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Trekking in Tibet
[WTN-L World Tibet Network News. Published by The Canada Tibet Committee. Issue ID: 01/08/26; August 26, 2001.]
Our Lonely Planet Experts Answer Your Travel Queries
Tom Hall and Rachel Suddart
Sunday August 26, 2001
The Observer - Travel
Letter of The Week
Can you recommend a trekking company with a good reputation for travel in Tibet? And is it possible to cross the Tibet/Sikkim border and travel to Lhasa from the Chumbi Valley?
Chris Hale, by email
You can gain access to Tibet via the Friendship Highway between Kathmandu and Lhasa, and to get a Tibetan entry permit for this route you must be part of an organised tour from Kathmandu. It's also possible to trek from Humla in Nepal to Mount Kailash, but you must be part of a trekking group with special permission from Chinese authorities to cross the border. You can't cross from Sikkim into Tibet. From the UK, Himalayan Kingdoms (01453 844400) runs several treks to Tibet, with prices starting at £2,835. Try also KE Adventure Travel (017687 73966) which offers a good variety of trips. If you want to organise your trek in Tibet, standards of service can fluctuate wildly between agencies; shop around to be confident of a good deal. Generally, you'll get better service if you organise a Tibet trek in Kathmandu. Nepal's capital is currently calm, but check the latest situation with the Foreign Office (020 7008 0232) before travelling.