Xizang Tour – 4 days

Itinerary of Xizang Tour – 4 days

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Best Travel Time for the Xizang Tour

The entire Xizang remains exceptionally delightful during the vibrant seasons of Spring (March to the end of May) and Autumn (September to the end of November).

The summer of June, July, and August wet the entire Xizang region with heavy rain. However, since our Xizang tour mainly centers on Lhasa, travel and tour remain entirely possible and pleasant as Lhasa experiences minimal rain.

Visiting in the Winter of December, January, and February also provides a wonderful experience of authentic life and is easily manageable in Lhasa.

What is the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness in the Xizang Lhasa Tour 4 Days program?

In Lhasa, the air is less oxygen-rich as compared to lower altitude locations such as Kathmandu. It is because of the higher heights of the city, which surpass 3500 m.

At such heights, the atmosphere becomes thin, which leads to a scarcity of oxygen as compared to sea level. So, there is the threat of acute mountain or altitude sickness in our Xizang tour that can affect travelers of all ages and physical conditions.

However, a proper and good amount of rest, sleep, and hydration will promote quick acclimatization. This is precisely why we have not planned any touring or walking activities on your arrival day in Lhasa.

Instead, we have emphasized your need for adequate rest, sleep, and hydration. This day of rest will greatly help in your adjustment to the Lhasa air so that the tours we have planned for the following days can be undertaken with ease.

Diamox will also contribute to quick acclimatization to the Lhasa high altitude. We kindly urge you not to neglect the symptoms such as headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and insomnia. Once again, Diamox, rest, sleep, and hydration are the therapeutic measures you should stick to.

Is the Xizang Lhasa tour itinerary suitable for everyone?

Our Xizang tour is an exciting, unique cultural and short walking tour made for those who like to know about Xizang without any trekking activities.

The tour is of the shortest duration, with accommodations provided in reputable fine three-star standard tourist hotels. Travel arrangements have been made in the air-conditioned private vehicles provided by a licensed driver and a local Tibetan tour guide.

And, to address altitude acclimatization, a day in Lhasa with sufficient rest and sleep has been set aside, which will ease any potential problems. Therefore, the Xizang Lhasa tour itinerary can be undertaken by anyone in sound health and fitness.

However, you must take the advice from your doctor if you have any cardio-respiratory issues.

Is independent touring in Lhasa possible?

At this time, independent or solo travel in Lhasa or any area of Xizang is not permissible. You are required to join an organized group tour provided by a government-approved travel agency, along with a local Tibetan tour guide and a driver.

Your Xizang Lhasa tour itinerary and accommodation arrangements also need to be made in advance. You can explore and walk the streets and markets, shops, and restaurants of Lhasa alone, but visiting the monuments and engaging in cultural activities must be done in the company of our guide.

If you like to travel alone in Xizang, we also avail a private Xizang tour where you can see and explore Lhasa alone but with the support of our guide and driver.

Note

Some changes have been made recently regarding the Xizang tour from Nepal, for which a group consisting of a minimum of 4 members is needed. If you are an alone traveler, we can certainly arrange your seat in a group that aligns with your traveling time.

Specific Tips for the Preparation and Traveling for our Xizang Tour

We like to showcase some tips that may be of interest when heading to Xizang. For active individuals, no extensive or specific physical activities are essential.

We suggest only the non-active individuals to walk and run a minimum of three times a week so as to get used to the two-day-long walking tour around the monasteries and palaces of Lhasa.

We also suggest to make yourself a personalized first aid box containing the motion and altitude sickness medicines, anti-diarrheal, sanitary pads, and any other medicine that you regularly use.

Also, you may see a very different and distinct culture and customs in Xizang, our Tibetan guide will delightfully share the knowledge about customs and culture.

Just show your respect for the values of the locals, dress and behave rightly in the cultural locations, and handle the religious artifacts with care and respect.

People here are immensely polite, so do not lose your control, be angry, or show any strong signs of your emotions. Avoid any controversial debate, mainly about the exiled Dalai Lama, and carry a small phrasebook to say a few words in the local language.

How to get to Lhasa easily without any Hassle?

You can choose to get to Lhasa by air, land, or train, in any way that suits you. However, remember, you need to have the Xizang Visa or the Xizang travel permit for boarding the flight or train, or by other routes to get into Lhasa.

So, for us to send you the Xizang Travel Permit, you must have a minimum of 5 hours of layover or transit in any Chinese city.

So the easiest, simplest, and hassle-free way to travel to get to Lhasa will be to take a straight flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu. Every four days the week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), Himalayan Airlines at 8:30 AM flies to Lhasa.

We can thus organize the Xizang travel permit for you in advance, which will then be collected and shown by our Tibetan guide at the airport of Lhasa.

