Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This extraordinary budget travel guide to the Tibetan world comes with over 280 tried and tested maps covering the entire region. Get there and get around: Hundreds of pages of travel information. Plus gateway cities: New Delhi, Calcutta, Chengdu, Kunming, Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Keep to your budget: Hotel tariffs, tour and trekking costs, permit and visa charges. Pack everything in: Cultural, historical and religious explanations, festival dates, sights & more...

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Travel in Tibet (p. 8)
• Roads to Tibet (p. 8)
• Borders (p. 10)
• Visas (p. 10)
• Visa Extensions (p. 11)
• Permits to Enter Tibet (p. 11)
• Alien Travel Permit (p. 12)
• In Closed Areas (p. 12)
• Making Arrangements in Your Own Country (p. 12)
• Making Arrangements with a Travel Agency in Chengdu (p. 13)
• Changing Money and Exchange Rates (p. 13)
• Budgets (p. 13)
• Guesthouses (p. 13)
• Transport (p. 14)
• Hitchhiking in Tibet (p. 14)
• What to Bring (p. 14)
• Altitude Sickness (p. 15)
• Dogs and Rabies (p. 15)
• Vaccinations (p. 15)
• Hospitals (p. 20)
• Language (p. 20)
• Other Guidebooks (p. 20)
• Other Maps Available (p. 20)
• Post and Telecommunications (p. 22)
• Safety in Tibet (p. 22)
• Illegal Matters (p. 22)
• Customs and Taboos (p. 23)
• Overview (p. 23)
• Model Tours (p. 24)
• Tibet in China (p. 24)
• Ladakh (North-West India) (p. 25)
• Encounter Tibet in Nepal (p. 26)
• Darjeeling and Sikkim (p. 27)
• Bhutan (p. 27)
• Country Information
• China (p. 64)
• India (p. 280)
• Nepal (p. 320)
• Bhutan (p. 376)
• Nature in Tibet (p. 28)
• History of Tibet (p. 30)
• Tibetan Buddhism (p. 36)
• The World of Tibetan Buddhism (p. 36)
• The Four Greatest Schools of Tibetan Buddhism (p. 38)
• Keywords for Prayer (p. 40)
• The Prayer Scene (p. 40)
• Entering the World of the Gompa (p. 41)
• A Monk's Life (p. 43)
• Buddhas, Deities, etc. in the Mandala World (p. 46)
• Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Deities (p. 47)
• Unraveling the Thangka Message (p. 49)
• Buddhist Goods (p. 49)
• Lucky Omen Symbols (p. 50)
• Animals Found in Thangkas (p. 51)
• Appreciating the Mandala (p. 52)
• Fashions (p. 54)
• Keywords for Tibetan Life (p. 55)
• Lives in Tibet (p. 55)
• Things to Wear (p. 55)
• Food (p. 56)
• Customs (p. 57)
• Tibetan Festivals (p. 58)
• Festival Dates (p. 61)
• Lhasa (p. 63)
• Access (p. 65)
• Practical Information (p. 67)
• Around the Barkhor (p. 71)
• Around the Potala Palace (p. 78)
• Around Lhasa (p. 82)
• Around Lhasa (p. 85)
• Ganden Monastery (p. 85)
• Lhokha (Shannan) Prefecture (p. 88)
• Samye (Sangye) (p. 88)
• Chimphu Hermitage (p. 92)
• Dranang Valley (Zhanang) (p. 92)
• Tsethang (Zedang) (p. 92)
• South of Lhasa (p. 95)
