tibet

CULTURE

As a member of the great family of the Chinese nation, Tibetan people have created and developed a distinctive culture in the long history of continuous exchange and mutual absorption from the culture of other ethnic groups. Tibetan culture has always been a pearl both in Chinese culture and world culture. The culture in Tibet was formed gradually by the integration of the Turk culture in the Yarlung Zangbo River basins and ancient Zhangzhung culture in the west region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

By the Songtsen Gambo period in the seventh century AD, Buddhism was introduced into Tibet from mainland China, India, and Nepal, and gradually developed into Tibetan Buddhism. Due to the profound influence of Buddhism, the 14th Dalai Lama always describes Tibetan culture as Tibetan Buddhism culture. At the same time, the India and Nepal culture of South Asia, Persian culture, and Arab culture in Western Asia also influenced Tibetan culture in a significant way.

In the historical development of Tibetan culture, Tibetan architectural art and sculpture, painting, decoration, arts and crafts, and other plastic arts, as well as music, dance, drama, language, written literature, folk literature, Tibetan medicine, and astronomical calendars have all reached a very high level.

Tibetan Food and Cuisine

The gorgeous and unique Tibet is the place closest to paradise. In addition to its beautiful scenery, food can also not live up to it. When you come to Tibet, if you want to deeply feel the unique way of life in Tibet, you still need to taste the special Tibetan cuisine-Tibetan food. This area full of unknowns and irreplaceable has made this unique cuisine.

Tibetan cuisine is the general term for Tibetan food, which has a long history. The taste of Tibetan food is light and peaceful. Many dishes, except salt, garlic and shallots, do not put any spicy seasonings, so the original taste of the food is guaranteed. It's also in line with the current trend of returning to the basics of food culture. While maintaining the traditional dietary culture of the plateau, it is also influenced by Sichuan, Indian and Nepalese food culture. The commonly used cooking methods are roasting, frying, boiling, etc. Representatives include not only dishes made from yak meat and Tibetan pork, but also dishes made with curry and Sichuan pepper. Of course, the daily diet of Tibetans such as tsampa, butter tea, and highland barley wine cannot be lacked.

The Tibetan cusine features -

Due to the unique ecological and cultural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, the derived Tibetan cuisine style is quite different from that of other ethnic groups, forming the following features:

1. At an average altitude of above 4000 meters, Tibet is located in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, with thin air, abundant sunshine, and little rainfall. Due to these unique natural environments, Tibet has bred unique agricultural and sideline products, thus forming a nomadic food character. In the vast plateau region, butter tea, sweet tea, milk residue, barley wine, beef, mutton, and other foods of the plateau characteristic have become the traditional food of the Tibetan people.

2. Tibet is at the junction of China and many other countries therefore Tibetan food is greatly influenced by China and neighboring countries such as India and Nepal. Besides, Tibet is a holy land of Tibetan Buddhism so it's also been deeply influenced by Tibetan Buddhist culture. As an ethnic minority group in China, Tibetan people have their own dietary taboos. For example, many Tibetan people don’t eat fish, because they think the fish is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism.

3. Traditional Tibetan cooking methods are mainly boiled and fried, supplemented with certain mixed, steamed, and raw foods, and there are fewer stir-fried dishes. This is mainly due to the high altitude of Tibet, which makes it difficult to stir-fry dishes. The raw materials of traditional Tibetan cuisine are mainly Tibetan barley, beef and mutton, its offal, ghee, milk residue, etc. You can hardly find seasonal vegetables in Tibetan recipes. But in recent years, with the promotion of vegetable cultivation and consumption on the plateau, vegetables are getting to appear on the dining tables in Tibet, and stir-fried food has become more and more popular.

4. There is a big difference in diet between the agricultural and pastoral areas of Tibet, as well as the dietary customs. In pastoral areas, meat is the staple food, and only a small amount of Zanba is the supplement; but in agricultural areas, conditions are just the opposite. Herdsmen in northern Tibet don't like to put curry powder in their dishes, but almost all other ethnic groups living near the border will put curry. Another example is oatmeal. Although most people like it, eating ways are different. Monba people like to add milk residue inside.

5. The highest level of Tibetan cuisine is mainly concentrated in Lhasa and Shigatse, which are the center of Tibetan cuisine culture. As the old nobles, manor owners, government offices, Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama used to live there. Although Tibetan cuisine in many other places is also very distinctive, it‘s far from comparable to these two places in terms of the complete variety, craftsmanship, and superb cooking techniques. In particular, the Tibetan cuisine in Lhasa has become the representative of Tibetan cuisine as Lhasa food brings together the essence of Tibetan cuisine but more vibrant and diverse. You can taste a lot of authentic food at the Lhasa restaurants near Jokhang Temple and around Barkhor Street. Of course, you can also have Western food, Sichuan food, Nepalese food, or Indian food here.

