tibet travel news

How to Plan a Tibet Tour 2024: Expert Tips

Commonly referred to as the "roof on the world", Tibet has the world's highest "castle" — the Potala Palace and the world's tallest peak — Mount Everest (altitude 8,848 meters). Tibetan Buddhism dominates the cultural landscape, and there are many Buddhist monasteries scattered across Tibet.

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• 1. Can I Visit Tibet Now?

2. How to Get a Tibet Permit

3. it is safe to visit tibet.

• 4. Things Not to Do

5. Best Times to Travel to Tibet

• 7. Tips for Seniors and Children

8. Tibet Travel Insurance

• 9. How to Get to Tibet?

1. Can International Travelers Visit Tibet?

Yes. But please remember , independent travel is not allowed : you will need to go on an organized tour provided by a certified travel agent who will also provide your Tibet Permit.

Send us your inquiry if you would like some provisional help with planning. To ease your concerns, You enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure ( detail⇒ ).

Updates : Travelers from visa-free countries just need to provide us with passport photos to apply for a Tibet permit if your itinerary in Tibet is less than 15 days.

Applying for a Tibet permit is a different process from getting you r China visa . Application from individuals is not accepted: it must be done through a travel agency.

Fortunately, it is easy for us to handle all the procedures and we can 99% guarantee your Tibet permit success . With our step-by-step guidance, applications are almost always successful. The procedure is as follows:

If you are from a visa-free country, just disregard this step.

No matter whether it is a group tour or a private tour.

If you are from a visa-free country, just send your passport to us.

Normally it will be posted by express mail to your pre-Tibet stop.

Except for L (Visitor/Tourist) Visa holders, you are also required to provide proof of a place at your company/school .

For expats in China , you will need to provide a work/study certificate .

Don't worry: your travel agency (we) will give you guidance in preparing all the items.

As far as personal security goes, Tibet is a safe place with a low crime rate. Even if you walk around Tibet alone in your free time, your personal security is not expected to be threatened.

When walking in the streets of Lhasa you will find lots of police stations , and armed policemen can be seen everywhere in the streets. They are normally on duty 24/7.

As a pure land with devoted Buddhist people, wherever you go a wide smile will be there to greet you.

With an average elevation of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level, probably your biggest concern is altitude sickness in Tibet.

It is perfectly okay for ordinary people to travel to Tibet, including seniors or kids , however, it is suggested that you consult a doctor before traveling if you have a heart problem or high blood pressure.

Oxygen cylinders will be available in the vehicle for every China Highlights customer during your stay in Tibet.

You may want to read more about staying healthy in Tibet .

4. Things Not to Do When Planning a Tibet Trip

• Don't book your tour any later than 10 days before departure to ensure we have (your travel agency has) plenty of time to apply for Tibet permits.
• Don't book flights before the Tibet permit is issued, especially during this COVID-19-affected period. You might find that a Tibet Permit is required to confirm a flight booking, but your permit cannot be obtained until 2–7 days before your tour! It is better to ask a travel agent (us) to organize your flight tickets as it is easy for them (us) to handle all these problems, as well as cancel flight tickets if there is any travel ban due to COVID-19, etc.
• Don't plan your Tibet trip for March. Tibet will be closed to foreign travelers during the Tibetan New Year period, which is usually in February/March and is based on the Tibetan calendar. During this period, it is worth considering other Tibetan regions such as Qinghai , Sichuan , and Yunnan , which have many of the cultural and scenic attractions that Tibet does without access restrictions.
• Don't arrange a tight schedule in Tibet to sure your tour arrangement is as flexible as possible. You may need more time to let your body get used to the high altitude. See How Long to Spend in Tibet
• Don't make changes to your itinerary (such as pre-Lhasa city or travel destinations in Tibet) once your Tibet Entry Permit is issued, otherwise, you will need to apply for a new one! Please do tell your travel agency (us) in advance if you want to make any changes to your Tibet plan.

The weather in Tibet is largely affected by altitude . Therefore, even in the same month, the temperature in southern (low altitude) and northern (high altitude) Tibet can be very different.

Every season has its advantages and characteristics. Exploring Tibet in different months shows you different scenery and cultural activities for different travel experiences.

Spring (April to May) is best to enjoy less-crowded attractions and a favorable rate of hotels (except for the Labor Day holiday: May 1-5). The peach blossom in Nyingchi is really worth seeing.

Summer is best for seniors and kids because the air's oxygen content is higher during this period.   You can enjoy most of the sights in Tibet when nature is at its most vibrant and also experience rich festivals. Local people make their living by growing barley and raising yaks there every summer. You can take part in the work of local Tibetans . In the evening, you can cook and enjoy dinner with a local Tibetan family. While it's more crowded than other months, there are higher costs due to the higher demand for flights, trains, and hotels.

