Is It Possible to Take a Solo Tour of Tibet

Taking a solo tour of Tibet can prove to be incredibly difficult. In this post, you can find out how to travel Tibet alone safely, as well as the best tips you need to know about a Tibetan solo tour.

It’s Impossible to Take a Solo Tour of Tibet without a Guide

You may be surprised to discover that it’s impossible to embark upon a solo tour of Tibet without a guide.

All travellers wishing to visit Tibet must have arranged their trip through a travel agency, and everything must be arranged in advance. Everyone wishing to visit Tibet must be fully equipped with a travel permit, a specific itinerary for your trip as well as a tour guide to accompany you.

One of our solo travellers took a photo with our local Tibetan guide.

There are a number of permits that you may be required to obtain, including the Tibet Travel Permit, Alien Travel Permit (depending where in Tibet you plan on travelling to), Military Permit and Foreign Affairs Permit.

It’s imperative that you have your travel plans in place well before your trip – it’s recommended that you contact the relevant local travel agency at least two months prior to your trip to finalise everything.

The Best Way Solo Travellers Can Visit Tibet

The aforementioned point above shouldn’t discourage you from visiting Tibet however.

If you still wish to visit Tibet alone, the best option is to join a Tibet group tour. This is considered to be the safest, most cost-effective and thrilling way to solo travel in Tibet.

Reasons to Join in a Tibet Group Tour

You’ll learn from other travellers by joining a group tour in Tibet. Each member of the group will bring a unique perspective on the trip and will also have many valuable skills.

Travellers had an incredible experience in our group tours.

A group tour to Tibet is also one of the safest ways to travel as there’ll be a larger group of people who will all stick together if any discrepancies occur.

Furthermore, it can also be considered to be much more cost-effective to travel as a group as the pre-arranged tour will see you stopping in specific places, so you can plan your budget more easily.

Recommend Tibet Group Tours for Solo Travellers

There are a number of excellent group tours to join in Tibet. You’ll get to experience incredible adventures, learn new skills and benefit from a wonderful group of people whom you will travel with.

A classic 4 days Lhasa city tour will see you starting and ending in Lhasa. This tour includes accommodation, an expert tour guide as well as meals and sightseeing opportunities.

The Everest Base Camp Tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp truly is one of the best group tours to join in Tibet. On this tour you’ll get to experience some stunning views of the Himalayas, a detailed exploration of Lhasa, as well as plenty of amazing cultural opportunities to discover!

The 15 days Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake Tour involves some of Tibet’s most incredible sights, as well as the chance to travel in a coach, Jeep and even 4 wheel drives. The tour guides are constantly on hand to ensure your trip runs smoothly and that you’re as comfortable as possible at all times.

Is It Safe to Take a Solo Tour of Tibet for Single Women Travellers?

Tibet is considered to be an extremely safe place for single women travellers. As every solo traveller is required to travel in Tibet with a guide anyway, you can expect a great level of safety as a solo female traveller.

There are of course a few anomalies, but Buddhism is a great influence almost everywhere in Tibet, so you can expect everyone to be very welcoming, free from theft and danger and also very respectful of women. Ensure you pay your respects to people and possessions in Tibet and you can expect a great deal of respect in return.

More Tips for Taking a Solo Tour of Tibet

Taking a solo tour of Tibet requires a lot of planning and preparation and there are a few top tips that you should know before embarking on a trip there.

Altitude Sickness

Most places in Tibet are over 3,000 metres; anything over this threshold is considered to be high altitude. Therefore, when planning a Tibet tour, you should be prepared to experience altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness is considered to be one of the biggest health risks to tourists travelling in Tibet. You may experience symptoms of nausea, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath.

One way to prepare for this is to remain as fit and healthy as possible before your trip so your body is able to fight the sickness. You can also take precautions such as drinking lots of water; eat plenty of carbohydrates as well as sticking to a slower pace when climbing and walking to help reduce the effects of altitude sickness.

Where to Stay

There are a number of stunning hotels and guesthouses to stay in during your visit to Tibet. If you are planning to join in a group tour in Tibet, you may need to share the room with another traveller, or you need to pay the single room supplement if you prefer to stay in one room by yourself.

Solo travellers may need to share the room with others when joining in a group tour in Tibet.

What to Eat

Tibetan cuisines are largely based on the natural resources available. With such high altitudes and severe climates, it can be hard to locate a vast range of food. Fear not, however, as there’ll still be plenty of options available to you.  In Lhasa city, there are not only restaurants offering Tibetan and Chinese dishes, but also some bars and cafes that provide western food as well as Nepalese food and Indian Food. When you travel outside Lhasa to the remote areas, such as Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash, there are few choices and most local restaurants just offering simple Chinese food.

What to Pack

While it’s usually always recommended to take as little as possible with you when embarking on a trip so that you’re not carrying heavy loads, the climate in Tibet often mean that you have to pack a variety of items to ensure you remain comfortable and warm.

Items you should pack for your trip to Tibet include plenty of warm socks, underwear and thermals. You should also bring ample jumpers and a heavy winter coat that’ll keep you warm at all times. Don’t forget to pack hats, scarves and gloves as well!

A solo tour of Tibet is an excellent adventure to go on; make sure you’ve carried out all the necessary research to make your trip a success.