Highlights Of Tibet

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Wendy Harding

  HIGHLIGHTS OF TIBET

  

  Written April 2010

  An amazing experience full of memorable highlights. The visual and emotional overload made possible by the enthusiasm of the guides and drivers. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Looking at Mt Everest, the highest mountain, with my own eyes.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Lakpur was exceptional.  He so wanted you to make the most of every moment.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Do not miss the opportunity to be a part of an amazing experience.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Just go for it while you can.

   
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  Louise Turner

  HIGHLIGHTS OF TIBET

  

  Written August 2009

  A fantastic trip with stunning Himalayan views, long scenic drives and a vast array of Buddhas and prayer flags. If you like the idea of visiting Buddhist monasteries, book now - you will see plenty! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were two. The first was dancing by the fountains in the rain at night in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa with Chinese music playing across the square.  The second, and my personal favourite, was seeing Everest in the moonlight from Base Camp in Tibet.  Everest had been shrouded in cloud at the various view points where we could have seen it during the day, so when the clouds cleared at night under the full moon, the view was all the more magnificent! I woke up everyone in my room and we all went outside in the middle of the night to gaze at it! I also should mention the stunning scenery in Nepal. When you cross over the mountain checkpoint, coming back into Nepal from Tibet, you will get to see the most amazing views of lush green foothills and waterfalls. It's not to be missed.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Keshar is fabulous. Knowledgeable, funny, chatty and would bend over backwards to help you. On one occasion, he trekked back from Base Camp on his own to search for a camera which one of the group had lost - which was like looking for a needle in a haystack - but nothing was too much for him (plus he found the camera!). When a minivan got stuck in the mud on the Tibetan plateau, and we couldn't pass them on the road,  he took control and organised a team of guys to get stones under the wheels to get it shifted. When we were waiting to eat in restaurants, he would keep us amused with silly tricks and liked to organise impromptu sporting contests whene we stopped the cars to take pictures. 10 out of 10. Great guy.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Yes. Take dry hand wash. Some of the toilet facilities are extremely basic with no running water - I would have been lost without it. For the same reason, you may want to consider taking some Immodium for the nights at Base Camp and the final night in Tibet. All other nights - the accomodation is fine. Tibet was not nearly as cold as I'd expected. During July/August, it's more important to have a waterproof than your thermals. There are also very long drives on several of the days - so take a good book or an iPod - it can get quite bumpy so having a snooze is not always an option!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If you want to see Tibet and experience their way of life - this trip is for you. If Everest is your main reason for going, I would probably suggest one of the other Exodus trips that are based purely on the Nepal side. I haven't really mentioned Kathmandu - where you'll spend 3 nights -it's a fascinating place -  a sensory overload of smells and noises and I wish we'd had more time to explore it!

   
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  Chris Green

  Breathlessly Breathtaking

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The friendliness of the Tibetan people. They have obviously been through a vast amount over recent times but I didn’t see or meet any Tibetans who weren’t happy that we were there. For the most part they were as inquisitive of us as we were of them: easy to laugh at our quite rubbish attempts at speaking Tibetan; shy at times, openly eager to engage and teach at others; respectful and dignified at all times. An absolutely remarkable people.

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Ahhh Prem: fantastic guide. I have only been on a handful of trips like this but even from my limited experience can safely say that Prem was something special. Good humoured, patient, conscientious to a fault, knowledgeable and eager to make sure his party got where they needed to be in one piece. A prime example of this was on our last day in Tibet, driving down a wet and muddy Friendship Highway towards the Nepalese border. It was raining and getting late and we found one stretch of the road ‘under repair’: a bulldozer was busy trying to push rocks into large potholes in the road to allow the large convoy of Landcruisers to get through. Prem decided that the machinery was working too slowly and moved some rocks into place himself!! We were soon under way again.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  - Although the food is cheap compared to Western prices be prepared to pay around £3 a head per meal. I went with the Exodus guideline of £3 a day and found it too little.

  - A lightweight scarf to put round your face is a must as the roads can get quite dusty and most of it will end up in your bus or Landcruiser!

