Tibet is now open for traveling.All travelers enteringTibetfrom Nepal must apply for theirChina Group Visain Nepal through the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Kathmandu. Furthermore, aTibet Travel Permitis needed for all foreign travelers tovisit Tibet.
This article will tell youhow to travelfrom Nepal to Tibet andhow to get the documents. Read on to discover the process in detail and useful journey information.
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How to Go from Nepal to Tibet
The overland distance betweenKathmanduandLhasais about1,300 km(800 miles), while the straight-line distance is only about 600 km (400 miles). For an ordinary traveler, there are two ways of traveling from Nepal to Tibet:by airorby road.
Nepal to Tibet by Air—Most Recommended
Thebest wayto get from Nepal to Tibet has long beenflying, i.e. from Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport to Lhasa Gongga Airport. There was one flight per day each way between Lhasa and Kathmandu.
Here's a sample of the type of schedule that was operating:
Kathmandu (KTM) to/from Lhasa (LXA) Flight Schedule
- KTM 12:00–13:20 LXA (Mon., Wed., Fri., Sun.) Sichuan Airlines 3U8720
- KTM15:35–17:00LXA (Tue., Thu., Sat.) Air China CA408
- LXA11:35–13:15 KTM(Mon., Wed., Fri., Sun.) Sichuan Airlines 3U8719
- LXA12:40–14:35 KTM(Tue., Thu., Sat.) Air China CA407
Flight Requirements
You will need yourpassports,a group visa, andTibet permitsobtained in Nepal to board a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. After you arrive in Lhasa, your tour guide will pick you up at the airport. (How to Get a Tibet Travel Permit)
Flights Advice
We suggest you fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa if possible because itsaves timeand effort. A leisurely journey and a good rest would help youacclimate to the high altitude. Expect flights to resume when the pandemic dies down.
Please feel free tocontact our experienced travel consultantsfor professional advice.
Nepal to Tibet by Road
Traveling by road is a good butless easy办法fromKathmandutoTibet. You should travel from Kathmandu toGyirong Port via the China-Nepal Highway, and then take another vehicle toLhasaafter security checks at the port.
The distance fromKathmandu toGyirongPort is about130km(108 miles), but it takes approximately8–9 hours by car due to poor road conditions and winding mountain roads.
FromGyirong PorttoLhasa, it is about 1,100km (700 miles), and normally a night stay inShigatseis advisable.
The road trip isspectacularbecause the route traverses the Himalayas and thePlateau of Tibet, and there are manytourist attractionsto visit on the way.
Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC in Tibet)is a very popular place to visit. The journey usually takesthree daysif the main tourist attractions are visited.
Suggested Nepal–EBC–Lhasa Route:
Day 1:Gyirong Border –Dingri (6hours)
Day 2:Dingri – Mount Everest Base Camp– Shigatse(4 hours+7 hours)
Day 3:Shigatse–Gyantse–Lhasa (7 hours)
For the more adventurous, you could include bothMt. KailashandMt. Everest. Going north fromGyirong Portthen west, in2 daysyou can reach Mount Kailash andLake Manasarovar—theholiest areafor Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus.
A pilgrimage walk around the mountain (a Kailash Yatra) is considered thehardestclassic trek in Tibet.>>Read more about Kailashi Yatra
>>Also to find out Sacred Mountains in Tibet
Suggested Nepal–Kailash–Lhasa Road Journey:
Mt. Kailash
Day 1: Gyirong Port –Saga (4hours)
Day 2: Saga–Darchen (10 hours)
Day 3: Kailash pilgrimage trek
Day 4: Kailash pilgrimage trek
Day 5: Kailash pilgrimage trek
Day 6: Darchen–Sakya (12 hours)
Day 7: Sakya–Shigatse (4hours)
Day 8: Shigatse–Gyantse–Lhasa (7 hours)
If you travel by road, we suggest you hire aprivate carfrom a travel agent to ensure your comfort. Your tour guide will pick you up at Gyirong Port and give youTibet permits.
Pleasecontact us to get a quotation for a private transferfromKathmandutoGyirong Portand fromGyirong Port to Lhasa.
If you need a tour in Nepal, please contact us totailor-makea trip.
- 14-Day Tibet Tour including Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
- 11-Day Overland Trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu
Nepal to Tibet by Train — Railway Planned
There isno railwayconnectingLhasaandKathmanduyet. But a railway between Lhasa and Kathmandu isbeing designedby the governments of China and Nepal.
It is planned that the famousQinghai-Tibet Railwaywill extend from Lhasa to Kathmandu. The first extension project of theQinghai-Tibet RailwayfromLhasa to Shigatsewas completed in 2014.
TheShigatse-Yadong(China's border with Bhutan) Railway line is currently under planning. The railroad to Yadong is planned to be connected with theIndian railwaynetwork.
In the near future, a traveler can take a train from India or Bhutan to Lhasa.
Nepal-China Border Crossings
There aresixofficial ports along the border between Nepal and China.Rasuwa -Gyirong Portis used by travelers to go back and forth between Tibet and Katmandu. The other ports are designated as bilateral trade ports.
Customs staff at Gyirong Borderworkfrom 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Beijing Time. Remember that China time is2 hours 15 minutesahead of Nepali time.
Gyirong Border
How to Cross the Nepal–Tibet Border
It should be aquick processatNepal immigrationat Gyirong, as long as you haven't overstayed your Nepal visa. After the Nepal Immigration check, you should go across the Rasuwaghadi Bridge.
