Cost Includes
- Accommodation on twin sharing as listed in the cities and tented camping during trekking.
- Meals: Breakfast only during hotel/guesthouse stays and full board during trekking.
- All transfers and sightseeing by a private vehicle.
- Entrance fees in sightseeing places.
- English speaking Guide /Leader.
- Tibet Travel Permit.
- All camping gears that includes tent, mattresses, sleeping bags.
- Kitchen utensils.
- Supporting truck for group size four pax or more.
- Cook and Sherpas.
- Pack animals.
Cost Does Not Include
- International and internal airfare.
- Airport Taxes.
- Chinese visa fee.
- Lunch and dinner except as indicated.
- Drinks, tips, and other expenses of personal nature.
- Travel & Health Insurance. (We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance which covers, trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage, medical, emergency evacuation, etc.).
- Medical Immunizations.
- All extra expenses caused due to nature or unforeseen events.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Optional tipping to local staff, guides, drivers, etc.
- Items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, telephone, etc.
Chinese Visa and Tibet Permits
Chinese visa and Tibet Permits are not that complicated as they sound to be. If your travel begins in Nepal, we will have to pre-process your visa application, but we will do the final visa work in Kathmandu upon your arrival. We will take care of all the visa works. If your travel begins in Bangkok or Hong Kong or any mainland Chinese cities, all you have to care about is obtain a Chinese visa on your own. You can do it from the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate in your come country and provide us a copy of it about a month before your travel. Then, leave the rest of the things to us.
Trip Difficulty Level
This is a medium to difficult graded trekking with altitudes ranging between 4400 m (14, 432 ft.) and 5300m (17, 384 ft.). We walk 5-6 hours on average, but some days can be longer. Subfreezing temperatures can occur even in summer at higher elevations and, hot, gusty winds in May and June can make walking tough due to sweating. The itinerary allows enough time for acclimatization, and trekkers should not feel the symptoms of altitude sickness. But trekkers are recommended for training exercises at least a couple of months before the trip date.
Accommodation
Lhasa has some choices for accommodation, but we use Tibetan managed mid-range hotels located in the Barkhor area. We use Denkang or Gyangyen hotels, which are new additions of Lhasa. Other hotels of our choice are Dhod Gu, Kyichu, Gorkha, and Yak hotels. In Gyantse and Shigatse, there are very few choices of tourist standard hotels, and obviously, we pick the best one. We use the Gyantse Hotel in Gyantse and Manasarovar in Shigatse, which are 3-star standard properties. These hotels promise private bathroom with hot and cold water, but at times, it is common that the hot water supply will disrupt due to an electric outage. As we leave Shigatse behind, we have basic accommodations in Shegar (New Tingri), Everest Base camp, and Tingri. Guesthouses provide very primitive facilities. We will try to get you a private room with two beds. We will have to use the shared toilet, which is a Tibetan style squat toilet, and we may miss hot showers in guesthouses. If they do have one, we may end up paying extra as; usually, the room rent does not include that extra cost.
During trekking, we provide complete camping gears that include two persons sleeping tents, kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, camping chairs, and tables. There will also be mattresses and kitchen utensils. On request, we can also provide sleeping bags, but usually, we recommend bringing your own.
Meals
Our tour features breakfast only when you are in the cities. Breakfast can be western or Chinese or Tibetan style. There are choices of restaurants in the cities serving western, Chinese, Indian, and Nepali dishes. You can expect to spend US$ 8 -10 per meal in regular restaurants. Meals in hotels can be expensive.
During trekking, there will be a special cook and some helpers (depending on group size). They will prepare three tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. At the start of the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli, and cereal, followed by omelet, fried, or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread. Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta, and traditional foods. After a long day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, rice, and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert. There will also be tea, coffee, and hot chocolate provided at all meals. We use as much fresh produce as possible, and our cooks and kitchen crew maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness and food preparation hygiene. They can always cater to special dietary requirements, if any. Besides, it's advisable to bring on your own some dry fruits, energy bars, chocolates, supplement vitamins, etc. to eat on the way.
Guide and Crews
Right upon arrival at Lhasa airport, you will meet your guide who will accompany you throughout the trip. We pick knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible guides who are also recommended by our former clients. The guide, besides working as an interpreter and giving a valuable insight into the Tibetan way of life, he helps you check in the hotel, co-ordinates with drivers, and other crews. And the guide also deals with local bureaucracies as and when required. Your guide carries all necessary vouchers and documents needed in connection to your trip. On trekking trips, besides guides, there will be a special cook and additionally helps depending on group size and animal drivers. The crews are responsible for setting up and breaking down camps. We do use pack animals (Yaks or ponies) to transport the gears and supplies during trekking. The drivers and animal drivers do not speak English, but you will be impressed by their sense of hospitality and service.
