Top 7 Reasons to Visit Tibet

For many, Tibet is still a mysterious and strange land at the end of the Earth. These days the idea of traveling to Tibet is very popular, but few actually go there. What is so attractive about Tibet? Why do so many people want to go there? After a glance at the reasons below, you too will fantasize about a tibet tour.

Roads Less Traveled

Tibet is a mysterious place even for Chinese people. Nowadays many young Chinese people talk about taking a month long adventure cycling from Chengdu to Tibet, but this rarely happens. You will find that on the road to Tibet many locals are very welcoming to visitors, because visitors seldom visit and because of their religious obligation.

Exotic Scenery

Although you can fly to Tibet you'll miss gorgeous views of Western Sichuan and Eastern Tibet. Don't forget that the tallest mountains in the world are in this area. Even without climbing the Himalayas you'll catch a nice view of those snowcapped mountains and beautiful glaciers. As you work your way up you'll feel so close to the big blue sky that at night you'll feel you can pick stars right out of the sky.

Untainted Land

The high altitude has prevented the development of the Tibetan plateau so as a result there is much less pollution. There are also many rare and endangered plants and animals that are under protection. Unfortunately, the world continues to follow a destructive history and Tibet will not stay this way forever. Don't miss your chance to ride a Yak.

Ancient Culture

Tibetan culture is very different from Chinese culture. Keep in mind that Tibetan people study the Chinese language as a second language. The Tibetan people are very religious and would like to continue living accordingly, following very old traditions. If you have the chance, visit a guesthouse and enjoy the simple life.

Physical Challenge

Some people who go to Tibet experience altitude sickness. If this is a problem for you then consider gradually going to places with higher elevation. However, if you are the kind of person that wants to find your physical limits, then Tibet is a clean environment for outdoor exercise. There are many mountains made for Trekking Tour and many rivers for rafting.

Spiritual Rejuvenation

Because Tibetan people are so religious and the environment is so pure Tibet can be a place to get away from modern life and contemplate spiritual life. Perhaps you will be moved when witnessing the religious devotion of the local people. It is no wonder many people go to Tibet to clean their souls.

Find Your Own Reason

Tibet is such a mysterious place that many people dream about going to, but don't really know why. If you are still looking for reasons to go to Tibet then maybe the only way to understand your reasons for going to Tibet is to go there and find out…

How to Have Good Manners When Travelling in Tibet

At first, we talk about the table manners in Tibet. Tibetan people should not eat too much in one bite and should eat and drink quietly. A guest should dip some alcohol on their third finger and flip the alcohol in the air three times when toasting. This indicates toasting towards heaven, earth and their ancestors, and the guests should sip a little alcohol while the host timely replenishes the cup. This would repeat for three times and on the fourth time, the guest must drink up.

When drinking butter tea, guests should not take cups by themselves until the host holds the tea in from of them. In Tibet, eating the meat of donkeys, horses and dogs is an absolute taboo in Tibet. Some Regions also do not eat fish.

In addition, people should offer tea, alcohol, and cigarettes with both hands and their fingers should not be put into cups or bowls. People should bow and bend their knees with smiles on their faces when welcoming visitors and seeing visitors off. In regards to the etiquettes in rooms, instead of straightened legs, people should sit cross-legged and show their soles without gazing around. People should pick up a gift with both hands and give a gift by bending their bodies with hands over heads.

One most important etiquette for tourists to Tibet is that people must make a detour from left to right when passing religious facilities such as temples, piles of Mani stones, and pagodas. And people are not allowed to cross Buddhist ceremonial implements and braziers, and are also not allowed to turn prayer wheels in the wrong direction. Beside, don't touch others' calvarias.

Make a Responsible Tibet Tour

With the lifting of the restriction on nationality and group sizes (check for the details of Tibet permit policy), it is easy for travelers to get Tibet permit and travel to Tibet. But travelers are kindly required to make a responsible Tibet tour.

1. Don’t intrude on local people’s homes, tents, land or private activities (such as sky burials). Show respect for local’s private property and personal space. Always ask for permission before entering private property or land.