You can travel to every place in Tibet during autumn , which provides the year's best weather for hiking . The most popular trekking trails by far are the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Mount Kailash (Yatra) Trek — a famous pilgrimage route. It is also the best time to admire the breathtaking snow-capped Mount Everest when the sky is particularly blue, the air is clean and dry, and there are few clouds.

Winter is Tibetan people's leisure time and many of them choose to make a pilgrimage trip to Lhasa from their various Tibet regions. Small religious activities can be found in many corners of Lhasa. In winter, blue glaciers are an unusual and striking feature of Tibet, with ice cracks and bubbles all over the frozen lakes, the huge ice blocks appear to be a charming blue color. It is also a good time to enjoy the favorable rates of hotels. See  5-Day Tibet Winter Tour

See more on Best Times to Visit Tibet .

6. Budget for a Trip to Tibet

The budget depends on where, when, how many people, how many days, hotel class, private or group tour, transport, and other requirements you may have.

You could get the approximate price from our  8-Day Tibet Tour (based on 2 people for a private tour) for reference. The price of 8 days would be about USD 2200 per person, including private transfers in Tibet, meals, admission fees,  guiding, hotels, etc.

To make the most of your budget, you are suggested to book a few months in advance to enjoy some early booking discounts or travel with more than four people to share private tour costs.

If you have a holiday in winter, travel to Tibet in December or January to enjoy the special winter rates including discounts on hotels, airfares, and entrance tickets.

7. Tips for Traveling with Seniors and Children

• Make sure any seniors and children in your group are healthy enough to visit Tibet by consulting a doctor. Seniors with cardiovascular diseases or chronic respiratory ailments are not suggested to travel to Tibet.
• Stay in Lhasa for 2 days for acclimation before touring any wider in Tibet.
• Traveling with a wheelchair is not convenient in Tibet , as most of the attractions are located on hillsides without a chairlift or elevator, which means those in wheelchairs will miss the Potala Palace and monasteries. But it is fine to visit places with flat roads in a wheelchair, such as Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple, and Lake Yamdrok.
• Children under 4 years old are not suggested to visit high-altitude regions in Tibet, such as Everest Base Camp (5,200 m), Mount Kailash (4,700–5,600 m), or any place over 4,500 m. Lhasa (3,800 m), Lake Yamdrok (4,000 m), and Nyingchi (3,100 m) are perfect choices for them.
• Be sure your children can well express how they are feeling to identify symptoms of altitude sickness.
• Bring some snacks for your kids , as the foods in Tibet will probably not be to their liking — most of the dishes have a heavy flavor and will be quite strange to them. However, if your children are adventurous eaters, this could work out well.
• If you are a family with 2 adults and 1 kid , your family can simply sleep in one bed if there is enough space or ask for an extra bed or cot.
• If your family has 2 adults and 2 children or more, it is better to book adjoining rooms (rooms are often connected by a door). This type of room is limited in availability and not provided in every hotel, please ask our travel advisor to choose hotels for you.

During our over 20 years of experience , we have organized Tibet tours for customers from 4 to 82 years old . Please do tell us about any special requests you have , and our professional travel advisor will solve any problems for you.

You may want to read more tips and suggestions on How to Deal with Altitude Sickness .

It is wise to get travel insurance when you travel to Tibet. Here is what you need to consider when selecting your policy:

1. It is better to get "cancellation for any reason" insurance in case of a sudden closure of Tibet (although this is not frequent, it could happen at any time). Booking with China Highlights, you enjoy free cancellation up to 22 days before departure for your Tibet tour or other China tours.

2. Check if it covers an emergency medical evacuation, which could help you quickly descend or leave Tibet if you suffer severe altitude sickness.

3. If you plan to trek in Tibet, check if your policy covers trekking in Tibet.

4. Check if your travel insurance includes medical expenses for your trip to Tibet in case you need medical services in a hospital there (due to altitude sickness).

5. Other typical air travel issues should be covered, for example, a snowstorm closing down your airport before you can board your flight to Tibet, or arriving only to find your luggage is on its way to another city…

Based on what we know from our previous customers, the most popular insurance companies are InsureMyTrip and World Nomads.

9. How to Get to Tibet? — Easiest from China

Broadly speaking, there are two ways you can enter Tibet: from China's cities or from Nepal , but the easiest way by far is from the China side.

Travel from China's cities

There are direct flights from China's major cities to Lhasa in Tibet, such as from Beijing , Shanghai , Chengdu , and Chongqing . The most frequent and reliable flights to Tibet are from Chengdu, with about eight flights per day.

