Tibet Treks & Tours

Tibet offers vast Himalayan landscapes, sacred monasteries and high-altitude plateaus, with the best regions to explore including Lhasa, Mount Kailash, the Tibetan Plateau, Everest North Face and western Tibet.

Lhasa & Central Tibet: Lhasa sits at the spiritual heart of Tibet where travellers explore monasteries and landmarks including the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.

Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Route: Mount Kailash is one of Asia’s most sacred mountains where pilgrims and trekkers complete the high-altitude kora around the peak.

Everest North Face: The northern approaches to Mount Everest reveal dramatic Himalayan landscapes and access to Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

Tibetan Plateau Landscapes: Vast high-altitude grasslands and nomadic culture define the sweeping landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau.

Western Tibet & Ancient Kingdoms: Remote western Tibet reveals ancient monasteries and historic trade routes linking Tibet with India and Central Asia.

The best time to travel to Tibet for hiking, trekking and adventure touring is generally May–Oct, when temperatures are comfortable and conditions are favourable for exploring landscapes, national parks and cultural highlights.

Tibet has a mountain influenced climate where temperatures vary depending on altitude and season, generally ranging between 5°C and 25°C (41°F–77°F). Valleys are usually mild while alpine areas remain cooler.

Travelling outside the main season can still be rewarding, with quieter trails, seasonal landscapes and unique experiences depending on rainfall, wildlife activity or snow conditions.

Lhasa is +8 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Chinese language is comprised of many different dialects, which some would argue are different languages, because although they share a common writing system, spoken variations of Chinese are often unintelligible to speakers of other dialects.

Modern Standard Chinese (aka Mandarin, Beijing dialect) is the primary and official language of China. In addition, Mongolian is official in Inner Mongolia, Uighur and Kyrgyz are official in Xinjiang, Zhuang is official in Guangxi; Yue (Cantonese) is official in Guangdong and Tibetan is official in Tibet

Different ‘dialects’ include Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan and Hakka dialects.

Most people involved in tourism or business, as well as many students, will speak a good deal of English, however any attempts to speak basic Chinese will be warmly received by the people you meet.

Chinese Yuan

Yuan can be purchased with US$ on arrival at your hotel in Lhasa.

ATM’s are available in Lhasa and larger towns.

Credit cards are generally accepted in the hotels we stay at.

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Electricity in Tibet is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. Plugs vary greatly however the most common pin types are A (2 flat prong), C (2 round prong) or I (3 flat Australian).

Please note that you should NOT apply for a Tibet visa in your home country. We enter via Nepal, and not through a Chinese border, hence the visa will not be held valid. Our World Expeditions office in Nepal applies for the group visa for Tibet. On arrival in Kathmandu you will need approx US$114

(American passport holders currently require US$198, Canadian passport holders currently require US$165) along with your passport for your visa to enter Tibet. The Chinese authorities in Kathmandu will process this. If you are planning on travelling to China after your visit to Tibet you should be aware that a Tibetan and Chinese visa are two different things. If entering Tibet from Nepal with plans to travel on to China thereafter, you will not be able to apply for a Chinese visa before departure. If you do, this will result in the Tibetan visa that we organise on your behalf, being cancelled. What would need to happen is that you obtain the Tibet visa through our offices and participate on your Tibetan Adventure. You will then need to return to Kathmandu and apply at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu for your China visa. They will need a minimum of two full working days to process the same. This would mean you would need to remain in Kathmandu while your visa was being processed. If you are travelling in China before arriving into Tibet, you are able to apply for a Chinese visa in your country of origin and once in China, we will need to provide you with a copy of your Tibetan visa before you commence your final journey leg (for example, a train trip from Chengdu to Lhasa). You would not be permitted to board the train from Chengdu to Tibet unless you had the Tibetan visa approval in your physical possession to show to authorities. (If you are travelling as an individual or in a group of less than 4 people, then the visa fee is US$114. This increases to US$198 for American passport holders.)

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.