Tibet and Lake Manasarovar Tour - 11 days

Best Time to Visit Tibet

The optimal time to visit Tibet largely depends on individual preferences for weather, crowds, and particular events. Here is a brief guide to when to visit:

Spring Time (from April to June): Most pleasant in conditions as its temperature is average, skies clear, and lush from winter snow. A small crowd of tourists is present, and it is a good time to visit Lhasa and surrounding areas in Tibet.

Summer time (July to August): Yes, it will attract every tourist, yet it is also the rainy season, particularly in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. It is high here, but they are very sparse, so be prepared for drizzles and also hindrances in accessing the very remote areas. Yet, summer is perfect if you want to have a taste of Tibetan festivals along with lush green landscapes.

This is the best time to visit Autumn (September to November). The temperature is mild, and the rain is less, promising clear skies and great views. The landscape is so colorful, and it is an excellent time for trekking and outdoor sports. 

Winter (December to February): Coldest season, especially at high altitudes. Nevertheless, you will find the place less crowded with a strange peace. Though temperatures dip below zero, especially during the night, it is the perfect place for those who love the wintry view with fewer tourists around. This season provides a great opportunity for Kailash visitors for spiritual reasons.

Permits and Documents

To enter Tibet as a tourist, one must possess a Tibet Travel Permit, which is issued for a fee by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Now, although these permits can ostensibly be applied for by foreigners themselves, in actuality, it is generally done through licensed travel agents. The permit is required to arrive in Lhasa as well as parts of Tibet.

You will additionally require a Chinese tourist visa-L Visa to enter China along with your Tibet Travel Permit. This visa is applied for solely on your own through the Chinese Embassy. Apply for the visa before applying for the Tibet permit.

In case you are going to Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, or nearby Tibet border areas, you will need other special permits. These can be arranged through your travel agency.

Altitude and Acclimatization

Altitude: Tibet is a destination at high altitudes; for example, Lhasa is pegged at 3,650 meters (12,000 feet). A few remote sections, such as Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash, can shoot as high as 4,500 meters (14,700 feet) or more. 

Acclimatization: The high altitude entails lesser oxygen, which consequently brings about altitude sickness (AMS). To avoid this, the following measures should be taken; 

• Gradually acclimatize: Reach Lhasa and settle for two days at altitude with no activities. 

• Avoid heavy exercise during the first few days. 

• Drink copiously to stay hydrated. 

• If you get any symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, dizziness, shortness of breath), rest and drink a lot of water; for serious symptoms, go lower and get medical help. 

• Under the doctor's advice, before going on the trip, you should also think about taking altitude medicine (Diamox), maybe.

Packing Essentials for Tour

The terrible weather in Tibet changes all the time because of it being a highly elevated region. Thus, packing is very much mandatory. Here’s what to include in your pack list.

Clothing:

Warm layers: Temperatures can drop dramatically even in summer and especially at night, so pack thermals, jackets, and fleece.

Rain gear: A light rain jacket or poncho, especially during the rainy season (July-August).

Sunscreen and sunglasses: Such strong UV rays at high altitudes require SPF 50+ for sunscreens and sunglasses as protection against UV rays.

Comfortable walking: If you are exploring monasteries or doing treks, make sure your shoes are sturdy and comfortable.

Hats and gloves: Warm hats and gloves for the chilly evenings and mornings.

Health and Safety:

First-aid kit: Pack medicines for headaches, altitude sickness, digestive problems, and personal prescriptions.

Water purifier or purification tablets: Safe drinking water is of the utmost importance. Purification methods should also be available when in remote areas. 

Hand sanitizer and wipes: Hygiene maintenance while traveling in more rustic environments.

Tech Gear:

Camera: There are so many impressive opportunities for a picture; nevertheless, adhere to prohibitions about photography-their stronghold, for example.

Power bank: In case of a blackout, a portable charger may keep your devices powered.

Adapters and chargers: This is plug type A/C at 220V in Tibet.

Food and Accommodations during the Tour

Eating and accommodation during your tour in Tibet will present you with a different experience, reflecting the culture and the particular environment of high altitude. It's barley (tsampa, roasted barley flour), yak meat, and momos (dumplings) in the ingredients of Tibetan cuisine. You'll have butter tea, yak butter, tea, and salt brought for you in this very particular drink. Several places in Lhasa would have been your stop for a variety of restaurants serving the combined fare of Tibetan traditional dishes and Western food, but further in here, the foods would have borne less in general and been simpler to the local haul. While many of these areas do serve such vegetarian meals, it is advisable to consume cooked items for health reasons, more so in the less developed regions.

Accommodations largely vary by region. Comfortable options are easily found in Lhasa, with modern hotels ranging from budget guesthouses to luxury hotels with familiar Western amenities, like hot showers and heating. Other places are likely to have very basic guest houses, such as Mount Kailash or Lake Manasarovor, and some may have tented camp accommodations with shared facilities. Heating and private bathrooms might not be available. However rudimentary, these places will present a unique opportunity to engage with Tibetan culture and nature around it. Cultural inns can also present an immersive opportunity where you can interact with local Tibetan families, further enriching your understanding of the local culture and hospitality.

Cultural and Religious Etiquette

Traveling in Tibet requires one to adapt to the local culture and religion, as it is steeped in the religion of Buddhism and the traditional use of Tibet. Here are some of the rules below:

• Respect Places of Worship: Tibet has places sacred to it the monasteries, stupas, and temples. Do approach these sites with lots of respect. When you visit a monastery, silence is normally appreciated, and you may be prohibited from taking photographs, particularly during prayer time or from an area containing religious icons.

• Clockwise Movement: In Buddhist custom, while making circumambulation around holies effects like stupas, prayer wheels, or temples, one must always go clockwise. Such is a step considered respectful as it agrees with the spirit direction followed by the universe.

• Prayers and Offerings: The common ritual is to pray or light candles in temples. To do these in temples is welcomed when done respectfully; do not be too hurried, creating a disturbance to campaigns in progress. You can also give donations to monasteries but with the right politeness and manner.

• Greetings and Gifts: The Tibetan greeting is mostly done by saying "Tashi Delek" (meaning, in general, "Good Luck" or "Blessings"). Regarding gifts, particularly in giving to elders or religious figures, the khata scarf (traditional Tibetan scarf) is used most times as a sign of respect. The khata should, however, be handed over with both hands while giving a respectful gesture.

• Respecting Monks and Nuns: Monks and nuns are the most revered beings in Tibetan culture. It is polite respect not to disturb the monk's or nun's prayer or activity that one might meet near or at a religious place. Sometimes, offering them a small sum of money for sustenance is appropriate.

• Photography Etiquette: Always ask for permission before photographing persons, especially locals. Many Tibetans may not feel comfortable being photographed. Also, avoid taking photographs of sacred rituals, religious icons, or monks in prayer, as it may be considered offensive.

• Behavior in Sacred Places: Take off your shoes before entering a holy place, bow down a little as a token of respect, and it is equally disrespectful to touch the objects inside or sit on the sacred seats without permission.