How do you get Tibet from Nepal
Admin - Updated: November 11, 2020
Tibet is one
of the main tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. It is a fantastic place,
located on its high plateau on the world's roof. Filled with high snow-capped
mountains, countless sacred lakes, and hundreds of ancient Buddhist monasteries
and holy sites, the Tibet Autonomous Region is a land where the ground meets
the sky. The sharp needles of the Himalayas jut out like giant teeth in the
clouds.
Tibet's
closest neighbor is Nepal, the land-locked kingdom in the Himalayas, which has
become a Mecca for trekkers and mountain lovers everywhere. Once the world's
most popular backpacker destination, this diverse country offers everything
from the world's highest mountains to rainforests filled with tigers,
elephants, and crocodiles. And for those traveling to Tibet from international
destinations, there is no better place to start your journey and enter the
plateau than Kathmandu.
Why
travel to Tibet from Nepal?
As the only
country globally with international access to the Tibet Autonomous Region of
China, Nepal has a unique advantage over all other Asian countries when
traveling to Tibet. Situated side by side on the crest of the mighty Himalayas,
these two close neighbors have shared history, culture, and much more over the
past several thousand years. They are more intimate than any other neighbor
that might be, sharing even the highest mountain in the world.
One of the
advantages of traveling to Tibet from Nepal is the mountains themselves,
especially Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. The summit of Mount
Everest, which stretches along the border between Nepal and China, lies right
on the border between the two, with the northern slopes in Tibet and Nepal's
southern slopes. It means that there are two base camps to choose from, both at
altitudes above 5,000 meters. You can take advantage of being able to see or
visit the highest mountains on both sides.
Transportation
is another convenience to travel from Nepal to Tibet. With international access
to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, Nepal offers both flights and overland travel
to Tibet. Flights leave daily from Tribhuvan International Airport in
Kathmandu. The crossing of the 607 kilometers from Kathmandu to the
international airport of Lhasa Gonggar in Tibet only takes 90 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take the land route from Kathmandu to Lhasa and cross
the border into Tibet at the newly opened port of Gyirong.
If you
travel to Tibet by land, you can drive to Mount Everest at the beginning of the
tour, instead of finishing the trip as most tours that start in Lhasa do. It
gives you a travel advantage as you then descend when you cross the plateau,
reducing the risk of altitude sickness.
Entry from
Nepal also makes it easier to obtain documents for Tibet. Instead of applying
for a Chinese entry visa yourself through a Chinese embassy before your trip,
your travel agent will make all the arrangements and use on your behalf once
you arrive in Kathmandu. It saves you the hassle of traveling to and from the
nearest embassy to apply for an entry visa to China.
Traveling
from Nepal to Tibet by land
Nepal to
Tibet by land through Keirong
Nepal's
overland journey to Tibet is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to
reach Tibet. Instead of taking a flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you travel
overland through the port of keirong, the Chinese border checkpoint on the
China-Nepal border. The trip is relatively easy, and you can reach within six
hours from the Nepalese capital, although you must stop along the way and leave
from near the border in the morning when it closes at 3 pm Nepali time.
Classic
Itinerary: from Kathmandu to Lhasa by land through Mount Everest
This classic
8-day trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa, which takes you through the mighty
Himalayas, is one of the most popular tours in Tibet and a great way to tour
the plateau from Nepal when you have limited time. You will cross the border at
the port of Gyirong and stop in the city of Gyirong to acclimatize before
starting the long journey to the base camp of Mount Everest at 5,200 meters
above sea level. The base camp is not far from the remote Rongbuk Monastery,
known as the world's highest Buddhist monastery.
From there,
you return to the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway and travel east via Shigatse,
Tibet's second-largest city, and Gyantse to the Tibetan capital Lhasa. This
impressive city, known as the City of the Sun because of the many sunny days a
year, is the religious and cultural heart of Tibet and is home to the
1,300year-old Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in Tibet. It is a beautiful
city with a wealth of famous sights, including the Potala Palace, the
impressive red and white palace of the old Tibetan government during the
Buddhist rule of the lama of this high plateau country.
