Getting to Tibet

 

In the past, I have written about how to get to Tibet on my Land of Snows site and on this site. But, with this post, I hope to make getting to Tibet even clearer and more simpler.

Traveling to Tibet can sound extremely complicated at first. Different information sources seem to contradict each other and even different travel agencies tell you different things. All of the information listed here is current and valid as of January 2012. If any changes occur, I will update this information right away.

Travel Permits

All foreigners going to Tibet must have their travel arranged through a travel agency before arriving in  Lhasa. The days of arriving in Lhasa and putting together a trip to  Everest Base Camp are over. Everything now has to be arranged in advance. All foreigners must have travel permits, a tour guide and a private vehicle and driver (if you are only staying in Lhasa, no private vehicle is required). Absolutely no independent travel is allowed in Tibet. Any rumor you may have heard that foreigners can travel on their own in Tibet is not true.

You should contact a travel agency at least 3 or 4 weeks before you plan to arrive in Lhasa. This will give you enough time to finalize your travel plans and for the agency to apply for your travel permits. You will need to have a specific itinerary listed on your travel permit. Major changes to your itinerary will not be allowed after your permits have been issued. Travel agencies can arrange your permits for you in advance before you arrive in China to minimize the amount of time you have to wait.

The first permit that all foreigners need to obtain is a Tibet Travel Permit which is only issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. You cannot get this permit from a Chinese embassy or consulate. A Tibet Travel Permit is NOT a visa and is not placed in your passport. It is a 2 paper form that lists your full name, nationality, age, passport number and your travel route while in Tibet. It will have the seal of the Tibet Tourism Bureau on the front page and the license number of the travel agency who is arranging your tour. This permit is arranged by the travel agency that is organizing your tour. You will NOT need to personally get this permit as the travel agency you use will get it for you.

The next permit that you may need is an Alien Travel Permit which is arranged by the Public Security Bureau (a branch of the police that deals with foreigners). If you plan on traveling outside of the Lhasa-Shigatse area you will need one of these permits. If you need this permit, the travel agency you are using will take care of it for you. Travel agencies are kept up-to-date on travel regulations and will know if the places you are planning to go to will require an Alien Travel Permit or not. You will probably need to email the agency a copy of your passport in order for them to arrange this permit for you.

The third permit that you may need is a Military Permit. If you plan on traveling to Mt. Kailash, overland to Kashgar or to Nyingtri or Chamdo prefectures, you will need a Military Permit. This permit is needed because the Tibet Autonomous Region borders some sensitive and disputed areas of India. This permit is issued in Lhasa by the military authority. Again, your travel agency will know if you need this or not and will apply for the permit for you.

Another permit that is sometimes needed in highly restricted areas of Tibet is a Foreign Affairs Permit. Like the above permits, your travel agency will arrange this for you if you need it.

Applying for Permits

You will need to scan and email your passport and Chinese visa to the travel agency you are using if you wish to have your permit processed before you arrive in China (you can also arrange a tour by walking into a travel agency, but you will have to wait several days for your tour and permits to be processed. Most people prefer to have it arranged in advance to minimize the waiting time). If you have a tourist (L) visa, no other documents are required to be sent to the travel agency. If you have a student (X) visa, you will need a letter from your school stating that you are an official student there in addition to your passport and Chinese visa. The letter must include your full name, passport number and nationality. If you have a business (F) visa, you will need a letter from your inviting company stating your full name, passport number, nationality and position with the company. If you have a work (Z) visa or residence permit, you will need a letter stating that you are an official employee of your company. Tibet Travel Permits normally take 3 to 5 days to be processed. The permit then is mailed to you at a hotel or emailed for you to print and use. If you plan on taking the flight to Lhasa, insist that the original is mailed to you as you could have a problem trying to board the plane with only a copy of the permit. People holding a journalist visa are normally not allowed to travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Permits are almost always checked before taking the train to Lhasa and are always checked before boarding flights to Lhasa. Without a permit, you will not be allowed to board a flight or train to Lhasa. It will be extremely difficult to slip into Tibet without a permit and tour and it will be even harder to stay at a hotel without a permit. Foreigner approved hotels will need to see your permit and passport before you are allowed to stay in them. 

Getting to Tibet

There are a few way of getting to Tibet. The most common way now is to take the train to Lhasa. There are daily trains to Lhasa originating from Xining, Lanzhou, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. In addition, the train passes through many other cities along the way. Train tickets during the busy summer tourist season can be extremely difficult to get. For acclimatization purposes, Xining is probably the best option to take the train from as it sits at 2300m/7500 feet above sea level. It is also the closest major city to Lhasa.

Another popular way to get to Lhasa is to fly there. There are daily flights to Lhasa from Chengdu, Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and a few other major cities. Chengdu offers the most daily flights to Lhasa with at least 6 to 10 flights per day.

It is still possible to take the bus to Lhasa from Golmud, though very few foreigners chose this option. Travel agencies in Golmud have a reputation for being the most overpriced in all of China. On top of that, the bus ride is very uncomfortable.

