4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour

I did the Lhasa city tour with Tibet Vista and loved the experience. The time was short but it was jam packed with attractions. Our guide, Jinmei, was very knowledgeable on Tibetan culture, history, and religion. He gave interesting and educational commentary at every attraction we went to. There wasn't any forced shopping, and the restaurants we went to had very authentic Tibetan food. The driver was professional and the rides were comfortable. Tibet Vista is a very reputable and professional company and they made my trip as seamless as they could.

Pros: 1) They were very responsive and helpful before the trip. I was able to make adjustments to our plan (after I messed up our plane tickets). 2) We were in Nepal over a holiday and also had limited time to work with the company for our Tibet Visa. I was also very nervous about handing over my passport while traveling and not having it with me around Nepal. The company followed through on everything they said. A representative met us at our hotel on a Sunday morning during a holiday to collect our paperwork. The company kept in touch with me while in country during the visa process. Our passports and visa were ready to pick up when and where agreed. 3) Payment was not a big thing. Obviously we paid for our trip but only had to pay a deposit up front. We paid for the visas once in Nepal and didn’t pay the balance of our trip until we were in Tibet. This always makes me feel better. We were picked up in Tibet at the airport as promised and taken to our hotel. 4) Our tour groups were small. Cons: 1) We had a different tour guide every day. This led to last minute changes in schedules that did not reflect our agreed to itinerary, the guide often not knowing who did what the day before or who was with who, and a repeat of information. Two of our three guides were often on their cell phones and did not provide particularly good tours. 2) When the schedules were changed, none of the guides provided that information in advance so the group could make the appropriate changes. As an example, one day we didn’t have lunch and we walked to the first several sights but were not told this until after we had left for the day. 3) The tour days were very short, about 9 am to 3 or 4 pm, without any advice or guidance on other things to do or go (even when asked). 4) Our hotel was a large industrial tour hotel. It was so chilly I slept in my sleeping bag and the breakfast was the worst I have ever had – EVER. Overall assessment: Our travel documents were in order, we got in and out of Tibet and we were able to see Potala Palace – which were the most important things. Everything before we arrived in Tibet was outstanding. Once in Tibet the organization and guides were mediocre at best.

Traveling with our two adult sons, we opted for the private small group tour that could accommodate our timing. Between us, we held four different kinds of visas; Lycoris and her Tibet Vista colleagues were helpful and encouraging throughout the cumbersome travel permit process. They promised the permits would come through, and they did...four days before our trip to Lhasa was to begin! Our guide Norbu and driver (Gongga?) met us at the airport and were wonderful, from the first lovely greeting with water and ceremonial white scarves to the final hugs goodbye. We did the standard Lhasa itinerary, including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera monasteries, with various sights around town thrown in for good measure. Norbu is warm, wise, timely and attentive. We couldn't have hoped for a better guide. He has a deep knowledge of his Tibetan culture and was eager to share it with us. He was also a very good sport about our endless questions and made wonderful recommendations about how we might use our "spare time" when we weren't on the official itinerary. We leapt at every opportunity to eat in small Tibetan spots, chatting up the locals who were delighted with our VERY rudimentary efforts to speak some Tibetan and happy to have visitors. All four of us came away with a deep appreciation for the people and the place. Truly a remarkable visit. Thank you, Tibet Vista and especially Norbu, for making it come alive for us!