Short answer
Foreign visitors cannot travel the Tibet Autonomous Region independently. Every trip runs through a licensed Tibetan travel agency, on a fixed itinerary with a guide and a vehicle, and the Tibet Travel Permit is issued to that itinerary. Allow about two to three weeks for the permit once your documents are submitted.
There is not one permit but a stack. The base permit gets you into Lhasa. Travel beyond Lhasa — Shigatse, Everest, Ngari — needs an Alien's Travel Permit issued in Lhasa, commonly around CNY 50, usually clearing within hours. Some zones need a further military or foreign affairs permit taking ten or more working days.
The trip is defined by altitude, not distance. Lhasa is at about 3,650 m and Everest Base Camp is above 5,000 m. Book seven to ten days for the classic Lhasa-to-base-camp route, and give the first day in Lhasa to doing nothing at all.
The rule that shapes everything
Tibet is the one part of China where an itinerary, not a passport, determines whether you can go. The permit is issued against a named person, for stated dates, on a stated route, arranged by an agency licensed to do it. You cannot buy one at a station or apply for one yourself.
In practice that means three things. You pick a route before you arrive rather than improvising. Your guide holds the original permit and presents it at the checkpoints. And changes to the itinerary mid-trip are difficult, because the permit describes what you are allowed to do.
The permit stack
| Document | What it covers | Issued where / how long |
|---|---|---|
| Tibet Travel Permit (the TTB permit) | Entry to the region and travel to Lhasa | By a licensed agency through the Tibet Tourism Bureau; commonly about 2–3 weeks after documents are submitted |
| Alien's Travel Permit (PSB permit) | Travel beyond Lhasa: Shigatse, Everest, Ngari | Public Security Bureau in Lhasa, applied for by your guide; commonly around CNY 50, usually a few hours |
| Military / foreign affairs permit | Specific restricted zones and some border areas | Issued in Lhasa; allow roughly 10–15 working days |
| China Group Visa (if entering from Nepal) | Your Chinese entry, issued as a group list | Kathmandu; several working days, and your passport must be there |
Two details cause avoidable trouble. Your name on the permit must match your passport exactly, including how middle names are handled. And the permit is issued against a valid Chinese visa, so it cannot be arranged before that visa exists.
What you cannot do
- Arrive on a visa-free transit and expect a permit. The permit process is built around a visa in your passport. Check this with your agency before you book anything.
- Split off from the group for a day. The itinerary is the permission. A solo afternoon away from your guide is not a small thing.
- Fly in and drive straight to Everest. Altitude, not road conditions, is what puts people in hospital.
- Photograph police, military facilities or checkpoints. The same rule as the rest of China, enforced more visibly here.
- Assume Tibetan areas outside the TAR work the same way. The Tibetan regions of Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan have a different arrangement and are reachable through Chengdu without a Tibet permit for most routes.
The routes that work
Almost every first trip is a variation on the same central spine, running west from Lhasa along the Friendship Highway.
Lhasa and central Tibet
The Potala Palace, the Jokhang, the Barkhor circuit and the big monasteries at Sera and Drepung. Two to three days. The Potala requires a timed ticket arranged through your agency, and it is one of the few sights that cannot be added on the day.
Lhasa to Everest Base Camp
Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, then the climb to the north side base camp and back. Seven to ten days for the standard loop. This is the route most people mean when they say they went to Tibet, and it needs the Alien's Travel Permit on top of the base permit.
Namtso Lake
A high lake north of Lhasa at roughly 4,700 m, usually one to two days from the capital. Very exposed, very cold at night, and not somewhere to sleep on your first or second night in the region.
Nyingchi and eastern Tibet
Lower, greener, and easier on the body than the western plateau. Two to three days, and a sensible option if altitude is your main worry.
Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
The far west, in Ngari. A long drive, a demanding kora, and the most paperwork of any route on this page. Plan on roughly two weeks and expect additional permits.
Overland from Nepal
Cross at Gyirong from Kathmandu and drive the Friendship Highway to Lhasa over four to five days, with Everest Base Camp as an option en route. This version needs the China Group Visa arranged in Nepal before you set off.
How many days each place deserves
| Plan | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lhasa only | 4–5 | The realistic minimum that accounts for acclimatisation |
| Lhasa + Shigatse / Gyantse | 6–8 | Central Tibet without the base camp push |
| Lhasa + Everest Base Camp | 7–10 | The classic. Add the Alien's Travel Permit |
| Add Namtso or Nyingchi | +3–4 | Worth doing on a second visit rather than cramming |
| Mount Kailash and Manasarovar | About 14 | Far west, additional permits, serious altitude |
Getting there
Three ways in, each with a different altitude profile.
- Fly to Lhasa Gonggar. Fastest and hardest on the body: you go from near sea level to 3,650 m in a few hours. Flights serve Lhasa from Chengdu and other mainland hubs.
- Qinghai-Tibet railway from Xining. Roughly a day on the train, with the altitude gain spread across the climb onto the plateau. Sleepers need booking well ahead and you must already hold your permit before boarding.
- Overland from Nepal via Gyirong. Four to five days of driving to Lhasa, the gentlest ascent of the three and the most time-consuming. Requires the China Group Visa from Kathmandu.