Transportation in Tibet
Roads in Tibet are now better. They are well paved, and 4WD vehicles are no longer required. We provide an excellent conditioned van or minibus depending on the group size. For larger groups, there will be an additional support vehicle for supplies and gears.
About our Trekking Trips in Tibet
Our qualified and experienced crew from Tibet fully caters to all our trekking trips. Depending on group size, we may also hire professional Nepali Sherpa Crews who are well renowned for organizing trekking trips. We hire English speaking Tibetan Guide for all our trips. But on large expeditions, there will also be a Nepali Leader who will be responsible for controlling the trekking arrangement part.
A typical trekking day begins with a hot cup of tea or coffee served at your tent early morning. You are provided a bowl of hot water for washing. You will pack up your stuff and appear in the breakfast table by 7 or 7.30 am. We leave the campsite usually from 8 to 8.30 am for days trekking. Porter or pack animal carries your luggage. And all you need to take is a small day pack containing a water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain-jacket, and a warm jumper, just in case. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter, and we arrive at camp in time for a nice cup of tea. You can spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring the nearby villages, doing a bit of washing, or simply relaxing with a good book. Or give hands to the kitchen crews to add your taste. You will have your dinner usually between 6 and 7 pm, and after dinner, the evening is often spent playing cards or talking with the crews. If it’s a large group, the crews might take the initiative in singing and dancing before turning into the tent for a well-earned sleep.
Health Concerns
There are no mandatory vaccinations required to travel to Tibet. But you may consider vaccination against rabies, and Hep A. Travelers with cardiac-pulmonary issues or any other medical conditions are recommended to consult their physician before you sign up a trip to Tibet. The primary health consideration in Tibet is altitude-related illness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). You may experience some mild symptoms initially, such as headache, lethargy, nausea, and sleeplessness, but these should lessen within a few days. We also carry a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) on all our Tibet treks. We also carry basic first aid kit, but it’s good to bring your own as well. Doctors will also be available on call.
Based on our experience, less than 1% percent of our clients got altitude sickness, but that was nothing serious. In case of a severe illness or a casualty, which generally does not happen, a land cruiser shall drive you to the nearest Nepal border or flown out of Lhasa. We recommend that you bear valid travel insurance covering emergency medical transportation.
You should start some physical exercises like jogging, swimming, cycling, hiking, and aerobics about several weeks before the trip. It helps you keep fit and lessen the chance of getting altitude sickness. You should have a good sleep the night before you fly to Lhasa and take complete rest on the first day. It's also advisable to drink 3-4 liters of water daily and consume liquid food.
Best Time to Trek in Tibet
You can undertake trekking trips from April through late October, May, June, September, but early October is the best period. High Himalayas blocks the monsoon cloud, and Tibet is generally dry, but there is still some chance of rain during July and August. Trekkers must be prepared for the extremes in climate, even in the middle of the summer. Weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly. Night temperatures at 4500m (14,760 ft.) and above can fall below freezing even in July and August, and it's very much windy on high passes.
Clothing
During the day, a light shirt or jumper and lightweight pants will be suitable, but we recommend a warm fleece or down jacket for the evenings. Below are the general clothing and equipment list for trekking in Tibet.
- Down jacket or warm fleece top.
- Thermal underwear (top and bottom).
- Cotton shirts (short and long-sleeved).
- Warm and cotton trousers.
- Sun polarized sunglasses.
- Beanie or warm woolen hat and gloves.
- Scarf (to keep out dust as well as cold).
- Sandals (flip-flops).
- Towel.
- Sleeping bag (for camping/trekking).
- Rain jacket.
- Potent sun cream and lip protector.
- Moisturizer.
- Water bottle.
- Camera (and plenty of films and spare batteries).
Note on Itinerary
Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed, it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Booking and Payment Schedule
When you are sure of traveling, it will be wise to initiate reservation in time so that we can ensure preferred hotels, guide, and transport for you. We request a deposit of US$300 on land along with completed trip application form and passport copies. If you need us to book the airfare into and out of Lhasa, we will give you the exact quote after the booking reservation. And you can charge the airfare on your credit card.
Balance payment is due 90 days before the trip date. The balance of payment by credit card attracts an additional 3.5% fee.
Cancellation and Refund
- Ninety days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 150 per person.
- Sixty-Eighty-nine day's prior departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Forty-five days to Fifty-nine days before departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Thirty days to Forty-four days before departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
- Less than Thirty days: 100%.
The cancellation of the airfare will be as per the concerned airline's policy.
Travel Protection Plan
We plan and do our best to make your trip smooth and seamless. But there still may be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, and flight cancellation or missed connection or loss of baggage, etc. It may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip, putting your hard-earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation, or medical transportation when you are traveling in remote areas. Far & High’s Tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses. So we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.