• Nyetang Dolma Lhakhang and Rock Image of Shakyamuni (p. 95)
• Gongkar (Gongga) (p. 95)
• Gongkar Choede (Gongkar Dorjeden) (p. 95)
• Mt. Chuwori (p. 96)
• Shugseb Ani Gompa (p. 96)
• Drakyul Caves and Dorje Drak Gompa (p. 97)
• Upper Reaches of the Kyi-chu (NE from Lhasa) (p. 98)
• To the North of Lhasa (p. 99)
• Toelung (Duilongdequingxian) (p. 100)
• Yamdrok Yumtso Lake to Lhakhang (p. 100)
• Lhodrak (Luozha) (p. 103)
• Lhakhang (Lakang) (p. 103)
• To the East of Tsethang (p. 103)
• Chusum (Qusong) (p. 103)
• Lhamo Latso Lake (p. 104)
• Gyatsa (Jiacha) (p. 104)
• Nang Dzong (Lang) (p. 105)
• Tsari (p. 105)
• Sangak Choeling (p. 106)
• Lhuntse (Longzi) (p. 106)
• Tsona (Cuona) (p. 106)
• Namtso Lake and Nakchu (p. 106)
• Namtso Lake (p. 106)
• Nakchu (Naqu) (p. 108)
• Amdo (Anduo) (p. 108)
• Lhasa-Kathmandu (p. 109)
• Tsang (Shigatse and Gyantse) (p. 109)
• Shigatse (Rikaze) (p. 109)
• Gyantse (Jiangzi) (p. 114)
• Around Shigatse (p. 118)
• Sakya (Sajia) (p. 120)
• Lhatse to Dram (p. 122)
• Lhatse (Lazi) (p. 122)
• Shelkar (New Tingri) (p. 123)
• Jomolangma Trekking (p. 123)
• Tingri (Dingri) (p. 126)
• Lapchi (p. 126)
• Nyalam (Nielamu) (p. 126)
• Dram (Khasa) [Zhangmu] (p. 127)
• To Nepal (p. 128)
• Lhatse to Saga (p. 129)
• Kyirong Valley to Nepal (p. 130)
• Chumbi Valley to Sikkim and Bhutan (p. 131)
• To Kailash (p. 133)
• Route to Mt. Kailash (p. 137)
• Ali (Shiquanhe) (p. 140)
• Mt.Kailash (Kang Rinpoche) (p. 141)
• Mt.Kailash Khora (Pilrimage Circuit) (p. 143)
• Nangkhor (Inner Pilgrimage Circuit) (p. 145)
• Lake Manasarovar (Mapham Yutso) (p. 145)
• Langa Tso (Lake Rakshas Tal) (p. 145)
• Memo Nani (Mt. Nemo Nanyi) (p. 146)
• Sources of Asia's Great Rivers (p. 146)
• Border Crossing Purang-Simikot (p. 147)
• The Guge Ruins (p. 149)
• Tsamda (Zhada) (p. 149)
• Tsaparang (p. 152)
• Dungkar and Piyang (p. 153)
• Tirthapuri (p. 153)
• Rutok (Ritu) (p. 156)
• Kashgar to Mt. Kailash (Xinjiang-Tibet Highway) (p. 156)
• Kongpo and Chamdo
• (Eastern Part of TAR) (p. 159)
• Kongpo [Nyangtri (Linzhi) Prefecture] (p. 159)
• Lhasa to Bayi (p. 162)
• Bayi (p. 162)
• Basong Tso (Lake Draksum Lhatso) (p. 163)
• Nyangtri (Nyingtri) [Linzhi] (p. 165)
• Mt. Bonri (p. 165)
• Menling (Milin) (p. 166)
• Mt. Namcha Barwa (p. 167)
• Pemako (Metok) [Motuo] (p. 167)
• Bayi to Pome (p. 167)
• Lunang (Lulang) (p. 167)
• Tang-me [Tongmai] (p. 167)
• Pome (Powo) [Bomi] (p. 168)
• Chamdo (Changdu) Prefecture (p. 169)
• Rawok (Ranwu) (p. 169)
• Dzayul (Chayu) (p. 169)
• Pasho (Basu) (p. 169)
• Pomda (Bangda) (p. 169)
• Yunnan to Bayi (p. 170)
• Yanjing (p. 170)
• Markham (Mangkang) (p. 170)
• Chamdo to Nakchu (p. 171)
• Chamdo (Changdu) (p. 171)
• Riwoche (Leiwuqi) (p. 173)
• Tengchen (Dingqing) (p. 173)
• Sok Dzong (Suoxian) (p. 173)
• Lhorong (Luolong) (p. 174)
• Pelbar (Bianba) (p. 174)