Whichever route you take, the permit has to be in place first. The original document is what gets you past the checkpoints, and your guide carries it.
Altitude: the practical part
| Place | Approx. elevation |
|---|---|
| Lhasa | 3,650 m |
| Shigatse | About 3,840 m |
| Gyantse | About 3,980 m |
| Namtso Lake | About 4,700 m |
| Everest Base Camp, north side | Above 5,000 m |
These are the numbers that matter, not the kilometres. The usual advice is genuinely the correct advice: the first day in Lhasa is for resting, short walks and water. Sleep badly, eat lightly, skip the alcohol, and do not book an active itinerary for day one.
Breathlessness on stairs is normal for the first day or two. A severe headache that will not shift, breathlessness while sitting still, or confusion is not normal, and the response is to tell your guide immediately and descend rather than to push on. Guides working this route see it constantly and know what to do.
Best season
April to early June and September to October. Clearer skies, workable temperatures, and the best chance of actually seeing the mountains you came for.
July and August are the rainy season, with cloud obscuring the big views and domestic holiday traffic filling the routes. Winter is cold, quiet and cheaper, with some routes and facilities reduced and the passes genuinely severe. If you are going for Everest, the clear-season rule matters more than it does for Lhasa.
Costs and what the price includes
There is no honest single number for a Tibet trip, because the permit is issued only through an agency and pricing bundles guide, vehicle, permits and hotels. Published figures exist for the small Alien's Travel Permit fee, commonly around CNY 50 paid in Lhasa, and for the China Group Visa if you are entering from Nepal. Everything else is quoted per itinerary.
The useful habit is to compare quotes on the same basis. Ask which permits are included, whether the vehicle and driver are exclusive or shared, what category the hotels are, and what happens if a permit is refused or a route closes. The cheapest quote is usually the one with the least included.
What to skip
- Trying to see Tibet in three days. Two of them are acclimatisation and admin.
- Booking flights before the permit is confirmed. The order is documents, permit, then tickets.
- Any agency promising a fast-track permit or a guide-free trip. Neither exists under the rules.
- Everest Base Camp in the rainy season. You will look at cloud where the mountain should be.
- Cramming Namtso into the last day before your flight home. A 4,700 m lake is not a light final stop.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel to Tibet independently as a foreigner?
No. Foreign visitors cannot move around the Tibet Autonomous Region independently. You travel as part of an organised itinerary arranged through a licensed Tibetan travel agency, with a guide and a vehicle, and the permit is issued to that itinerary. Independent travel is possible in Tibetan areas of Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan, which do not require a Tibet Travel Permit for the main routes.
How long does a Tibet Travel Permit take?
Commonly about two to three weeks after a licensed agency submits your documents, and the permit is issued by name for specific dates and places. Some periods of the year run slower. Submitted documents must match your passport exactly, and the permit cannot be arranged before you hold the Chinese visa it is issued against.
How much does a Tibet trip cost?
There is no reliable fixed number, because the permit is issued only through an agency and pricing bundles the guide, vehicle, permits and hotels. What is published is the small Alien's Travel Permit fee, commonly around CNY 50, paid in Lhasa. Everything else is quoted per itinerary, so compare quotes that state exactly which permits and which transport are included.
Do you need a Chinese visa to visit Tibet?
Yes, in effect. Tibet is part of China and the permit is issued against a valid Chinese visa in your passport. If you enter from Nepal you generally need a China Group Visa arranged in Kathmandu, which takes several working days and requires your passport to be there. Visa-free transit entry normally does not provide the visa document the Tibet permit process needs, so confirm this with your agency before booking anything.
What is the best time of year to visit Tibet?
April to early June and September to October. Both give clearer skies and workable temperatures. July and August are the rainy season and the busiest domestic period. Winter travel is quieter and cheaper but very cold, with some routes and facilities reduced.
How do you deal with altitude in Tibet?
Lhasa sits at about 3,650 m, so altitude is not something you avoid; it is something you manage. Spend the first day or two in Lhasa doing very little, drink more water than feels necessary, avoid alcohol and heavy meals on arrival, and do not fly in and drive straight to Everest Base Camp. If you feel severe headache, breathlessness at rest or confusion, tell your guide and descend or seek medical help rather than waiting it out.
How many days do you need in Tibet?
Four to five days for Lhasa and the central monasteries. Seven to ten days for the classic Lhasa to Everest Base Camp route. Add a further three to four days for Namtso or Nyingchi, and plan on roughly two weeks for Mount Kailash and lake Manasarovar.
Can you get to Tibet by train or from Nepal?
Both. The Qinghai-Tibet railway runs from Xining to Lhasa and takes roughly a day, with the altitude gain spread out. Flights serve Lhasa Gonggar from Chengdu and other mainland hubs. From Nepal, the overland route crosses at the Gyirong border and drives along the Friendship Highway to Lhasa, which takes several days and requires the China Group Visa arranged in Kathmandu.
Related reading
Compiled from licensed Tibetan travel agency permit documentation, Tibet Tourism Bureau material, public security bureau permit guidance and traveller reports from foreign visitors, cross-checked 30 September 2026. Permit requirements, processing times, open zones and access to border areas are administrative and change with little notice — the agency handling your booking and the official tourism authority are the authoritative version. Nothing on this page is immigration or medical advice.