Oct 22, 2014. In Thamel, Trrip Planning for the Journey to Lhasa.

I paid a down payment, got passport copies and bought some passport photos ($5.00 for 24 photos) for my trip to Lhasa.  Lhasa was one of my prime destinations on this walkabout.

The overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa will take 7 or 8 days and will cross the Himalayas, reach elevations of 17,000 feet and ccver almost 1100 kilometers.

It will cross the Tibetan Plateau, stop at monestaries, go to the Tibetian Everest Base Camp and end with two days in Lhasa.  I will then fly back to Kathmandu.  The flight is very expensive.  The Chinese, who have occupied Tibet, charge very, very high fares for this route.  About the same distance as the flight I recently took from Ankara to Trabzon, but 9 times more expensive!!

National Geographic Travel offers a similar trip on the same route,  just in reverse from what I will do.

http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/peter-hillary-tibet-nepal/detail#sthash.LP5XVdzd.dpuf

National Geoggraphic Tours wants almost $9000.00 for their trip - but they have Sir Edmund Hillary's son as a guide and stay in deluxe 5 star accomodations.  I will have a Nepali or Tibetan guide, stay in a dorm or double room and ride in a van.  But it is still expensive.

From TripAdvisor:

“Lhasa, The Beautiful Paradise in the Earth”

Reviewed April 4, 2013 

Lhasa is rightly one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities in the world. This is not only because of its high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) which means remoteness and limited accessibility, but also because of its over 1,000 years' cultural and spiritual history which leaves an impressive heritage that has helped to create the romantic and mysterious Tibetan religion.

Different from the inland cities and other places in that high land, Lhasa is unique with an allure all of its own. In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. It is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The city has also been appointed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China. The splendor and grandeur of the Potala Palace remains a world-famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion in this region.

Potala PalaceAs the beautiful capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Lhasa is situated in the South Central part of the region, on the North bank of the Kyichu River in a mountain-fringed valley. This ancient sprawling city, settled 1,300 years ago, covers 30,000 square kilometers (11,583 square miles), with a population of 400,000, of which 87 percent are Tibetans. The urban population is 180,000.

Generally the period from March to October is the best time to pay a visit. Since the city is located at such a high altitude it is wise to be prepared before starting your journey. Generally speaking, due to the large temperature differences during any given day, warm clothes should be taken to keep away the cold. However, because it also receives a great deal of sunshine, sunglasses, suntan oil, and a sun hat are indispensable items if you're going anywhere in the area.

Currently there are three options to reach this mysterious high land, by plane, by road and by train.

One word of warning: although there is a gradually increasing tourism industry in Lhasa, it is a city with many difficulties yet to be overcome due to its unique location and geography. Please bear in mind that a visit to this area is more challenging than in any other part of China.

Despite this more and more people from every corner of the world are being attracted towards this vibrant city with its mysterious culture. Its unique scenery, long history, exotic culture, mystical religion and spectacular monuments will ensure your stay is unforgettable.

Visited May 2012

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