• Lharigo (Jiali) (p. 174)
• Dege in Sichuan to Chamdo (p. 174)
• Chamdo to Pomda (p. 174)
• Amdo
• (Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan) (p. 175)
• Gansu Province (p. 177)
• Lanzhou (p. 177)
• Linxia (p. 179)
• Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (p. 181)
• Xiahe (Sang-chu) (p. 182)
• Hezuo (Tsoe) (p. 183)
• Luqu (Luchu) (p. 184)
• Taktsang Lhamo (Langmusi) (p. 185)
• Lintan (p. 186)
• Zhuoni (Cho-ne) (p. 186)
• Maqu (Machu) (p. 187)
• Diebu (Thewo) (p. 187)
• Zhouqu (Drukchu) (p. 187)
• Boyu (Boeyul) (p. 187)
• North-west of Gansu (p. 187)
• Tianzhu (Pari) (p. 187)
• Sunan Yugurzu Autonomous County (Zhangye Diqu) (p. 189)
• Qinghai Province (p. 190)
• Xining (p. 190)
• Around Xining and Haidong Diqu (District) (p. 193)
• Huangzhong (Tsongkha) (p. 193)
• Huzhu Tu Autonomous County (Gonlung) (p. 194)
• Ping'an (Tsongkha Khar) (p. 194)
• Ledu (Drotsang) (p. 195)
• Hualong Hui Autonomous County (Bayan Khar) (p. 195)
• Xunhua (Xunhua Salar Autonomous County) [Dowi] (p. 195)
• Xining-Golmud-Lhasa (p. 195)
• Qinghai Hu (Lake Kokonor) (p. 196)
• Golmud (Ge'ermu) (p. 197)
• Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (p. 198)
• Tongren (Repkong) (p. 198)
• Zeku (Tsekok) (p. 200)
• Henan Mongol Autonomous County (Sogwo) (p. 201)
• Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (p. 202)
• Gonghe (Chabcha) (p. 202)
• Xinghai (Tsigorthang) (p. 203)
• Guide (Trika) (p. 204)
• Guinan (Mangra) (p. 205)
• Tongde (Kawasumdo) (p. 206)
• Guoluo (Golok) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (p. 207)
• Maduo (Mato) (p. 207)
• Maqin (Dawu) (p. 210)
• Gande (Gabde) (p. 211)
• Dari (Jimai) [Darlag] (p. 212)
• Banma (Padma) [Parma] (p. 213)
• Jiuzhi (Jigdril) (p. 214)
• Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Jyekundo) (p. 214)
• Yushu (Jyekundo) (p. 214)
• Chengduo (Trindu) (p. 218)
• Sumang (Zurmang) Region (p. 218)
• To the Source of the Mekong River (p. 218)
• ABA (Ngawa) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (Sichuan) (p. 219)
• Wenchuan (Lungu) (p. 220)
• Maoxian (Maowen Qiang Autonomous County) (p. 220)
• Heishui (Trochu) (p. 221)
• Songpan (Zungchu) (p. 221)
• Huanglong (Sertso) (p. 222)
• Jiuzhaigou (p. 223)
• Nanping (Namphel) (p. 224)
• Lixian (Tashiling) (p. 224)
• Ma'erkang (Barkam) (p. 225)
• Jinchuan (Rabden) (p. 226)
• Xiaojin (Tsenlha) (p. 226)
• Rangtang (Zamthang) (p. 227)
• Aba (Ngawa) (p. 227)
• Hongyuan (Mewa) (p. 228)
• Ruo'ergai (Dzoge) (p. 229)
• Eastern Kham
• (Ganzi Prefecture and Muli County, Sichuan Province) (p. 231)
• Chengdu (p. 233)
• Ganzi (Kandze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (p. 237)
• Kangding (Dartsedo) (p. 237)
• Mugecuo Lake (Yeren Hai) (p. 241)
• Around Kangding (p. 242)
• Luding (Chakzamka) (p. 242)
• Mt. Minya Konka (Gongga Shan) (p. 243)
