Great Tibet Tour Logo GREAT TIBET TOUR ®

How to Tip Guide & Driver in Tibet?

  • by Apple
  • Last Updated: 2022-08-01
A group of tourists at Norbulingka.

Tipping in Tibet is not mandatory, however if you go on a long trip out to EBC, western or eastern Tibet, your guide and driver will be expected a tip at the end of the trip, assuming all went well, and a satisfactory service is provided.

We have a rather short tourism season in Tibet, usually from April to November. The winter months from December to next February are usually too cold to receive any real business, and in March Tibet is closed to foreigners. Guide & Driver are working these 8 months, from April to November, to support themselves and their families for the whole year.

Our tour products have no souvenir shop visits to ensure tourists a best experience possible. This means except the salary paid by us, guide & driver in Tibet have no other source of income like a commission from souvenir shops. Your tip, big or small, will be considered as a generous deed.

Tipping of guide & driver in Tibet is usually done at the end of the tour. However during peak season, especially for GROUP TOUR, good guides are usually very busy. Sometimes they may not always be able to attend at the last day to see you off Tibet at Lhasa Airport or Railway. If this is thus mentioned by guide, who has accompanied you the whole tour except the last day, it is a hint and it’s appropriate to tip him/her before the last day of departing.

As of the exact amount you should tip your guide & driver in Tibet, below we give you some rough guidance.

Guide = Total Travel Days * USD 8
Driver = Total Travel Days * USD 8

Note: this means you tip as a whole to guide & drive. eg. two friends travel together an 8-day tour in Tibet, then the two of you tip together (not individually), after rounded it up, about USD 60/CNY 400 to guide, and about USD 60/CNY 400 to driver.

All in all, don’t feel too pressured about tipping guide & driver in Tibet. Essentially it is based on the level of service quality they provided and how you feel about them.

Related Articles

  • Tibetan Houses
    Tibetan houses are very distinctive including the castle-like houses in the southern valley, the tents in the pastoral areas of northern Tibet, wooden buildings in the forest area of ​​the Yarlung Zangbo Valley, etc., even cave dwellings can be found on the Ngari Plateau.

  • Trekking in Tibet
    Check the top 10 treks, including Mt.Kailash Kora, Ganden Monastery to Samye, Tsurphu Monastery to Yangpachen, and so on. Read more.

  • Is It Safe to Travel to Tibet?
    Tibet is a safe place. Most dangers come from the physical environment, especially the altitude. Here're some concerning issues you need to know.

  • Weather and Climate of Everest Base Camp
    Everest Base Camp has a typical plateau and mountain climate, so the weather is complex and changeable, and the natural environment is harsh.

  • Tibetan Momo
    Tibetan momo is a kind of filled dumpling, popular in Tibet, Nepal and India. The size and shape of Tibetan momo are like walnut, with swirls on the top.

  • Etiquette and Taboos When Traveling to Tibet
    You may need to know some etiquette and taboos of Tibet customs and traditions when you visit a Tibet family and famous monasteries, to ensure you do not offend anyone by mistake during your trip.

  • Riding from Lhasa to Kathmandu
    ​Lhasa to Kathmandu is a popular cycling route across the Himalayans. It takes 13 to 14 days to complete this ride covering more than 1,000 kilometers.

  • 7 Useful Things to Know Before Going to Tibet
    Tibet is a pilgrimage site for countless travelers. There are 7 things you need to know before going to Tibet. The biggest concern is altitude sickness.

  • How to Visit Tibet?
    A visit to Tibet can be an amazing experience with proper planning. Here is a list for you before traveling to Tibet.

  • Sichuan Tibet Highway - Southern and Northern Routes
    Sichuan Tibet Highway includes the Northern and Southern routes. Most people choose the southern route as it's the most scenic part of G318.

  • Where is Tibet?
    Tibet maps show the location of Tibet on a world, Asia, and China map. You also can find Tibetan Plateau terrain, travel routes, river resources, etc.

Ask a Quick Question Below?
or Email Us