2. Do not discuss political issues with Tibetans for you may put Tibetans in a politically difficult or even potential dangerous situation. Do not hand out photos of the Dalai Lama and politically sensitive materials.

3. Don’t break local laws and regulations: Remember that you are a guest in Tibet. Make sure you have the correct Tibet travel permits – your travel agency and tour guide or host could be fined or may even lose their license if you break the law.

4. Don’t be disrespectful at religious sites or family homes by wearing shorts or revealing clothing or kissing or touching intimately in public. Remove your hat and shoes unless instructed otherwise and don’t step over people or people’s legs – feet are considered dirty. Don’t relax by putting your feet up on tables or chairs.

5. Don’t swim in holy lakes, sit on holy objects such as mani stones or walk on or step over prayer flags.

6. Do not dole out medicine for it can encourage people not to seek proper medical advice and treatment, while handing out sweets or pens to children encourages begging. If you wish to contribute something constructive, it’s better to give pens directly to schools and medicines to rural clinics, or make a donation to an established charity.

7. Do not buy products made from endangered wildlife or endangered plants, such as snow leopards, Tibetan antelope.

8. Protect the environment when travelling in Tibet. Minimize your waste and dispose of waste appropriately. For instance, carry reusable cups, plates, cutlery or chopsticks. Try to purchase produce which is not wrapped in plastic. Avoid using disposable plastic shopping bags.

Most local villages don’t have environmentally sound trash management systems. Pack your garbage out to larger towns or cities when it can be disposed of appropriately. If there is no toilet, dig a hole at least 25cm deep and bury human waste. Burn or bury toilet paper.

9. Try and use as many Tibetan owned hotels, shops and restaurants as possible. This will also help to better the economy of Tibetan people.

Cycling in Tibet

Preparation

Bike
Mountain bikes are good partners for you to cycle in Tibet. In recent years, more and more foreign travelers to Tibet choose to adventure cycling from Lhasa to Kathmandu with the loosening of the policy on foreign tourists to Tibet. We also have designed other cycling routes to meet cyclists' different tastes. With the development of Tibet's tourism, nowadays it is easy to buy or rent a mountain bike in Lhasa. After finishing the cycling trip in Tibet, you can sell the bike to locals at a considerable price. Of course, you can also carry your own bike to Tibet if you do not have confidence in the mountain bikes sold or rented in Lhasa. No matter how you obtain the bike, make sure it is strong and reliable enough mechanically, and you are able to maintain the bike in any case. So you need to take necessary tools and spare parts, like inner tubes, outer tubes, brake wires, transmission wires, transmission, chains, freewheels, spoke and service tools. If there are several members in your group, it is advisable to use the same kind of bikes so that you can share the parts.

Necessities
No matter you have a support car or not, a good water-proof tent, a warm sleeping bag, a first-aid kit and adequate food and water are what should be packed at least. It is very hard to buy these things when you are travelling remote areas of Tibet. You might be able to obtain tsamba, buttered tea, yak meat, Tibetan tea and other simple Tibetan food in some Tibetan villages on the way. There might be small shops selling instant noodles or fried noodles at some parking lots. However, you cannot find a shop in most villages of Tibet. If you are really lack of food, you can buy some vegetable, noodles or meat from local Tibetans who are willing to sell them.

A map is must for you to cycling in Tibet if you do not hire a tour guide. But basically foreigners are required to tibet travel with the companion of a local tour guide. Anyhow, taking a map will be helpful. The tour guide can help you make a good communication with local Tibetans, especially when you need to ask the way, such where you can find a shop on the way, how long does it take to next village or camp site. Even if you have a map, these questions will come into your mind frequently when cycling in Tibet.

Sometimes, you have to arrive at your scheduled daily destination according to your food supply. But if you are already very tired and impossible to cover another 30km to your camp site, you need to adjust your schedule and find extra supply. At this time, asking help from local people is a must.

Weather and clothes
As we know, the temperature in Tibet varies greatly between day and night. Even in summer, the temperature might drop from 20°C at daytime to -10°C at night. In July and August, it may rain continually for several days. You even can confront with snowy day. Therefore, warm clothes and shoes are necessary for travelling in Tibet. In addition, it is best to take along a water-proof coat and a pair of water-proof shoes.

