Lhasa Kailash Tour Package Cost
The trip cost ranges from USD 2450 to USD 8500, it depends on private and group tour and the number of travelers on your group. Also, the hotel standard on the trip based on budget, standard and deluxe hotel. The accommodation with breakfast, necessary Tibet travel permit, guide, transfers with driver are all inclusive in the package price.
Lhasa to Mt Kailash Tour-Group Size
There will be 2 to 30 in a group. No matter for private trip. Any number of people will accept for private trip.
Lhasa Kailash Tour-Difficulty
All travelers should be in good health and able to spend each day walking around towns, villages and monasteries. The trip will take you in mountainous terrain between 3600 meters and 5200 meters above sea level. The 3 day trek around Mt. Kailash is 52 kilometers long. The trek is beautiful, but is quite demanding as the high pass rises to 5630 meters (18,465 feet). You will spend 3 nights in Lhasa for altitude acclimatization before going above 3600 meters. Ascent will be slow and gradual along the way from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and on to Mt. Kailash.
Seasons(Time for Lhasa Mount Kailash Tour
April to November are good seasons to travel in Tibet. The annual temperature in Lhasa is 2 to 12 degree in Spring, 9 to 22 degree in Summer, 7 to 19 degree in the fall and -7 to 9 degree in winter. Please wear clothes properly such as thermal tops, fleece jacket, breathable underwear, down jacket, jeans, beanie, etc. Of course, sun screen, lip balm, sun glasses are essential to protect from powerful blinding sunlight on the plateau. Drink more water and eat more vegetable as you tour in Tibet. It can prevent you from dehydration.
Accommodation on Lhasa to Mt Kailash Tour
The standard of accommodation in Tibet varies considerably and can be basic at times, especially out of Lhasa. Hot water and power supply can be sporadic, and the facilities are basic due to lack of development in the region as well. You will be staying in a seasonal tented camp. The tents are spacious, well-equipped 8 person sized, which come with dormitory style single beds, solid flooring and a central heating stove.
There are no shower and the toilet facilities are a little primitive but view of the north face of Everest should make up for the lack of creature comforts. WiFi is often available in hotel reception areas and sometimes in room. Your guide will be able to advise on the best places to get connected. Only locally-run Tibetan yak tents and Rongbuk Guest house are available.
Tibet is never known for its 5-star luxury resorts, though you can find some like Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise, St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Sheraton hotel, and Shangri La in Lhasa. Overall, the accommodation facilities and services are not as good as those in coastal and central parts of China. However, from cheap and clean youth hotel, to distinct Tibetan style 3-star and international 5-star luxury hotel, you will find one that suits your interest and pocket in Lhasa.
We’ve handpicked cozy and safe hotels in the central area of Lhasa, where you will find Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street are just steps away from you. You can easily experience more of local life and culture. Normally, as you travel to remote areas in some parts of Shigatse like Tingri, EBC, Ngari and Nagqu, the accommodation would be much poorer. Some may have air-conditioning in the hotel and others may only have electric blanket in the guesthouses. And the food is also very basic.
Toilets
Admittedly, to many western tourists, using toilets in Tibet is the most dreadful experience. So, please down play your expectation. If you take Tibet train to Lhasa, both western toilet and squat toilet are available in the train. If you stay in hotel above 3-star hotels in Lhasa, Shigatse, etc. you will have no complaining using standard western flash toilet. However, if you visit some of the attractions like Yamdrok or Namtso, EBC outdoor, mostly you will see the smelly and filthy pit toilet. It’s better to carry enough toilet paper.
Lhasa Kailash Overland Tour-Meals
Common foods in Tibet are Chinese and Nepalese dishes, local noodles, dumplings (momo), yak butter or local milk tea and even yak burgers. While Lhasa has many cafes and restaurants to choose from, once outside of Lhasa, there will be fewer or no option of where to have our meals. Your guide will choose places to eat that have been well rated by past travelers.
Vegan and vegetarian choices are possible to cater for, although choice may be limited. The high altitude can affect how food tastes, so don’t be surprised if you end up adding far more chili to your dishes than you would at home. You will get basic food like Instant noodles, Tibetan soup noodles, dried yak meat, pork soup, milk tea, egg fried rice, Tsampa, cabbage with rice, chili potato curry at EBC. It is nice to take some bread or light snacks before heading to EBC from Tingri or Shigatse.
Permits for Lhasa Mt Kailash Tour
Tibet Travel Permit is a must necessary permits for Tibet tour. Permits includes in the package price. It is nice to send your scanned passport and China visa copies in advance, and we will apply your Tibet travel permit once you book Tibet tour with us. Shortly after we get your permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau, we will inform you and mail it to your hotel in China via express. In some extreme cases, our staff will hand it over to you at the airport or railway station. In our experience, we can virtually guarantee to get your permit during times when Tibet is open to foreign travelers.
Passport
You will need a minimum of 6 months valid passport to travel in Tibet. As a general rule, your passport has a minimum of 8 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure a passport details you provide are accurate. Any errors provided may result in extra fees for making correction in booking. We recommend taking copies of a main passport page and other important documents with you as well as leave the copies at your home with family and friends.
Kailash Tour Guide
All group trips are accompanied by local tour guide. The aim of guide is to take a hassle free travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Our English-speaking guide Tibetan natives with good knowledge of Tibetan culture, history, and Buddhism. Most are trained to offer Western-standard service. Throughout your stay in Tibet, we will minor your health and provide prompt help to you.
Tipping for Lhasa Kailash Tour
Tipping to guide and driver is an extra gratitude to their good service, just like what you do in the west. Normally, a tipping of USD 7 per day is acceptable. The basic rule is good service for a good pay.
China Visa
Most nationalities require a visa for mainland China. You must obtain your Chinese visa in advance. It is not possible to get a visa on arrival in China and Chinese visa can be difficult to obtain outside your country of residence. Tibet is a province of China and so you will require a Chinese visa for your Tibet trip. You will need a Single Entry Tourist for your trip valid for 30 days.
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 a Chinese visa before you apply for the Tibet group permit for your trip. Including Tibet on your visa application will likely lead to your visa being rejected, so you must instead use a general China trip itinerary that we provide to you.
Hotel List – this will be sent to you by your 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 the Hotel List to all travelers regardless of whether it is required by the consulate or not and will assist with your application.
Passport Copy
Passport size photo up to 4 may be required.
Check with the consulate for any other specific requirements.
Documents for Permits and Ticket-Booking
The following must be sent at the time of booking and no later than 35 days prior to travel in Tibet.
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 Kailash 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 Yuan or Renminbi (CNY). 1 renminbi (yuan) = 10 jiao (mao). 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.
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 Travel
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 Kailash Travel 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.
Tibet/China National Holidays
Please note that China’s national holidays are 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
