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contact us Lhasa informationto Lhasa: capital of Tibet
with Arniko Travel
FIXED DEPARTURES EVERY SATURDAY most months
Drive one way - Fly one way
limatic and airline realities dictate the best time to travel to Lhasa. To simplify your decision,
Arniko Travel provide fixed departure travel to and from Lhasa for most months of the
year. All arrangements for flights, accommodation and sightseeing are in place for the
following timetable. This monthly schedule allows us to minimise any difficulty with flight schedules.
Lhasa information
| MARCH - JUNE | drive Lhasa --- fly Kathmandu | |
| JULY - NOV | fly Lhasa --- drive Kathmandu | |
| SERVICE INCLUDES: | Twin share accommodation with breakfast Best available hotels throughout including 'Lhasa Hotel' in Lhasa (formerly the 'Lhasa Holiday Inn') all air and land transportation by Japanese Bus. China visa; sightseeing; English speaking Tibetan guide and admission fees |
|
| NOT INCLUDED: | Nepal re-entry visa: US$ 50 Lunch and dinner throughout (budget about US$20 per day) China visa fee:US$45 |
|
| Note: | If road
conditions make it impossible for the bus to proceed onwards to Kathmandu we
strongly recommend our clients to use 4 wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser for onward journey
instead of going back to Lhasa. Our agents will arrange for Land Cruiser to be hired directly from Lhasa. The cost of this will be US$ 87 per person. ( This fee must be paid in Lhasa. There will maximum of 4 clients in each Land Cruiser.) Road problems usually happens in the rainy seasons from July to October. Returning to Lhasa causes a lot of problem for clients (e.g. lack of hotel accommodation; lack of seats on flight back to Kathmandu and the cost of extra airfare from Lhasa to Kathmandu. (Currently US$ 273 per person) All these extra charges have to be bourne by the client. It is obviously much more expensive and awkward to return to Lhasa rather than going on to Kathmandu. |
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| DRIVE then FLY | from Kathmandu to Lhasa | |
| EVERY SATURDAY | MARCH-APRIL-MAY-JUNE | |
| Day | Activity |
| SATURDAY | Drive from Kathmandu to Zhangmu (2500m) up the great gorge of the Bhote Kosi 130Km and about 9 hours |
|
| SUNDAY | Drive from Zhangmu to Xegar Dzong (4350m) | |
| MONDAY | Drive Xegar Dzong to Shigatse (3900m) via Sakya monastery. 244Km and about six hours |
|
| TUESDAY | Drive Shigatse to Gyantse (3950m) 60Km and about 1.5hours visit Tashi Lhumpo monastery |
|
| WEDNESDAY | Drive Gyantse to Lhasa (3650m) 261Km and about four hours visit the Kumbum |
|
| THURSDAY | In Lhasa: visit Barkhor and Jokhang |
|
| FRIDAY | In Lhasa: visit Drepung, Sera and the Potala palace |
|
| SATURDAY | Fly Lhasa to Kathmandu (1350m) across the Himalaya |
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| FLY then DRIVE | from Kathmandu to Lhasa | |
| EVERY SATURDAY | JULY-AUG-SEP-OCT-NOV | |
| Day | Activity |
| SATURDAY | Fly Kathmandu to Lhasa (3650m) | |
| SUNDAY | In Lhasa: visit Drepung; Sera; and the Potala Palace |
|
| MONDAY | In Lhasa: visit Barkhor and Jokhang |
|
| TUESDAY | Drive Lhasa to Gyantse (3950m) 261Km and about four hours visit the Kumbum |
|
| WEDNESDAY | Drive Gyantse to Shigatse: (3900m) 60Km and about 1.5hours visit Tashi Lhumpo monastery |
|
| THURSDAY | Drive Shigatse to Xegar Dzong (4350m) via Sakya monastery. 244Km and about six hours |
|
| FRIDAY | Drive Xegar Dzong to Zhangmhu: (2500m) with views of Mt Everest from near Tingri 244Km and about 6 hours visit Tashi Lhumpo monastery |
|
| SATURDAY | Drive Zhangmu to Kathmandu: (1350m) through the great gorge of the Bhote Kosi. 130Km and about eight hours |
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We do not attempt to offer the cheapest tours to Lhasa or any part of Tibet. We do
endeavour however, to offer the best! We do not skimp on the quality of vehicles, of food,
of local staff and suggestions regarding the number of days to make a journey ideal. The
Tibetan plateau is a hard environment it demands respect and it requires the best possible
travelling arrangements. That is what Arniko provides.
WHEN to travel?
to drive and fly
ravel to Lhasa, as for other parts of
Tibet, is dictated by weather and road conditions in general mid-March to mid-November is
best. Too early in the season means that roads may be disrupted by flooding and passes
closed by snow. Too late, and the cold of this high region becomes unacceptable. It takes
five or six days, depending on itinerary, to drive between Kathmandu and Lhasa. For this
reason, most people drive one way and fly the other segment.
Flying raises problems that are essentially bureaucratic! Airlines operating out of Lhasa tend to overbook so there are not sufficient seats on the plane even for clients holding confirmed reservations. This is particularly true during the peak season from July to mid-November. As a result, passengers sometimes cannot make on-going connections for days. A lot of unhappiness results!
