2 Weeks in Tibet

What You Should Know Before Going On A Tibet Tour

Tibet by Train

One of the most popular ways to explore Tibet, for railphiles and regular tourists alike, is by train. The Qinghai-Tibet train was only built in 2006, and now connects Tibet with the rest of China. The the railway itself is the tallest in the world, running over the Tanggula Mountains at any impressive height of 16,640 feet.

The railway is not just an incredible feat of engineering, it also has some incredible views. The rail runs over the Kunlun Mountains, Tanggula Mountains, as well as the Amdo, Nagqu, and Damxung prairies.

The train journey lasts 48 hours, and as a result there are sleeper cars.There are multiple options for comfort, depending on how well you like to travel.

When to Travel to Tibet

Tibet is a mountain nation set mainly on a plateau resting amongst sky puncturing peaks, including the tallest point in the world, Mount Everest. This high altitude leads to generally colder, but varying, weather. One thing you can expect no matter the season is strong sunshine, dry weather, and a heavy drop in temperature at night.

One month you cannot visit Tibet at all is March, when it is closed to visitors for Tibetan New Year. However, the rest of spring is a good time to visit as most of the winter ice has melted and you will beat the summer tourist rush.

In summer, the weather is the warmest and the air has the highest level of oxygen. Not only this, but some of Tibet’s most famous festivals occur during this time. The famous Shoton Festival, Ganden Thangka Festival, and the self-explanatory Nagqu Horse Racing Festival all take place during this time.

This makes it a very popular time for tourists to visit, so be prepared to book your train tickets and tour groups well in advance, they can be sold out quickly. If you want to learn about Tibet’s unique and fascinating culture, be sure to make it to at least one of these festivals by going on a festival tour of Tibet.

How to Travel Tibet on a Budget

Because of Tibet’s remoteness, harsh climate, and the limited numbers of permits mean that visiting Tibet can be more expensive than visiting other places in China. However, it is still possible to cut costs in several ways.

Firstly, taking a train into Tibet, instead of a flight, is one good way to cut costs. Several trains from multiple cities make daily trips to Lhasa, and booking a “hard sleeper” ticket, instead of a higher quality soft sleeper, can help cut the cost of that ticket alone.

Booking a group tour is also a great way to split costs, so by being on Stride you are already headed in the right direction. When looking at your tour options, you can also reduce costs by choosing lower-end housing options. Compare tours with budget or basic level accomodation.  

One area that we encourage you not to cut costs in, however, is your food. It may be tempting to skip having full meals or complex, protein-rich dishes, but the environmental conditions in Tibet mean that you are you going to keep up your strength.

Luxury Tibet Tours

Luxury Tibet Tours usually focus on cultural, historical, and culinary aspects of Tibet rather than trekking. While seeing stunning mountain views and isolated Tibetan villages may still be a part of your tour, it is hard to make camping on an extended hike in freezing weather luxurious, and so you can expect this part of the Tibetan experience to be skipped over on your 5-star tour.

Many luxury tours of Tibet are based in Lhasa, the autonomous region/country’s capital (depending on your political views). In Lhasa, there are many incredible restaurants and five star accommodation options.