Tibet at a glance

Location : Asia
Area : 471,700sq. Miles Border 2.5 million sq. km, appro. The size of Western Europe.

Terrain : 70% Grassland, from high plateau to tropical forest.

Climate : Average temperature 28 degrees Celsius (Summer) – 15degrees Celsius (in which), extremely dry except during raining season (July- August)

Population : 2.62 million

Ethnic groups : Ethnic Tibetans, Menba, Lhoba, Mongols, Hui and a growing number of Han Chinese.

Religions : Tibetan Buddhism, and Animism
Culture: Wedding, Funeral
Languages: Tibetan, Chinese
Festivals: Tibetan New Year, shoton festival, Bathing Festival
Currency: Chinese Yuan Renmindi (CNY)
Time: Local Time = UTC + 8h6

Tibet has long been known as the Roof of the world. It is in the south western part of China bordering India, Bhutan, Sikkim Nepal. The region is full of spectacular skylines of majestic mountain peaks, breathtaking canyons, scattered highland lake, rolling pasture & farm land & pristine forests. The population of the region consists mostly of Tibetans, Monbans & Lhobans cultivating for centuries very unique ethnic traditions & glorious cultures unseen any where else. This is a land of enduring enchantment & tantalizing mystery.

For centuries, Tibet has fascinated mankind. This land beyond the mighty Himalayas on the highest plateau of the world, was hardly accessible to the outside world. Maya Holidays, a leading Tibet tours & treks operator offers its various fascinating packages for you to experience & make that one dream that you have always cherised -to come true.

First & foremost, all visitors traveling to Tibet are kindly requested to have the understanding that Tibet being extremely remote & isolated by the formidable Himalayan ranges still remains one of the most captivating but least developed parts in the world. Within its very short history of tourism the facilities provided to visiting tourists are still at basic and limited scale. So the visitors are requested not to have high expectations in terms of facilities in Tibet. However we will always put in all our efforts to make your visit as pleasant as possible. The roads, especially the highway from Kathmandu can be rough & is subject to blockages due to land slides & floods & the high altitude does pose a serious threat to quite a few people. The average altitude of the Tibetan plateau is 4000m above the sea level & that is a lot higher than most people have been in their lives.

Highlights: Lhasa’s Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor market, the Norbulingka (The Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace), Drepung and Sera monastries. In Shigatse the Tashilhunpo monastry. In Gyantse the dramatic fort and Kumbum. Astounding scenery and wild nomads herding yaks.

Tibet one of those extraordinary destination where indeed adventure lurks around every corner! Adventure on the road is never short on the beautiful Trans himalayan drive, through mountain, passes, promising a panorama of a cultural and scenic diversity unsurpassable anywhere. It culminates on an arid plateau - a veritable treasure trove of architectural masterpieces -the Buddhist monasteries of Drepung, once the largest in the country The Jhokhang - a spiritual center, and the awesome palaces of the Dalai Lama - Norbulinga (the summer palace) and the Potala (the traditional seat). Ancient Barkhor Bazaar still barters the bric—a—brac, in a region that’s not so much a little strange as utterly surreal.

Pilgrimage to Mansarovar and the Holy Mt. Kailash claimed to be the apex of the Hindu religious axis is also one of the highest mountain in Tibet at 22,022 feet, and Lake Mansarovar at 14,950 feet is said to be the highest fresh water lake in the world. Certainly a difficult region to reach due to the variable and extreme weather conditions. The distance from Lhasa for example is approximately 2000 km.

Only during the last few years have lots of ordinary and not so ordinary travelers, been able to experience this region. Road conditions are difficult much of the time and we have to make many preparations to ensure that we have a reasonable chance of reaching Kailash. We need to bring our own food and camping equipment. Basic lodges and teahouses can be found but the plateau is so remote that it is possible to travel for several days without finding food available.