In order to purchase train, air or bus tickets to Lhasa, you will need to show your Tibet Travel Permit. Most people prefer paying a little extra and have a travel agency arrange their tickets to Lhasa in advance for them. Getting train tickets during the summer high season can be extremely difficult even for a travel agency. 

 

  

 Transportation in Tibet

While in Tibet, you will have to travel by private vehicle. The only exception to this is if you are only staying in Lhasa. Most agencies will allow you to use taxi's or public buses to get around if you are only staying in Lhasa. If you plan on traveling outside of Lhasa, you will most likely travel by Toyota Land Cruiser. The road conditions in Tibet have dramatically improved over the past 10 years, but the Land Cruiser is still the most commonly used vehicle for tours. If you are traveling with a larger group, it is also possible to travel by mini-van or  private bus depending on the time of year and the conditions of the roads.

Tour Guide

Foreigners have to have a tour guide while in Tibet, including in Lhasa. There are no exceptions to this. While in Lhasa, your guide is normally with you for 3 to 5  hours each day and then leaves you to have the rest of the day on your own. When you travel outside of Lhasa, your guide will accompany you in the same vehicle for the duration of the tour. Unfortunately, Lhasa is getting a reputation for having some lazy (almost worthless) tour guides. It is quite common to get a guide who knows little about the area you are traveling to, sleeps a lot in the vehicle and doesn't speak a lot of English. Not all guides are like this...there are plenty of excellent guides in Lhasa. But, because Lhasa is now a major tourist destination (over 5 million domestic and foreign travelers visit Tibet in 2010), a lot of guides have flocked to Lhasa for a job and some of the new guides are giving the older guides a bad reputation.The travel agency that you book your tour with will be responsible for assigning a guide to you. While in Lhasa, if your guide is not doing a good job, ask for a change before you depart to Everest or some other remote part of Tibet. 

 

Hotel Bookings

Most Tibetan owned agencies have many relationships with a wide range of hotels in Lhasa...everything from budget backpacker places to 4 and 5 star hotels. If you know the specific hotel you want to stay at, tell the agency and they can book it for you. If you are unsure which hotel you want to stay at, tell the agency which type of hotel you are looking for, such as budget, mid or high end, and they can give you a booking for you. During the high season it is essential to have your hotel booked in advance. Most hotels in Tibet do not have websites or ways to reserve them on-line. In areas outside of Lhasa, it is not really necessary to make hotel reservations. These small towns usually only have a handful of accommodation options that usually have empty rooms on arrival.

Meals

You can choose to have a travel agency arrange all of your meals for you, but it isn't necessary or required. I recommend doing your meals on your own. That way you can choose what food you want to eat and can be sure that you are not overpaying for a meal that your agency arranged for you.

Entrance Fees

You will need to specify with your travel agency regarding if entrance fees into temples, monasteries and parks are included in your tour price. It is best to have these not included in your tour price. That way, you can decide which places you want to visit on your own. If you have the agency pay for the entrance fees and you decide to not visit a certain monastery, it could be difficult getting that amount refunded.

Deposit and Cancellation Fee

Most agencies will require you to pay at least a 10% to 50% deposit on your tour before they will process it. Deposits are paid either by credit card, bank transfer or Western Union transfer. Make sure your agency is very clear with you on their cancellation fee. Also ask what their refund policy is if you become sick during the trip and have to end the tour early. Most agencies should offer at least some of a refund for a tour that has to end early due to illness.

Which Travel Agency?

Choosing a travel agency with a good reputation is very important. Responsible tourism in Tibet is also important. Most people use travel agencies based in Xining, Chengdu or Beijing. As a general rule, the further away from Lhasa, the more expensive the tour will be. Xining and Chengdu are usually cheaper places to arrange a Tibet tour than Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. Arranging a Tibet tour from an agency outside of China will be the most expensive. Choosing an agency directly from Lhasa is usually the cheapest option. I recommend using a Tibeten owned agency to ensure that your tourism money goes to the Tibetan people. Please email me for recommendations on travel agencies in Lhasa, Xining and Chengdu.

 

Nepal to Tibet

The advice is above is only for entering Tibet from the rest of China. If you plan on entering Tibet from Nepal, you have to go by much different rules. Please read through the following for the regulations on entering Tibet from Nepal:

Nepal to Tibet

Kham and Amdo Regions

The Kham and Amdo regions of the Tibetan Plateau are found in Qinghai, southwestern Gansu, western and norther Sichuan and far northwestern Yunnan provinces. These areas are home to over 60% of the total Tibetan population and over 50% of the land mass of the Tibetan Plateau. These areas are completely open to foreign travelers and do not require a tour or any travel permits. Many of these areas are completely Tibetan and are the best places to see traditional Tibetan culture. Many repeat travelers to Tibet consider regions in Kham and Amdo to be the best places that the Tibetan Plateau has to offer.

For more information on travel in Tibet, please send an email to [email protected]
 

  

 

 

Comments

[Jay Bird]

I have a felony for possession of weed that's 15yrs old..i have tried looking and have asked the Chinese consulate and have yet to reply! Would you know by chance if I should just forget my dream? Thanks

[Nghi Ng]

Thank you so much for posting this article. I'm a girl traveling to Tibet soon. Is there anything else I need to be aware of while I'm there?