Trains to Tibet depart from these cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou , Xi'an , Chongqing , Lanzhou , and Xining .

Xining is the best place to start the train journey, as it is the beginning point of the most beautiful section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway with the shortest train journey to Lhasa (20–22 hours), compared to around 30–50 hours for further departure points.

See more details on How to Get to Tibet .

Example: the Best Way to Travel to Tibet from the U.S.

1. Book a flight from a USA city to a China city: Beijing, Shanghai, etc.

2. Spend a couple of days in your China arrival city to get over jet lag.

3. Take a flight to Chengdu , which is the best city for connecting flights to Lhasa (almost all flights to Tibet stopover in Chengdu). You could happily stay a night in Chengdu — home to China's giant pandas — and spend a day sightseeing in the city before going to Tibet.

A wonderful panda volunteer keeper program experience would be worth a day there.

4. Take a morning flight from Chengdu to Lhasa (2½ hours) so that you can have plenty of time for acclimation in the afternoon before you sleep to avoid altitude sickness effects as much as possible.

On your return journey, you could experience the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Lhasa to Xining with beautiful scenery along the way , and then take a flight from Xining to a large city in China for the flight home.

Traveling out of Tibet by train will help you successfully get train tickets. Lhasa-Xining train tickets are five times easier to buy than Xining-Lhasa tickets! This also means you can save a lot on the ticket booking fee.

Tips: Taking a flight into Tibet is better than a train because a good sleep in a hotel in Lhasa is much more helpful to altitude acclimation than spending a night on the train.

Most passengers find it more difficult to fall asleep on the train, and tiredness makes altitude sickness more uncomfortable.

You may need information about How to deal with altitude sickness in Tibet

Travel from the Nepal Side

There are two ways into Tibet from Nepal: by flight and by road .

You should first consider issues of a China visa and Tibet Entry Permit , no matter whether you'll go by flight or road. Procedures are different from traveling from a Chinese mainland city to Tibet.

Y ou must apply for a China visa and Tibet permits in Nepal via a travel agent . Any China visa issued in your resident country will be invalid for Tibet travel. You will need to stay in Kathmandu for at least 3 working days to wait for the visa and permit.

By road, you can travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa via the Gyirong border (possibly with a convenient side tour to Mount Everest).

For more, see How to Travel from Nepal to Tibet .

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Tibet   Travel Guide

Courtesy of mamahoohooba | Getty Images

Why Go To Tibet

Tibet is a region in conflict. To the Chinese, Tibet is an autonomous region part of their country, but to Tibetans, they are (and hope to become again someday) an independent country. The details of this clash are subjective, depending on who you ask, but since China's invasion into Tibet in the 1950s, Tibet has never been the same. Since then, assimilation has been heavily resisted, the Dalai Lama – Tibet's spiritual and political leader – has gone into exile (and has remained so for about 50 years) and locals continue to cling tight to a culture that has been systematically fading away for decades. Some Tibetans have gone to extremes to get the world to notice, and people have been listening.

Part of Tibet's draw is no doubt seeped in its political struggles, but the region is so much more than its conflict with China. Beyond the history and the headlines lies a beautiful land rich with culture and natural splendor unlike anywhere else in the globe. Tibet lies on the highest plateau in the world, earning it the nickname "the roof of the world." Here, you'll find the highest everything, including mountains (Everest is here), lakes , roads, railways (the Qinghai-Tibet Railway) and even post offices (found at Mount Everest Base Camp ). This altitude dictates Tibet's day to day, but not as much as its namesake religion. Tibetan Buddhism is the foundation of Tibetan culture, and locals' dedication to their faith is nothing short of inspiring. Observing this spiritual devotion is tantamount to understanding Tibet and its people. So while here, don't interject what you know but seek out what you may not and you'll surely be, as the Buddhists themselves say, enlightened.

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Best of Tibet

Best hotels in tibet.

• in The St. Regis Lhasa Resort
• in Intercontinental Resort Lhasa Paradise
• in Shangri La Hotel Lhasa

Best Things to Do in Tibet

• # 1 in Jokhang Temple
• # 2 in Barkhor Street
• # 3 in Potala Palace

Popular Tours

8 Days Lhasa to Mt. Everest (EBC in Tibet) Join-in Group Tour with 4-star Hotel

from $ 960.00

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour

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7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Small Group Tour

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Tibet Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Tibet is from June to August. Situated high on a plateau, Tibet experiences low temperatures and frost for the majority of the year. Summer is the only time where temperatures hover in the 70-degree range during the day. Plus, oxygen content is the highest in the summer, making it easier to acclimate to the altitude. Spring and fall are also good times to visit if you're looking to beat the summer crowds, but expect chilly, winter-like nighttime temperatures. On the upside, spring and fall provide better visibility than the summer months if you've come to see Mount Everest . Winter is characterized by freezing temperatures. And roads to the mountains and other remote attractions can be closed off due to the elements. Plus, entry permits are not given to foreign visitors from February to March and sometimes to early April.

