A : It is recommended that one visits Tibet around May to July, and September to October. Lhasa, Tsetang and Shigatse are suitable for sightseeing tours all-year round. The harsh climate makes it unsuitable to visit the Everest Base Camp area from October to April. During winter, roads might be blocked by heavy snow in east Tibet and Ngari. While in August, heavy rainfall makes travel in those areas very difficult. A : Medicine is a must for travelers to Tibet. We suggest that you take some pain-killer pills with you and enough medicine for colds, diarrhea, nausea and fever. Some nasal ointment and throat-moistening pills will greatly be of help for those who are sensitive to chilly or freezing weather conditions. Please consult your doctor prior to your travel to Tibet. A : There are two documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel in Tibet. One is the Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your place. Another is the Alien's Travel Permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. Non-Chinese passport holders (including those of Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and other countries) must have an Alien's Travel Permit. Journalists and people that could be involved in political matters will be revoked.
For applying for the permit, you are required to provide the copies of your visa and passports (the page with the photo) and other information such as your occupation. It usually costs around 200 Rmb. Tibet Permit can be issued two weeks prior to your entry Tibet. A : Besides Chinese Yuan, only US dollars can be accepted. Also shops that accept American currency are very limited and you might not be able to get a good deal for an exchange rate. Credit cards can only be used at some hotels. The Bank of China also accepts credit cards. ATM is not widely available. Exchanging your money to Chinese currency will be the best option for you, which can be done at the Bank of China. A : Tibetan people are very kind and friendly. But it is still better to know some local customs before touring in Tibet. Your guide in Tibet will give you more information:
1) Do not photo them without permission.
2) Always circumambulate gompas and other religious objects clockwise, to keep shrines and chortens to your right.
3) Prayer wheel can not be rotated contrarily.
4) Don't touch or remove anything on an altar.
5) Don't take photos during a prayer meeting. At other times always ask permission before
6) taking photos, especially on using flash. The larger monasteries charge photography fees.
7) Do not step on the threshold of any tent, house, temple or monastery.
8) Don't wear shorts or short skirts in a monastery.
9) Take your hat off when you go into a chapel.
10) Don't smoke in a monastery.
11) Do not touch the head of anyone.
12) Don't eat dog, donkey or horse in Tibet.
13) Be aware that Tibetans often gesture with their lips to show a direction. So if a member of the opposite sex pouts at you, they are just showing you where to go. A : To cater for the need of increasing influx of tourists from all over the world, Tibet has already opened 12 star-rated hotels in Lhasa, Xigaze, Gyangtse, Zhangmu, Tingri, Tsetang, NyinChi, and Nakchu. Lhasa has two 4-star hotels ( Lhasa hotel and Tibet Hotel) and several 3-star hotels, but no 5-star hotel available. These hotels have cozily designed rooms and are furnished with all facilities necessary, like restaurants, recreational center, credit-handling and foreign exchange conversion center and so on. They also provide such service as the hot water 24 hours a day, laundry service, IDD telephone services, room service, etc. So the stay in Tibet especially in Lhasa will be as comfortable as in other parts of China. But please keep in mind that as Tibet is still not a well developed area, facilities and services of hotels are not so perfect and need to be improved. A : Yes, with the economic development of Tibet, communication conditions are greatly improved now. Like other cities in China, star -rated hotels in Lhasa provide IDD call, fax, internet access and photocopy service. Phone calls can also be made in public telephone booth with IC cards or in Telecommunication Centers. There are two Telecommunication Centers in Lhasa, one opposite Yin Qiao Hotel and the other on the west end of Beijing Dong Lu. International mail service is available at the post offices next to Telecommunication Centers. Mobile phone services cover a vast area, which provide tourist a convenient communication