Tibet Tour Options

Photo/Jan Reurink

If you are planning a trip to the roof top of the world, Tibet, then you are probably trying to decide what sites are important to see and what experiences you don’t want to miss out on. When you take a tour to Tibet your Tibet tour operator will be able to tell you about all the options and your decision will probably be based on how much time you have, your budget and your interests. Here is a basic break down of the Tibet tour options.

All Tibet tours which pass through the capital of Lhasa will include a visit to the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple. The Potala Palace is a UNESCO site and was the official residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959. The Jokhang Temple is a sacred site and home to precious Buddha statues. While in Lhasa you can experience the unique Tibetan culture and see traditional handcrafts on Barkhor Street.

Tours to Tibet also include visiting several monasteries, each has its own unique features and highlights. Sera Monastery is famous for the daily monk debates; Drepung Monastery is recognizable by its grand white buildings and Tashilhunpo Monastery dates back to 1447 when it was founded by the first Dalai Lama. There are other monasteries which could also be included in your Tibet tour itinerary.

Tibet has the most pristine countryside in the world, with soaring snow capped mountains, rolling meadows, wild grasslands and crystal clear lakes. Many of the natural features of Tibet have spiritual connections with one of the region's religions for example Mount Kailash which is another of Tibet's top attractions. Mount Kailash is a good site to include in your Tibet tour if you are interested in the spiritual life of Tibet. The mountain is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Jain and the indigenous Bon religion. Travelers can join pilgrims on their religious trek around the base of Mount Kailash; the trek takes about 3 days and is believed to absolve believers of their sins. If you include a visit to Mount Kailash in your Tibet tour you can camp or stay in guesthouses and monasteries along the way. You will also get a chance to mix with the locals and join in their ritual. The other mountain which is a top attraction in Tibet is Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Unless you are a professional mountain climber you probably just want to get close to the iconic mount and enjoy the first leg of the climb up to the Mt. Everest Base Camp. Tibet tours can take you to the Mount Everest base Camp and include scenic routes, camping and trekking.

So when choosing what you will do on your visit to Tibet consider that you could take a Tibet tour which lasts from 5 to 20 days and you could include exploring the cities of Tibet as well as the countryside and natural beauty. There are also tours which include a visit to Tibet as well as other important cities in China like Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. To learn more about Tibet tours, please log on to this tour website for more info: www.tibetodysseytours.com