Besides, the wind in Tibet is usually quite strong at mountain areas of Tibet, so wind-proof clothes will make you more comfortable during cycling in Tibet.
In a word, don't forget warm clothes at least though cycling pants and short-sleeved T-shirts are enough during cycling in summer unless you are willing to become a frozen man at mid-night when sleeping. Spare sport pants, long-sleeved sport shirts, wind-proof coat and gloves are also highly recommended so that you can cope with most situations on your journey if you weather is good. But the weather in Tibet is usually unpredictable. It might be sunny and hot on one side of a mountain, but it rains heavily on the other side of the mountain. Thus, do prepare to deal with all kinds of weather.

Physical training
No matter you plan to travel in Tibet by car or bike, good physical condition is important. Of course, cycling in Tibet requires higher physical condition. Before starting your tour to Tibet, make a two or three months' plan to enhance your cardiovascular system. Climbing mountain is a good way to strengthen it. The higher altitude, the better effect. Besides, do exercises to boost your whole body capacity twice or three times a week. Good health will help you acclimate the altitude of Tibet quickly and cope with high physical consumption during biking in Tibet.

The standard requirements to do cycling include maintaining standard weight, keeping healthy, having enough rest and proper diet, proper multivitamin and mineral supplement and drinking enough water.

Do remember that do not start cycling before fully acclimating the altitude of Tibet. Normally, two or three days in Lhasa are enough for acclimation, but some cyclists might need one week to adjust to the suddenly-changed altitude. Just keep relaxing and avoid strenuous exercise after your arrival at Lhasa, which is helpful in quick acclimation.

You can do some short cycling in and around Lhasa city after two days' acclimation. It is interesting to cycle to visit the tourist sites in Lhasa. For instance, you can bike from lhasa tibet to Ganden Monastery 50km from Lhasa, or to Sera Monastery to watch its Buddhist Scripture Debating, or to Drepung Monastery located at the suburb of Lhasa.

Tibet Trekking Tour

Why do trekking in Tibet 
Tibet, land of spirit and dream, is always mysterious to trekkers. Lying in the shadow of Himalaya, the breathtaking high plateau landscape of Tibet offers great opportunities for trekker. No matter what your interest is, let’s say climbing majestic towering mountains, circling around holy lakes, visiting sacred monasteries, riding horses across the vast grasslands, or hiking through national parks, Tibet has something for you.

Trekking tour is a perfect way to explore Tibet and a wonderful experience of a lifetime that you can’t get anywhere else on earth. By trekking in Tibet, you can enjoy the unique landscapes on the roof of the world and have a full insight of Tibetan culture. You can sense the subtle and harmonious relationship of people with nature once you step on the highland.

What to do and see while trekking travel tips

 You can see holy lakes, beautiful alpine landscapes, nomads’camps, sacred sites, as well as two of Tibet’s greatest centres of religious culture-Gandan monastery and Samye monastery.

 Shalu to Nartang trek . This trek follows the ancient trade route between two great Buddhist monasteries and you can feel the caravans laden with scriptures and treasures that once passed this way. The route passes through several villages as well as uninhabited dry canyons, while the trails are easily accessible from Shigatse.

Mount Kailash trek is one of the most demanding and challenging treks for pilgrims in the world, which is widely known as the kora around Asia’s holiest mountain-Mt. Kailash. This trek admirably integrates the spiritual, cultural and physical dimensions of a trip in Tibet. You can see some gorgeous mountain scenery along the way and meet some pilgrims from Tibet and other countries.

Tsurphu to Yangpachen trek begins at Tsurphu Monastery and crosses several high valleys before coming into the broad and windswept Yanpachen valley. It combines alpine tundra, monasteries, hot springs, lots of nomads, and remote nunnery. This trek perfectly balances cultural and wilderness activities. It’s an excellent choice if you want to get a close look at the lifestyle of the herders.

