Permits for Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour
Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour is not possible without booking package trip. Tibet Travel Permit is necessary to travel Tibet if you are coming from China. Moreover, Tibet travel permit and Tibet/China paper visa issue by Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu is necessary, travel to Tibet from Kathmandu Nepal. We will take care of all necessary travel permits and Chinese group visa.
Seasons(Time) for Lhasa Tour with Everest Base Camp
Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour is possible throughout the year. April to November are good time. The weather is nice and warm, sunny day with no rain falls. You will see clear view of Everest. Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour is also possible in winter season such as December, January and February, but it is very cold. The temperature drops down minus 15 degree Celsius.
Accommodations on Everest Base Camp Tour with Lhasa
You will get twin sharing hotel accommodation with breakfast on 8 days Lhasa Everest Base Camp group tour. Breakfast is also basic. The rooms are twin beds with pillow, blanket and foam mattress with private toilet and bathroom in Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse. At Rongbuk(Everest Base Camp), you will get tented camp room with dorm beds of 4 to 6, common toilet and bathroom outside the room. The toilet is not comfortable like in Lhasa and the other big cities.
Meals on Lhasa Everest Base Camp Trip
Breakfast includes in the package price, lunch and dinner are not included. You will get Tibetan, Chinese and Nepali meals at local Chinese restaurant. For lunch and dinner it costs around USD 15 to USD 20 per day.
Lhasa EBC Tour Cost
Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Package tour cost ranges from $ 1250 USD to $ 1550 USD per person. In the package price, all necessary Tibet travel permits, guide, hotel accommodation with breakfast, entrance fee and transfer are included. The meals-lunch, dinner, Chinese visa fee, flight cost and airport pick up and drop if you are not in group will be additional.
Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour-Group Size
There will be 2 to 12 people in private group. But in our group tour, there will be between 6 to 12 people in a group tour. No matter of the group size for private tour. Any number of people will accept for private tour.
Passport
You need to carry a valid passport to travel to Tibet. As a general rule, your passport has a minimum of 8 months validity remaining before travel date to Tibet. Your passport details are required to confirm your booking. Please provide an accurate passport details. Any errors provided may result in extra fees for making correction in booking. We recommend taking copies of main passport pages and other important documents with you and leave copy of passport at home with family or friends.
Tibet Tour Guide
The local Tibetan tour guide will lead Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour. Our aim is to provide hassle free travels and best possible trip. Our English-speaking guide is natives of Tibet with good knowledge of Tibetan culture, history, and Buddhism. Most guide is trained to offer Western-standard service.
Tipping for Tibet Tour with Lhasa EBC
Tipping is an extra gratitude to guide and driver for their good service, just like what you do in the west. Normally, a tipping of 7 USD/day is acceptable. The basic rule is good service for good pay.
China Visa
Most nationalities require China visa for Tibet travel. You must obtain your Chinese visa in advance. It is not possible to get a visa on arrival and Chinese visas can be difficult to obtain outside your country of residence. Tibet is an autonomies province of China and so you will require Chinese visa for this trip. You will get single entry Chinese visa, valid for 30 days from Chinese embassy in Kathmandu.
Documents for Visa Application
For Tibet trips you will be provided with documentation for your visa application that will not match your true itinerary. While Tibet is not off limits to travelers, you must first obtain Chinese visa before you apply for Tibet travel permits for your trip. Including Tibet on your visa application will be likely to lead to your visa being rejected, so you must instead use a general China itinerary that we provide to you.
Hotel List – this will be sent to you by travel agent at time of booking. If you do not receive this, email us.
Official invitation from licensed Chinese tourism company – this will be provided from us together with Hotel List to all travelers regardless of whether it is required by consulate or not and will assist with your application.
Photocopy of your passports
Passport size photo up to 4 may be required.
Check with the consulate for any other specific requirements.
Documents for Lhasa EBC Tour Booking
The following must be sent on time of booking or no later than 35 days prior to travel
1. Clear, color scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport
2. Clear, color scanned copy of your Chinese visa
3. Your current profession. Some professions including diplomats, journalists, military or police personnel will be denied permission to enter Tibet.
4. If we do not receive these documents from you in time you will not be able to travel to Tibet.
Equipment for Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour
It is nice to keep your main luggage under 15 kg. What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travelers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip not having to worry about carrying heavy bags.
A lockable bag or small padlock will be useful especially when travelling on public transportation as well. You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day. Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip. Bring you down jacket, thermal underwear, and warm head wear. Besides, sunscreen, sun hat, toiletries, personal medicine like mountain sickness, cold relief, diarrhea, some cash are also needed.
Essentials:
Clothing: a mixture of lightweight and dry fast clothing and warm layers like Long shirts, pants, scarves.
Trekking Shoes: sturdy and comfortable shoes.
Personal Travel Documents-Your passport (visa), travel insurance, flight tickets, passport size photos.
Small first aid kit such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, Band-Aids and insect repellent, and essential medicine depending on your doctors advice.
