China Travel Forum

[Jill]

we are in macau and looking to spend a month travelling through china and tibet then into nepal.
can anyone suggest any interesting routes? is it difficult to get into tibet? ie does it have to be with a tourguide?
any comments on cheap accomodation and living costs..,...... we are hoping to do this as cheaply as possible!

thanks in advance

[Samuel]

Its easy to get a permit for Tibet in Chengdu. Permit and one way flight is 1850 rmb. The price is about the same from Golmud (bus, 4 nights accomodation included). Cheapest places to stay in Lhasa is the Kirey (25 rmb for a bed in a triple) or Banak Shol (about the same price). Most people take a 1 week tour to the Nepali border visiting all the interesting towns and sights on the way. But its not that cheap.
The travelagency at the banak Shol regularly have empty 4wd going to the border to pick up tourgroups. They will sell you a seat for about 250-300 rmb, straight to the border. Another possibility is hitchhiking, but it can be a lot more timeconsuming. I must say 1 month for a trip in China and Tibet to Nepal is a very short trip.
You dont need to be in a group or have a tourguide when entering Tibet from mainland China.