• Hailuogou Glacier Park (p. 243)
• Kangding to Ganzi, Dege, etc. (Sichuan-Tibet Highway North) (p. 245)
• Danba (Rongtrak) (p. 245)
• Jiulong (Gyezil) (p. 246)
• Xinduqiao (Dzongzhab) (p. 246)
• Tagong (Lhagang) [Hargong] (p. 246)
• Bamei (Garthar) (p. 247)
• Daofu (Tawu) (p. 248)
• Luhuo (Drango) (p. 249)
• Seda (Sertal) (p. 250)
• Ganzi (Kandze) (p. 250)
• Xinlong (Nyarong) (p. 253)
• Baiyu (Pelyul) (p. 253)
• Manigango (p. 254)
• Xinluhai (Yilhun Lhatso) (p. 254)
• Dege (Derge) (p. 254)
• Monasteries around Dege (p. 256)
• Shiqu (Sershul) [Serxu] (p. 257)
• Kangding to Litang and Batang (Sichuan-Tibet Highway South) (p. 258)
• Yajiang (Nyakchuka) (p. 258)
• Litang (Lithang) (p. 258)
• Batang (Bathang) (p. 260)
• Yunnan to Litang (Lithang) (p. 260)
• Xiangcheng (Chaktreng) (p. 260)
• Daocheng (Dabpa) (p. 260)
• Derong (p. 260)
• Muli Tibetan Autonomous County, Sichuan Province (p. 260)
• Dechen
• (Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province) (p. 263)
• Yunnan to Tibet (p. 263)
• Kunming (p. 263)
• Dali (Dali Gucheng) (p. 267)
• Lijiang (Jang Sadam) (p. 268)
• Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (p. 270)
• Zhongdian (Gyalthang) (p. 270)
• Deqin (Dechen) [Jol] (p. 274)
• Weixi (Balung) (p. 275)
• Lugu Hu (Lake) (p. 276)
• Ninglang (p. 278)
• Yongning (p. 278)
• Ladakh and Zanskar (p. 279)
• Delhi (p. 279)
• From Manali to Leh (p. 283)
• Manali (p. 283)
• From Srinagar to Leh (p. 284)
• Srinagar (p. 286)
• Ladakh (p. 286)
• Leh (p. 287)
• Leh to the South: Gompas in the Indus Valley (p. 291)
• Leh and the West: Gompas on the Kargil Route (p. 292)
• Trekking from Leh (p. 293)
• Dha/Hanu Villages (p. 294)
• Nubra Valley (p. 295)
• East Ladakh (p. 297)
• Zanskar (p. 298)
• Padam (Padum) (p. 298)
• Padam (Padum)-Phugtal-Darcha (p. 299)
• Padam (Padum)-Zangla-Lamayuru (p. 299)
• Padam (Padum)-Sani-Kargil (p. 302)
• Lahaul (p. 303)
• Keylong (p. 303)
• Spiti (p. 305)
• Kaza (p. 305)
• Kinnaur (p. 308)
• Shimla (Simla) (p. 308)
• Sarahan (p. 308)
• Rekong Peo (p. 310)
• Kalpa (p. 310)
• Sangla (p. 310)
• Kanam (p. 311)
• Puh (p. 311)
• Nako (p. 311)
• Chango (p. 311)
• Shalkar (p. 312)
• Dharamsala (p. 312)
• Other Areas Settled by Tibetan Refugees in India (p. 315)
• Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh [North-west India] (p. 315)
• Karnataka State [Southern India] (p. 317)
• Central India (p. 317)
• Nepal (p. 319)
• Road to Nepal (p. 323)
• Kathmandu (p. 324)
• Trekking to the Tibetan World (p. 333)
• Route to Bigu Gompa and Surrounding Area (p. 336)
• Everest Trekking (p. 336)
• Lukla to Hile (p. 338)
• The Mt. Kangchenjunga Area (p. 338)
• Langtang (p. 338)
• Manaslu North (p. 339)
• Pokhara (p. 342)
• Annapurna Area Trekking (p. 343)
• The Annapurna Sanctuary (p. 343)
• Jomsom and Muktinath Area (p. 346)
• Manang Area (p. 349)