[Parinda Jayasuriya]

Thank you for the vital information about Lhasa. Pl email me recommended agencies from Lhasa. I plan to come beijing and Lhasa in late August. Is Lhasa re-open for foreigners in August?

[Losang]

Neil, it is best to email me at [email protected] for travel agency recommendations.

Thanks!

[Neil]

Hi,

This is a great article, thanks very much for all the nuggets of information provided.

My fiance and I are looking to travel to Tibet (taking the train from Chengdu) late July / early August. We are only planning to explore Lhasa. Please could you email us some Tibetan agencies to use. We are on a tight budget so are trying to keep it as cheap as possible.

Thanks in advance for your help (and for the great article!),
Neil

[Losang]

Katie...I do not recommend any Chengdu or Chongqing travel agencies. For starters, there are no Tibetan owned agencies in either of these cities and it is best to use only Tibetan owned businesses in order to practice responsible tourism. Secondly, tour prices in Chengdu and Chongqing are more expensive then in Lhasa. And lastly, all travel to Tibet can be arranged though email from an agency in Lhasa. There is no need to go to an office to arrange your tour. For recommendations on which agency to use, email me ([email protected]) where you plan to go and I will get back to you on which agency to use.

[Katie]

This is great information. Could you send me your recommendations for Chengdu travel agencies? Also I live in Chongqing, so if you know of any godo ones in CQ that would be appreciated as well.

[Losang]

Javier,

There are no trains originating in Xi'an that go to Lhasa. The trains pass through Xi'an, but originate in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. By the time these trains reach Xi'an, there are only a small amount of tickets remaining making it difficult or even impossible to get tickets to Lhasa from there. I recommend taking the train to Lhasa from Xining. For a recommendation on which travel agency to use, email me at [email protected]

[Javier]

Hey! Thanks for this info, very useful. I'd like to take a train from Xi'an to Lhasa, and from there do the Ganden to Samye trek. After that cross to Nepal.... Can you give me some information on good travel agencies that can help me with the permits and the bookings? I'm traveling in low budget. Cheers!

[Valery]

Will You Please email me for recommendations on travel agencies in Lanzhou (in Xining if no)!

[Losang]

Shervin....Not only can you you a Tibet based travel agency, but I highly recommend it! Tibet based travel agencies are always going to be cheaper than a travel agency 4000kms away in Beijing. If you want recommendations on a travel agency, email me and let me know which area you plan to travel to and I will let you know which agency is best for you.

[Shervin Emami]

Hi, thanks for this great information!

Can you email me recommendations for travel agencies that would let me book budget accomodation in Lhasa through the web from overseas. I want to catch a train from Beijing to Lhasa, but does that mean I need to use a Beijing travel agency or I can use a (cheaper) Lhasa travel agency?

Thanks for your help!

[Dmitriy]

Thanks for posting such a huge lot of helpful info!
Will you mail me a budget tour agency suggestion in Lhasa? Thank you in advance!

[Clen]

Very clear and useful, thank you!

[Losang]

Nigel,

Foreigners are not permitted in hotels that aren't authorized to house foreigners. I recommend using a guidebook to find hotel options while in Tibet.

If you want to take the train to Lhasa from Xining, you are free to use any travel agency you wish. However, not all travel agencies in other parts of China will have connections in Xining to purchase train tickets for you.

The guide will meet you in Lhasa. The guide will not accompany you on the train to Lhasa.

Losang

[Nigel R]

Wonderful page that gets my research started.

You mentioned Foreigner Approved hotels then later that it is a good idea to book your hotels yourself and not through a Tour company. It is essential that one stays in such approved hotels and how does one know in advance if the hotel is so approved?

Also, if I want to take the train from Xining to Lhasa, does my Tour company that gets my permit need to be Xining based and a guide have to accompany on that journey?

(Please email me Tour company suggestions accordingly).

[grand canyon tours]

Travelling by land is indeed tiring but worth it.

[Losang]

Kevin,

As long as the 65 year old is in good health, there shouldn't be any problems.

Send me an email at [email protected] for recommendations on which travel agency to use.

Losang

[Kelvin]

Hi,

Thanks for posting a lot of relevant information about how to get to Tibet. I'd like to ask for some referrals for travel agencies in Chengdu and Lhasa.

I'm thinking of bringing my father to Tibet. Would it be advisable to have a 65 year old join in this trip ?

[Javed]

I would like contacts for nice budget travel agencies in Chengdu. I would like to go from Chengdu to Lhasa to Kathmandu via EBC stop sometime in April 2011. Thanks
-Javed

[Chris]

I would like email contacts for travel agencies in Chengdu. Planning on traveling Chengdu to Lhasa to Kathmandu April/May 2011. Thanks

[Jarden Sitepu]

Please email me for recommendations on travel agencies in Lhasa, Xining and Chengdu.Thanks.

[Nattis 2.0]

Hi there!

I'd want to go from Kolkata, India to Lhasa in Tibet is that even possible or do we have to enter from Katmandu, Nepal?