Two friends and I have been talking for a while now about visiting Tibet to experience the culture and scenery for ourselves. However, I have heard that to get a Tibet Travel Permit, you have to purchase a ticket for a Chinese-guided tour. Can anyone tell me if this is true? Or if it is possible to leave the tour group and go off on your own while in Tibet? In particular, we are interested in hiking to monasteries and the like (but by ourselves).

Also, we're looking for some extreme hikes in the Himalayas. We would be there during the summer.

i believe you can go on your own and do exactly what you want

Hi, Bburnett,
According my experience, it is very difficult to get your Tibet Permit if you travel without a tour booked. But sometimes, travelers could do it without that. I think someone who did that could offer you useful information. Another way is that you could book only hotels or a day tour, then do the rest by yourselves. Or you could join some Chinese group who like travel here and there, to explore Tibet with those Chinese backpackers might be possible.
Good luck.
Morgen Mo

bburnett, do you know about Thorntree, the Lonely Planet's website for exchange of information among travelers? There is a lot there about Tibet and how to visit without a Chinese tour group.

Hi, Bburnett,
I found a recommended website on Tibet from lonely planet http://www.tibettravel.info/
Go and see if any helpful info.
Good luck.
Morgen

Okay, I nominate that for the least subtle bait-and-switch advertising post this year.

Wow.

LAME!

a little confused by filmwill, but thanks everyone else

there was an advertising post left for you, courtesy of some ridiculous tout.

It was erased by the moderators (as it should be)

...either that, or I'm just shouting at myself

Actually, I take that back. It's still there.

But, hey, feel free to book your trip through their travel agency.

Sorry for being so unhelpful.

bburnett, morgen is a travel agent. He is pushing his own agency for youo to book with. Generally, posters on Fodors boycott any agencies that violate the Fodors terms of service by advertising in the forum. He also has given mis-information recently and slanted info above baout how hard it is to get a travel premeit into Tibet so you should book with his agency.

I'd recommend you ignore his advertising, take a look at what other people have done on the thorntree forum. There are lots of people there who can answer very specific questions about the logistics of traveling to Tibet. Many/most of the posters there cross into Tibet from Nepal rather than going through China.

Good luck!

Ah, I see now. Thanks for looking out for me guys. So now that it seems like I DON'T need to pay for a tour, does anyone know of the best way to get around Tibet? I have heard that most people hire drivers, but does anyone know where to find one I can trust?

If you've done a search on this forum for posts about Tibet you'll see that we haven't had a lot of reports on Tibet. The Thorntree has much more info about Tibet, and I would expect you will get driver recommendations if you ask.

www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree

Hi bburnett,

Although I am no expert on the subject, I traveled to Tibet last October & would whole-heartedly encourage you to go!

I did obtain a group travel permit (for a "party of one&quot through the services of a wonderful travel operator in Kathmandu. I flew from Kathmandu to Lhasa.

I was free to explore as I liked.

This being said, I do not know what measures may currently be in place.

I can share my travel operator's info - in case you'd like to contact him:

Mr. Mn Kc
<pigeontravel at yahoo dot com>


Best of luck & happy trails!

Hi,
It is reported that Kathmandu does not offer a Tibet permit this year. No tourist could enter Tibet from there. I have a friend in Kathmandu�C his email address is [email protected] . He knows something about that.

morgen, you just don't give up, do you?

There are lots of reports over on thorntree of people going to Tibet from Kathmandu this year. There was a period of time around the Olympic torch protests when no permits were being issued for Tibet. That is over and permits are again being issued in Kathmandu.

Hi, Kathie,
We, have friends in Lhasa and Kathmandu, today got information that travelers could fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa, but could not get through via Zhangmu to Lhasa by road. Maybe someday, they open the road to Lhasa.
Won't believe it?
Kathie, are you just waiting for what people say and you will believe? Funny and Ridiculous!

Hi there,I read the following info on www.windhorsetour.com hope it do help you.
According to the Tibet Tourism Bureau offical notice, Tibet has been reopened to foreign tourists on 25th of June 2008. This is good news to Tibet Tourism Industry since it plays a main role in Tibet economy. But you should know that there are still some restrictions on Tibet travel for foreign tourists as following:
1. No individual permit will be issued;
2. All tours to Tibet must be guided;
3. All the tours to Tibet must be arranged in advance before heading to Tibet;
4. Drepung, Ganden, Tsurphu monasteries in Lhasa, Samye and Yongbulakang in Tsedang are not opened yet.

Does anyone have an idea as to what kind of weather to expect in Lhasa in mid-September?

We were in Tibet in mid-September a year ago. The days were plesantly sunny but cool - we wore sweaters and long sleeves most of the time.