Nyenchen Tanglha Traverse trek is incredible for you to see ecological diversity of northern Tibet. The route leaves Damxung Valley and wends its way through a rocky alley, and a number of stream crossings aside you. You will pass through gorges, alpine meadows and forested slopes. Fantastic views of sparkling Nam-tso and Tashi Do can be visible from many vantage points on the trail. Some colorful nomad camps dot the way as well.

Everest base camp to Tingri trek provides a complex mix of solitude, wildlife sighting and physical challenge. It is an excellent alpine trekking in the shadow of the legendary Mt. Everest. On the way to Everest Base Camp, you will have enough time to explore the valleys and glaciers below the massive north-face of Mt. Everest and view the most magnificent scenery on the world's highest mountain. You can also see much wild wildlife in the valleys and pasture along the way.

When to go
All seasons are perfect for trekking except snowy (Nov-March) seasons. Generally, the ideal time for trekking in Tibet is from April to October. April to June and September to October are most highly recommended months without much rain or snowfall. During the snowfall, not only the mountains are inaccessible but the highways that take you to the trail heads are blocked. July and August are the hottest months of the year and the rainy season in Tibet. The roads are in bad conditions which make your trekking messy and hard.

Seeing Tibet with Children in Tow

The world is never more wonderful and fascinating than it is in a child's eyes, and when you want your children to explore what the world has to offer, tibet tour is an amazing choice. Experience the wonders of Tibet with your family, and prepare yourself for the adventure of a lifetime!

Altitude Sickness

Tibet is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, and the deeper you venture into the country, the higher the altitude. Altitude sickness is a serious issue that can lead to disorientation in both adults and children, and your best bet for helping your children deal with it is to take the trip slowly.

Do not fly straight into lhasa tibet. Instead, travel by train or by rented car to the city, taking plenty of breaks and stopping frequently. This gives your children a chance to get used to the thinness of the air. Your children will surprise you; they may adjust before you do!

Coach Journeys

When you are traveling in Tibet, you will largely be traveling by coach unless you have experience in the area and would like to drive. Coach journeys can be verybumpy, and if your child is inclined to be sick, remember to bring along motion sickness bags if necessary.

You should also consider choosing coach trips that are shorter and ones that promise stops on a frequent basis. It is often a good idea to travel with other families with children, as they will understand.

Before going to Tibet, ask your doctor for motion sickness pills that can be administered at need.

UV Radiation

Due to the lack of atmosphere in Tibet, the sun's rays are very harsh, and they can damage your child's skin very easily if you are not careful. When traveling to Tibet with your children, make sure that they wear hats that will keep the sun off of their faces.

Long sleeve shirts can protect their bodies as well. On top of that, make sure that you pack high-powered sunblock, and that you provide them with chap stick that has a natural moisturizer in it, as this will protect their faces and exposed skin.

Safety

When your children are very young, it is often a good idea to stay close to Lhasa rather than traveling to the more remote parts of Tibet. Lhasa is the urban center of the country, and if you require medical assistance and other aid, this is where you need to be.

Food

Tibetan food is known to be on the blander side, featuring yak butter and yak meat, and if your children are adventurous eaters, this will work out well for them. Lhasa has its share of Chinese food establishments, and this can help if your children are looking for something else.

Language Lessons

One of the great reasons to travel when your children are young is that it exposes them to new foods, new cultures, and of course new languages. The national language of Tibet is Tibetan, and it has a unique and lovely sound.

Before your trip, introduce your child to a few words in Tibetan and tell them to listen for it as they travel. Soon enough, your child will be learning phrases that can be quite helpful as they travel this foreign place.

Accommodations

When you are traveling with children in Tibet, remember that the rooms that you will be booking, even in nice hotels, are going to be on the small side. You cannot always guarantee that there will be space for an extra bed or cot if you request one.

The whole family can simply sleep in one bed if there is enough space, if but you are used to roomier quarters, simply book adjoining rooms. These rooms are often connected by a door, making communication among family members quite easy.

Things to Do with Children in Tibet

Easy on the Monasteries

While children can be entertained by nearly anything, remember that seeing holy places and monasteries can get quite dull for them. Remember what their boredom threshold is like, and be willing to throw in other trips as well.

