Jamin “Lobsang” Lee has lived and worked in various areas of Tibet for over 14 years. He spent several years working for an NGO focusing on adult education programs for Tibetans from the Amdo and Kham regions and in 2006 he co-founded a successful travel agency which organized nearly 500 custom journeys, photography tours, cultural excursions and treks across Tibet and Nepal. This agency has grown over the past 12 years to now be called Himalaya Journey, which now arranges quality tours, treks and climbs throughout Tibet, Nepal, Ladakh and Bhutan.
Lobsang serves as the lead guide on all professionally guided treks, photography tours and cultural journeys. With clients, his goal is to help them understand, appreciate and respect the people and cultures they photograph. In addition, all of the staff at Himalaya Journey are local Tibetans, Nepalis, Ladakhis and Bhutanese who are experts in tourism. The staff work as trekking and cultural guides, sales managers, secretaries, drivers, trekking and climbing cooks and more.
Understanding how difficult it can be to get accurate and current travel information on Tibet, Lobsang started The Land of Snows website in 2005 to assist travelers in planning their journey to Tibet. The site now has over 30,000 visitors per month. Lobsang receives nearly 5000 emails per year from across the globe from travelers asking him for advice on which areas of Tibet (and other areas of the Himalaya) to travel to and how to get there. Free of charge and regardless of which travel agency they use, he answers nearly 95% of these emails. To contact him for travel advice, send an email to: thelandofsnows@gmail.com
At Mt. Everest Base Camp on the Tibet side
Lobsang has done research on Tibet for several guidebook companies including Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, DK Eyewitness Travel and Fodor’s. His expert knowledge on Tibetan culture, history and religion has been used for research by The Discovery Channel, BBC, Animal Planet and numerous NGO’s. He has traveled extensively across all regions of Tibet, totaling nearly 400,000 kilometers overland. He has also traveled al across Ladakh (India), Nepal and Bhutan.
Lobsang along Mt. Amnye Machen in the Amdo region
Lobsang has had countless images published in magazines and books across North America, Europe and Asia. Even in the harshest of conditions that Tibet has to offer, he has his camera with him at all times. In addition to Tibet, he has traveled throughout Mongolia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Laos, Nepal, India, Pakistan as well as other regions of China.
Lobsang is very involved in community development in Tibet and also serves as a consultant to many tourist-related businesses in Tibet including travel agencies, restaurants and hotels. Lobsang’s ultimate goal is to see Tibetans succeed in doing business. Lobsang can often be found in Lhasa giving sales training and guide training to travel agencies, in Amdo giving free courses in how to operate a successful guesthouse or in Kham working with local officials to develop tourism in a socially responsible way.
For travel information on Tibet, send Lobsang an email to thelandofsnows@gmail.com.
If you are interested in using our services to arrange your upcoming journey to Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan or Ladakh, start dialoguing with Lobsang or a member o the Himalaya Journey sales staff by sending an email to: info@himalayajourney.com
You can follow Lobsang on Facebook at: The Land of Snows and on Instagram at: thelandofsnows
In the Himalaya in Ladakh
Its like you learn my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something. I feel that you can do with a few percent to force the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Phyliss, Glad that you like the site! Check back soon for new posts on Tibet!
Hello,
Do you know a guide to Yushu and it’s area? I heard there was one guide for that. But I forgot the name.
King of Shambhala
No, I do not know of a travel book specifically for Yushu.
Lobsang
Dear Losang
Thank you very much for very interesting blog/package of information about Tibet. Especially photos are great :-).
I’m planning trip to Tibet in October 2012 with a group of 8 friends. Main areas planned to visit are Kailash and Kharta valley (also EBC). We likes close contact with nature and ability to “touch” things not only to see and have a very good experience (and long relationships with such angencies in Nepal, but Tibet is new stuff for us). Can you suggest any responsible and friendly, for sure not too big focused on mass groups, agency to organize such trip?
Thank you in advance, best regards
Slawek
Slawek….Hope you are doing well. For travel inquiries, it is best to send me an email at thelandosnows@gmail.com.
Thanks!
