About Tibet
Emerging from humble origins as local tribe leaders in Lhasa’s Yarlung Valley, the Tibetan Kings gradually came to conquer and control much of the geographic feature we know today as ‘the Tibetan Plateau’ (the largest and highest geographical feature on the planet). In the process, they traded and skills, conquered and absorbed surrounding cultures, and adopted cultural knowledge from other powerful empires. Today, we often refer to ‘Tibet’ as the geo-cultural area conquered during the Golden Age of the Tibetan Empire, yet in the final years of the 10th century, internal struggles and religious persecution brought an end to one of Eurasia’s most impressive cultural kingdoms. In the years that followed, Buddhism experienced a massive revival, becoming the defining and distinguishing characteristic of ‘Tibetan Culture’.
Visit Tibet? What Visa Do I Need?
There are only two ways to enter the TAR. Most importantly, you should know the different visas from Mainland China or from Nepal. Read the following to understand what visa you have to process.
Visa from Mainland China:
This is the easiest way to take train or flight from any convenient cities from mainland China. To get to China first, you have to process Chinese Visa from the Chinese embassy to your country. Chinese visa is also processable in any countries if it isn’t available in your country. Travel agencies in Lhasa are not responsible in any matters of getting your visa. Once you get Chinese visa, A Tibetan travel agency process your permit by submitting your documents (copies of your passport and Chinese visa) to Tibet tourism bureau (TTB). This process usually takes two weeks to visit Tibet.
Visa from Nepal:
You have two options to reach Tibet: you can either take a direct flight to Lhasa or book a tour from the Kyirong border to Lhasa. However, regardless of your mode of travel, you will need to obtain a Tibet Group Visa (sometimes referred to as a Tibet Visa) through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. However, China visa-free nationals do not need to apply for a Chinese visa in Kathmandu, but they will still need to process the Tibet Travel Permit through our licensed Tibet travel agency. Please visit our visa-free countries article to check whether your country requires a Chinese visa.
Nepal is the only country where you can apply for a Tibet Group Visa. You do not need a Chinese visa from your home country, except for a visa to enter Nepal. To obtain the Tibet Group Visa in Kathmandu, you must book a tour with a licensed travel agency based in Lhasa, which will arrange an invitation letter for you. It is important to note that you cannot apply for the visa independently; a partner travel agency in Kathmandu will handle the process for you. The visa processing typically takes 3-4 working days. To obtain a Tibet Group Visa, you need a minimum of 5 people in your group. All 5 travelers must be present at the embassy in person to apply.
The partner agency in Kathmandu will need your original passport and the invitation letter from the Lhasa agency to apply for the Tibet Group Visa. Once your visa is ready, a tour guide will meet you at either the border or the airport upon your arrival. The guide will assist you through all necessary checkpoints and ensure you have your travel permit.
For a smooth process, we recommend contacting our trusted partner travel agency in Kathmandu, who will take care of all the necessary arrangements for you.
Outward Tibet
Outward is also very important. Your Tibet travel permit already included your inward and outward departures information too. For example, your outward destination is to mainland China, you can not got to Nepal at end of the tour.
Visit Amdo And Kham: (Tibetan cultural areas in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yun’nan provinces)
Tibet Travel Permit is not needed for Tibetan cultural areas outside of the TAR, (most of Kham and Amdo). These areas can be visited with most regular, valid, Chinese Visa.
Certain areas to visit Kham and Amdo are subject to closures and for select areas, an overnight stays may require an ATP or a Military Permit. Please check our ‘Tours to Amdo’ and contact us directly to find out if the area you are interested in has special requirements. To read more about how to get to Tibet of our Tibet travel guide page to understand all.