• Lo Manthang (Mustang) (p. 351)
• Dolpo (p. 354)
• Lumbini (p. 355)
• Sikkim (p. 357)
• Kolkata (Calcutta) (p. 357)
• West Bengal (p. 360)
• Darjeeling (p. 360)
• Kalimpong (p. 364)
• Sikkim (p. 365)
• Central and Eastern Sikkim (p. 367)
• Gangtok (p. 367)
• Northern Sikkim (p. 370)
• Western Sikkim (p. 371)
• Geyzing (p. 371)
• Yoksum (p. 372)
• Arunachal Pradesh (p. 372)
• Bhutan (p. 375)
• Phuntsholing ('Free Zone') (p. 383)
• Western Bhutan (p. 384)
• Paro (p. 384)
• Thimphu (p. 386)
• Shopping in Thimphu (p. 388)
• Punakha (p. 390)
• Central Bhutan (p. 391)
• Trongsa (p. 391)
• The Bumthang Valleys (p. 391)
• Eastern Bhutan (p. 392)
• Mongar (p. 392)
• Lhuntse (p. 392)
• Tashigang (p. 392)
• Samdrup Jongkhar (p. 393)
• Tashi Yangtse (p. 393)
• Articles
• Be Careful with Mountain Sickness (p. 21)
• The Dalai Lamas (p. 35)
• Tibetan Buddhist Culture Outside Tibet (p. 54)
• Losar in Kathmandu (p. 62)
• The 10th Panchen Lama (p. 132)
• Hitchhiking in Tibet (p. 189)
• Dolpo Flight Request (p. 354)
• Tibet Photos (p. 262)
• Appendix (p. 395)
• Survival Tibetan (p. 395)
• Survival Chinese (p. 398)
• Chinese Place Names (p. 400)
• Embassies (p. 404)
• Index
• Tibet and China (p. 406)
• India, Nepal and Bhutan (p. 411)
• Map Index (p. 414)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Although this book has about 300 very detailed maps everything from a map of Potala Palace to downtown Cheng-du it is essentially a travel guide rather than a history of mapping the Tibetan region, as the title may suggest. In the first chapter, the authors, all experienced travelers captivated by Tibet, are admirably forthright about the drawbacks of travel there (e.g., Tibetan mastiffs that bite on sight, the need for vaccinations, altitude sickness, and the absence of gourmet meals) and then spend the rest of the book focusing on the good points, such as the many monasteries and cultural sites and the ability to travel on $12 a day. Pages are filled with practical tourist information, basic tours, very detailed instructions (e.g., the building in front of which a bus leaves), and plentiful photos. Recommended for all travel collections specializing in Asian geographic areas. Mary Lynette Larsgaard, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Born and raised in Aichi, central Japan, Yukiyasu Osada made his first trip to Tibet in 1987 while a student at Waseda University, Tokyo. He is a Tibet tour guide and a freelance writer.

Born in London and raised in Kent, southeast England, editor Gavin Allwright has traveled to places such as India, China, Japan, and southeast Asia. He lives and works in Tokyo.

Atsushi Kanamaru has visited over 20 countries including Tibet, China, Nepal and India. As a former student of Japan's Waseda University, he is now an editor residing in Tokyo.