Chinese Yuan and US dollar are accepted in Tibet. However, the places which accept US dollars are very few. Visitors can change US dollars into Chinese currency in the Lhasa Central Branch Bank of China or at major hotels. Credit cards are not a recommended mean of payment in Tibet as the acceptance is very limited. Flights and hotels can not be paid using credit cards and they are also accepted at the Lhasa Central Branch Bank of China.
Tibet people are religious people and visitors may find their customs and practices are very different from that in the countries they come from. Although Tibet people are among the easiest to get along with in China but there are still some points you should be sensitive about when you travel there.
1. Do not photograph them without permission.
2. Do not talk the sensitive issues like politics &, religion.
3. Take your hat off when entering a chapel.
4. Do not take photos during a prayer meeting and in some larger monastery, you may need to pay a small fee for the privilege of taking a photo.
5. Do not touch or remove anything on an altar.
6. Do not wear shorts or short shirts in a monastery and do not smoke in a monastery.
7. Do not eat horse, donkey and dog when in Tibet.
8. Always walk around monasteries, piles of Mani stones, pagodas and other religious structures in a clockwise direction.
9. Never touch Tibetan People on the head.
Besides the detailed information given on what to pack, we suggest you bring some fresh fruit for your consumption, as upon arrival you might lose your appetite and this might be the only food you would like to eat.
It is recommended that one visits Tibet around May to July, and September to October. Lhasa, Tsetang and Shigatse are suitable for sightseeing tours all-year round. The harsh climate makes it unsuitable to visit the Everest Base Camp area from October to April. During winter, roads might be blocked by heavy snow in east Tibet and Ngari. While in August, heavy rainfall makes travel in those areas very difficult.