The Potala Palace

The Potala is a must see for all Lhasa visitors, no matter the age. It would be interesting for your children to reflect that often the Dalai Lama would be younger than 10 years old when chosen to reign over the Tibetan people.

Tibetan Scenery

Tibet’s lakes, grasslands, and mountains are some of the most pristine and breath-taking on the planet. Nam Lake and Yamdrok Lake are good choices, within a relatively short bus journey of Lhasa.

A trip to Everest Base Camp may be too adventurous however, and not worth the risks, even with the new railway making a visit possible in a day, due to hours on winding mountain roads to get there, and further altitude sickness risks.

Visiting Schools

When you bring your child to tibet travel, one way to engage them is to introduce them to children their own age. Ask your guide to take you to a Tibetan school, where your child can make friends and see how children from another part of the world learn.

Seeing Yaks

Yaks are considered Tibet's national animal, and it is always a delight for children to encounter these gentle giants. Take your children to a yak ranch, where you can see these amazing animals in action.

Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival

This delicious-sounding festival involves lighting butter lamps (lamps made of butter) and displaying butter sculptures in order to commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s great debating victory over his opponents about 2,500 years ago in India. He bested them in a great debate. The festival falls in the first month of the Tibetan calendar on the 15th day, and it is traditionally considered to be a part of the Monlam Prayer Festival week before it. The Tibetan Butter Lamp Festival is the last and greatest day of the Monlam Festival that commemorates Buddha’s miracles. In the Western calendar, the festival is on March 8 in the year 2012, but it falls on a different day in the Western calendar every year. During the day, people go to temples, and there are displays of sculptures made of colored butter of Buddhas or animals, flowers and birds. The sculptures are psychedelic. Then at night, thousands of butter lamps represent the light of Buddhism. The day commemorates Buddha’s victory and wisdom, and it is an interesting sight especially on Barkhor Street in Lhasa that is Tibet’s capital city.

The Butter Lamp Festival falls on the night of the full moon. It is the greatest day of the Tibetan New Year holiday season that starts with the New Year Losar Festival on the first day of the month, continues with the Monlam Festival period, and ends with the Butter Lamp Festival. The colorful and intricately designed butter sculptures are called “Tormas.” Making these Tormas has been a tradition for hundreds of years. Now, some of the large butter sculptures tell the story of Buddha and his oral victory. Various characters in the old story are represented to instruct people on the history. Barkhor Street and its square are turned into a grand exhibition site for Tormas sculpted from butter. It is a fantastic night. Some of the sculptures are lit and with the thousands of burning lights, they make a meditative or mesmerizing scene.

Butter lamps are simply clarified yak butter or vegetable oil in a bowl with a wick. The lamps produce a smokey light. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, a lot of lights together are conducive for meditation and focusing the mind. According to the Root Tantra of Chakrasamvara, "If you wish for sublime realization, offer hundreds of lights.” So on special holidays, people and monks at the temples light thousands of lamps. They put them on scaffolds that may be several stories high. Tibetans also supply butter and vegetable oil to the monasteries;to gain merit. The lights banish darkness. Just as the butter or vegetable oil turns into light, it is believed that human minds can be enlightened.

Along with seeing the butter sculptures and the lights, people dance and sing in the streets. It is a festive time, and it is said to be their merriest celebration. It is sort of like a Western New Year celebration. The lights burn all night in the cold night air until the morning. For Tibetans, it is the culmination of their winter festival and New Year festival, and the climax of months of preparatory work. 

History

In 1409, Tsong Khapa lit a lot of lights to commemorate Shakyamuni’s victory in a debate in Sravasti in India. In Indian culture, debates have had greater significance than in most other cultures. Victory in important verbal debates have changed India’s history many times. In former times, over ten thousand monks from Drepung, Sera and Ganden monasteries gathered at Jokhang temple for the festival. Nowadays, there are far fewer monks in attendance.

In times past, the Monlam Festival in Lhasa was very important for Tibetan monks. The Dalai Lamas would go to the Jokhang Temple and preside over a question and answer test for the highest-ranking monk. This event is now carried out in Dharamsala where the Dalai Lama lives. Now, it is a festivity is for making merry and worship.