If your Lhasa flight happens to occur on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Saturdays, a Chengdu flight must be arranged.

Accommodation, Meals, and Traveling Arrangements for you on our Xizang Tour

Above the Himalaya team has preorganized a twin room of a standard three-star hotel in Lhasa for your overnight sleep of three nights. A private shower, toilet, and hot and cold running water 24 hours with free WiFi will facilitate your stay.

You can also select to upscale your accommodation to four or five-star hotels, where you will get the additional luxury of elegant designs and comfort complemented by the astounding Lhasa scenery.

A breakfast will always be served in your room during our Xizang tour. Lunches and dinner expenses will be on you and can cost you every day between US Dollars 25 to 30.

We suggest you not forget to taste local yogurt, Tibetan tea, yak meat, and lamb sausages. For nightlife engagement, you can also go to Nepali Low House Music Bar, Dunya Restaurant, Makye Ame, or several alike.

And, for your travel tour arrangements, only private air-conditioned spacious vehicles will be utilized. A Lhasa flight cost, however, will have to be seen by yourself, but our team can assist you in arranging the flight.

Is Travel Insurance really necessary for the Xizang Tour?

Yes, in fact, travel insurance is a mandatory preparatory element for our Xizang tour, and we require a copy of your insurance so we can arrange the visa and necessary permits for you.

Although our travel is constrained to Lhasa city, which is well-developed and equipped with advanced medical facilities, the medical and health facilities here are not free and certainly not cheap for foreign tourists.

Because of the common threat of the AMS, immediate medical assistance may be necessary, and this will be covered by your travel insurance.

Additionally, we cannot say when China will employ a new rule in Xizang. In such an event, our Tibetan travel partner may change or delay the travel arrangements, which may need a few extra days in Xizang.

All these additional expenses will be reimbursed to you if you have travel insurance.

Types of Visa and Permit Needed for the Xizang Tour

Do not think that for the Xizang tour, you will only require the Xizang travel permit. For any travelers entering China as a tourist, a Chinese tourist L visa is needed first, which can be arranged through the Chinese Embassy or consulate office in your country.

Getting a Chinese Tourist Visa

You can download, print, and fill out the Chinese L Visa application form or digitally follow the online procedure. One great news is that China has allowed certain countries to enter China visa-free till December 31 of 2025, which makes the necessity of only the Xizang Travel permit.

You can look for those countries list on the official website of the China Foreign Affairs Office. If you come from other countries, then you must go through the L Visa application for which you need to have a passport with a residual time of 6 months minimum along with recent passport photos sized 48 mm x 33 mm, and information about your hotel bookings, round-trip tickets, and an invitation letter from your travel agency.

Xizang tour from Nepal

Now, if you choose to enter Xizang from Nepal, then a Chinese Group Visa with Xizang Travel permit will be essential, which must be arranged through a competent licensed travel agency like Above the Himalaya.

We need to have your digital documents and photos 15 days before the Xizang tour, which we will forward to our Tibet Agency with our Xizang tour itinerary and all arrangements of your staying and traveling.

Within 8 days the Xizang Travel Bureau will authorize and issue an official invitation letter that will be forwarded to us, which we need to show when applying for the Chinese Group Visa.

The Xizang Travel permit will be kept by our Tibetan guide, who will show it when needed at the airport or train stations.

Xizang Travel Permit

Xizang travel permit formally known as a Tibet Visa is necessary for entering and touring Lhasa of Tibet, although you belong to a Chinese visa-free country.

The Chinese visa can be applied for by you personally, but the Xizang travel permit needs the verification of group travel and tour and can be processed only by a licensed tour and travel agency.

Above the Himalaya team will see all the management of this permit once you confirm our Xizang Lhasa tour 4 days trip. Please note that no changes or alterations are possible once forwarding the application.

Chinese Group Visa

Chinese Group Visa is a single piece of official paper from the Chinese Embassy that is given to all the participating travelers of an organized group Xizang tour. It therefore necessitates all travelers to get into and out of Lhasa on the same day.

For this visa, we will be needing your passport and a photo measuring 51 mm x 51 mm with a plain white background, with no glasses and makeup. We can go with the visa procedure only after all the travelers of the Xizang Lhasa tour 4 days trip are in Kathmandu.

Then, a together visit to the Chinese Embassy will be followed, where, along with your authentic documents, you also need to register your fingerprints.

Generally, three to four work days will be essential, excluding public holidays, for the reception of the group visa. With an extra charge, the days can be reduced as well, following the expressway. The charges for the Chinese Group Visa are as follows:

• Standard Application needs four work days and charges US Dollars 175 for Americans and US Dollars 30 to US Dollars 170 for others
• Express Applications need two to three work days and charge US Dollars 185 for Americans and US Dollars 90 to 180 for others