How to Find Luxury Hotels in Tibet

Tibet is an autonomous region of China famous for its ancient history, Buddhist culture and breathtaking mountains that soar up into the clouds. The country is broken up into seven prefectures, the most famous of which is the capital of Lhasa. Follow these steps to find luxury accommodations in Tibet.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Special Tibet travel permit
• Passport
• Visa
• Travel permits for interior of Tibet
• Computer with Internet access

Choose Your Lodging in Tibet

1. Decide where you want to stay during your visit in Tibet. Luxury accommodations can be found in many cities besides Lhasa, including Gyantse and Xigatse. To book accommodations, contact the China Tibet Tourism Bureau at 011 ([phone]/6834315 or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

2. Book your lodgings in Lhasa well in advance of your trip. There are only about 10,000 hotel rooms in Lhasa, and with the influx of tourists to this area, the rooms are always full.

3. Pay a visit to the Banyan Tree Ringha in the Yunnan Province of China (part of greater Tibet). The unique accommodations in Shangri-La, offered as lodges, are actual Tibetan farmhouses complete with intricate wood carvings that reflect the Tibetan culture.

4. Find luxury accommodations in the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley. The valley is home to many Tibetan relics, such as a 7th-century monastery and the first palace built for a Tibetan king.

5. Start on the path to enlightenment. Some working monasteries in Tibet offer accommodations for tourists who want to experience the life of a Buddhist monk. While not conventionally luxurious, these monasteries offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you're serious about exploring your spiritual side.

Arrange Transportation to Tibet

1. Fly into Chengdu Airport in the Sichuan Province of China. Take a flight from Chengdu to Lhasa.

2. Consider train travel from Chengdu to Lhasa, the capital city.

3. Utilize jeep tours to get around Tibet. Let the tour guides handle the necessary paperwork to travel around the region.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• Obtain special paperwork to fly into Tibet during your layover in Chengdu. Travel into Tibet after June 26 requires special paperwork that can be handled in Chengdu hostels.

• Simplify your Tibetan travel planning by joining a tour group. Many of the special permits required for travel to Tibet will be handled through the tour group, or can also be handled through a travel agency.

• Obtain a special permit to visit Tibet from the Tibet Tourism Office. The office also sends out notices to the public about what is going on in Tibet, and when not to visit due to overcrowding because of increased tourism.