Why only two guests?+
Because every compromise in this kind of travel traces back to group size. Two guests means one vehicle configured as a lounge rather than a shuttle, a departure time set by you, a stop whenever the light is worth it, and a guide who is attending to two people rather than managing a crowd. It also means we cannot absorb a third booking to rescue the economics, which is why the price is what it is.
What is included in the price of USD 4,980?+
All permits, your licensed Tibetan guide, driver and private vehicle, accommodation at the properties named in the itinerary, entrance fees along the route, oxygen and monitoring equipment, provided high-altitude parkas, and internal transport across Tibet. Excluded: international and domestic flights to Lhasa, travel insurance, and personal spending. The figure is per person and does not vary with the season.
What is the permit process, and do you handle it?+
Foreign travellers cannot apply for a Tibet Travel Permit themselves — only a licensed agency can, and it is what allows you to board a flight or train to Lhasa. We arrange it, along with any supplementary permits your route requires. You send a scan of your passport and China visa roughly three weeks before departure; a standard itinerary takes about 7 to 10 working days to process, and restricted routes take longer. You need a Chinese visa first; the permit is a second and separate document.
How do you manage altitude?+
By pacing, primarily. The first two days in Lhasa at 3,650 metres are deliberately unstrenuous, the ascent to 5,200 metres is gradual, and the second half of the trip descends. Medical-grade oxygen and twice-daily blood-oxygen and heart-rate monitoring support that structure. What oxygen does not do is replace acclimatisation — if symptoms worsen the correct response is to descend, and we will make that call rather than push on.
What fitness level is required?+
Less than most people assume. This is a road-based expedition: you walk monastery courtyards, stairs and short level paths, and you are never asked to trek. Tolerance for reduced oxygen matters far more than fitness, and the two correlate only loosely — very fit travellers sometimes struggle because they push too hard on the first day. If you can spend a couple of hours on your feet comfortably at home, the itinerary is within reach.
Is Tibet safe for travellers?+
For the large majority, yes. Violent crime and theft are very low, and the genuine risks are environmental rather than social — altitude first, then intense high-plateau sun, long mountain drives, and remote stretches where medical facilities are limited. Lhasa and Shigatse have hospitals experienced in altitude-related illness; away from the towns, the realistic response to a serious problem is descent.
Which nationalities can visit Tibet?+
Most nationalities can, travelling on a licensed guided tour with a Tibet Travel Permit. The permit is applied for against your passport and China visa, and a small number of passport types and visa categories complicate or preclude a standard tourist application — journalist and diplomatic passports in particular are handled through an entirely separate process. Tell us your nationality and visa type at the enquiry stage and we will confirm before you commit to anything.
Will I really have internet at 5,200 metres?+
Usually, and we build for it — bonded 5G and satellite hybrid routers travel with the vehicle. We will not promise an unbroken connection on every remote stretch, because no operator can honestly make that promise on the plateau. What we can say is that connectivity is treated as core infrastructure rather than an amenity, and that if a call genuinely cannot wait we will plan the day around where the signal is strongest.
Can I extend or customise the itinerary?+
Yes, and it is easiest before the permit application is submitted rather than after. The permit is issued against a specific route and specific dates, so changes made early are straightforward and changes made after issue generally require a fresh application. Extensions toward Namtso, Mount Kailash or overland into Nepal are all possible with the appropriate additional permits and lead time.
Can a solo traveller book, or two couples travel together?+
A solo guest is welcome and pays the per-person rate. Two guests is the standard configuration and the maximum for a single departure — two couples would require two vehicles and two guides running in parallel, which we will quote as such rather than quietly consolidating you into one group. If you want four people moving together, say so and we will price it honestly.
Do you accommodate corporate groups or team retreats?+
Not in the usual sense. The two-guest ceiling is the product, so a team retreat becomes several parallel expeditions rather than one larger one — which is workable, and which we will price transparently, but it is a different proposition from a conventional group booking. If you are considering it, start the conversation early: parallel departures need more lead time on permits and vehicles.
What is your cancellation policy?+
The full terms — deposit, balance schedule and cancellation windows — are set out in writing in your proposal before any payment is taken, and we will not ask for money before you have read them. Two things are worth knowing up front: the permit is issued against fixed dates, and Tibet can close to foreign tourists at short notice, most often around late February into March. We therefore advise against non-refundable international flights until your permit is confirmed.
