins at Tinggri,marked by kilometre stone 542.It is a more difficult walk but has several advantages:fewer foreigners,more wildlife,greener valleys and a greater likelihood of finding and hiring yaks for transport.A good plan might be to enter the Mt Everest region from Tinggri West and leave via the Rongbuk Valley back to kilometre stone 494.Unneeded equipment can be stored at New Tinggri or the checkpost.

After Tinggri West,the only places where it is possible to stay with Tibetan families are Lung-djo and Tzam-bu.The route is marked here and there with stone animal enclosures,which can be used for shelter,and the occasional nomad camp.Winds can be fierce,and temperatures extremely cold.Flooding in the late spring makes crossing rivers dangerous.Use bridges if at all possible.Yaks capable of carrying two heavy backpacks can occasionally be hired at Lung-djo.

Holy Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar in Western Tibet - Nagri region :
Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash are two of the holiest pilgrimage areas to devotees of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Bonism and many other faiths. Each year thousands of devotees undertake the treacherous and rigorous journey through the mountains and plains of Nepal and China ( Tibet) to reach this sacred land.
Mt. Kailash, 6,740 mtr. high peak is situated to the north of the Himalayan barrier, wholly within Tibet. It is the perfect mountain with awesome beauty, with four great faces. It is the spiritual centre for four great religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain religion and the pre-Buddhist animistic religion - Bonpo. For the Hindus Mount Kailash is the earthly manifestation of Mt. Meru, their spiritual centre of the universe, described as a fantastic 'world pillar' 84,000 miles high, around which all else revolves, its roots in the lowest hell and its summit kissing the heavens. On the top live their most revered God, Shiva ( Paramashiva, Kailashapati, MahaRudra), and his consort Parvati. For the Jains, an Indian religious group, Kailash is the site where their first prophet achieved enlightenment. For the older, more ancient religion of Bon, it is the site where its founder Shanrab is said to have descended from heaven.

Spread out on the Tibetan plateau beside Mount Kailash is the giant lake of shifting colors - Lake Mansarovar. Brahma, the creator, had a mind (‘Man’) for the creation of a lake (‘Sarovar’), hence its name Mansarovar. A pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and a bath in the Mansarovar is believed to bring about salvation (Moksha) and washed away all the sins of life. Over the centuries pilgrims have constantly journeyed immense distances to achieve enlightenment or cleanse themselves of sin, braving enormous distances, particularly harsh weather and bandit attacks. People have been visiting Kailash - Mansarovar for centuries. It used to be very hard journey in the past; today we (Earthbound Expeditions) can bring you there with help of Landcrusiors via Kathmandu. So it is lot easy to reach to the heaven now!

Photos of the Trips

Please click on thumbnail to enlarge.

 

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