Weather in Tibet

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

• Prepare for the altitude Because Tibet sits high on a plateau, there is up to 40 percent less oxygen than at sea level. You will likely experience symptoms of altitude sickness for a couple days, including breathlessness and headaches. Because of this, you should save trips to the mountains and other remote areas until after you've acclimated to the altitude.
• You have to visit on a tour Travelers are not allowed to obtain Tibet entry permits independently, only tour operators can do that. When searching for a tour, make sure it covers all the places you want to visit in Tibet. Additional permits are required to travel outside of Lhasa (Tibet's capital city).
• Don't talk politics Tibet and China have a very troubled history with each another, and conflict between the two still go on to this day. The relationship is so bad that Tibetans merely possessing a photo of the Dalai Lama or the Tibetan flag could result in arrest.
• Don't visit during winter While you'll no doubt get the best travel rates during this time, you'll also experience serious drawbacks including lower oxygen content, bitter temperatures and highway closures to remote attractions. Not only that, but Tibet closes its borders to visitors from February to early April.

How to Save Money in Tibet

• Visit during fall or spring Summer is peak tourism season in Tibet, meaning you'll be subject to the highest travel rates. Visiting during shoulder seasons could save you as much as 20 percent off travel rates.
• Bargain When shopping, especially on Barkhor Street , bargain with vendors to get a lower price on goods.
• Stay in Lhasa Since wherever you want to visit in Tibet must be on your tour group's itinerary (under the standard travel permit you are not allowed to travel outside of Lhasa independently), going on a tour that includes other destinations in Tibet will cost extra.

Culture & Customs

The most important thing to know about Tibet's culture is that it's dominated by religion. So much so that the Dalai Lama, who is the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism, is traditionally in charge of Tibet's government. Today, that is no longer the case. The current Dalai Lama (there have been 14 over the course of history) no longer rules Tibet, but instead lives in exile in Dharamsala, India. This has to do with China's incorporation of Tibet. It's important to know that this is a hotly contested issue among the Tibetans and Chinese. And depending on who you ask, you may get different stories.

For Tibetans, their land and culture was taken from them by China. Soon after Mao Zedong and his communist party drove out China's former nationalist party and established the People's Republic of China, Tibet was invaded. Whether or not Tibet was a truly independent country prior is subject to debate, but the invasion by China changed the region's way of life forever. In 1950, troops were sent in by the thousands from China. The army not only defeated the smaller Tibetan army but occupied a large portion of the country, leaving Tibetan leaders, including the current Dalai Lama, with no choice but to agree to their terms. In 1959, Tibetans revolted as a response to China suppressing their culture and religion. Thousands ended up dying in the clash and as a result, the Dalai Lama fled.

Today, Tibetan culture is still suppressed. Schools no longer teach in Tibetan, and while Tibetans are still able to practice their religion, everything remains closely watched (there are security cameras placed on the streets of Lhasa). Merely possessing an image of the Dalai Lama could result in arrest. And one of the reasons Tibet's borders are closed from February to the end of March or beginning of April is due to the anniversary of the 1959 revolt, which falls on March 10th. As a traveler, bringing the Tibetan flag or any kind of material about the Dalai Lama or Tibet's contentious history with China into Tibet is not recommended. Even Tibet guidebooks, including Lonely Planet guidebooks, have been known to be confiscated upon entering the region. Despite the restriction on language in schools, Tibetan is still widely spoken in the region. However, Tibetans don't have their own currency, instead they use the Chinese yuan. Be sure to check the conversion rate before you go , as it often fluctuates. 

What to Eat

Tibet is not a foodie destination, but there are still some signature dishes and drinks from the country's cookbook that will certainly enhance your cultural experience. First, it's important to know that Tibet's mountainous terrain yields a very hearty diet. You won't find many vegetables or fruits here, as they have trouble growing in Tibet's dry, wintry environment. Instead, locals feast on meat, dairy, starches and stews. The most important dish in Tibet is momo. Momo are dumplings filled with everything from beef to yak's cheese and are loved by locals. Oftentimes, parties are thrown just to eat momo. Noodles and barley dishes are also a big staple in the Tibetan diet as well and, despite China's influence, you won't see a whole lot of rice here.

