China Travel Forum

[Marguerite]

Hello.

Has anyone used CITS Shigatse (in Lhasa!), across the street-ish from Snowlands? I was quoted a price of 3500 yuan for a low season Land Cruiser trip to Yamdrok Lake (sp?), Gyatse, Shigatse, EBC, and to the border.

Everything sounds good, permit included, they pay the fee if we are checked for permits we don't have (they said there is no checking in winter for the most part), insurance, etc.

At Snowlands, we were quoted 4000 yuan by a sort of rude guy who claimed to have 20 years of experience and warned us off other agencies, though not necessarily the CITS one, which I thought was gov't run so reliable.

I have heard stories of people who've had problems in the past, so I'd like to make sure I can go with the cheaper agency.
thabks in advance.

[Aliya]

Hello

last year I got to Lhasa without a permit. I told him I just bought a train ticket and came, and he said he'd heard of a few people doing that, but in summer high season, there is much more rigorous checking.

I think he was trying to scare me into taking his service or maybe he doesn't know what's going on. I have yet to meet anyone in Lhasa with a permit. I almost feel like I'd be pretty lame if I actually had one.

have a good journey.