Tibet Tours 2024/2025 - Top 16 Tibet Vacation Packages

Tibet Tourism Bureau stipulates that all foreign tourists, including Taiwanese, are not allowed to travel Tibet independently. You are only permitted to travel to Tibet with a China travel agency which will arrange travel services for you, including creating itinerary, tour guide, driver and vehicle, permit application, etc. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a free and relaxing trip in Tibet. Actually, most areas in Tibet are open for foreign travelers, and can be visited with a tour, private tour or group tour, with China travel agency.

To travel in Tibet, all Non-Chinese passport holders need to have a Tibet Travel Permit which can only be applied for by China travel agencies like Tibet Discovery with Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa. You must obtain it before your tour starting. The permit will be checked when you board your flight/train to Tibet.

Traveling with Tibet Discovery, you don't have to worry about the complicated procedures of Tibet Travel Permit application. All you have to do is to confirm a tour package with us and send us your passport and Chinese via copies at least 15~20 days in advance before your tour, we will take care of all the rest things. Once the permit is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, we will deliver to you at the appointed address in China's other cities, such as your hotel, local travel agency, etc. Besides Tibet Travel Permit, you also need to have a Chinese visa and valid passport to support your Tibet trip.

Generally speaking, months from May to October are recommended. Other months are usually very cold, and possible have heavy snow. During November to April of next year, Namtso Lake is mostly frozen, and not suitable for travel. If you only visit Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse and other cities with lower altitude, you can take a trip all year around.

Having an average altitude of about 4500 meters (14,750 ft), Tibet is the highest land in the world. The altitude of the capital city Lhasa is 3650m (12,000 ft). Most of attractions in Tibet are located over 3700 meters above the sea level. The elevations of some higher places, such as EBC, Namtso Lake, Yamdrok Lake, Mount Kailash (trek) may reach to more than 4500 meters between 5700 meters.

You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival at Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay.

Currently common tourist can only get to Tibet from China cities or Nepal (Indian passports pilgrims can enter Tibet from specific border ports).

Travel from China Cities to Tibet

Take a domestic flight from other cities like Chengdu, Beijing, Xian, Xining, Kunming, etc. or an international flight from Kathmandu, or take a train from China's other cities, like Chengdu, Xian, Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xining, Lanzhou, etc.

Travel from Nepal to Tibet

Take a flight from Kathmandu Tribuvan International Airport to Lhasa, or enter Tibet from Gyirong Port at Nepal-China border. This port is about 89km from Kathmandu, about 820km from Lhasa, and about 360km from Mount Everest (Tibet Side). To travel from Nepal to Tibet, you have to apply for a Group Visa in Kathmandu.

A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also bring the necessary medicine you need. Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block are recommended.

As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Down jacket is necessary in Spring (Feb~May) and Autumn (Sept~Nov). A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is necessary.

1) You are not allowed to take photos inside the chapels of the monasteries, but photography of the architecture is allowed; 2) You should take off your hat and sunglasses to show respect when you entering a monastery. Wearing shorts and exposing shoulders are disrespectful; 3) Try to walk and talk quietly to not disturb the living and study of the monks in the monasteries.

We offer both private customizable Tibet tours and fix-departure group tours. What are the differences?

Private tours - firstly, you have the flexibility to arrange the group activities according to your personal interests; secondly, you can also travel at a slower and comfortable pace; thirdly, you will have your own private local tour guide, private vehicle and private driver for your group.

Group tours - traveling with a group tour, you will join other people in a fixed-departure date, and share the itinerary, vehicle and tour guide, which will greatly cut down your expense. To ensuring high quality service, we limit the group size to a maximum of 12 people.