Yak is another big part of the Tibetan diet. Tibet is full of yaks, and along with providing photo ops for tourists, they are used to make cheese, butter and meat. Momo can also be stuffed with yak meat, and yak jerky is a popular snack. Another very popular snack is tsampa. Tsampa may be a bit strange to the western palette. Tsampa is roasted barley flour mixed with butter tea, dried dri cheese (dri is the name of a female yak) and often sugar. The ingredients are mixed into a dough but remain uncooked. The snack is known for being very powdery and as such, can cause a coughing fit. Be sure to not inhale before eating tsampa. 

As for the signature drink of Tibet, that's butter tea. Butter tea is made with yak butter, barley powder and milk curds. The tea acts as fuel for nomads braving the cooler temps in the more remote regions of Tibet. But it's not just for the nomads, you can find butter tea all over. On Lhasa's Barkhor Street , you'll find tea houses and restaurants serving butter tea. Because of all its use of dairy and meat in its dishes, vegetarians and vegans may have a hard time eating in Tibet.

Tibet is pretty safe for tourists. That's because the Chinese keep a very watchful eye on Tibetans. Not only are there security cameras all over Lhasa, but guards patrol the city. Some don't even wear uniforms while on duty. There are also numerous checkpoints situated throughout the region's highways. There have been some reports of pickpocketing in Lhasa but overall, theft is not common. However, travelers may encounter political protests from Tibetans. If you do, follow the instructions of your tour group leader. While visiting, don't talk politics or bring any kind of material about the Dalai Lama or Tibet's history. Consult the U.S. State Department's website for updates on any potential threats and consider enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages.

Getting Around Tibet

The best way to get around Tibet is with your tour group. Due to the provisions of Tibet's travel permits, all forms of transportation around Tibet must be prearranged through a tour group. If you want to venture outside of Lhasa, Tibet's main city and tourist hub, you have to apply for an additional permit through your tour company. You are not allowed to travel outside of Lhasa independently.

Within Lhasa, if transportation around isn't already provided for you with your tour (it usually is), the best way to get around is by taxi, as rates are fairly inexpensive. There are also pedicabs, but due to their reputation for overcharging tourists, they should be avoided. You can rely on your own two feet, but keep in mind that most top attractions in Lhasa are more than a mile apart. Buses are available but can be confusing for foreigners as route timetables are in Chinese.

Getting to Tibet is also organized by your tour company. Some tours include the price of transport to Tibet, while others only provide instructions for booking. All tourists come into Tibet through Lhasa, accessible via the Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) and the Lhasa Railway Station. To get to either the airport or train station, you must first fly into mainland China. The Lhasa airport can be reached from a number of major cities in China, including Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou and Chengdu, the latter of which is the closest major city to Tibet. If your tour operator doesn't already provide transportation to your hotel, you can take a taxi from the airport (about 40 miles south of the city) into Lhasa for between 130 and 300 yuan (around $20 to $45).

The Lhasa Railway station is closer to Lhasa, making taxi fares more affordable (it will cost you 30 yuan, or around $5 to get into town). However, your journey via train will be a lot longer (from Chengdu, it's more than a daylong trip). If you're willing to endure the long transit time, consider riding the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the highest railway in the world (more than 13,000 feet above sea level). This 20-hour journey (starting at Xining) is lauded for its scenic route, passing through snow-capped mountains, untouched valleys, and alpine lakes and rivers.

Entry & Exit Requirements

U.S. citizens must have a passport that is valid six months beyond their departure date to enter China. U.S. citizens are also required to obtain a visa. There are 16 visa categories for foreigners entering China. Your trip will likely fall under the "L" category, designated for people visiting China as tourists. In addition to an application, photo and passport, you'll have to provide copies of your hotel and round-trip airline reservations. And depending on where you live in the U.S., you may also have to provide proof of residency for that city.

Chinese consulates and embassies don't accept applications by mail, email or fax, so if there is a consulate office in your city  it's best to just drop it off in person.If you don't live in a consulate city, you should use a visa service like My China Visa , which will deliver the application for you. Visa applications take about four business days to process, but since processing times can vary, the Chinese Embassy recommends that you arrange your visa at least a month before your trip. The cost for a single-entry visa for U.S. citizens is $140. For more information on visa requirements, visit the Chinese Embassy's website .

