If you are looking for the Tibet tour of your dreams, a handful of journeys rise above the rest as traveler favorites. Rubbing shoulders with pilgrims and nomads in the holy city of Lhasa, watching the sun rise over an unobstructed view of the North Face of Everest, trekking around the holiest mountain in the world in far western Tibet — you can’t go wrong with any of these trips when you visit Tibet. It’s good to know, also, when you are planning your trip that you can join a more affordable group tour, or customize it as a private, personal journey.
2024 Travel Advisory:
China is piloting visa-free programs for certain countries for entry to China, but all international travelers to Tibet also require a special Tibet permit.
US travelers must have both a Chinese visa (which you get on your own in the US) and a special Tibet travel permit, which you must get from an official Tibet travel agency. China has simplified the visa process for Americans, removing required proof of round-trip flights, hotel reservations and itinerary.
TIBET TOUR Q & A
Is it true that I have to be on a group tour in Tibet? No. Because Tibet travel is restricted by the Chinese government, you do have to be on an official tour with a Tibet travel agency, but the official tour can be a group tour or a private tour. Private tours can be just you, plus a guide and driver.
Are tibet tours expensive? Yes, traveling to Tibet is not cheap since you have to have, at least, a guide.
I have never traveled to Tibet. How do I find a good Tibet travel agency? We have spent years finding and vetting the best Tibetan-owned agencies that offer group and private tours to the best places to visit in Tibet. To ask us to connect you to a reliable Tibetan-owned travel agent, fill out the short form here.
If you’d like to see our very favorite Tibet travel tips, check out the Best 100 Tibet Travel Tips.
Lhasa Highlights: How to Make the Most of Your Time in Lhasa
Many of the travelers who contact us for trips in Tibet have wanted to go to Lhasa for a long time. But most folks don’t know what to expect in a Lhasa tour, or what is possible to do in a short amount of time. Here’s an amazing adventure in one short week that includes travel to Lhasa on the Tibet “sky” train.
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Safer Everest Base Camp Tour
Our favorite Tibetan-owned agencies in Lhasa to develop Tibet travel that allow you to ascend more slowly and therefore more safely from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp’s (EBC) very high altitude. So we love their 10-Day EBC Small Group Tour that helps prevent altitude sickness.
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Mount Kailash Group Tour
Many of you have asked us about joining a group to take a Mt. Kailash tour, and we’re happy to be able, finally, to help you, with this post detailing a great Kailash adventure by our favorite Tibetan-owned travel agent.
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Overland Lhasa to Nepal
The journey through the Himalayas is one of the world’s greatest adventures — it starts in the high-altitude holy city of Lhasa, stops at the breathtaking Everest Base Camp along the way, crosses the Tibet-Nepal border, and ends up in fascinating Kathmandu. Read more
Journey to Amdo and Kham
We are delighted to share with you a remarkable video exploration of the Amdo and Kham regions of Tibet by Annick Blanc. Annick offers a striking introduction to both the Amdo and Kham regions of Eastern Tibet, with images of Himalayan mountain passes, daily life on the streets of towns and villages, and monks debating at monasteries.
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