Here we would like to discuss some of the most useful apps for traveling to Tibet. When it comes to Traveling to Tibet and other parts of China, you will need to keep update on what/which apps works and which does not. For a successful trip and better communication, It is recommended for travelers to start using the Chinese Apps. Apps, which are recommended here so that you shall already have a connection with your guide, travel agent.
Following are Most useful apps for traveling to Tibet
1) Wechat
WeChat is a mobile text and voice messaging communication service developed by Tencent in China, first released in January 2011. It is like a Micro CMS. It can be said to be a combination of WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Paypal, Google Map, Blog, and Dropbox. For its versatilities, it would be safe for us to say everyone uses it to know a day in Tibet and Other regions of China.
With WeChat, you can easily communicate with your guide waiting for you at the Lhasa Airport, Delivery girls at the Chengdu airport delivering your Tibet Travel Permit. With this app, you can easily communicate with anyone associated with your trip to Tibet.
Besides regular chat and voice massage, what we like about this app is the WePay ( similar to PayPal) and the map. Here you can send a location map to your friend, or You can send your real-time location, where you can trace your friend’s actual position as he moves around the town, and he can see yours.
This Apps is safe to say the best App in China, and with it, your stay and travel in China will be much more comfortable.
Platform: iOS, Android
2) Maps.me
Maps.me is the map app is the best Map app we can recommend for your travel to Tibet. In most cases, international travellers to Tibet would like to move around with their mobile data turned off. In the app, you can download the maps on your phone and use them offline on the move. Another important use of this Map App is you can ask your guide to help point out the restaurants, cafes, and shops on the app, which you can temporarily save in the app.
Platform: iOS, Android
3) Xe currency App
This Xe currency App is the most renowned as the most trusted resource for currency exchange all over the globe. By comparing the rate here on this app while travelling to Tibet to be sure you are getting the best today rate.
The best place to get the best deal on the exchange rate is at the bank. But here you might end up spending a lot of time in the queue. The next best place to exchange the money is at the ATMs. Here you can use your international credit and debit cards to withdraw cash in RMB. You can also call your travel agency to help you exchange money with RMB. We always do help clients to change the funds into RMB at the best of the local rate.
With this app, you can check the rough approximation of the exchange for the date. While in Tibet, never exchange the money at your hotel reception at all. You will not get a reasonable rate.
Platform: iOS, Android
4) Accuweather
Accuweather is the best app we can recommend for all travellers visiting Tibet. Typically most travellers depend on tour guides for weather information. Tibet is a vast place, and there is a loss of geographical differences, so every your guide tells you about the weather; it is not always accurate. The majority of the tour guide in Tibet use the default weather apps native to their phone or Yahoo weather forecast. But here we would like to recommend you in using Accuweather.
Platform: iOS, Android
5) First Aid – IFRC
First Aid by IFRC is a simple and free app that can save a life. This apps gives you instant information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. It is easier to understand first Aid with its Interactive quizzes, videos, and step by step in the guide.
Platform: iOS, Android
6)PeakFinder AR
If you are going to visit the Mount Everest Basecamp, and even further into the Mount Kailash region. Peak finder AR can be a great help in showing the names of all the mountains and peaks and its high with a 360° display. The apps function wholly offline and work worldwide.
With it, you can find more than 650’000 peaks from Mount Everest to the little hill around Lhasa city.
Platform: iOS, Android
7) Spyglass
In the outdoor navigation category, Spyglass is like a swiss-army knife. Whether you’re on foot of Mount Everest or On the Drolma La pass on Kailash trekking, this app will help you navigate and track your off-road travel. It is packed with tools like binoculars, heads-up displays, and a hi-tech compass with offline maps, to name a few. You can save your custom place and trail, and it navigates precisely to them later using its real-time augmented reality displays on maps.
Conclusion of Most useful apps for traveling to Tibet
Above are some of the Apps which we think will help you better during your stay in Tibet. Yes, many Apps are banned in China. Before coming to China, it is recommended to see if your mail provider is blocked here. Or might need to find alternative ways to get access to it.
We have been using the above mentions app on our phones all the time. So it is recommended to all the travelers coming to Tibet to have it downloaded.
Tenzin Travel is the best Tibetan Travel agency in Tibet. Our agency is one of Tibet’s most experienced tour operators, with over 20 years in the industry. Founded by a local Tibetan family with decades of expertise as guides, managers, and route planners. We craft personalized itineraries for every traveler. Our agency is the highest-rated and most recommended Tibet travel agency on TripAdvisor, Google, and Lonely Planet.
We can make holistic arrangements for your trip to Tibet. Including a Tibet Travel Permit, a Tibetan tour guide, flight tickets, train tickets, vehicle arrangements, and hotel bookings in Tibet.
Our Lhasa office is just steps from Barkhor Square. All our Tibetan team ensures deep cultural, linguistic, and religious insights, setting us apart from other agencies.
Beyond tourism, we support Tibetan communities by donating a portion of each tour to local projects. Your travel to Tibet is about more than profit—it’s about the opportunity for us to give back.