It is about 2 km (1½ miles) transitioning from a mud track to a well-paved road. When arriving atChina Immigration, you'll have to show your passport, China Group Visa,Tibet Entry Permitand have your luggage checked.
After having your passport stamped, ourguideanddriver, who have arrived 1 night before, wouldpick you upafter China Immigration to start yourTibet journey.
Please dokeep us informedof your leaving time so that our guide and driver can meet you on time.
Accommodations at the Gyirong Border
It takesmore than eight hoursto drive from Kathmandu to the Gyirong Border, so it is best to have a rest after the long journey from Kathmandu.
Gyirong Countyis 77 kilometers (48 miles) away from Gyirong port and is a good place to findaccommodationsas well as some goodmeals.
Gyirong Hotelis presently the best local guest house available as an overnight base. It provides abasic levelof comfort, free Wi-Fi (low signal), clean rooms, and private bathrooms.
>>Also to find out Accommodations in Tibet
Travel Documents Required to Enter Tibet from Nepal
Tibet Permit
AChina Group Visaand aTibet Entry Permitare required if you enter Tibet from Nepal. This is different from traveling from a Mainland China city to Tibet.
This China Group Visa iscompulsoryeven if you have a valid China visa issued in another country (which would be automatically canceled unfortunately when the Tibet Group Visa was issued).
中国团体签证issued in Kathmandu, can be for as few as just one person, and are valid for 30 days.
They aresingle entryand cannot be extended, but you can also visit other cities in mainland China like Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai with a China Group Visa.
A China Group Visa is usuallynot affixed in a passportbut is a sheet of paper that lists all the names of the people in your group along with their nationalities, birth dates, and passport numbers.
On a China Group Visa, members of yourtravel groupmust enter and exit China at thesame timeand thesame place.
3 Steps to Get Your China Group Visa and Tibet Permit in Nepal
Youcannotapply for a China Group Visa in Nepalindependentlyaccording to government policy. You must find a travel agency, like China Highlights, to help you with the application andTibet tour arrangements.
Step 1: Confirm Your Tibet Itinerary with a Travel Agency
According to the current policy, you mustbook a Tibet tourwith a qualified travel agency. If you choose to travel with us, your travel consultant will help you to arrange your Tibet itinerary. This is a prerequisite for the following steps.
As it takes time to apply for the documents and book hotels/tickets, you are advised to confirm your tour bookingat least 1 month(or as early as possible) before your departure to Tibet.
Step 2:E-mail Your Passport Info
Scan yourpassport ID pagesand those of your fellow travelers and email us the scanned copies. We will then use the copies to apply for yourTibet Entry Permitand to get aVisa Invitation Letterfrom the Tibet Tourism Bureau. This may take7 to 10working days.
Be aware that after submitting your passport copies to the Tibet Tourism Bureau, your Tibetitinerarywill not be able to be modified.
After the permit and letter have been issued, we will send the copies to our cooperating travel agency in Nepal.
Step 3: Go to China Immigration offices in Kathmandu.
China Group Visas can only be applied for at theChinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Our cooperator will meet you in Kathmandu andassist youwith filling in the application form and collecting your passports and photos.
每个人是required to submit his or heroriginal passportand a “2-inch” (45x35 mm) passport-typephotothat's been taken with a white background.
Generally, a group visa will be issuedin 5 daysfor a regular application; anurgentapplication takes 3 days.
For example, if you submit your passport on the morning of June 1st, your visa will be issued on the afternoon of June 3rd (for an urgent application) and you can start your journey on June 4th.
Whilewaiting for the group visato be issued, you are permitted to travel around Nepal with your passport photocopy. We are able totailor-makea Nepal tour if you need.
- 17-Days Beijing, Xian, Tibet, Chengdu, Guilin, and Hong Kong Tour
- 8 Days Chengdu Pandas, Sichuan Cuisine and Lhasa Tibetan culture Tour
How to Go from Tibet to Nepal
If you would like togo to Nepal from Tibetthe routes are the same. However, thedocumentprocess is mucheasier. Traveling from a China city to Tibet, you should already have your China Visa issued in any country.>>Read more about Applying for China Visa
With your China Visa, the travel agent can arrange aTibet Entry Permit. Nepal tourist visas can be obtained by theVisa on Arrivalmethod, which is valid for almost every traveler who arrives by air or overland.
So, you could get aNepal Visafrom Nepali Immigration at the Nepal side of theGyirong-Rasuwa border.If you take a flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu, a Nepal visa can be issued atTribhuvan International Airport.
To know more details about Nepal Visa, pleasecontact us.
Hassle-Free Tour with China Highlights
China Highlights can help arrange your Tibet tour, Tibet permits, and group visa from Nepal. You need to provide your passport to apply for a group visa, and Tibet permits, at least 15 days before departure.
Take a look at our most popular Tibet tours for inspiration:
- 10-Days Beijing-Lhasa-Shanghai
- 8-Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour
- 7-Days Tibet Tours by Train from Xining
- 4-Days Lhasa Highlights Comfort Tour
We could also create your own individual journey.Contact our experienced travel consultants.
Also, we are confident that we cancustomize a tour for youto include a true Tibetan flavor, even if you can't get to Tibet for some reason (for example the current pandemic restrictions).
