How to Travel to Tibet for an Economical Cost

Traveling to Tibet is often a costly affair, with domestic flights in China being high in comparison to domestic flights elsewhere in Asia. However, if you are looking at ways of making the journey to Tibet more economically viable, then there is a way of traveling to Lhasa without breaking the bank.

Take the Tibet Train

For those that are not happy with the cost of the flights to Tibet from mainland China, the alternative is to take one of the famous Trains to Tibet. Departing from seven gateway cities across the country, these epic trains make the journey to Lhasa even more enjoyable and exciting than ever. And for someone looking for a good alternative to flying, they are the best option.

Train tickets are less costly

The train tickets from the seven gateway cities in mainland China to Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) are much cheaper than the flights from the same departure locations. With trains departing from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lanzhou, and Xining, you have a choice of many different cities to depart from, and even the most expensive ticket on the train is cheaper than the cheapest flight.

Join a group tour

You can make the trip even more economical by simply booking your tour as a Small Group Tour, instead of a private tour. Small-Group Tours allow other solo travelers to join them, so that you travel with a group to reduce the cost of the more expensive aspects of the tour, such as driver, guide, vehicle, etc. The maximum size of our group tours is 10-12, and often less depending on demand. And our classic group tours of Tibet are handled by some of the best tour guides in the region. All of our guides are local Tibetans, who can give you all the information you need on the scenery, landscapes, and culture. Our tours also have no hidden costs, with everything explained upfront, and there are no "forced shopping" trips to contend with.

Visit Tibet in winter

If you are looking at economical travel in Tibet, then winter is the best option for the most economical time to travel. Winter is the low season for tourism in Tibet, and as such, the plateau region is less busy, with fewer tourists cramming the attractions. And that is not the only advantage of traveling to Tibet in the winter. Low season tours are generally cheaper overall than peak season tours to the same places.

Winter in Tibet is not that cold

Contrary to popular opinion, Tibet is not that cold in the winter months. While there are areas of the plateau where the daytime temperature can drop to ten below freezing during the daytime, most of the tourist areas of Tibet are relatively warmer. Generally, the further west you go the colder it gets, due to the higher altitudes. But even Mount Everest is not too cold to visit in the depths of winter. Temperatures can hit below freezing, but during the day, it is warm enough to be comfortable, with the right clothing.

In Lhasa, the weather is relatively mild, with daytime temperatures of around 8-10 degrees and only dropping below freezing at night. And in Nyingchi, to the east of the capital, the lower altitude means that freezing temperatures are rare, except in the coldest part of the winter months, in extreme conditions.

Most attractions are still accessible

Overall, the majority of the attractions of Tibet remain open throughout the year. Few actually close for winter and those that do are normally in areas where few or no tourists dare to venture. Everest Base Camp, possibly the coldest place most tourists will visit in winter, is still open for the whole year, and in the cities, you can still visit all of the monasteries, temples, and museums.

All of the major attractions in Lhasa, such as the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka, and the many monasteries and nunneries, remain open as they are religious and cultural institutions, as well as famous tourist attractions.

Accommodation is less expensive

Many of the hotels, hostels, and guesthouses in Tibet are offering discounts throughout the winter months, as they have few customers to cater to. The discounts are offered as an incentive to stay in their hotel, rather than another hotel, to promote business in the slow winter period in Tibet. This means that you can often find your accommodation is much cheaper than in the peak season, so you can save money on the cost of the hotel, or even upgrade to a better hotel that is still within your budget in winter.

Low-cost attractions

Many of the attractions of Lhasa have reduced prices in the winter months. And some have even given to making entrance free in the winter, to attract more people to visit at times when the attractions see very few tourists. In recent years, several major attractions in Lhasa have been free for visitors in the winter, to promote tourism in the region.

Find a reliable Tibet-based travel agent

International tourists to Tibet are not permitted to travel alone in the region and are required to be on a pre-arranged tour with a private tour guide, driver, and vehicle. International tourists also need a variety of permits and passes in order to enter Tibet and travel to the various areas of the region. These permits and passes include the Tibet Travel Permit, which is the main permit to allow foreign tourists to enter the region. Without this, you cannot even board a train or flight to Tibet, and the permits can only be obtained through a travel agency.

Tibet is also a much more dangerous place to travel than anywhere else in China, especially since great swathes of the region are desolate and remote, and it would be easy to get lost. There are also more wild animals still living on the plateau to be aware of, that could make lone travel more dangerous still.

For anyone traveling to Tibet, it is advisable to arrange the trip through a reliable and reputable travel agency, to ensure that you get the best treatment and services possible for your lifetime Tibetan tour. A good travel agency, such as Explore Tibet, can arrange your trip without any hidden fees and costs, and can be relied on to make sure that your trip is worry-free and as enjoyable as possible.

For detail Tibet Travel Information, you can write to us at sales@exploretibet.com.

Explore Tibet International Travel Co., Ltd is a legal entity that is registered as a Tibet Travel company based out of Lhasa of Tibet. Explore Tibet is the top local Tibetan Travel Agency in Tibet.