If you don’t want to trek far off the path to reach you destination you can charter a four-wheel drive car or truck. This will cost money and may not be available in remote areas. Rending a Land Cruiser plus a driver and splitting the cost amongst a group is one of the most popular ways to get across Tibet. Currently, foreigners are not permitted to drive rental vehicles in China. Prices typically are based on kilometers driven (about ¥3.50 per kilometer). The best place to hire vehicles is in Lhasa but be sure to check out notice boards in hotels to see if there are groups looking to fill empty seats. It’s a good idea to create some sort of contract to ensure the price, payment method and what will happen if something goes wrong to ensure nothing goes terribly wrong. Treat your driver with respect and offer him a small gift as a token of your appreciation. Also be sure to have a travel permit because it will be required before you can rent a car/land cruiser.
Pamela Riis