Money: Cash/credit card/EFTPOS card and money belt
Sun protection- A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Recommended:
Refillable water bottle (1.5-litre capacity suggested)
Cell phone, camera with spare batteries, charger, and adapter plug
Hand wash, travel wipes, toiletries and a small towel
Watch/alarm clock and torch/flashlight (and spare batteries)
Optional:
Sleeping bag(Useful for camping, overnight trains and poorly heated hotels, particularly during the winter months of Dec – Feb when temperatures are low).
Sleep sheet. If you are travelling during the hot season you may wish to pack a sleep sheet so you will be comfortable no matter what the weather.
Earplugs to guard against street noise and snorers.
A good book, a journal and music player for overnight train rides and longer drives.
Money Matter
The official currency in China and Tibet is the Yuan or Renminbi (CNY). ATMs are widespread, so the easiest way to access cash on your trip is to bring a credit/debit card. Please check with your bank about overseas withdrawal fees before you depart and look for ATMs with your card logo. You may find that your card does not work in certain ATMS, so we recommend purchasing some CNY in your home country so you have some cash for your first day. Credit cards are mostly acceptable in bigger cities and establishments while in small towns, they may not work.
Currency exchange is available at major banks and some hotels. The easiest foreign currencies to exchange are USD and EUR, however, please be aware of the security risk of carrying large amounts of cash. Commission is sometimes charged for currency exchange. Please note that due to restrictions on currency conversion for foreigners in China it may not be possible to change leftover CNY back into foreign currency, so please plan your budget and spending money well by withdrawing/exchanging what you need as you go.
Travel to Tibet
Due to the political sensitivities and increased security in this region it is important to understand that unexpected difficulties in obtaining Tibet permits may arise, and are out of our control. Regularly and without any official announcements by the government authorities permitting travel, the region of Tibet can be closed to visitors, and travel permits denied without warning. It is impossible to predict if or when such issues may be encountered again in the future. In the event of an individual or group permit being denied, or last minute closures of the Tibetan Autonomous Region to foreign travelers, we will endeavor to provide an alternative itinerary.
Altitude Sickness
Parts of your trip go above 2800 meters / 9200 feet where it is common for travelers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude – regardless of your age, gender and fitness. This can be life-threatening and affect anyone, even people who are very physically fit. There is a higher risk for those who have had altitude sickness before, who exercise or drink alcohol before adjusting to the altitude, or who have health problems that affect breathing. If your tour travels to high altitude, see your doctor for advice specific to you and your situation before you depart.
It is important to be aware of the normal altitude symptoms that you may encounter but no worry about:
1.Periods of sleeplessness
2.Occasional loss of appetite
3.Vivid, wild dreams at around 2500-3800m in altitude
4.Unexpected momentary shortness of breath, day and night
5.Periodic breathing that wakes you occasionally
6.Blocked nose
7.Dry cough
8.Mild headache
If you are feeling nauseous, dizzy, or experience other symptoms, please be sure to let your guide know immediately so that we can monitor your condition.
Lhasa EBC Tour-Advice
Check weather in destinations you are travelling to online a few days before you go to make sure you pack appropriate clothing. Laundry facilities may not be available in all destinations, so make sure you have a few cycles of clothes to tide you over until your next chance to wash. Local authorities will react negatively if you are found carrying letters or packages from Tibetan nationals to be posted in other countries. Do not carry images of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan flags, literature or books on Tibet during your travels in this region as they may be confiscated or you may be detained.
A hot water bottle and thermal clothes can be very useful for cold nights in Tibet and when heating is not adequate. Bedding is always provided, but some travelers have found that a thin sleeping sheet useful for hygiene purpose in the overnight train, tent and guesthouses. Bring good quality walking shoes as there are many steps in monasteries and some uneven terrain. Due to the altitude weather can change very quickly. A windproof jacket is essential as are warm layers of clothes that can easily be added or removed as needed.
Phone and internet access
Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites. It’s important to let your family and friends know that you might not be able to stay in touch over your usual methods, be it – social media or email. The Chinese Government restrict certain websites such as Google, Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WordPress. It may be possible to still access some of these websites using a VPN. If you wish to stay in touch with your friends and family through the above blocked sites, we suggest you research installing a suitable VPN on your device prior to travel.
Tibet/China National Holidays
Please note that China’s national holidays are the peak travel season for Chinese nationals. During this time, literally the whole country is on the move – that’s over a billion people. Although these are fascinating and exciting times to travel in China, please be aware you will almost definitely experience transport delays and massive crowds at tourist attractions and train stations.
It’s common for there to be difficulties in securing train or flight tickets at your preferred times, hotels become overbooked, traffic chaotic and changes to the itinerary are often necessary as a result. If clockwork organization is important to you we advise you book outside of the weeks of the extended Chinese New Year in January/February, in the first week of May and the first week of October.
If you decide to travel during this period please come with an open mind and be prepared for changes on the ground. Here are the major holiday periods in China:
1. Chinese New Year
2. Qingming Festival
3. Labor Day Holiday
4. Dragon Boat Festival
5. Mid-Autumn Day
6. National Day
