Accommodation in Lhasa is on twin share and deluxe rooms. In Gyantse, Shigatse, Lhatse and Lao Tingri are available on twin share in the best available hotels of the respective town. Depending upon the availability the bathrooms and rest rooms may be either shared or private facilities. Generally in this tour, accommodation will be provided on twin sharing basis and if you do not have single room bookings you may have to share rooms with another fellow passenger regardless of their age and gender. Accommodation is quite basic at Rhongphu / Everest GH
If you are booking the extension itinerary also and you are a solo traveller or the third traveller in the group, single supplement charges will be applicable.

Only private 4WD Landcruiser are used in tours in Tibet part. (Tourist may not use public transport).

Meals:
Meals are not included. Please allow Euro 10-15 Per Person per day for normal meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

In Lhasa there is also quite a variety, although not as extensive as in Kathmandu. Elsewhere in Tibet the variety is much more limited. We would like to recommend must try dishes in Tibet – Tsampa (barley flour mixed with yak butter) & Yak butter tea. An alternative to yak butter tea is cha ngamo, a sweet, milky tea. Chinese green tea is also widely available.
Chang, a fermented barley beer is the local alcoholic brew. It is generally OK to drink however may be made with contaminated water.

Water
In the high altitude of Tibet it is important to drink a much higher quantity of water than you are used to. Always carry drinking water with you and have some nearby at nights, as it is amazing how quickly you can dehydrate, even at rest. Tap water is not safe to drink however there may be a thermos provided in the rooms. Boiled water is OK for drinking.Bottled drinking water is available everywhere however we recommend taking water purification tablets or a bottle with an in-built filter as these are more environmentally-friendly options than bottled water.

Guides & Drivers
You will be met at Gongkar airport or Lhasa train station on arrival and accompanied in Tibet by an English speaking guide. It is a TTB regulation that you be accompanied by a guide when traveling outside Lhasa. Guides in Tibet are licensed and controlled by the Tibetan Tourist Bureau and vary enormously in fluency and knowledge. Whilst we maintain a core of trained guides, there may be times when selection is outside our control.

The Physical Reality
The remote type of travel that we experience in parts of Tibet can be physically demanding and the effect that this will have on you, both physically and mentally should not be underestimated. Breakdown can occur. The terrain is very mountainous and you may be affected by altitude. It is rare that these occurrences results in more than minor delay or have serious impact on your trip, but the possibility remains.

Cultural Shock:
Tours in Tibet takes you into areas well away from the usual tourist trail and into a world very, very different to that you know. There are places in Tibet where accommodation are very basic with limited access to running water, no showers for several days, pit toilets, simple food and little spoken or written English. Opportunities to ‘get away’ from the group are limited: patience, tolerance and humor will be required by all. All this can and does its toll on people and should not be underestimated – the rewards however are incredible.

Communication:
Email: Private internet bars can be found in main cities. Alternatively you can use business centers in China Telecom offices. Some websites have been blacklisted by the Chinese government and cannot be accessed from within China

Telephone:
Be careful making international calls from hotels as they can be very expensive. Private telecom booths are cheaper and easy to use. To make international calls you will need a phone card bought from inside Tibet. All cities and even most small towns have mobile phone reception if your phone is enabled with international roaming

Post:
Receiving post is not recommended as we are usually doing something or travelling during the opening hours of most post offices. Allow up to 10 days for mail to arrive at international destinations. Writing the address in Chinese can help speed delivery

Insurance It is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance prior to your trek. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and repatriation and personal liability. We also recommend that it cover cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

Health
There are no specific health requirements for entry into Nepal or China. However, you should consult your doctor for up-to date information regarding vaccinations, high altitude medication and medications for any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst traveling in Nepal and China.
Please be aware that medical facilities are not of the same standard you might expect at home. We strongly recommend that you carry a personal First Aid kit as well as sufficient quantities of any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses).

Altitude
AMS (acute mountain sickness) is a serious issue. It is the result of the failure of the body to adapt to high altitude and can affect anyone, regardless of age or fitness. It usually occurs above 1,800 meters and the likelihood of being affected increases as you ascend. On arrival in Lhasa breathlessness, lethargy and mild headaches are not uncommon and generally decrease as your body adjusts. Taking it easy at first and maintaining adequate fluid intake is essential. Please advise your guide if you feel more severe symptoms and do not medicate yourself without discussing it with them first.

Climate
Tibet is a land of climactic extremes and whilst it is not generally as harsh as expected, it is a good idea to be prepared for cold at any time of the year – it is wind chill rather than air temperature that makes the difference here. In central Tibet weather is usually mild from May through October. Evenings may be cool, particularly early or late in the season. Rain is frequent in July and August. In Western Tibet and at higher altitudes (Rhongphu, Namtso) it can be cold at any time of year if the wind is blowing off the mountains. From December into April travel in Tibet is possible, although you must be prepared for delays if passes become blocked by snow. Trekking is not possible at this time.