Adventure
Route: from Kathmandu to Lhasa by land via the Kailash
If you are
feeling a little more adventurous for your trip to Tibet, then the 15-day tour,
which includes both Mount Kailash and Mount Everest while you travel to Lhasa,
is a great adventure that will take you to the highest mountain in the world
and the holiest mountain in the world in one fell swoop.
Heading
north from Gyirong, you will reach the sacred lake of Manasarovar, known as the
place where Maya Devi received the Buddha and where Buddhists and Hindus bathe
in the lake to rid themselves of a lifetime of sin. Then it is on the nearby
sacred mountain of Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and Bonpo, Mount Kailash. At only
6,638 meters, this is still the highest mountain in the Gangdise Mountains of
the Transhimalaya and the place of Tibet's most arduous journey, Mount Kailash
kora.
After
completing the three-day hike around the holy mountain, you will travel south
again to stop at the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest. With its base
camp on the northern slope at an altitude of 5,200 meters, peaks rise above the
Himalayan range, and the view from the base camp in Tibet is the best in the
world.
Then you
will continue to Shigatse and Gyantse and the sacred Yamdrok Lake as you cross
the Tibetan plateau to the Tibetan capital Lhasa. Then you have three days to
explore this breathtaking city of the sun and discover the Potala Palace's
treasures and the ancient Jokhang Temple, which have been unknown to the
outside world for over 1,000 years.
The trip
from Nepal to Tibet by airplane
There are
daily flights from Kathmandu throughout the year, with several flights during
the preceding travel months of Tibetan tourists. The flights from Tribhuvan
International Airport in Kathmandu to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport take
about 90 minutes to cross the 607-kilometer-long plateau and directly over the
summit of Mount Everest.
What is
the best and fastest way to get from Nepal to Lhasa?
These
flights are not cheap and can cost up to $300 per person on a simple economy
flight. Daily flights are operated by two major Chinese airlines, Air China and
Sichuan Airlines, and depart in the morning, which means you have time to
explore the city of the sun a little before your first day in Tibet is over. For
many people traveling to Tibet from international locations outside of Asia,
Nepal is a popular stopover before flying to Tibet.
Travel
documents needed to enter Tibet from Nepal
To enter
Tibet from Nepal, you must have several documents before you are allowed to
cross the border. This requirement to have all necessary documents applies to
both land and air travel. It is not possible to enter Tibet from Nepal without
having all documents in your possession.
Chinese
visa and group permit for Tibet-Nepal
The first
thing you need is the Tibet Travel Permit, which is required to enter Tibet and
travel in the Lhasa region. You will receive this from us with a scanned copy
of your passport before your trip. Processing usually takes up to 15-20 days,
so it is advisable to book well in advance to ensure that the permit is ready
for your departure date.
You will
also need a Chinese group visa, a special visa that is only available to those
entering Tibet from Nepal. It is not possible personally or in advance but is
issued on your behalf by your travel agent upon arrival in Kathmandu for your
trip to Tibet. After your arrival, we will receive your passport and apply for
it at the Chinese Embassy, which does not allow personal applications.
Processing usually takes three working days, so you should be in Nepal at least
five days before your trip.
Other
documents for the travel to Tibet
There are
other special permits required for travel in Tibet, and while they are required
for travel to specific places on the plateau, they are also required for those
flying to Lhasa, even if there is no contact with the ground in that area.
The first is
the Foreigners Travel Permit, which is required for travel to the
"non-open" areas of Tibet outside of Lhasa. You will typically
receive this permit when traveling from mainland China to Lhasa, but for those
traveling from Nepal, we will apply for and receive the license on your behalf
before your journey. The other permit usually required in Lhasa is the border
passport, which is necessary for all travelers going to the general areas of
China's border with Nepal, India, and Bhutan. We also request this passport in
advance so that it is ready when you are ready to travel.
Finally, you
will also need the restricted areas, also known as a military permit. It is
required for travel to certain military restricted regions of Tibet, such as
Ngari and Nyingchi. It is only required to enter Tibet from Nepal if it takes
you to Mount Kailash in Ngari Prefecture. Like the Tibet travel permit, it is
requested in advance and can take up to two weeks.