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INTRODUCTION

Long closed to foreign travelers, Tibet exerted a strong pull on the imagination of the world. Protected  by the Himalayan range and a policy of isolation enforced by its own government, Tibet’s immense, stark grand plateau, its warm, cheerful people and its unique, colorful Buddhist tradition, imbued with mysticism, appeared to many embodiment of the mythical Shangri-La. Travel to early Tibet required a good deal of courage and luck, and for those hardly, intrepid explorers and adventurers at the turn of the century, Lhasa the Forbidden City, truly epitomized the ultimate travel destination. The few who succeeded in reaching it came away with tantalizing tales.

Tibet's remoteness, its timeless quality, and haunting magical beauty continues to captivate the imagination of travelers-its remarkable culture the last citadel of  “all the present day humanity is longing for either because it has been lost or not yet been realized or because it is in danger of disappearing from human sight: the stability of a tradition, which has its roots not only in historical or cultural past, but within the innermost being a man..”

It was not until the early 1980’s that a few, selected tour groups were permitted to visit Tibet. Today as never before, Tibet is open to the ordinary traveler. More and more exciting places are now accessible and affordable. Changes have, indeed, taken place but Tibet, unlike any other country, remains a truly fascinating and adventurous destination.

Join us for a memorable journey – Tibet Beckons

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Traveling to Tibet is a wonderful and amazing trip. The infra structure and services within the tourism industry are still not geared up to meet the expectations of most tourists. However one of the reasons most people choose to travel is to experience cultures, lifestyles which are very different from their own. Whilst these differences are sometime perceived by visitors as local inadequacies, they are an integral part of adventure travel. While you are in Tibet you will certainly have to contend with such things as: relative inefficiency, a more relaxed attitude to time, cancellations and closures without explanation, outdated facilities, suspect plumbing and apparently mindless bureaucracy. Milarepa Travels strives to maintain a high quality of service but sometimes the best available locally simply cannot be compared with what you are used to at home. If you are not up for a bit of adventure this may sometimes result in discomfort, inconvenience or just plain frustration. Our tours are not meant for those who wish to be shielded from the realities of life but rather, for those who really want to experience the country as it is “warts n’ all”. You must therefore be prepared to accept these destinations as you find them. Most importantly, don’t forget to pack your sense of humor; an invaluable item for every traveler specially while in Tibet.

VISA

Travel  to Tibet requires a Chinese Visa and an Aliens Travel Permit, while the Chinese Visa can be obtained from any Chinese Embassy the Aliens Travel Permit can be arranged only by a travel agent. No free individual travel is permitted in Tibet and therefore all tours must be arranged through a travel agent. The travel agent arranges your Aliens Travel Permit and the Chinese visa for you. Depending on where you plan to travel other additional permits are also required which are all taken care of by your travel agent

With some exception, generally travelers are only allowed to travel in groups. A minimum of 5 persons is considered a group.

1.      Chinese visa fee: US$ 26 for groups and US$ 33 for individuals

2.      Urgent visa processing fees US$ 33 for one day processing  

3.      If a member of the group drops out a visa cancellation fee is imposed which varies whether you are traveling by surface or air

4.      Chinese visa fees are subject to change without notice. The figures quoted above are the prevailing rates. 

 ACCESS TO TIBET

Lhasa in Tibet is directly linked by road and air with Kathmandu In addition Lhasa also has direct air links to Chengdu with connecting flights to Hong Kong. China South West Airlines is the airline operating between Kathmandu and Lhasa. The flight takes one hour and is one of the most spectacular trans Himalayan flight offering some of the most fascinating view of the worlds highest peaks on a clear day 

The overland journey to Lhasa by road is 952 kilometers and takes 5 days climbing to 5,400 meters at the highest point.     

Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipts from such transaction are to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange money at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival also.

Credit cards are only accepted at the major banks elsewhere they are not honored.

TRANSPORTATION

Your ground transportation is organized by your travel agent. With the exception of sightseeing in Lhasa all sightseeing is by Toyota Land Cruiser. However for the overland journey to Lhasa travelers have a choice of using a coach or Land cruisers. Land cruisers are more expensive over coaches.  The number of travelers put into each Land Cruiser is determined by whether the group is a deluxe paying or budget travel group. For deluxe paying groups only 4 persons are assigned to a land cruiser.     

TREKKING PERMITS

Trekking in Tibet is a unique experience as the major trekking areas in Tibet are still a virgin territory without proper guides one can easily get lost in the vast area. All treks organized to Tibet are full service camping treks and use Sherpa staff from Nepal as their support crew. Your travel agent organizes all the necessary trekking and camping permits  

CLOTHING

Casual wear and comfortable shoes are the rule for Tibet. Be sure to bring warm clothing for cold conditions as the nights and the early mornings can be quite chilly and downright cold during the winter months. Bring all your film, medicines, cosmetic, personal toilet items that you will need from home, as these are difficult, if not impossible to obtain in Tibet. A personal first aid kit is also recommended. More detailed information on clothing and related matters will be provided upon booking your tour.

INSURANCE

All our tours are not insured. We strongly recommend you take out a comprehensive travel insurance to cover for medical evacuation, loss of belongings, trip cancellations, and unforeseen additional expenses and to cover non-refundable costs

Inside Tibet
Sightseeing l Trekking l Sports and Adventure l Accommodation l Special Interest Tours l

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l Nepal l India l Tibet l Bhutan l The Himalayas l Reservation l