Getting to Lhasa
There are three main cities to get to Lhasa from...Beijing, Chengdu and Xining. These cities have many places to arrange a Tibet travel permit and train/plane ticket to Lhasa. Many of the agencies in these cities however, charge huge amounts of money to get foreigners to Lhasa. I once went into a travel agency and asked what the cheapest price for a permit and train ticket to Lhasa was. They told me the cheapest price they could give me was Y3200 / $413!! I couldn't believe what they were saying. I laughed at them and walked out the door.
Here is a list of guesthouses and travel agencies in these three main cities that charge a very reasonable amount of money for a Tibet travel permit and train/plane ticket to Lhasa. These places all truly care about their guests and customers and will help you with any travel questions you may have:
In Beijing go to Leo Hostel. Leo Hostel is located in a great part of Beijing and can arrange travel throughout China as well as train tickets to Ulaan Baatar, Hanoi and Hong Kong. The staff are friendly and very helpful.
In Chengdu go to Sim's Cozy Guesthouse. Sim and his wife Maki run one of the best guesthouses in China. They can help arrange tours throughout Sichuan as well as arrange a travel permit to Lhasa.
In Xining you can contact me at lhasapermits@tibetanconnections.com. In addition to arranging permits to Lhasa, I can also arrange trips through all of Kham and Amdo (some of the best and least known regions of Tibet) and to places such as Mt. Everest, Mt. Kailash and overland from Lhasa to Nepal.
So you're going to Lhasa? Get in contact with of the above to help arrange your permit.
Great photo albums! Nice blog :)
Posted by: Laura in Beijing China | March 08, 2008 at 09:44 PM
i'll like to know if it is possible to get the permit fot Tibet, since a month ago there were not insuing permits for americans, does any body know what the status on this issue
thanks
Posted by: Karlin | June 26, 2007 at 04:53 PM
I would like to travel to Tibet while travelling through China in late july early august, is it possible to get a Tibet travel permit in Xian and how is the availability of train tickets there?
Thanks
Posted by: Justin McMahon | June 20, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Does anybody have news on the Tibet travel permit? we have booked a room with Leo Hostel for mid June and want to get it through them, but they have removed the link from their website and haven't replied to my email. Is the problem with getting the permit still ongoing?
Thanks for any help,
Iris, who will go to China/Tibet 1st time and is nervous!
Posted by: Iris Meier | June 02, 2007 at 03:46 AM
I am currently in Xian and have been told that the Chinese government is not granting permits to Americans right now because of the incident a few weeks ago at Everest. Do you know what the status of this is?
Posted by: Lost in Xian | May 16, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Please can you tell me if it's possible to get the Tibet permit in nepal or in Bangkok?
May be you know how is the weather in nepal from the 22nd of may until midle of june.
Thank you
Posted by: chandni2005 | April 20, 2007 at 11:06 PM
'bout time you got into the travel business.
How long does it take you to arrange permits, and can you do it on weekdays as well as working days?
Posted by: Zhao Yun | March 22, 2007 at 01:44 PM