There are the top 10 Tibetan dishes that you can’t miss when you visit Tibet.

Tsampa(Zanba),  Butter Tea, Sweet Tea, Yak Meat, Tibetan Noodle, Tibetan Yogurt,  Highland Barley wine, Tibetan Momo, Sheep Blood Sausage ,Air Dried Meat are famous and delicious Tibetan food items.

Tibetan people call Tibetan New Year “Losar”. Losar is not one word in the Tibetan language. Actually, it consists of two Tibetan words -  “Lo” means new, and “Sar” means year. Losar is calculated based on the Tibetan calendar. It starts from the 1st of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and lasts for fifteen days. In 2021, Losar falls on Feb. 12.

Losar is the most important traditional festival of the year, and it is also the first Tibetan festival. At that time, each Tibetan family would reunite together to hold a variety of activities to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, which is very lively. As the local people believe in Tibetan Buddhism,  many customs of Tibetan Losar are related to Tibetan Buddhism and the festival is permeated with a strong religious atmosphere.

Losar is usually held during February and March when Tibet is closed for foreigners. Thus, international travellers have little chance to see such a big feast in person. However, you could learn it from this post and imagine the alive scene.

• Chinese name: 藏历年
• Tibetan name: Losar
• Time: January 1 to 15 in the Tibetan calendar
• Area: Lhasa, Tibet
• Origin: Offer sacrifices
• Meaning: Pray for a good harvest in the coming year

With the development of transportation, more and more vehicles are available for travellers who want to travel to Tibet, such as train, airplane, bike, etc. Among the multiple means of transportation, taking flights to Tibet is the most convenient way. Although the plane ticket fare is not cheap, it can save a lot of time. If you come from United States, Singapore, UK, Australia, Canada, India, Hong Kong, etc., you need to arrive in mainland China or at Kathmandu first and then will be transferred by another flight to Tibet.

The first entrance is via China. There are more than 18 cities for travellers to get to Tibet from mainland China by air, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xian, Kunming, Shangri-La, Xining, Nanjing, Xiamen, etc. In some major cities like Chengdu, Beijing, and Xian, the number of daily flights ranges from 6 to 17. Chengdu is the gateway city of Southwest of China, with the maximum daily flights (12 -17 in number) to Tibet from May to October. Beijing, Chongqing, Xi’an, and Kunming come next. It's advisable to stay one night in the mainland city, either to pick up your Tibet Travel Permit or to buffer potential delays of your international flights.

The second entrance is via Kathmandu - the capital city of Nepal. You can take the direct flight to Lhasa - the capital city of Tibet from Kathmandu. Usually, there're one or two direct daily flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa. It takes about 1hr and 30mins to reach Lhasa from Kathmandu by airplane. As a traveller, if you prefer to enter Lhasa from Kathmandu, please plan to spare at least three official working days here for your China Group Visa. If possible, you can choose your seats on the left side of the plane to enjoy the summit of Mt. Everest.

No matter where you are from, you have to enter Tibet from gateway cities of China or Kathmandu. Although the number of flights is plenty, travelers still need to book the plane tickets in advance. Because the supplies of the air tickets to Tibet always fails to meet the demand in the peak tourist season.

Airports in Tibet

At present, there are 5 airports in Tibet- Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, Mainling Airport in Nyingchi, Peace Airport in Shigatse, Bangda Airport in Qamdo, and Gunsa Airport in Ngari. Among all, Lhasa Gonggar Airport is the most important one because Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, and it is the only international airport that offers flights to all 18 cities in China and flights between Lhasa and Kathmandu. Besides, except for Shigatse, which is too close to Lhasa, there are flights from Gonggar Airport to the other three airports in Nyingchi, Qamdo, and Ngari. Only a few cities in China, like Chongqing, Chengdu, Urumqi, etc. have flights to those smaller four airports.

When boarding airplane to Tibet, travelers must show originally valid travel document, including the valid passport, Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit.

By Train
The world-famous Qinghai-Tibet railway was completed in 2006 and become the most popular means of transportation of getting into Tibet. If traveling to Lhasa from China Mainland by train, it might help you acclimatize to the altitude a bit better. The train journey takes 2 nights from Beijing or Shanghai, if you do not want to waste two much time on the train ride, you may fly to Xining to start the train journey, where is only 24 hours train ride to Lhasa.

Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Xining, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou can access to Tibet by rail. Most of the travelers start the train journey from Beijing and Shanghai. Most of the trains make a stop in Xian, it is a good option to stop there and spend one day in Xi'an to see the Terracotta Warriors.

