Tibet – The Great North Road

Yes. Tibet is part of China, and foreign travellers need a Chinese visa before we can apply for your Tibet Travel Permit. If you arrive via a Chinese city (Beijing, Chengdu, Xining and so on), you normally need an individual tourist “L” visa from a Chinese embassy. If you arrive from Nepal, you typically need a group visa issued in Kathmandu. Once your trip is booked and arrival plans are clear, we send detailed instructions for your route.

We apply for the permits your itinerary needs. The Tibet Travel Permit (TTB) is required to board your flight or train into Tibet — we arrange delivery to Beijing, Chengdu or whichever gateway city you use. After you arrive, your guide handles on-the-ground paperwork. Extra permits can apply for Everest, Mount Kailash, Guge or parts of eastern Tibet; we list those when we propose your route.

Major changes are usually difficult because your itinerary and places of visit are specified on the permits, including your arrival city. Small swaps inside Lhasa — for example preferring a thangka workshop over Drepung — are often fine. Tell us as early as possible if dates or regions need to shift.

Yes. Foreign visitors in Tibet must travel with a locally licensed guide. You are met at Lhasa airport, the train station or a land border, then accompanied by a licensed Tibetan guide. Ours are employed directly by us — trained, experienced and English-speaking. That does not mean they hover every minute: rules on independent wandering shift over time, but guides are generally required for monasteries and outside Lhasa. Your guide will explain the current situation; following it is a condition of travel. Treat them as an asset — their knowledge of places and customs is part of the journey.

Generally no. Foreigners travelling in Tibet are required to use private vehicles licensed for tourist use. In Lhasa you can use taxis or rickshaws to move around the city. Guidebooks that suggest solo public-transport travel are often outdated; guide and private-transport rules have been enforced for years and are unlikely to disappear.

Transport is by car, van, minibus or bus depending on the itinerary and group size. Roads on most tourist routes — including toward Kailash, Guge and Everest — are paved and in good condition. Dedicated 4WD is rarely necessary now and is often an unnecessary expense. Our drivers are experienced on plateau roads (and as mechanics). English varies, but they know the photo stops — make the effort to connect and the days are more fun.

Lhasa sits at about 3,685m. Mild headache or nausea on arrival is not unusual. Who suffers and why is poorly predicted — age and fitness are unreliable guides, and the same person can react differently on another trip. Take it easy for the first days, drink water, and do not race off the plane. Stop on stairs and breathe. Younger, fitter travellers sometimes struggle more because they overdo it. Calm breathing and realistic expectations help; hospitals in Lhasa are experienced with altitude, and very few guests cannot complete a well-paced itinerary. Discuss personal medication with your doctor before travel — we do not prescribe.

We build acclimatisation into the outline before pushing higher. Everest and Kailash days are long; overnight stops matter more than a rushed checklist. If someone in a private group needs an extra rest day, we adjust when permits and hotels allow. Tell us your health context when you enquire so we can propose a realistic route.

Many itineraries run through remote areas. Infrastructure improves constantly, but outside main towns it is not always Western-standard. Journeys to western Tibet especially are not conventional beach holidays: conditions are harsher, events less predictable, and facilities simpler. Good organisation still sits at the mercy of weather and the unexpected — which is also where some of the best encounters happen. We brief you honestly before you book.

No political activity may be undertaken by travellers. That includes photographing military personnel or installations, public political comment, or possessing materials linked to exile politics. These are legal regulations for travel in China/Tibet; booking with us means agreeing to abide by local law. Your guide can be held primarily responsible for guest actions — with fines, licence loss or worse in severe cases — so we ask everyone to travel carefully and respectfully.

Monasteries are working religious communities. Walk clockwise where that is custom, keep voices low, and ask before photographing statues or monks — some halls ban cameras. Cover shoulders and knees. Your guide briefs you before each visit. Curiosity and respect are enough; we never pressure guests into religious participation.

Two to three months is comfortable for permits and peak-season hotels. Festival weeks and popular Everest or Kailash dates fill earlier. Shorter lead times are often possible — write with your dates and we will say honestly what is realistic.

Private trips match your dates, pace and group size with your own vehicle and guide. Fixed departures suit solo travellers or small parties who want a set outline and shared costs. Both still require permits and a licensed guide. Tell us how you prefer to travel and we will recommend a fit.

Use Plan a trip on the site, or email dates, group size and regions of interest. Our Lhasa team replies within one business day with realistic options — not a hard sell. If a request does not fit the season or altitude profile, we say so.