1. What’s the best way to experience Tibet?
The best way to experience Tibet is to go there! Lhasa is a great place to visit both historic sites and also get a glimpse of modern Tibetan life, while Amdo and Kham are the best to see traditional nomadic culture, although there too, of course, one can see plenty of historical buildings and locations, and observe modern life in a variety of settings (cities, villages, grass plains). For an authentic, fulfilling visit to Tibet, it is recommendable you have a native Tibetan guide. Many of the Chinese guides are relocated from other areas of China, don’t speak Tibetan, and don’t have as thorough an understanding of the Tibetan people or culture as a local would have.
Mandala Tours is a Tibetan-owned and run business. We are fully committed to providing our customers with highly-qualified Tibetan guides, drivers, porters, and cooks. We believe our close-contact approach is one of the best ways to share our culture with you.
2. When is the best time to visit Tibet?
Peak season is April-October, though you can visit any time of year. In the summer, the weather is warm, the trees are green, and the flowers are blooming. It is best to trek in the spring, summer, or fall, and there are also numerous festivals during these seasons.
Tibet is also great during the winter. Tibetans from all over the plateau will flock to Lhasa on pilgrimage. There are very few tourists and great off-season deals on hotel and ticket prices. Though Lhasa is cold (-10C to 10C/14F-50F), it is far from Siberian, and can properly be handled with the right winter gear. If you can, try to go during Losar, the Tibetan New Year (usually held in February). This is one of the most beloved festivals all year, celebrated throughout all culturally Tibetan regions, and goes on for over a week.
Amdo and Kham are colorful places to visit in the winter, though it is cold and snowy. Still, for those interested in reaping all the advantages of the low-season, they are excellent destinations. During the Tibetan New Year Losar Festival, which lasts two weeks, it is possible to drive from town to town, celebrating with the people from each village. (We like to think this is one of our best trips.)
Heavy snow makes it difficult to travel to Ngari in the winter, though it is still possible. If you plan to visit Mt. Kailash, Mt. Amyne Machen, Mt. Kawa Karpo or Namtso Lake, however, you should definitely go in the summer, when the passes are not blocked by snow.
If you’d like to plan your trip around a Tibetan festival or see which festivals coincide with your trip, please consult our 2017 Tibetan Festival Calendar.
3. Can you tell us more about accommodations and food?
For the most part we will stay in high-quality hotels, which are nice and clean places. In some more remote areas, Western standards are more difficult to come by. Tibet is an adventure, and the hotels may be as well, especially when off the beaten track. However, we guarantee hotel rooms of the best available quality in such places. When trekking, we will likely spend some nights sleeping inside tents. Our home-stays are also more rustic experiences. As you experience authentic Tibetan life, you may spend a few nights in these areas without hot running water or flush toilets.
Tibetan restaurants and families typically serve such dishes as noodles, yak meat, lamb meat, prepared vegetables, the barley staple tsampa, bread, and fresh yogurt. During trekking trips, we will purchase food beforehand and prepare it together.
4. Can Mandala Tours arrange trips to Lhasa or the TAR?
Definitely. Our office in Lhasa would be pleased to assist you. Although Mandala Tours mainly focuses on the Eastern regions of Amdo and Kham, we also organize trips to, and travel in, the TAR.
5. Is it hard to get a Tibet Travel Permit?
These permits are only needed for travel within the TAR (which includes such places as Lhasa). Travel within Amdo and Kham is less restricted and such extra documentation is not necessary. If, however, you would like to travel in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, we can easily obtain the necessary travel permits for you. Please note, however, that travel in the TAR is subject to more strict rules and regulations than trips in other Tibetan regions. This includes the obligatory presence of a guide, and when traveling outside of Lhasa, a driver as well.
6. What if I want to travel alone, without a group, guide, or driver?
If you want to travel alone in Amdo and Kham, this is not a problem. Tibet Mandala Tours can also help you book the hotels, arrange transportation, and give you advice. If you plan to go to Lhasa, however, the situation is more complex, since these trips are mandated to be organized in groups. You are legally obliged to have a guide when traveling to and inside the TAR. If you want to travel outside of Lhasa, you are required to be accompanied by a driver as well.
7. Are you ready physically?
For those Tibet enthusiasts, there is more to a successful hike than mere good physical form. Tibet’s average altitude is 4000 meters above sea level, and this comes with the possibility one might develop altitude sickness. We therefore strongly recommend you rest one day in a major city (such as Xining, Chengdu, or Lhasa) from which you will begin your trip. This will allow your body to adapt to the higher altitudes before going any higher.
Although travelers have good access to medical facilities in Xining, Chengdu, and Lhasa, more remote regions have less facilities and supplies available. Tibet Mandala Tours has basic business liability insurance, but we recommend that you obtain your own travel insurance from your home country. This insurance may cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical evacuation, medical expenses, etc.
Also, it might be a good idea to start an aerobics routine before coming to Tibet for trekking. In addition, you will want to bring any medication that you might need during the trip. Have a physical before you begin your journey. We will supply altitude medication if necessary, but be advised that it is traditional Tibetan medicine.
8. How can we pay for the trip, and how easy will it be to withdraw or exchange money when we travel?
All posted prices are in the Chinese currency of RMB. We ask that you pay for the trip by wiring money through Western Union or into our Bank of China account. Once here you may exchange money at the Bank of China in Xining, Chengdu, or Lhasa. These are the only places where you may change foreign currency and traveler’s checks. In the large cities you’ll be able to find ATM machines that accept foreign credit cards (Visa and Mastercard). However, most of the ATMs in smaller towns only accept the Chinese “Union Pay” cards. If you do not want to carry large amounts of cash on you, we recommend that you set up an account with a Chinese bank before your trip begins. These accounts are inexpensive and quick to set up (you may get the card on the same day) and guarantee that you may access your money anywhere.