Tibet is a place you can visit all year round, except for mid-February to March when Tibet will close for foreigners due to the Chinese and Tibetan New Year. You can choose the rest of the year to make your Tibet trip.

The best time to visit Tibet is from April to October, during which, the weather is the best, neither too hot, nor too cold. You can get a clear view of the most tourist attractions in Tibet. Besides, the oxygen content of the air is higher than other time, which is helpful indeed to reduce the risk of getting altitude sickness. July, August and September are the peak tourist season, so the price is relatively higher. It’s advised to avoid the Chinese National Holiday (Oct 1st to 7th) when millions of Chinese people head to Tibet and you have to enjoy the scenic spots with a lot of people

Planning a trip to TIBET –

Please note that Tibet is not a budget-friendly destination. In addition, the tour cost also depends on the factors below:

1. The number of travellers.
2.  Flight destinations (Either entry from China or Nepal ).
3. The duration of stay and the month of visit.
4. The specific regions planned to be visited.
5. The type of accommodation.
6. Whether you consider private tours or group tours.

Tibet Hotels -

As we all know, the facilities and service levels of hotels in Tibet are lower than those of other big cities in Mainland China as Tibet is a plateau area. However, due to the rapid development of tourism in Tibet in recent years, the accommodation in Tibet has been greatly improved.

Accommodation in Tibet is divided into star hotel, guest houses, tented accommodation. You can find comfortable star hotel in big cities of Tibet. If you plan to travel to remote areas, there are many simple hotels, guest houses, and a tent for your choice. For example, Lhasa accommodation ranging from the cheap hotel to the luxury five-star hotel; in Shigatse, Nyingtri and other places, the highest standard is 4-star hotel; in Tingri, Gyirong, the highest standard is 3-star; and other small or remote areas of Ngari, EBC, the guest houses may be your only option unless you would like to stay overnight in the tent.

Generally, most of 3-5 Star hotels provide the 24 hours hot water for showers and Wi-Fi. If you only need a room with basic facilities, you can try guesthouses.

Located in the southwest of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, Tibet Autonomous Region is a pearl shining on earth. You can see people here chanting Buddhist scriptures, swaying prayer wheels, prostrating on the road, day after day, year after year, and these are what they do for a lifetime. The devout religious belief integrated into the natural landscape, which gives Tibet a mysterious overtone that attracts the outside world so much. People long for touching it, knowing it, unveiling it.

The top 12 attractions below should be on your list of must-see places during your first trips to Tibet including the landmark - majestic Potala Palace, the grandiose Jokhang Temple, the busy Barkhor Street, the highest mountain in the world -  Everest, the holy lake Namtso, the sacred Mt. Kailash, etc. For many travelers, Tibet is the one and the only paradise in the world which is not able to be replaced. If you come to Tibet, please don’t visit those places in a hurry. Try to learn the stories of them, your tour is more than a tour, but a journey to your soul. In your free time, please pretend yourself as a Tibetan local, learn a little bit of the Tibetan language, wander on the old streets, or experience an authentic Tibetan lifestyle by trying Tibetan food and butter tea.

This page covers places to visit and things to do in Tibet to help you plan a perfect Tibet tour.

Tibet attractions by category: Natural, Monastery, History....

We have divided the attractions into different categories. Please check the related area that might interests you.

Natural Sights of Tibet

Many tourists prefer natural landscapes rather than the human landscapes. Here's the list of the natural sights for those who like to take photography and just view the scenery.

•  Mount Everest
•  Everest Base Camp
•  Namtso Lake
•  Lake Manasarovar
•  Mt. Kailash
•  Yamdroktso Lake
•  Karola Glacier
•  Namcha Barwa Moutain
•  Peikutso Lake
•  Lulang Forest
•  Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon
•  Pangongtso Lake
•  Lhamo La-tso

Buddhist Monasteries

Tibet culture is about Tibetan Buddhism. And the belief has been integrated into the daily life of Tibetan people. Here you can see Tibetan Monasteries everywhere in Tibet.

•  Jokhang Temple
•  Sera Monastery
•  Drepung Monastery
•  Samye Monastery
•  Ganden Monastery
•  Tashilhunpo Monastery
•  Rongbuk Monastery
•  Sakya Monastery
•  Pelkor Chode Monastery
•  Reting Monastery
•  Tsurphu Monastery
•  Ramoche Temple

Historical sites -

There're many historical sites and relics highlights deserving your visit.

•  Shuba Ancient Fort
•  Guge Kingdom (Tsaparang)
•  Drak Yerpa
•  Zanda Clay Forest
•  Namseling Manor
•  Yamalung Hermitage
•  Yumbulagang Palace
•  Gyantse Dzong
•  Chongye Burial Mounds
•  Shegar Dzon

Tibet plateau is regarded as the "roof of the world" with an average altitude of over 4000m, due to high altitude in Tibet the temperature is usually lower.

