Tibet Travel Newsletter (2009)
Here is some Tibet travel information we updated from time to time:
1. The downgrading of accommodation in this April in Tibet has been recovered since May. Now it is cleaner, more comfortable and service is better.
2. The entrance ticket of Potala Palace remains unchanged at 100CNY/p.p. Starting from May 01, it is necessary to book it in advance.
3. Zhangmu was reopened in end of May and since then, there have been a large number of Indian and Nepalese tourists entering into Tibet for the yatra trip of Sacred Mountain and Holy Lake in Ali (Ngari) Prefecture, which caused a jump in the cost of car rental.
4. The train tickets have been very tight since this summer vacation, especially for that from Xi’ning, Xi’an, etc. Tourists are advised to take the returning train out of Lhasa if possible to help secure the sleeper tickets.
5. Normally speaking, it is not a problem to stay overnight at Namtso Lake though the condition there is poor. But it is little bit noisy at night due to the dogs’ bark. The new road to Namtso was completed and it now takes about 4.5hrs for one-day drive between Namtso and Lhasa with the speed limit.
6. Since June 25, it has been raining in the Lhasa region. But just like all other places in Tibet, the raining usually happens at night and in the early morning only.
7. The horse trek at the Mozhugongka county can be added easily to most tours now. It can be completed within one day, i.e. Lhasa-Horse Trek-Lhasa.
8. This year's Shoton Festival is from Aug 20-26.