  - Diamox is useful for the heights but not essential: you have plenty of time to adjust in Lhasa. Best advice is to take it easy: don't run up the Potala Palace steps!! Contrary to popular belief Diamox is not all that readily available in either Kathmandu or Tibetan chemists (from what we saw) so it is better to take it with you (if your doctor will give you the prescription!)

  - Possibly the funniest piece of advice is if you have hairy arms be prepared to be touched and stroked: Tibetans are quite hairless and some find it to be a novelty!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  - The Tibetan Fine Arts Café in the old town of Lhasa is well worth a look if you fancy some home comforts. It is popular with western travellers who use it because of the wireless connectivity but it is worth going to if only for the excellent carrot cake.

  - If you have time then visit the 'braille without borders' masseurs in Lhasa. This charity for the blind run operation is an excellent venture and the masseurs are very friendly and adept at their jobs (my shoulders felt like they'd been through a mangle!!). Details are listed in the Tibetan Fine Arts café mentioned above or in the Lonely Planet guide.

  - The stall holders on Lhasa's Barkhor square are excellent for a bargain but you may find the goods getting a bit repetitive as you venture further round the Jokhang. Try Dropenling, a Tibetan arts and crafts shop, down near the Muslim Quarter if you fancy something different. Prices are fixed but the money goes back to the Tibetan artisan community. You can pick up an excellent rug for about £80.

   
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  melanie ling

  2000 Yaks and counting......

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The most inspirational part of my trip was the scenery. The drive from Lhasa to Kathmandu is fantastic, moving from the brown desolate hills of the Tibetan plateau across the high mountain passes that literally take your breath away (17,000 feet IS pretty high). The snowy peaks of the Himalayas soon give way to steep valleys where the road winds slowly down into cloud forest and lush vegetation and drops into the rice terraces of  Nepal.

  The buddhism aspect of the country is very interesting and there are lots of monasteries to see. Its all very lovely and spiritual and the people are great. 

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  We had an excellent leader Pasang. He told us lots about Buddhism and the history of Tibet.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Take heed of the advice about altitude sickness. Drink lots of water and don't over do it on the first day or two. Also be warned that the drive from Lhasa to Kathmandu is short of proper loo stops so be prepared to improvise in the wilds!

  If you are a vegetarian bring some snacks and let the guide know in advance of your requirements -they can usually sort something out.

   
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  Jennifer Campbell

  An amazing holiday

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  For me the temples and the Buddhist faith although the Chinese grip on the country is worrying you cannot help but find Tibet an inspirational country and the Tibetans great people.

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Keshar was amazing. I took very ill during the holiday and he could not have been more helpful or caring overall an excellent group leader and one of the best I have experienced with Exodus

  The Tibetan guide though was not good and should not be used again

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Take great care and check water has been cleared off plates and that nothing has been washed or made with tap water otherwise like me you could end up very ill as I did and Tibetan hospitals only make you worse!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The tranpsort used after Lhasa was appaling, the land cruisers were poorly maintained for example ours the brakes were dodgy , handbrake did not work well the speedometer did not work, the seat belts would not have restrained in an accident etc etc Exodus need to take responsibility for this aspect of this trip

  Exodus Response

  Hello,

  In response to Ms Campbells review I have talked to our local operator regarding the standard of Local Guides in Tibet. There is a system in Tibet where all agents are allocated a local guide for each trip, and so unfortunately we cannot request specific guides.  However we normally receive very good feedback for the guides, with the exception that language can sometimes be a barrier as the Tibetans have had limited contact with Westerners and therefore their accents can be hard to understand.

  We continue to provide as much training as we can during the trips to try and ensure good standards throughout and hope that this was just a one off. There are leaders throughout the trip who work with the guide to ensure you get the best out of your trip.

  We take transport and safety issues very seriously and have asked our local operator to ensure that the landcruisers being used are properly maintained and in a suitable condition for the terrain. We regularly check up on this and will monitor the situation very carefully to ensure that these comments are learnt from.

  Tibet is a wonderful country, with incredible people and a fascinating culture. Well worth a visit!

  Hannah Wood

  Exodus - Product

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   

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