Joining from Kathmandu
It is only possible to enter Tibet from Nepal with a visa issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Once you confirm to join our fixed departure trip to Tibet you must send scan of your passport so that flight ticket to Lhasa can be booked at the earliest. Chinese visa will be applied once you are in Kathmandu.

Joining from Beijing and Chengdu
You should obtain a tourist visa in your home country or Hong Kong prior to your arrival in China. This visa should be valid for the entire time that you will be in China (including Tibet). On your visa application you should mention Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guilin as places you will visit. Do not mention Lhasa or Tibet on your visa application or your visa will be refused.
From Beijing and Chengdu, there are numerous regular flights connecting Lhasa. After the completion for Qinghai-Tibet Railway, there are daily trains departing for Lhasa from Beijing, Xian, and Chengdu etcs. Every second day train departs for Lhasa from Chengdu, Shanghai, Xining and Lanzhou. Trains arrive in Lhasa in the evening and depart Lhasa in the morning so the most scenic stretch across the Tibetan plateau is covered in daylight. Three classes of tickets are available: Soft sleeper-4 berths per closed compartments, Hard Sleeper-6 berths per open-plain compartment and seat.

Only private 4WD Landcruiser are used in tours in Tibet part. (Tourist may not use public transport).

We can organize private group departure of similar itinerary as per travellers’ interest. For private departures there are no dates and trips can be started at any mentioned date as per time frame of the travelers. However if planning to fly from Kathmandu, please note that dates are subject to availability of flight schedules

Based on 01 person group: Euro 1975 per person (01 Landcruiser)
Based on 02 person group: Euro 1100 per person
Based on 03 person group: Euro 910.00 per person
Based on 04 person group: Euro 750 per person
Based on 04 person group: Euro 935.00 per person (02 Landcruiser)
Based on 05 person group: Euro 850.00 per person
Based on 06 person group: Euro 755.00 per person
In private departure trips, all entrance fees to monasteries are included. All other inclusiveand exclusive are same as above.

Whilst the trip starts from Lhasa, you may arrive from any place like Beijing, Chengdu, Xian or Kathmandu to Lhasa. Hence Royal Mountain Travel had add on tour programs should you be interested in adding to your joining group tour.

Add On from Beijing
Day 01: Arrival at Beijing airport and transfer to Hotel Dong Fang (4 Star). Beijing Dong Fang Hotel, located in the Central Square of the New Downtown in Xiangchang which was the most flourishing in Beijing in the beginning period of the Republic of China, was opened February 19, 1918. Splendid and famous at one time, Dong Fang Hotel in which many historical celebrities left their tracks, witnessed many important historic events such as May Fourth Cultural Movement and Northern Expedition Revolution. The building structure and the handrails of the stairs and balconies are all original from 1918.

Day 02: Visit Great Wall and Temple of Heaven. Whilst not the only manmade objects visible from space, the Wall is an impressive sight stretching thousands of kilometers from the sea to the Gobi Desert.

Day 03: Visit Forbidden City/ late check out for transfer to railway station/ soft sleeper Beijing to Lhasa. Behind the Gate of Heavenly Peace lies the vast Imperial City, home to the Emperors of China and forbidden to commoners.

Cost of Beijing Add On:
01 person: Euro 578.00 per person
02 person: Euro 443.00 per person
03 person: Euro 423.00 per person
04 person: Euro 413.00 per person
05 person: Euro 403.00 per person
Single supplement: Euro 77.00 per person

Included in the tour cost:
• Transfers and sightseeing including English speaking guide
• Entry fees and private vehicle
• Accommodation in twin sharing basis on Bed and Breakfast plan
• One way soft sleeper train tickets from Beijing to Lhasa

Add On from Chengdu
Day 01: Arrival in Chengdu airport, transfer to Sichuan Hotel. Sichuan Hotel is situated in the city center which is 15 minutes walking distance from Mao Square

Day 02: Transfer to Chengdu Airport Cost of Chengdu Add On:
01 person: Euro 265.00 per person
02 person: Euro 221.00 per person
03 person: Euro 225.00 per person
04 person: Euro 216.00 per person
05 person: Euro 219.00 per person
Single supplement: included for 03 pax and 05 pax group.

Included in the trip cost:
• Accommodation in twin sharing Bed and Breakfast plan
• Both Ways airport transfers
• One way flight ticket CTU – LXA

Add On from Kathmandu
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu where you will be welcomed and transferred to your booked Hotel. After check in formalities, meet RMT personnel. Fill up the Chinese Visa Application form and submit your passport along with one colored passport sized photo for Chinese Visa Processing. Overnight in Hotel Tibet

Day 02: Visit Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath After breakfast in hotel, start your day tour with a visit to Swayambhunath stupa. A stupa on the hill top on the north of Kathmandu Valley gives you the bird’s eye view of Kathmandu city. Then drive to Boudhanath stupa on the west of Kathmandu. Boudhanath is believed to be the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Visit Pashupatinath temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Witness the cremation of Hindu Nepalese on the banks of Bagmati River. Free after lunch time …. Explore on your own and in the evening visit RMT office to collect your passports and Group Chinese Visa

Day 03: Early morning departure to airport for flight to Lhasa