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Dear Losang,
this is tony and glad to write to you again. Hope you are doing just great! and I wish the Plateau Photo Tours programs are going great. Best wishes, tony in Lhasa
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Dear Losang,
I would like to ask you, please, if there is any closed (for foreigners)
area in Amdo or Kham now?
We would like to go from Rebkong, Langmusi, Zoige, Aba, Nangchuk, Kirti,
Dzamthang, Barkam, Sertar, Danba, Garze, Manigango, Yarchen, Dege, Litang,
Daocheng.
Thank you very much!
Kind regards,
Jan Kostal
Or, do you have any recomandations where to go for this July also regarding the weather, please?
Dear Sir
I shall be travelling in Qinghai soon especially focusing on the Nangchen province as I will be staying in my Guru’s monastery, which is located there. I would like to ask you a question in regards to visa. I have quitted my job for this trip and I hope to spend a longer period of time over there. However, I have obtained a multiple entry Chinese visa but each entry I am only restricted to 30 days stay. As it will be very expensive for me to travel out of China and come back in again to have passport stamped, is there anyway I can extend my stay to more than 30 days for one visit?
Thanks
Anthony, you can extend your visa at least once for 30 days in Jyekundo, the capital of Yushu prefecture where Nangchen is located. You can also extend it in Xining, the capital of Qinghai.
My daughter has been booked for a cycling tour in Tibet for some time. She was advised, this day, that the tour cannot take place as a consequence of a closure of Tibet border/s. Can you enlighten us as to present situation?
Yes, new permits for Tibet are NOT being processed right now. It is hard to say when permits will begin being processed again. I do not expect new permits to be issued until at least early November.
Losang
Dear Losang,
I had been in Tibet for year 2009 and planning to return there by middle of next year 2013. Need some suggestion to see something different about tibet again.
Best Regards,
Sharon Wong
Sharon, Read through the following link for some suggestions on where to go in the future:
http://www.thelandofsnows.com/why-not-amdo-kham/
Losang
Dear Lobsang,
many thanks for the incredible deep and objective information on the Land of Snow. I just discovered your blog with beautiful pictures this morning.
uga
Ughen Choezom….Tashi Delek! I hope you are doing well. Thank you for the compliments on my website. Please keep in touch.
Losang
Big surprise..after long time..this is Norbu from AIT, I hope u r doing fine, cheers..
Hello,
My name is Pauline Marmilloud. I am french and I would like to go from Beinjing to Kathmandu over land. I would like to arrive in Kathmandu the 1rst of may, and I wouldn`t like to visit Tibet so much. Just cross.
I imagined a trip like:
-Take the train from Beijing to Lhasa (2 days)
-Spend one night in Lhasa, and the day after:
-take the bus (or jeep) from Lhasa to Kathmandu.
I have also a small budget. I can sleep in a budget hostel and take the `soft or hard seat class` if it can help me to have a good price.
Can you propose something for me? How much would it cost?
Can you give me your postal adress in Beijing to talk directly this you when I will arrive in Beijing? (the 15th of april)
Thank you very much for your understanding.
Pauline
Sorry, I only arrange photography tours in Tibet and don’t arrange the type of tour you are wanting to take. Send me an email at thelandofsnows@gmail.com and I will send you some recommendations on which travel agency in Lhasa to use.
Firstly, I love your work. The photography, and the picture itself showing the intrinsic beauty of Tibet and Tibetans. I am a Tibetan born in India living in Indiana, U.S.A currently, it’s weird where life takes you. But I wanted to let you know that you have greatly inspired me through your writing and picture taking skills to take a trip of a lifetime to Tibet mainly to see where my grandparents lived and to maybe look for any of their siblings that may still be living. I have always dreamt of going to Tibet to see where I am really from and your work has greatly inspired me to think about taking the next step. I just wanted to let you know that your work is heartily appreciated. Thank you!
Dear Lobsang, good morming ? I am your friend Jamyang.
Please, could you help me that one of my friend want to came to Rebgong for learning Tibetan. But i don’t know the obtain how to get visa from their embassy.Please send some documents as soon as possible.
All the bset wishes for you .
Hi
Was wondering if you had a list of ethical Tibetan travel companies to deal with for my up and coming trip.
Cheers
Ann
Wow, i saw your pictures on instagram, they are very beautifull. My question is if you have photos of the
People who have a dog. The breed is Lhasa Apso!!!! Iam looking for pica of the dogs in Lhasa.
