I'm planning to travel to Tibet in May. I have a flight booked into Beijing. I plan to take the train to Lhasa and then make my way to Nepal along the Friendship Highway. I'll then fly from Kathmandu to Bangkok.

I've read all of Lonely Planet Tibet and scoured the internet, but have not been able to find the answers to a few questions I have about travel to Tibet. Can someone either answer these questions or point me to where I can find the answers?

1. What do I need in terms of warm clothing to be in Tibet in May? Will I be OK with long sleeve shirts and pants? Or should I have a light jacket? Or do I need a winter jacket, hat, gloves, etc? I'll be going to Everest base camp. (Why doesn't LP include their typical weather information in the Tibet guidebook? (That's a rhetorical question.))

2. I need to send my flight itinerary along with my Chinese visa application. It was recommended to me that I not include Tibet on my list of destinations within China on my visa application. However, my flight itinerary has me flying into Beijing and out of Kathmandu, thus clearly implying that I'm going to Tibet, or that I don't have a flight booked for my departure from China. Is this going to cause me problems with my Chinese visa application?

3. Is it OK to bring my Tibet LP with me when I fly into China, or will having it in my possession potentially cause me hassle with customs?

Thanks so much for any of these questions that you can help me with!

Brad

Here are some answers:

1. Tibet is a huge place. The Tibetan Plateau covers about 35% of the total area of China. Since it is so big it has varying weather. The weather at Zhangmu (elevation 7500 feet) is going to be a lot different than the weather at Drido (elevation 14,500 feet and 750 miles north of Zhangmu). If you stay only on the route it seems you are going to take (the well worn tourist path from Lhasa to the Nepal border) the weather won't be very cold. You can expect day time temps to be between 55 and 65F with lows between 38 to 45F. Higher elevation places such as Nam Tso and Base Camp will be colder. If you plan on camping at base camp I would bring a jacket. It won't be too bad during the day, but at night it will be cold. If you just plan on going to Base Camp for the day you probably don't need a big coat. I think you will be fine with long pants, long sleeved shirt and a light jacket or fleece. Lhasa and Shigatse both get close to 300 sunny days a year. The sun at 12,000 feet makes the air temperature feel much warmer than what it really is.

2. Don't worry about not listing Tibet on your visa application. Many people just list Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu even though they travel to many other places. You shouldn't have any problems.

3. In five years of living in Tibet (China) I have never once had my bags searched. I think as long as you pack the LP Tibet in your check in, you won't have any problems.

Life in Tibet

Thanks so much for your response Losang. That's very helpful.

I didn't ask my question #2 very clearly. What I'm really wondering is if not have a departing flight from China will cause me problems for getting a Chinese visa. I need to send a print-out of my flight itinerary with my visa application; my flight itinerary clearly shows that I'm flying into Beijing and that my next flight is from Kathmandu to Bangkok. Is lacking a departing flight from China likely to cause visa issues?

Thanks again Losang. I've been reading your blog for the past few months and really enjoy it.

Brad

quote:

Originally posted by braxtozene:
What I'm really wondering is if not have a departing flight from China will cause me problems for getting a Chinese visa.

In my experience, no. I arrived via ship in Tianjin and left through Tibet (onto Nepal, just like you'll do). No problem at all. I don't think I was required to present a travel itinerary, though -- I just listed a few cities I'd be visiting.

Brad,

You shouldn't have any problems not having a flight leaving China. Many people come to China and exit through Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Nepal or Vietnam on foot or train.

Life in Tibet

I've been in and out of China 4 times and never was I asked for proof of onward journey. I flew into Chengdu and I don't think I even listed an outward bound city. Nor have I had my bags searched. In fact, when I crossed into China on foot from Laos, I had to actively find somewhere to actually stamp me into China because no one seemed much bothered that random people were wandering in.

PC

I have one more question for you very helpful and knowledgeable folks.

How readily available is bottled water along the route from Lhasa to Nepal? I'd prefer not to bother bringing my water purification system if I won't need it.

Thanks!

Brad

The route from Lhasa to the Nepal border is a well worn tourist path. Bottled water and English menus can be found all along the way. No need to bring a water purification system.

Life in Tibet