Once you've secured your Chinese visa, you need to obtain a Tibet Tourism Bureau permit for traveling to Tibet. Since foreign citizens are not allowed to travel in Tibet independently, your tour operator will be the agency helping you secure your permit and is usually included in the cost of your tour. Keep in mind: Your permit can be checked anywhere in Tibet – at the airport, the train station, your hotel and even top attractions , so you should carry it with you at all times. Allow about two weeks for your tour operator to secure your permit. There are a number of tour operators that travel to Tibet, including National Geographic Expeditions ,  G Adventures  and  Tibet Vista , a reputable Tibet-based tour operator. Your tour operator will help you obtain the documents needed for your permit; and you'll need to obtain your permit at least 15 days before your scheduled departure. If you are flying into Tibet, you will need your original permit. If you are taking the train, a copy is sufficient. How you receive your permit varies by tour operator.

Potala Palace stands high above Lhasa at 12,000 feet above sea level. Because of the altitude, you should ascend the stairs slowly. 

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Traveling to Tibet FAQs and Tips

What should I be aware of when going to the Tibetan Autonomous Region? See answers to our Traveling to Tibet FAQs and Tips. 

(updated April, 2024)

• How do I get to Tibet? 

Do I need a permit? 

• If I’m already in China, how do I get a Tibet Travel Permit? 
• How is the weather in the Tibetan Autonomous Region?  
• Can I access internet in the Tibetan Autonomous Region? 
• Is Tibet ever closed to foreign visitors? 
• Is there a risk of high altitude sickness? 
• Do I need vaccinations for traveling to Tibet? 
• How are bathrooms in the Tibetan Autonomous Region? 
• Have more questions?  

How do I get to Tibet?  

Tibet can only be accessed via mainland China or Nepal. We recommend entering through mainland China, as the Tibet Travel Permit can be applied for in advance if using this route. If you enter through Nepal, you must apply for a new Chinese visa in Kathmandu (if you already have a valid Chinese visa, it will not be accepted, and will be canceled in order to apply for the new one on-site in Kathmandu) before you can apply for Tibet Travel Permit. 

When entering Tibet via mainland China, you have two options: flight or train.  

There usually direct flight options from Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an Kunming and Shangri-La. Flying is the quickest and most-direct option.  

The train is an overnight journey from Xining to Lhasa and takes ~22 hours. This is a great option if you have more time, are interested in seeing the scenery along the Tibetan plateau, and seeking a slower acclimatization to the elevation. 

You will need a Tibet Travel Permit in order to enter the region. WildChina will arrange this permit for you and send it to you before you fly to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, but please be aware that travel to and within TAR is subject to change with very little notice. In order to do this, you will need to first have a valid Chinese visa. Since the permit takes up to 14 days to process, please ensure you apply for your Chinese visa ahead of time so that it is ready at least 15 days before you intend to enter the Tibetan Autonomous Region.  

We advise arranging a phone call with your travel designer before applying for your Chinese visa so we can explain in more detail what to expect and how best to apply. 

Once you’ve received your Chinese tourist visa (L visa), we will require a scanned copy of the photo page of your passport and your Chinese visa page, in order to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit. 

If traveling outside of Lhasa (still in Tibet) you will also require an Alien’s Travel Permit and Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB Permit). This will be arranged by WildChina and you will receive the permit once in Lhasa. The cost of these is already included in the land cost.  

The Tibet Public Security Bureau requires that a detailed itinerary is submitted when applying for these documents and this itinerary must be followed precisely. As such, it is important to be aware that unplanned deviations from our itinerary are not usually possible. 

When handling your Tibet Travel Permit, please take care, as there is a small (not-very-sticky) sticker, which renders the document valid. If this sticker fal ls off, the document is no longer considered valid and will be rejected by authorities.  

If I’m already in China, how do I get a Tibet Travel Permit?  

If you are working in China and hold a different type of visa than L (tourist), you will 

need to provide both a scanned copy of the photo page of your passport and your Chinese visa page, as well as the below additional paperwork: 

• Business (F) visa – a letter of recommendation from your company (with the official company seal). 
• Work (Z) visa – a letter of recommendation from your company (with the official company seal) and a scanned copy of your work permit. 
• Student (X) visa – a letter of recommendation from your school or university, with the school stamp (seal) and a scanned copy of the student ID card. 
• Other Types – Diplomats, journalists, and government officials have separate requirements.

Please email us directly to inquire about getting a TTP for these visa types. 

How is the weather in the Tibetan Autonomous Region?   

Temperatures in the Tibetan Autonomous Region can drop dramatically in the evening. Remember to bring plenty of layers of warm clothing or, if you prefer to travel light, we also recommend purchasing warm clothing in Lhasa then donating the items to a local school/orphanage at the end of your trip! 

Can I access internet in the Tibetan Autonomous Region?  

Wifi is available in all hotels we use in the region, however it is relatively slow in some areas. 4G is not available, and if you use a VPN service, it may be slower than normal. 

