How to get to Tibet
Lying at the roof of the world, Tibet has become one of the “must-see” destinations for foreign tourists. Every year, millions of tourists flock to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, heading for the stunning monasteries and spectacular landscapes of the Tibetan plateau.
Traveling to Tibet can seem like a nightmare of red tape and restrictions, which can sometimes put people off traveling to the region. However, even with all the restrictions in place and the myriad of complex permits that are required to even board the train to Tibet, the reality of planning a trip to the Third Pole could not be simpler.
In fact, you actually have to do very little to travel to Tibet, as all of the requirements are done for you. Here at Explore Tibet, the leading Tibetan-owned tour operator in Lhasa, we pride ourselves on making your life easier by doing almost everything for you. Once you have your Chinese Entry Visa, all you have to do is sit back and relax, while we do all the work for you.
Requirements
Tibet has numerous requirements for permits and passes to travel into and around the region, as well as severe restrictions on where you can and cannot travel. Just to get into Tibet, you need the Tibet Travel permit from the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, and if you want to visit Mount Everest, you need two more additional permits, a pass, and a ticket to the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (QNNP).
While this may sound complicated, it really is not, as you do not have to do anything to obtain these permits and passes. All permits and passes for Tibet travel must be obtained by us, as your tour operator, and personal applications are not accepted by the various departments in Tibet that handle the permits.
The Chinese Entry Visa is normally the only document that you will need to obtain yourself, as this must be obtained from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China before you leave for your trip. Processing normally takes between 3 and 5 days, and requires your original passport, completed application form, and fee. You will also need to provide and itinerary for your time in China and proof of hotel and flight bookings, depending on the requirements of the embassy. However, you should not mention to the embassy that you are intending to travel to Tibet at the time of the application, as this can cause problems with getting your visa. All of the arrangements for the Tibet part of the trip will be handled by us.
It should be noted that a Chinese Entry Visa is not required if you are entering Tibet from Nepal direct to Lhasa or overland across the Gyirong Port border control checkpoint. You will be issued with a Group Tourist Visa for the duration of your stay in China once you reach Kathmandu. This is obtained from the embassy by our representative on your behalf and takes around 3 working days to process.
The other permits you will need are the Tibet Travel Permit, the Alien’s Travel Permit, the Military Permit, and the Border permit, all of which will be handled by us on your behalf. You can check the table below for the requirements for each permit.
| Permit | Common Name | Processing Requirements | Processing Period | Area Covered |
| Chinese Entry Visa | Chinese Tourist Visa | Valid passport with at least 6 month’s validity remaining at the time of travel and two blank facing visa pages; Two passport-sized photos on a white background; Completed visa application form in black ink; Visa processing fee. |
3-5 working days | China |
| Group Tourist Visa | N/A | Letter of Confirmation for Entry into the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (Tibet Travel permit); Original passport with at least 6 month’s validity remaining at the time of travel and two blank facing visa pages; Two passport-sized photos on a white background; Completed visa application form in black ink; Visa processing fee. |
3 working days | China (when entering from Nepal only) |
| Letter of Confirmation for Entry into the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (Tibet Travel permit); | Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit / Tibet Travel Permit / Tibet Entry Permit / Tibet Visa* | Scanned copy of your original passport showing both details and visa pages (visa not required when traveling through Nepal); | 15-20 days | Tibet (restricted to Lhasa Prefecture only) |
| Alien’s Travel Permit | PSB Permit | Letter of Confirmation for Entry into the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (Tibet Travel permit); Original passport with at least 6 month’s validity remaining at the time of travel and two blank facing visa pages; |
1-2 hours | Shigatse Prefecture (Mount Everest), Shannan Prefecture (Samye Monastery), Nyingchi Prefecture (Basum Lake), Ngari Prefecture (Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar), Qamdo Prefecture (Chamdo, Riwoche) |
| Restricted Areas Permit | Military permit | Letter of Confirmation for Entry into the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (Tibet Travel permit); Scanned copy of your original passport showing both details and visa pages (visa not required when traveling through Nepal); |
20 days | Nyingchi Prefecture (Basum Lake), Ngari Prefecture (Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar), Qamdo Prefecture (Chamdo, Riwoche) |
| Frontier Pass | Tibet Border Pass/Tibet Border Permit | Scanned copy of your original passport showing both details and visa pages (visa not required when traveling through Nepal); Letter of Confirmation for Entry into the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China (Tibet Travel permit); Itinerary of the tour in Tibet (provided by us once your tour is booked); |
3-5 days | Nyingchi Prefecture (Basum Lake), Mount Everest Area (including Mount Everest, Rongbuk Monastery, EBC), Shannan Prefecture (Yadong Border Area only) |
The obtaining of the required documents by us also includes all your entrance tickets to the various attractions that you will visit whilst in Tibet, including places like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve.
Tour Packages
Tour packages are a requirement for anyone traveling to Tibet, as independent travel is not permitted. All tourists to Tibet must be on a pre-booked tour with a registered tour operator, and here at Explore Tibet we have a wide range of pre-set tours to choose from. From a short, 5-day tour of Lhasa and the surrounding monasteries to an all-out adventure lasting for 15 days and traveling across the vast expanse of the Tibetan plateau, taking in Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, and trekking around the Kailash kora for three days.
For all tours in Tibet, you will have a guide, driver, and private vehicle for the duration of your tour, as tourists are not permitted to travel around the region without their guide and are prohibited from using public transport. These are all part and parcel of the tour packages and are included in the cost of the tour.
Our Join-In Group Tours are available for anyone, and normally have a maximum of just ten people in a group, though the groups can be even smaller than that at times. You will be able to join on one of the pre-set tours that have a ready-made itinerary and will leave on a pre-determined date, along with others that have booked on the same tour. It is a great way to meet new people while touring the roof of the world, and is ideal for those on a budget, as some of the tour costs are shared.
Or, you could choose your own custom tour, with an itinerary of your own design. Custom tours are private tours where you decide where to go and what to see and are not restricted by other members in the group. You will have your own personal tour guide, driver, and private vehicle at your disposal for the entire trip. Here at Explore Tibet, we have professional staff that are experienced in all aspects of tourism in Tibet, and who can advise you on the best places to visit, when and where to travel, and a myriad of other things. They will be able to easily answer all your questions, and help you set up the perfect tour for you.
