Tibet (Country Guide)

Best time to go: anytime
Best book to take: LP Tibet


Don't leave for Tibet if you haven't got this book!   November 17, 2001
 10 out of 14 found this review helpful

If I was only allowed to take one book to Tibet it would definitely be the Lonely Planet. It has very useful information about the country, the religion, do's and don'ts, etc. I used this book to prepare for my trip and used it in Tibet to get more information on the city I was in or the tempel or monastery I was visiting. Very detailed information about the tempels, the history and what rooms and statues are what. Very useful information about Lhasa and great maps showing not only interesting sites but also the hotels (so you can find your way back).


Don't leave for Tibet without it !   July 16, 2001
 16 out of 21 found this review helpful

This guidebook is certainly among Lonely Planet's best. It is at the same time an excellent travel guide, and also a fantastic yet concise source of insights into the life of this wonderful land. Anyone traveling to Tibet will inevitably encounter a number of restrictions on her/his travel, and will have to stick to the Chinese government's directives and itineraries. It is indeed hard to leave Tibet without a feeling that one was not really able to 'go deep' into its culture. This book might not compensate for the frustrating limitations posed to travelers by the Chinese government, but it certainly goes a good way towards that direction. It contains tips on how to make the most out of your trip, especially in terms of getting to know 'real' Tibet. Its sections on culture, religion and history are excellently written and captivating. All in all, a fantastic endeavour.


Very Good   June 12, 2001
 4 out of 7 found this review helpful

This book should be very useful for those who want to visit The Land of Snows as well as for those who just want to learn more from the Tibetan Culture. It has a lot of useful information for travelers, e.g. the best ways to arrive to Tibet (depending of how do you want to do it), and the importance of having a tour guide during your trip (because of political reasons). Inside this book you will find some interesting facts and illustrations about Tibet's religion: Buddhism (the spirit of the country), and a few beautiful pictures.


Tibetan Travel Made Easy   October 20, 2000
 26 out of 28 found this review helpful

I traveled to Nepal, Tibet and Thailand alone in the summer of 1998, and this book was indispensable. In fact, while staying in Kathmandu, prior to my trip to Tibet, I met someone who was contemplating a trip to Lhasa. She asked to borrow my book, and I spent a couple of worried nights awaiting the return of the book. I don't know how I could've planned my trip to Tibet nor how I could've survived successfully without this book. I bought it before the trip and read it on my way to Nepal, while in Nepal and on my way overland into Lhasa, Tibet. The book is filled with facts and helpful, necessary information. The maps are wonderful. In fact, I usually had a pretty good idea of where my driver was headed and where we actually were based on the detailed maps the book provides. I found the most important parts of the book deal with the acquisition of necessary visas and documents when traveling from Nepal to Tibet, the uncertainty of your passage from one country to the next, security and safety precautions and of course the accomodations and sites of interest. This book is small and easy to carry but it packs tons of invaluable information.