Lhasa, Tibet (PRWEB) July 01, 2015
Travelers who have gone on a tour of Tibet so far in 2015 have discovered spending their free time hunting down the perfect souvenir and bargaining for the best price possible to be one of the highlights of their experience. When shopping in Tibet, one can find everything from fine incense and prayer flags to hand made jewelry and great deals on Tibetan rugs. For those who are still waiting on their tour start date, Tibet Ctrip Travel Service-TCTS (http://www.tibetctrip.com) shares some shopping advice.
Where to shop: Authentic Tibetan goods can be found in nearly all popular Tibet tour destinations, however the most popular places to shop are Barkhor Bazaar and the market in Shigatse (it generally has lower prices but a smaller selection).
Most popular items to Tibet: Budget and luggage space largely determine what travelers usually go after. Backpackers and others who travel light are best off picking up prayer flags, handheld prayers wheels, and incense unless they are willing to mail things home. Those who have extra room in their luggage and are looking to splurge typically buy Tibetan Buddhist art such as statues or Thangka while some look for deals on Tibetan carpets.
Haggling for the best deal: Haggling is a normal business practice in Tibet and is as much fun for the seller as it is for the buyer. Most visitors are pitched very high prices at first so don’t hesitate to respond with an offer well below and work up from there. However, please do remember that a few RMB means a lot more to most locals than it does the average traveler.
Travelers will find a world of difference between shopping in Tibet and what they are used to back home. Many find it to be a fun filled experience, even those who typically don’t enjoy shopping. The 2015 Tibet travel season is upon us so now is the time to practice those bargaining skills and plan a tour!