☆We have started arranging tour to Tibet 26th Mar, 2010

After a few weeks we have succesfully recived a few permits for travellers who is going to Tibet in a few days. So now we can arrange tour to Tibet again. Here at our hostel we have quite a lot of travellers who are looking for travel partners.

☆Tibet is going to open soon 18th Mar, 2010

We just heared from Lhasa that the Tibet Travel Bereau has started to issue permits for the travellers who enter Tibet after 29th of March. Now it is only 10 days to go. So it is about the time to start arranging the tour.

Most of the Tibetan areas in Northwest of Sichuan still remain closed. It said that Danba will be reopened around the 23rd of March. But we can help you to call the bus terminals or the local hostels to check the possibility if you want to go to other Tibetan areas in Northwest of Sichuan.

☆TAR is closed 8th March, 2010

We just got the information today from Lhasa. Tibet Tourism Bureau has already stopped issuing permit which allow foreign travelers enter to TAR. They does not say which day exactly Tibet will open again, but it is suppose to be around the end of March according to the situation of past a few years. We will update the information as soon as we have any news.

For the customers who has been trying to arrange trip to Tibet by email with us.
Customers who has already got the permit-You can carry on the trip to Tibet, and we are trying to complete the arrangement. But the situation in Tibet shoud be quite intense and it might affect your travel/stay.

Customers who has not got the permit yet-We are very sorry but we are not able to arraneg the tour. We hope you can postpone or change the plan. If you decided to cancel the trip this time, we discuss about how to transfer back the depoit and so on.

☆The procedure of getting permit is going to be tighten 5th Mar, 2010

At this time last year TAR has already closed, but luckily so far we haven't heard such news. But today we have got information that the Travel Department of TAR may tighten the procedure of getting permit. We might be asked to go through more offices to get the permit so it will take longer time. Or, we they may ask us to hand in more docments / information.

At the moment the information is not clear and we were told that wait until Monday (8th Mar). The goverment department is not working on weekend. The matter which is already confirmed is the chage for Singapore and Japanese passport holders, and it changed as follows.

For the people who come to China without appling visa, we need the entry stamp in your passport which you get at the immigration when you enter to China. Otherwise you have to show visa. That means if you need to leave to Lhasa in a few days after you arrived Chengdu, you have to apply visa and show it to us in advance. Otherwise we have to wait until you show the entry stamp and then start the application.

☆Maki and Ashley travelled in Tibet for two weeks 16th Nov - 2th Dec, 2009

Now it is winter here and low travel season. Most people think it is too cold to travel in Tibet, so we have less customers and less busy here. So, now it is finally our turn to travel around now! Myself (Maki) and one staff called Ashley went to Tibet for two weeks from 16th Nov to 1 Dec. We went together with 16 travellers from over the world, and had a wonderful time. And this is our itinerary. We updated our travel photos at here.

Our partners in Lhasa told us Tibet Tourism Bureau anounced today that no more permit will be issued till 9th of Oct, because of the restriction of foreign visiters to Tibet during National Day Holiday (1-8 Oct).

Now in this period we are still a ble to work out with your itinerary which is leaving after the holiday and wait for the Tibet Tourism Bureau start accepting the application again.

For the guest who has been keep in touch with us by e-mail...

The guest who have already obtained the permit --- You are allowed to enter TAR and we can continue your travel arrangement. But you might have some restrictions while you are travelling in Tibet and we would like you to follow the guide's request.

The guest who have not obtained the permit yet --- We are very sorry to tell you but we are not able to arrange your trip which is leaving before and during the holiday. We hope you can postpone your plan, and wait until they start accepting the application and try to get the permit as early as possible. Otherwise we have to discuss about the cancel fee and how to send back your depoist to you.

☆Recent situation 14th Sep, 2009

Our partners in Tibet called us and told that it is more strict for the Tibet Travel Bureau to issue the permit now. According to regulations and policies, it takes 5 work days to get the entry permit issued, we have had most of permits issued in 1 or 2 days in last 2 months for the people who have the tours to the places like Lhasa city, Gyantse, Everest Base Camp,
Nam tso and so on. And now, all the permits will be send to the cheif of a bureau for double checking after the basic officers' stamp. Also during the big holiday, the Tibet Travel Bureau might be on holiday. If you are plan for a tour near the holiday or during the holiday, please have it arranged as early as possible.

☆TAR is NOW OPEN 6th April, 2009

Now we are able to arrange trip to Tibet!

☆TAR is going to be closed during Mar 17th February , 2009

We just got the information today from our business partner, a travel agency in Lhasa that Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit would stop issuing to all foreign travelers at least from 1st March to 1st April. This means you are not able to travelin TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region). According to them, it is because of renovation of the travel facilities. And this period may change without notice so as soon as the date when the permit is to resume issuing is known, we will update this notice and let you know

So far there is no information about restrictions to visit Tibetan part of Sichuan Province. However, we have heard that the police may enforce martial law in Litang during Tibetan New Year.If you have any more information about Tibet, please speak to us.

☆Situation is still the same Janualy , 2009

Because of the influence of the rebellions happened in Lhasa and many places in Tibetan culutural area of Sichuan since March 2008, now travel in Tibet Autonomous Region is restricted and we are only able to arrange "Option 1".

☆We have already started the arrangement for foreign travellers 11 July , 2008

After Tibet reopened on 26th June, there have been already quite a few groups of tourists who left for Tibet from our hostel and came back without any trouble.

The train between ChengDu and Lhasa has already restarted running from 2nd July, its running time is as same as before, it departs once every other day and in case of July it leaves for Lhasa on date of even number. However, it is still very hard to obtain the train ticket.

Besides, it is still not allowed to visit Samye Kloster, Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery in Lhasa area.

