Tibet Vacation Cost

Famous as the “third pole of the world”, Tibet attracts more and more travelers to explore its beauty. Travelers always want to know if a Tibet vacation is expensive. You may have heard from other travelers that exploring this mysterious land costs much. Although travel in Tibet is more expensive than in inland China, it’s still affordable.

Tibet Travel Permit

The most important permit for international travelers to have a Tibet vacation is the Tibet Travel Permit. A lot of work should be done to get this permit, the travel agency will manage your documents, fill out forms and submit them to the Tibet Tourism Bureau. It takes some days to get your permit, and it’s free. But you have to book a Tibet tour to get a Tibet travel agency to apply for it on behalf of you.

Flight and Train Ticket

To save money, you are suggested to travel by train to Lhasa. It’s not only much cheaper than by plane but offers you breathtaking scenery. The famous Qinghai-Tibet railway attracts countless travelers every year, and you’d better join them to admire the snow-capped mountains, crystal lakes, tranquil pastures and massive wilderness. For example, if you take a train from Beijing to Lhasa, the journey will take you 41 hours, and the price of the ticket is half of the flight to Lhasa. But if you want a more comfortable and quicker journey, flights are also available in most cities in China. We can book train and flight tickets for you at a good price.

Travel Guide

According to the rules, international travelers can’t travel alone in Tibet but be accompanied by a tour guide. It means that you need to hire a licensed travel guide during your Tibet vacation, and have you tour with him. This will definitely increase your vacation cost, while English-speaking travel guides can help you understand the local culture better.

Vehicle

If you just plan to stay in Lhasa, you can use public traffic. But if you want to explore other areas in Tibet, such as Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, you should hire a vehicle and a driver. Tibet is a massive land and many scenic sites are far away from each other, therefore it costs much to travel from one place to another. The price of a vehicle and driver depends on your destination, per kilometer costs more than USD1. For example, hiring a vehicle and traveling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and back costs more than USD1200, while to Nam Tso Lake and back costs more than USD480.

Accommodation

From guesthouses to 5-star hotels, a wide range of hotels are available in Lhasa. Most travelers are suggested to choose 3-star hotels or 4-star hotels since accommodation conditions in Tibet are not as good as those in other cities in China. If you travel with a friend, you can share a double room, which can lower the cost your hotel cost to USD35 per person per night. In winter, many 3 & 4 star hotels don't provide breakfast in winter(low season). If possible, you may choose 5-star hotels to enjoy better service and relatively lower prices, around USD180 per room per night.

Meal

Since Tibet is far from mainland China and the environment is harsh, food in Tibet is not cheap. If you want to have international cuisines in restaurants, USD20 per day or more is expected. But if you prefer Chinese and Tibetan traditional food, a meal only costs USD6 per person. Some simple food and snacks can keep your budget down.

Entrance Fees

You should pay the entrance fee for every scenic site in Tibet, such as the monastery, mountain, and lake. The price varies by season. For example, travel from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and visit every site along the way, more than USD200 per person for the entrance is expected. In low seasons, many scenic spots even launch ticket-free policies.

Conclusion

You may figure out that travel in Tibet is not cheap. But we can offer group tours with fixed departures to meet your interests and budget. If you book our group tour, you can share the cost of travel guides, vehicles, and drivers with other travelers, which will save at least 20% of the vacation fees. What’s more, we offer 5% off if you have another two companions and 5% off for booking in advance for more than 6 months. To ensure communication between our Tibetan travel guide and travelers, the group is set to have a maximum of 12 members.  Once you book our Tibet tour package, we guarantee you the Tibet Travel Permit and the departure. We will offer you an unforgettable Tibet vacation at less cost.