Is Tibet ever closed to foreign visitors?  

Tibet is closed to foreign visitors during certain months of each year. Exact dates differ each year with little to no warning depending on current circumstances, but the Tibetan Autonomous Region continuously does not issue travel permits for the month of March. 

Is there a risk of high altitude sickness?  

Lhasa sits at an elevation of 3,656 meters (11,990 feet), and at this height, high-altitude sickness is a risk. High altitudes can make activities, and possibly sleep, more difficult and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can result in headache, nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite.  

We recommend visiting your physician to discuss your risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) 4-8 weeks before departure if you’re traveling in high altitude locations, mainly Xinjiang, Tibet and Yunnan. It is likely he/she will suggest taking Diamox (like with any medication, there are possible side effects, so be sure to ask your doctor about specific compatibility), starting 1 day before you reach the high altitude region and continuing while you ascend. 

Once there, it’s important to drink plenty of water. WildChina itineraries are planned as such that you have plenty of time to adjust to the altitude and so you can fully enjoy your trip. In the unlikely event of serious altitude sickness, emergency evacuation measures will be taken.  

 Most luxury hotels in Lhasa provide a free oxygen lounge and a clinic to help with adjusting, and all WildChina guides and vehicles have emergency-use oxygen on-hand at all times. 

If you suffer from high altitude sickness, your local guide and our staff will quickly help you to lower altitude and to the nearest hospital if needed. If you need to leave Tibet early due to altitude sickness, please contact your trip designer so they can assist with booking the earliest-possible departure flight.

Do I need vaccinations for traveling to Tibet?  

We recommend visiting your personal physician or a travel clinic 4-8 weeks before departure for information regarding vaccinations.  For your convenience when speaking to a doctor, we have included the most useful links regarding recommended immunizations prior to traveling in China.  

Many immunizations require at least 10-14 days before becoming effective and should be obtained  before  you travel to China –especially if you plan to visit more remote, rural areas such as Tibet and Yunnan, or spend a lot of time outdoors.  

Helpful resources:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Medical recommendations specific to travel in  Tibet  

How are bathrooms in the Tibetan Autonomous Region?  

Hotel bathrooms are generally high standard with Western toilets. However, bathrooms in local restaurants or places of interest will be quite basic and at times, it may be more pleasant to avoid these toilets and use nature instead. As such, we recommend packing a small toilet kit to bring with you, including tissues, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes. Your guide will also have tissues on-hand for you if needed. 

Have more questions?   

For more information on travel to and around China, feel free to contact us at  [email protected]  to speak to one of our travel experts. 

Ready to plan an unforgettable journey to Tibet?

Take a more profound look at spiritual life in Tibet. You’ll travel through its heart, touring in a loop from Lhasa, along the shores of Yamdrok Tso Lake, through rolling foothills, to Gyantse, Shigatse, and back. At each stop, an adventure, a new facet of Tibetan life to explore.

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We’re on hand to help you get the information you need about travel in China, whenever you need it. We’re not robots; we’re real people, travel designers here to help you.

As COVID-19 restrictions and regulations change, we want to make sure that you can travel in a safe and responsible way. Let us know your China travel questions and, within one business day, we’ll personally get in touch via email, phone call, or WeChat (whichever method you’d prefer) to help you answer it.

Beijing Address:

803 Oriental Place, 9 East Dongfang Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100027

Shanghai Address:

A12, 3rd Floor, SIP, No. 1318, North Sichuan Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai

Chengdu Address:

26th Floor, No. 1-2 Hangkong Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan

Yangshuo Address:

No. 26 Furong Road, Yangshuo, Guangxi

+86 10 6465 6602

+1 888 902 8808 (Toll Free)

[email protected]

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Tibet offers fabulous monasteries, breathtaking high-altitude walks, stunning views of the world’s highest mountains and one of the warmest cultures you will ever encounter.

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Gyantse Kumbum

Commissioned by a local prince in 1427 and sitting beside Palcho Monastery, Gyantse Kumbum is the town’s foremost attraction. This 32m-high chörten, with…

Samye Monastery

About 170km southeast of Lhasa, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River) is Samye Monastery, the first monastery in Tibet. Founded in…

Potala Palace

The magnificent Potala Palace, once the seat of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, is Lhasa's cardinal landmark. Your…

Jokhang Temple

The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet: the continuous waves of awestruck pilgrims prostrating themselves outside are a…

Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp (5150m) was first used by the 1924 British Everest expedition. Tourists are no longer allowed to visit the climbing expedition base camp…

Tashilhunpo Monastery

One of the few monasteries in Tibet to weather the stormy seas of the Cultural Revolution, Tashilhunpo remains relatively unscathed. It is a pleasure to…

