Tibet Transport (5)

Route

Kunming (397 km)-Xiaguan (14 km)-Dali (166km)-Lijiang(145km)-Zhongdian (152 km)-Deqen (103 km)-Yanjing (1ll km)-Makam (359 km)-Baxio (450 km)-Nyingchi (420 km)-Lhasa .

The best season
August to October is the best season for driving on Dian-Zang Road.

Transportation guide

There is no bus to Tibet and the shuttle buses only reach Diqin in the Diqin Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, tourists to Lhasa have to ask a lift by passing-by trucks here. Or you can take a coach bus at Kunming Bus Station to Xiaguan, then from Xiaguan to Zhongdian where there is a regular bus to Diqin every two days, and then try to get a lift to Makam. Since there are fewer vehicles from Diqin to Makam, you'd better take a bus to Yanjing and the lifts from Yanjing to Makam are easy to find.

Tips

1.Visitors coming to the plateau for the first time are advised to start taking medicine a fortnight before arrival to prevent altitude sickness. Medicine capsules called Gao Yuan An have an instant effect. It's also a good idea to reduce your exercise and rest as much as possible until you have adapted to the plateau.

2. Warm clothing, including a weatherproof coat, will be needed even in summer.

3. Tibet is one of the last few "Pure Lands" in the world. Please help to protect the natural environment and don't discard your waste, especially batteries. Don't harm the wild plants or animals.

Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway (Lhasa--Zhangmu Friendship Bridge—Kathmandu)

The Friendship Highway starts from the capital of Nepal—Kathmandu, traverses Hangmu Friendship Bridge( SinoNepal Friendship Bridge) at Kodari to Neyalamu County in Tibet and crosses Shigatse-- the second largest city of Tibet to the capital of Tibet—Lhasa. It covers a distance of more than 900 km. After entering the border at Zhangmu, passing Neyalamu and Tingri, enjoying the grand Himalayas and driving another 75 km, you'll reach Lhase. Lhasa is in the east while passing Samsang, Zhongba or Cuoqing and Gaize ,in the west is Ali. Most tourists will choose Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway and Qinghai—Tibet Road as the main road into Tibet.

Route:

Lhasa(337km)—Shigatse(157km)—Lhaze(75)—Xegar(NewTingri)(60km)—OldTingri—Neyalamu(30km)—Zhangmu Friendship Bridge(Kathmandu)

The best season

Influenced by the south-east monsoon and north-west cold current, the climate in the area of Mt. Everest is changeable. The best season for trekking and climbing is from early March to late May, or from early September to late August, when it is warmer. Starting from Lhasa, driving along Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway, traversing Gyantse and Shigatse to Xegar (New Tingri) (which will take a car two days to cover the 670km), then driving down the simple-built highway about 110 km, you'll reach the end of Rongbuk glacier—Rongbuk Monastery which is on the north side of Mt. Everest.

Transportation guide

The road from Chusul to Shigatse is poor bituminous road. From Shigatse, the road is paved with small stones and it's impassible for cars to get into Jiatsuo La Mountain in raining seasons.

Tips

1. For those who first come to the plateau, it's advisable to take certain medicine half a month in advance. There is a capsule for mountain sickness which is called "Gao Yuan An" and it can produce instant effect. Before you adapt to the plateau, you'd better exercise less. Besides, you should take heavy coats with you even in summer.

2. Tibet is one of the last few "Pure Lands" in the world. Please help to protect the natural environment; Don't discard your waste; Don't do something harmful to the wild plants or animals.