Travel Budget for Tibet Visit Tibet on a Budget or Travel in Style

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Tibet

Traveling during the shoulder or low season, instead of , can save you money on accommodations and spare you the heavy tourist crowds.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport is the airport serving Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is located about 61 miles south of the city. Domestic airlines using the airport can operate flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing, Xian, Xining, Kunming, Diqing, and Chamdo Region. One international airline connects Lhasa to Kathmandu, Nepal. Buses at the airport can shuttle visitors to downtown Lhasa, taking about 40-60 minutes.

Tibet is also connected to other parts of China via railways lines. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs from Qinghai to Tibet with many stations in between including Delhi, Golmud, Amdo, Tanggula, Nagqu, and Damxung. The ride is very scenic, traversing plains, mountain ranges, rivers and lakes, grasslands, and densely populated cities.

As far as roads go, there are four leading into Tibet which roughly correspond to the cardinal directions.

All foreign visitors do need one or more permits to visit Tibet, so be sure to do your research on the necessary paperwork before setting out on your trip.

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Tibet is around $328 (¥2376) per person, with previous travelers spending from $70 to $1690. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Tibet are as follows:

• Breakfast: $33 to $98
• Lunch: $49 to $131
• Dinner: $98 to $229
• Coffee: $26
• Fast Food or Street Food: $49

Traditional Tibetan cuisine is largely limited to barley, meat (usually mutton or yak), and dairy products. Very few spices and vegetables are used in the cooking, though most dishes are served with a very hot chili sauce on the side. Tibetan restaurants also usually serve westernized food options, and there are an abundance of good Chinese restaurants as well. Tea houses, too, can be found just about everywhere, being a place where many locals come to sit down with friends. While larger towns and cities serve both sweet and salted teas, smaller villages only serve salted. As far as food and drink go, some Tibetan staples include:

Momos: dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, steamed or fried

Tingmo: bland, nearly tasteless steamed bread

Thukpa: a hearty noodle soup with vegetables or meat

Thenthuk: thukpa with handmade noodles

Yak butter tea: salty tea churned with butter, a Tibetan staple and usually an acquired taste for most Westerners

Chang: a Tibetan beer made of barley, light in flavor

Food & Dining Tips

Several hotels include breakfast with your stay, while others charge separately for it. The cost and quality can vary significantly depending on the hotel. Knowing this in advance can guide your budget decisions. It could be worth it for the tasty buffet available at the hotel, or you may wish to find a cheaper option at a local bakery or cafe.

Opt for a water bottle instead of constantly buying drinks. It's not only convenient but also eco-friendly.

If you're considering a tour, double-check which meals are included in the package. There may be instances where you'll have to pay for your own meals, potentially stretching your budget.

The countryside of Tibet is at the highest elevation in the world. The Himalayas gracefully sweep down its western border, while winding rivers snake through vast open plains. You can see a good sampling of Tibet's natural beauty at a place like Namtso Lake, the highest salt water lake in the world. Here, visitors and nomads enjoy the great plateau appeal of the lake with views of the snow-capped Thangula range in the north. While the natural sights of Tibet are an undeniable treasure, the region is most known for its holy places. Most of its cities, towns, and villages are centered on religion, with historic temples and monasteries being the focal point for all. Lhasa especially has many traditional buildings like Potala Palace which was home to the Dalai Lamas, Jokhang Temple built in 647 AD, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama, and Barkhor Street which is lined with traditional Tibetan architecture.

Samye Monastery, located in the Shannan prefecture, is also an important site as the first Buddhist Monastery in Tibet, while Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigatse is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. And then there is Rongbuk Monastery, one of the highest monasteries in the world, from which there are stunning views of Mount Everest.

Most people come to Tibet to experience its old world aura of traditional culture, devout religion, beautiful temples and monasteries, and bustling markets. One could spend days admiring the grandeur of the surrounding mountains, or getting lost in the sights and sounds of everyday life in the villages. With the entirety of Tibet being the highest place on earth, one truly feels closer to the heavens, rising above everything else and experiencing new ways of seeing the world.

If you seek a more guided understanding during your travels, there are many tour companies as well as local tour guides more than willing to share the world of Tibet with foreigners. Some offer tours of the region's hot spots, cultural sites and monasteries, while others cater to the surrounding countryside.

A nice way to explore destinations in Tibet is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

• From Shangri-La: Yubeng Village 4-Day Hiking Adventure for $969 details
• Shangri-La: 7-Day Shangri-La Adventure Tour for $1,899 details
• 9-Day China Tour With zhang jia jie And Guilin Lhasa for $5,290 details

Nightlife Tips

Nightlife is a blast when traveling, but scaling back on drinks can really help stretch your travel budget.