The best time to travel to Tibet is from April to October each year, with the best weather condition and delightful sceneries. The average temperature is above 10°C and the oxygen content is comparatively higher than other seasons. It's also the peak tourist season in Tibet.

July and August is the rainy season in Tibet, though it usually rains at night.

The best months for camping and trekking are May and September when it hardly rains at all. If you are going to visit Mt. Everest, April, May, June, September and October are good choices for you, as you are likely to see the golden summit clearly. In Tibet, the weather condition can influence your travel experience a lot. If you are going to have a kora tour to Mt. Kailash, September and October are the best months to go. Not only can you make your trekking tour easier with the best weather all year round, but also get wonderful photographs of North Tibet in Autumn. 

To plan a trip to Tibet, travelers need more information about weather and climate in Tibet and can prepare clothing and other necessary packaging accordingly.

Spring: March-May
The weather is beginning to warm up but the temperature is still low because the ice starts to melt, so a long-sleeve shirt, warm sweater and jacket are needed.

Summer: June - Aug
It's Tibet tourism golden time during these 3 months, many kinds of festivals are holding in Tibet such as Ganden Thangka Festival, Shoton Festival and Nagqu Horse Racing Festival, you could still enjoy watching the cleanest view of Mt.Everest and the true face of Mt.Kailash. Summer T-shirt, a long-sleeve coat, sunglasses and skin protection are necessary

Autumn: Sep-Oct
The weather is most comfortable with sunshine in the day during these two months, the landscape is most beautiful as well. Bring clothes similar to Spring would be okay.

Winter: Nov - Feb
It's considered as tourism low season in Tibet, the weather is getting dry and windy, because of the weather condition and fewer travelers choose to travel to Tibet in winter, but less crowded and tour price would be cheaper than other months, you still could join the Tibetan New Year (between Jan and February ) and the streets will be colorfully decorated for this. Warm sweaters and down jackets are needed, comfortable sporting shoes are highly recommended for all weather.

Planning a trip to TIBET –

Please note that Tibet is not a budget-friendly destination. In addition, the tour cost also depends on the factors below:

The number of travellers.

•  Flight destinations (Either entry from China or Nepal ).
• The duration of stay and the month of visit.
• The specific regions planned to be visited.
• The type of accommodation.
• Whether you consider private tours or group tours.

Tibet Travel Permit is the essential paper document issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. You will be checked when you board a train/plane to Tibet. If you are going to certain areas such as Ngari, you will be required multiple travel permits such as Aline’s Travel Permit and Military Permit. As mentioned above, your travel agency will help you handle all your Tibet Travel Permits after you confirm the booking.

To get your Tibet Travel Permit, the scans of your China Visa and Passport are required. If you choose Kathmandu as your entry to Tibet, you need to apply for your China Group Visa with the assistance of your Tibet travel agency. In this way, you don’t have to apply for a China Visa.

CHINA GROUP VISA

The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu doesn’t issue visas to individual travellers, only to those booked on a tour and then only group visas. If you turn up with a Chinese visa in your passport, it will not be Valid.

A group visa is a separate sheet of paper with all the names and passport numbers of the group members. It’s important to get your own individual ‘group’ visa (a ‘group’ can be as small as one person), as otherwise, come the end of your tour in Lhasa, you will either have to exit China with your fellow group members or split from this group visa at considerable cost and hassle. Splitting from a group visa can only be done by a local Lhasa travel agency that arranged your travel into Tibet. It is a real pain to be avoided at all costs.

After you book your Tibet tour with travel agency, we will prepare an official Invitation Letter to give to our partner in Kathmandu. After your arrival in Kathmandu, our Nepali partner will meet you for your ORIGINAL PASSPORT + 1 HEADSHOT. With an Invitation Letter & your passport, we can obtain your China Group Visa.

Meanwhile, we will apply for all your necessary Tibet permits in Lhasa. Whether you fly to Lhasa or go overland via Gyirong Port, besides your China Group Visa, your Tibetan guide will wait for you at the airport customs/Gyirong Port with your Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB).

Since 05 Jun 2017, officially, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu requires the China Group Visa application to be submitted 3-working-day in advance with your original passport. 

Please note that (3-working-day Service): passport remains with the embassy for 3 days, returns it with China Group Visa on the 4th day.

Important Facts about the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu

1. Chinese Embassy accepts visa application from 10:00 ~12:00 on Mon/Wed/Fri only officially (GTT offers Mon~Fri), and issues it at about 17:00;
2. Chinese Embassy in Nepal takes day off on both China & Nepal’s national holidays