Concerning to this time Tibet's reopening, it's quite strict for foreigners to travel to Tibet. In addtion to the previous conditions, some restrictions were added as followes:

1. Every member in a tour group must be the same nationality. If there is a member of different nationality in the tour group, as long as the person can prove the relationship, then he or she can join the tour.
2. A week is required to apply for and obtain the permit.

☆Tibet is open for foreign travellers 26 June , 2007

After waiting for long time, now Tibet Autonomy Region (TAR) is open for foreign travellers. Actually we have heard that it is open on 25th, but we were still not very sure. We asked a few travel agencies in Lhasa and some said they have recieved formal letter from Tibet Travel Bureau (TTB). And today we have succesed with applying TTB permit and our customer is flying to Lhasa on 28th. But the situation is still not very steady and we suppose Tibet will be open slowly and carefully. It is still not allowed to travel individually, and the way we are able to arrange trip is by "Option 1-2" type, "Option 3" is still not available. Please read here to know the details about these Options.

We also think Tibet area in Sichuan Province is also going to be open gradually, but at the moment we still think there are restriction in many places.

☆Situation in Lhasa is getting worse 14 Mar, 2008

Just now (14th Mar. about 16 o'clock), we got a news from Lhasa, saying that there is riots taking place in Lhasa. It seems quite serious and we heard that almost all the shops, restaurants and hotels were closed and there is no electrisity and food providing in some area at momennt. Also the area around Jokhang Temple and Barkor Street is controled by the army and nobody is allowed to enter the area.

Due to this circumstance, we've suspended our service of the third option trip to Lhasa (that is only to issue plane/train ticket and Tibet Permit to individual tourists). Because the latest detailed information about the situation in Lhasa is yet to come out, we still don't know how it can affect our service of the first and second option trip to Lhasa. We have to wait and see for some time how it will develop. If you know any information about this situation, please feel free to contact with us, and share with us!

As soon as we get new information from Lhasa, we will inform you of it.

Because of the demonstration which is happened in Depun Monastery on 10 Mar, now it became difficult to arrange tirp to Tibet by option-3. We will update the new information when we have more specific details and please ask our staff by e-mail.

According to information from our business partner travel agency in Lhasa, dated on 12 th March, due to the coming Olympic torch relay in Tibet, all of foreign tourists are not allowed to go to Everest Base Camp during March, April, and May. In addition to it, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in or around Lhasa are also subject to the list in which foreign tourists can't visit.

Because of the sudden change of situation in Lhasa, the third option of Lhasa trip (that is only to issue plane or train ticket and Tibet Permit to individual tourists) is suspended for uncertain time until the current situation in Lhasa improves. However, it is still possible for you to use the first and the second option to go traveling to Lhasa.

☆Travelling Restriction happning again Oct , 2007

TTB started to control travelling of individual backpakers in Tibet again since 10 Oct. We have not heard details about the reason but it seems because of political problem. In the beginning we were told that the restrictoin will finish around the end of this month, but it is still continuing. So at the moment we are still not able to able to arrange trip in Lhasa by "Option 3" and we can help you to arrange "Option2-3" type. Please read here to know the details about these Options.

☆Travelling Restriction Sep , 2007

Since Chinese National Holiday is approaching, the TTB office will be closed or only have someone on duty very short. So it will be difficult to deal with the Tibet Entry Entry around the holiday . If you are travelling during the holiday, please arrange things in advance .Most placese will be croweded and things are expensive during the holiday.

☆Changing Train at XiNing Aug, 2007

Now if you take train from ChengDu to XiNing, you need to change a train. Railway staff take all of the passengers to the another train but same berth and same number.

☆Worried about Tibet things Aug 9th, 2007

Recently, there are some news related Tibet (bad news): Some Tibet free activities happend in China . We worried these activities will bring troubles to our traveller who are interested in Tibet trip and only purpose to Tibet is for Travelling.

Right now, it goes as usaul. But ,Please be prepared if there is any suddenly change which will stop your trip.

☆ Getting Permit during the Festival Aug 9th, 2007

There is a big, important festival on Aug 12 - Shoton Festival

The TTB officer will only work very short time per day till 21 of Aug. While there are many people waiting for it, so during next week, we may be NOT able to get the permit on time as usual (normally 2 working day).

Furthermore, you will also have same problem when travel agency deal with the Travel Permit for you in Lhasa.

☆ Change Train in Xining July 24th, 2007

Now if you take a train from Chengdu to Xining, you have to change seat at Xining. Because the train is very crowded dring summer holiday, they Railway Dep is trying to increase the seat. When the train stopped at the Xining Train Station, the train man will take you to the other train. You will get the same number's berth/seat in the different train.

☆ POTALA PALACE ENTRANCE TICKET July, 2007

Now it is getting very hard to get the entrance ticket and you can only spend 2 hours there (and only 1 hour for tour group). Only 2300 people allowed visiting POTALA PALACE per day.

☆Our recent experience about Tibet Entry Permit July, 2007

The situation has come down. But we worried that there will be some changes later.

We normally need at least 2 working days to deal with Tibet Entry Permit. Our guests can get on plane from Chengdu ShuangLiu Airport with the copy of the Permit which is hold by our driver. But during these days, we found that there are problems sometimes when you check in at airport if driver do not have original permit. Finally, our guests get on plane without delay or change. But there are guests who take flight to Lhasa from other place got problem and were delayed.

It takes around another 2 days to send original Permit by mail to ChengDu. Even you booked earlier, TTB accept the application when the date is getting very close, and they don't accept early arrengement. So we worried about there maybe suddenly change. Such as taking more days to deal with the permit, or change of the application procedure, etc.

We will NOT hold any responsibility due to the changes (or suddenly changes), even you make booking earlier.

Thanks for your kind understandings.