Thank you for sharing your photos
Greetings liesbeth potters (the netherlands)
can you recommend a good local tibetan travel agency that can provide service for an older couple from Kunming, China, to Lhasa and return. while US citizens residing in the USA, we will be on other travel to Kunming and would like to arrange a tour only from Kunming and return, perhaps a 7 – 10 itinerary in April or May2014.
Thank you. Robert Green
Dear Losang,
first, thanks a lot for all the helpful information.
I am very interested in traveling Tibet, Nepal and Buthan and since I am currently situated in Shanghai, I though I am going to start with Tibet.
However, I am still a student and I was wondering if you know anything about a “Youth group trip” and more like “budgeted student trip”. In general I am very interested in any help in how I can have an amazing time but not exceed my account to the most. Iwould really appreciate your help.
Thank you
Could you please send me a list of tour operators? Want to go from Xining to Lhasa in August…
Thanks
Going to Tibet for 10 days in the next coming week and come across your blog when I do my own research on Tibetan life and culture. Just want to say that I am IMPRESSED of what you did in Tibet, especially the NGO focusing on adult education programs for Tibetans. Of course your photo sets is beyond amazing as well.
Anyways just thought you should know. Keep up the great work!
Frances
Thank you for your very kind comment. Have a good day! Losang
Dear Losang.
Can you help me with some info on the Kongpo region in the south eastern tibet.?
I like to either fly from Chengdu to Kongpo region and travel on to llama ,if that is not possible fly or drive from Llasa.Will be going there in june2014.
Thks in advance≥
Tashi delek yoka
Hi Losang, The Yading Kora 7-8 day looks the best in many ways. Have you heard that it is in fact easy to walk up the day you arrive and find a reliable guide for a long trip? Mountaineering question. Are you above the tree line the entire Kora? Then where do you get water?
My other options are Gongga Mt. and Signiang.
If you were going to invest time and effort into developing a 7 night route for future trips, which would you choose?
I have 13 days in September to do a research trip for next summer. I am thinking of going to Yading and Siguniang and doing 5 day treks each. I can either do that or spend the entire time doing one.
Recommendations?
Excellent website! Last year we did the Kora around Mt. Chenresig in Yading Nationalpark and your detailed instructions were super helpful to us. This year’s trip to Tibet was amazing too. Thanks a lot for the travel guide recommendation!
You are very welcome! Glad I could be of help!
Lobsang
Hi Lobsang! Firstly, your website is amazing. I’ve only just discovered it but I can tell already that it’s going to be so useful.
We are learning to speak Nepali and are thinking of going to Nepal at the end of this year, but I would love to go to Tibet or Bhutan at the same time.
Is it possible to go overland to Bhutan from Nepal? Also is the crossing between Nepal & Tibet still shut? I am terrified of flying so going from England to Nepal, plus having to do extra flights will just about finish me off I think…!
Thanks in advance 🙂
Vanessa…I have emailed you some info. Yes, the Nepal-Tibet border crossing is still closed. It remains impossible to say when it will open. You can go overland from Nepal to Bhutan, but be advised that these 2 countries do NOT border each other. You will have to go from Nepal to India and then to Bhutan. I understand you do not like flying, but the roads in eastern Nepal and northern India are EXTREMELY dangerous….some of the most dangerous on the planet. You may want to reconsider going overland. Enjoy your journey!
Lobsang
This is the best website about travel in Tibet (not just the TAR) – an unsolicited remark from someone who has travelled in the TAR and elsewhere in Tibet. There seems to be so little good info on travel in and to the Tibetan Plateau that a site like this is invaluable. And visa conditions can change quickly.
Thank you Nigel!
Lobsang
Hi
this is Ken from Safe2travel.
May i know how to apply Tibet visa?
we planning to Lhasa on 11apr and departure.
can quote me 4days landtour 11apr-14apr with hotel and no hotel option? aiport to hotel car +4days landtour+ hotel to train+15apr Lhasa to Chengdu train+ Tibet visa 2 pax.
Ken
Tibet is part of China, so the only visa you need is a China Visa. I have emailed other info to you.
Lobsang