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>>Tourism & Travel

To start off, if you're thinking about visiting Tibet, we would advise you to buy a Travel Guide- especially for solo travellers, or anyone not travelling in a tour group. These will contain all the details about Visas, documents, tourist offices and currency. The Lonely Planet guide to Tibet is highly recommended, while others have also recommended the Footprint guide.

Many people dismiss the idea of going to Tibet as an act of protest against Chinese rule. Whilst this has admirable sentiments, in all honesty, they're missing out. Tibet is an amaing country, but unforunately many who enter sense a sadness, that something isn't right. It is strongly reccommended to all to visit Tibet- but if you do so, please remember to be responsible.

Advice for Travellers in Tibet

• Respect the Chinese authorities- we're not saying you have to like or agree with them, but remember, the Chinese authorities have extremely short tempers, so if you agitate them, prepare to face the consequences. Those who are pro- Free Tibet must be careful wwho they discuss it with, and preferably avoid it completely. Exhibitions of opposition are generally futile. One tourist unfurled a Tibet flag at Lhasa airport, causing her whole group to be arrested, and resulting in the travel agents who had arranged her trip being shut down. Remember, your actions could have consequences on others
• Be responsible with your litter- Tibet has enough environmental problems thanks to the CCP- don't exacerbate them. Support environmentally-responsible initiatives whenever possible
• Begging- always a controversial topic. Some argue that its best not to give to beggars, as you'll encourage them. But will abstaining from giving actually top them? We would advise against giving out randomly, as this will encourage those who are not begging already to beg. Do not give out medicines- this discourages people from seeking out proper advice and you don't know how people might react to unfamiliar chemicals. If you wish to give something to beggars, pens are always good- especially due to the very low literacy rates- hopefully this can encourage literacy. It is probably more worthwhile to give the money to an established and commended charity in the region.
• Patronise Tibetan-owned restaurants, shops, hotels & businesses. Most of the development of Tibet has only benefitted the Han Chinese authorities and settlers, so spread the wealth to the Tibetan population whenever possible.
• Do not buy skins, furs or leather made from endangered animals
• Monastery admission fee money goes straight to the local authority. If you wish to give to the monastery, give money to a monk, or leave it on an altar.
• Be careful when buying Thangkas (Tibetan paintings) or relics- if it looks old, it might have been stolen from a temple.
• Do not hand out pictures of the Dalai Lama- you and the recipitent especially could get into serious trouble.
• If staying at a monastery, always pay, even if you are not asked to do so.
• Always act respectfully in a monastery or temple- i.e. don't talk too loudly or disturb the monks or nuns, turn your phones on silent etc. Preferably, do not use flash for photos, as this can damage paintings. Contrary to popular belief and customs in Nepal and India, you do not have to remove your shoes when entering a temple or chapel.
• Circumambulate (walk clockwise around) all chortens, statues, buildings unless it is a Bon monastery or temple, in which case walk anticlockwise.
• In certain places it is advisable not to eat meat- for example, in Tingri a village on the road to Lhasa from Nepal, meat was strung outside gathering dust, dirt and flies. You're less likely to get ill from vegetables than meat.
• Do not take photographss of someone if they don't want you do
• Yak butter tea, whilst loved by Tibetans, is an aquired taste, and there's a good chance you'll get diarrhoea after drinking it. You have been warned.

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