Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RuffledFeathers]

Anyone have any resources on how to get from Lhasa to Kathmandu. It seems there are only flights twice a week, and are about $400. We're looking for something a little cheaper.

Anyone know how we can take a bus on the Friendship hwy?

Any advice/tips on how to do this would be great...

[soviet_man]

With Tibet visa hassles, border crossings, unprecdictable weather, infrequent road transport and all the rest of the problems, I'd personally be inclined to give the land crossing a miss ---- unless you are on a guided tour and someone else can sort all that out.

But I understand Air China fly Lhasa or Chengdu to Kathmandu only --- so if you can get a flight for $400 I'd say take it - it is a good price.

I mean you have to think ... is it really worth sitting on a crapped out bus for 3 days and getting altitude sickness just to save a hundred dollars?

[D.D.]

Two years ago I went from Tibet to Nepal by landcruiser. No worries was cheap and a good trip. I just went to a travel agency and they put me with 5 other westerners.

I think that was in July so maybe better weather.

[Tobias]

Sitting in the truck, bus, or van for hundreds of miles for hours or days on end would suck, at least for me. Those would be hours and days that eat up my vacation, and then I'd have to do it all over again when it comes time to return.

And then there's the issue of maintenance on the rig. How're the brakes on it? Would you check or take someone's word that they're fine? Those mountains are pretty steep, and it's a long way to the bottom on that little two-lane road.


Fly it.

[D.D.]

It takes two days. We stayed one night in a cheap hotel and it was a very nice drive.

[RuffledFeathers]

Did you have a private driver? How much was it?

[RufusW]

I don't think there are any public buses that make the trip....I think Westerners have to go via landcruiser. You can either go direct (maybe even in one day to the border town - Zhangmu) or pay for a tour and take in a few monasteries and Everest Base Camp. The tour costs a fair bit more. I think a direct drive would be 2000 Yen, have a look around the Nepalese embassy - the drivers hang out there.

I have to say, this road trip is probably the best in the world.... I doubt much beats it. From the freezing Tibetan plateau down to the humid Nepalese foothills. It is incredible.

Having said that, I think this is probably the wrong time to do it. It was a struggle for us to get through the ice / snow in January, before that it might be impossible..... and it's bloody scarey!