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A century ago, a visit to Lhasa took stamina, nerve and a good deal of luck. Isolated by formidable geographic barriers and guarded by its government, the Tibetan capital was truly a Forbidden City. Few Westerners met the challenge, but the tales they returned with tantalized the imagination of the world. Tibet was the epitome of all that was magical, mysterious and unknown.Today, visiting Tibet is considerably easier, but the adventure remains. Hidden behind the Himalayas and rising nearly five kilometers above sea level, Tibet is a land unlike any other, a magical realm of vast open spaces, clear light and pure color, dominated by an intensely blue sky. Two kinds of people live in this timeless setting: farmers settled in small villages who grow barley and other crops, and the roving nomads, drokpa, who wander the higher regions with their herds of yaks and sheep.Since the 8th century, Tibet has been devoutly Buddhist, merging influences from Indian Buddhism, Tantra, and the indigenous religion called Bon into a complex synthesis of beliefs. Tibetan Buddhism has inspired centuries of splendid art and architecture, serving as the cornerstone of Tibet's unique and highly developed culture.

A Visits to Buddhist monasteries and temples are an integral part of any journey to Tibet. Worshippers move slowly through dimly lit chapels, refilling flickering butter lamps. Faith manifests itself in many ways: flags printed with prayers for the wind to spread; main walls of flat stones engraved with mantra; chorten or symbolic monuments scattered across the countryside.

 

Tibetans are a deeply religious, open, spontaneous people, admirably good-humored and quick to joke. Visitors to Lhasa invariably marvel at the non-stop smiles. Traveling in Tibet is not always easy, but it rewards with glimpses of a land and life unlike any other.

 

  • People
  • Currency
  • Climat & Weather
  • Festival in Tibet

Tibetans share their region with Menpa, Luopa, Han Chinese, Hui, Sherpa, and a few Deng people. Tibetans are the main inhabitants on the plateau. Tibetans are optimistic and happy people.

 

Traditionally, farmers settled in small villages with barley as their main crop. The roaming nomads earned their living by herding yaks and sheep. Most Tibetans in cities made a living as craftsmen. However, nowadays more and more people are migrating into businesses. The Tibetan language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan phylum. People in U, Tsang, Kham, and Chamdo speak different dialects.

 

Most Tibetans are devout Buddhists while a few believe in the old Bon. Islam and Catholicism also have a few followers in Lhasa and Yanjing respectively. Since China's Family Planning program is not carried out among Tibetan people, the Tibetan population keeps growing. According to the census conducted in 2000, there are 2,616,300 people in Tibet, with Tibetans totaling 2,411,100 or 92.2% of the current regional population. The census also revealed that the Tibetan's average lifespan has increased to 68 due to the improving standard of living and access to medical services. Illiteracy has decreased to 850,700.

 

 

 

  • The unit of currency is Yuan US $ 1=8 Yuan. Foreign currency can be directly use in Tibet travelers check and foreign currency in bank of China. You can with draw the cash with a credit card in bank of china.Insurance: Personal traveling insurance should be made by the client prior to arrival in Nepal. Full Insurance coverage particularly for trip cancellation and interruption is strongly recommended.

Winter, spring, summer & autumn are major seasons. Winter from December to February Tibet Introduce it self a remote isolated country. Major highway, roads, trail cover the snow. Air China, Air China Eastern close its flight Schedule between mainland China and Kathmandu during winter. From end march to end of October, flight operates from mainland China and from Kathmandu to Lhasa. All tours in Tibet initiate from March to November. March and November Kathmandu to Lhasa, return to Kathmandu overland trip possible. From middle of May to the middle or end of September. In fact for the month before the monsoon hits, and for the month after it has officially receded, the weather patterns are similar, so the following applies nearly the whole time that we run trips. The monsoon washes over Tibet sometimes bringing brief showers of rain and lots of cloud but mostly the main Himalayan chain stops the real monsoon from reaching Tibet. Tibet is mostly fine for the whole year and it is very rare for it to be covered in thick cloud, rather big, fluffy clouds often in the afternoon. Sometimes these obscure views but often they don't, merely add to the whole panorama. If you would like to combine Tibet Tour and Nepal Tour at same time March April, May and October is recommended. June, July, August & September rains most of time in Nepal but in Tibet doesn't rain much.

Shoton Festival ( Fall in Lhasa).
In august when summer is at its height, the annual opera performances of Shoton(Yogurt Banquet) take place in Norbu Lingka( the summer place of Dalai Lama)many thousand peoples go to Drepung monastery to watch the large sized Thangka show displayed there.

 

Tibetan New Year
It is a traditional festival for Tibetans. On the first da of the Tibetan new year that falls in February /March entire population greet each other with the word TASHIDELEK( Good luck and happiness). And Losar Sang Happy New Years children let off fire crackers and everyone drinks Chang(barely beer) and butter teas, toasting each other and wishing every body well Both in the town and country side Tibetan Opera round dances and tap dances are performed while in Pastoral areas nomads sing and dances around blazing bonfires throughout the night various contest are held during the new year's Holiday such as wrestling, stone tossing, tug of war , horse races and archery.

 

Saga Dawa Festival
This is very important religious festival to celebrate Buddha's birthday, enlightenment and nirvana those are said to fall on the same date 15th April of Tibetan Lunar Calendar. The festival last from 1st to the 15th of April but off course the most important date is 15th.During the period of time, Tibetan walk three pilgrimage paths to commemorate the merits of Buddha Sakyamuni. How ever, it is also a merit for Buddha to donate money to beggars.

 

Nachu Kyagen Horse Racing Festival
This is the most important event for Tibetan nomads in the northern Tibet, the high altitude grassland. This festival takes place from August 10 to 16 th. In Nachu town,the capital of Nachu prefecture. During this time, there is always a fair trade, and Local song and dances performances are shown of course horse racing and archery are main festival.

There are over 6500 species of trees, bushes and flowers In the temperate areas flowers start blooming when winter ends. The only time that flowers really bloom in the temperate and alpine area is during the monsoon season. During this time the landscape abound with brightly colored flowers. In the higher elevation valleys there are buttercups, polygonums, scrophs, mints, composites and cinquefoils. In the alpine areas there are junipers, saxifrages, primulas, rhododendrons, contoneasters and ephedras.

In the subtropics flowers bloom as the temperature gets warmer.

The main flower season is March and April when the rhododendrons are in their full glory. The large white magnolias, orchids, lavender primuds, and blue irises. There are also flowers on the bushes.
In western Nepal the best time to see flowers is July and August. It gets less rain than the rest of Nepal, so it is more comfortable to visit during the monsoon than other places. At lower elevation there are orchids, roses, campanlas, impatiens, anemones, corydalis and edelweiss. In the alpine areas there are geraniums, saxifrages proliferate, poppies, larkspurs and sediums.

In the Himalaya area there are astragalus, Ionicera (from honeysuckle family) and caragana.
Just after the monsoon in October and November most of the flowers are gone. Some flowers may be seen in the subtropical areas such as mauve osbeckia, yellow St John’s wort and pink luculia. Also there are reds flowers on barberry bushes, flowers on the cherry trees and the yellow of the withering maples. In the temperate areas there are blue gentians.


Tibet Travel Info

Client Testimonials

Throughout this trek trekkers are overwhelmed with views of unbelievable peaks, Buddhist monasteries, and friendly Sherpa villages. Perhaps some may even have a glance of the Yeti! The local people believe that the
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