China Travel Forum

[lock]

In 5/2004 I have traveled by jeep from KTM to Lhasa. The trip was 4 nights, 5 days and included accomodation. For 150$ I got the trip + a "group visa" (for 1 person) for 28 days. So, after the 5 initial days I was free to go around.
This time (8/2005) I came to KTM hopeing to find the same deal. Alas, conditions have changed: The visa is only for 15 days and the "orgenized trip" is for 7 nights- 8 days (The additional 3 days are spent in Lhasa which one can do by himself) and the lowest price I got is 230$ + 26$ for the visa (total:256$).
I realy wanted to go to Lhasa and from there orgenize a group to go to Kailash. Now I don't know what to do. I can go to Kailash with a group from KTM but that's too expensive - 1000$ to 1600$ are the prices I was quoted for 2 weeks. If I go to Lhasa (256$) there is the visa problem (not long enough) and it's a "blind shoot": I may or may not find there partners for the trip, and I don't know the cost.
my main question is : what would you recommend and can any one out there give me some more information to help with my decision????

[Assin]

Right now the situation is not in your favour. The Chinese is preparing the 40 years celebration of the TAR and therefor the situation is a bit tricky. Several posts during the last week tells a story of very strict control and maybe not getting permits and so on.