Tips for Self-help Tour in Lhasa

Tips for Self-help Tour in Lhasa – Accommodation in Lhasa

The accommodation condition in Lhasa is well developed and tourists could always find different levels of hotels according to your own need. The star standard hotels, typical Tibetan style hotels and budget guesthouses were constructed to meet different demands of tourists. Tourists making a self-help tour in Lhasa should note that Lhasa is divided into the New City and the Old City. The hotels and guesthouses are more concentrated on Barkhor Street. It would be a good choice to choose a hotel there for its convenient transportation. The special teahouses and bars here provide tourists more chance to look into the daily life of the local Tibetans.

Tips for Self-help Tour in Lhasa – Transportation in Lhasa

Currently, there are four bus stations in Lhasa. Except for the city buses between the scenic spots in and around Lhasa City, there are also shuttle buses between Lhasa and Nyingchi, Shannan, and Shigatse. Tourists making a self-help tour in Lhasa could choose the public bus or the taxi as your transportation tool during your sightseeing in Lhasa. Lhasa City is not too big and the taxi cost to Drepung Monastery or Sera Monastery in the suburb of Lhasa would be quite affordable. For tourists willing to visit Shigatse, Shannan and Nyingchi, the shuttle bus would be a good choice for it is much cheaper compared to rent a private vehicle, especially in the peak season of Tibet tour. To cut down the budget, some self-help tourists would like to seek tourists with the same tour schedule in the guesthouses so as to share the vehicle renting cost together.

Tips for Self-help Tour in Lhasa – Delicious Specialties in Lhasa

There is a quite distinctive catering culture in Tibet. Tourists making a self-help tour in Lhasa could have a taste of the local diets in some recommended restaurants. The fried mutton chop, Tsampa, Tibetan oil tea, barley wine and yoghourt are typical dishes in Tibetan cuisine. Some of the tourists might not be able to get adapted to the local diet in Tibet for the beef and mutton take most part of the Tibetan cuisine. But tourists don't need to be over worried about the dietary problems since there are several other choices. Sichuan style food had been widely spread in Tibet. Besides, there are also special restaurants provide Nepali style food, Indian style food and western food.

Tips for Self-help Tour in Lhasa – Shopping in Lhasa

There are various local handicrafts with typical Tibetan style in Lhasa, including the wooden bowl, silver ball, thangka and carpet. The series of religious instruments, such as the prayer wheel, prayer wheel flags and some religious musical instruments also enjoy high reputation among tourists. Tourists making a self-help tour in Lhasa should note that Barkhor Street is the collection center of the artwares in Tibet and Barkhor Street has been the best shopping center for tourists willing to select some special souvenirs. Tourists are not advised to purchase some pretty expensive commodities on Barkhor Street. If you are eager to buy some high standard local specialties, you'd better go to the formal exclusive stores or supermarkets.