If you are planning to travel to Tibet and explore its unique culture and rich Tibetan Buddhist tradition in Tibet, you are planning the right way. This is because the real taste of Tibetan culture can only be experienced when you come to Tibet. I am sure you won’t regret your decision to visit Tibet. I recommend fellow travelers understand some key things before traveling to Tibet.
Tibet’s geographical features
Now you might have heard that Tibet is the roof of the world or the land of snow. This gives some ideas about its altitude and weather. Tibet is the highest plateau in the world. But you don’t have to be concerned because most of the tourist destinations are under 4000 meters above sea level.
The actual Tibetan area is very huge but when you say Tibet, it is only the central Tibet region which is also known as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The eastern, southeast, and northern Tibetan areas are located in Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, and Yunnan Province of China. Early on, these were known as the Kham and Amdo regions.
Tibetan regions are mostly at an average elevation of 2000 meters. Therefore, you will face some altitude sickness symptoms, but I’m sure you’ll get used to it soon. The only thing you have to do is follow the altitude sickness instructions. If you plan to travel in April – September, the weather condition is moderate but it’ll drop under – 5oC to – 10oC at high altitudes in the evening and early morning. As the wind is quite harsh and torrential. Therefore, I suggest having windproof jackets and pants that will keep you warm.
To know more about your destination
Now you have a better understanding of the geographical area of Tibet. This is one of the most critical things because if you know about your destination you can pick the right Tibet tour packages offered by travel agencies. I met some travelers who chose the wrong tour package and regretted it. Although it is quite unfortunate, it is still crucial that you choose the right tour package or tour itinerary because the travel agency provides all the details.
If you make the wrong choice, it’s your fault. Tibet tour packages offered by travel companies will provide full details of the tour itinerary. You have to do some research on the places you are planning to visit. This is because some people just pick the itinerary and reach their destination according to the tour itinerary. People get problems with altitude sickness, food, and more.
Health and hygiene
Once you reach Tibet, health and hygiene are your least concern except for altitude sickness and the common cold. These illnesses are caused by changes in altitude and weather. If you travel to remote areas in Tibet, you might not be able to take a bath because the chance of getting hot water is very slim, but you don’t have to worry about getting sick because the altitude of the place will take care of it. Tibetans living in remote areas have not taken showers for months. But in Tibet’s towns and cities, facilities are good enough.
Food and accommodation
Foods are quite different from Western food. Tibetan foods have high calories and fats, mostly yak meats, barley, or Tsampa with butter and Tibetan butter tea. In Lhasa, you will find all varieties of food, including Western, Indian, Chinese, and European cuisine. But in remote areas, there aren’t enough choices. You should choose local Tibetan food because it’ll give you more energy and keep your body warm.
There are enough hotels and guesthouses in towns and cities. The facilities are suitable based on the price. It is however difficult to find hotels in remote areas, so travelers prefer to stay in local homes rather than in hotels as such. Most Westerners are unhappy with toilet facilities in remote areas. Almost all the toilets in remote areas have no flash water and some do not have doors. In nomadic areas, there are no toilets, which means that the toilet is an open-area toilet. The most effective thing you can do is take toilet paper with you.
Transportation
There are all kinds of vehicles such as minivans, SUVs, buses, and Jeeps. There are trains and flights to Lhasa. If you don’t like cars or buses, you can take a flight or train from Chinese cities. Most Tibet cities have airports, such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Yushu, Golok, Kangding, and more.
Rules and Regulation
When you travel inside Tibet, local Tibetans will welcome you. Tibetans are kind and helpful. Even if you are a lone traveler, you don’t have to worry about yourself. They will help you out in their ways. When you travel with a tour guide assigned by a travel agency, you should follow the tour guide’s instructions.
This is because those guides are mostly local Tibetans and experts in their field. They are very dedicated and hardworking people. If you break the law in your jurisdiction, they are the ones who will be punished. They have to pay huge fines to the local authority or cancel their license. So never betray their hard work and dedication. Of course, if you have any complaints, you can report them to the respective travel agency authority. They will handle those issues.
I hope this will help you when visiting Tibet.