The central building of Samye, the Ütse comprises a unique synthesis of architectural styles. The ground and 1st floors were originally Tibetan in style,…

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The immense, grey, thick-walled southern monastery is one of Tibet’s most impressive constructed sights, and one of the largest monasteries – home to…

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Tibet and beyond

• Tibet Travel News Timely Update

Latest Tibet Travel News Update 

Learn what is going on right now in Tibet? When can you travel to Tibet? Here are more Tibet Travel News Update by local tourism insider. As of Jan.25, 2020 , Tibet travel permits were banned and no new permits application can be approved. All foreign travelers who were scheduled to travel in end of January, February and March need to postpone the Tibet travel plan. Due to the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus spreading out in whole China, Tibet has put the travel ban on high alert to worldwide travelers. Read further about the Tibet tourism infected by NCoV 2019 . 

Tibet Travel Permits News Timely Updated information

Here we keep updating the latest Tibet travel news about  Tibet permits policy , weather, group tours departures, road situation and Tibet tour promotional offer. As result it will be very helpful when you plan a  Tibet tour .

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Tibet Travel Guide 2024 - Travel to Tibet for the First Time

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Tibet, a mystical land located in the western region of China! Tibet is well connected with mainland China with most popular destinations by air and train. It is also bordered with Nepal that travelers can enter Tibet from Kathmandu via Gyirong Border. A trip to Tibet means a magical journey waiting for you.

Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Tibet as you explore the tunning monasteries and temples that dot the land. Take on breathtaking high-altitude treks that offer spectacular views of the world’s highest mountains, including the majestic Mount Everest . You will also have the opportunity to meet some of the most hospitable and welcoming people on the planet. In 2024, it is time to embark on a unique and unforgettable journey to the roof of the world with the guidance and expertise of Asia Odyssey Travel, the largest local-based Tibet travel agency. Our comprehensive ultimate Tibet Travel Guide offers useful and up-to-date information on the best places to visit and travel tips to help you plan the Tibet trip.

Important Note: Foreign travelers are required to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit to visit Tibet, which can only be arranged through a registered Tibet travel agency like us. The process of obtaining the permit usually takes around 7 to 20 days, so make sure to plan your Tibet trip accordingly. Contact us today to start planning your Tibet tours now!

Tibet Travel Essentials - Travel to Tibet Before You Go

Explore Tibet Destinations on Map

Top attractions in tibet.

Best Things to Do in Tibet

Useful Travel Articles for Each Destination in Tibet

Which destinations in Tibet are you interested in visiting? Lhasa , Mount Everest , Mount Kailash , and Shigatse are must-visit places. Browse through our latest collection of useful travel articles to plan your Tibet trip and get inspired before your visit!

Tibet Travel Itineraries 2024

Join us for a unique Tibet group tour and explore the Roof of the World at the lowest prices in 2024! Choose from our best Tibet group tours, all featuring stable departures throughout 2024. Our tours are all-inclusive, including attractions, comfortable accommodations, transportation, meals, and all necessary permits and fees, ensuring a hassle-free and enjoyable travel experience. With tour lengths ranging from 5 to 15 days and affordable prices to choose from, you can easily select your preferred trip based on travel length, dates, itineraries, and pricing.

1. Should I worry about altitude sickness when travelling in Tibet? +

The average elevation of the region is over 4,000 meters and altitude sickness is a common concern for travelers visiting Tibet. Not everybody will suffer from altitude sickness when traveling in Tibet and most visitors will be in good condition when they arrive.

The symptoms of altitude sickness can include headache, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath. It is important to allow time to acclimate to the high altitude and to take precautions to prevent altitude sickness. Travelers should drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and eat light meals that are high in carbohydrates. It is also recommended to take it easy for the first few days, avoiding strenuous activities and allowing time to adjust to the new altitude when arrive in Lhasa. Some travelers may also benefit from taking medication to prevent or treat altitude sickness.

If symptoms of altitude sickness persist or worsen, it is important to seek medical attention immediately . Many hotels and travel agencies in Tibet have oxygen supplies on hand to help alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. It is important to consult with a doctor before traveling to Tibet, especially if you have a history of heart or lung problems, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions that may be affected by high altitude.

2. How to apply for the Tibet Travel Permits? +

In order to apply for a Tibet Travel Permit , you need to apply for a Chinese visa in the Chinese embassy or consulates in your country first. If you book a tour with us, we will send an invitation letter to you to help you apply for a Chinese visa.

Once you get a Chinese visa, please send the photocopies of the visa and your passport to us, and we will apply for the Tibet Travel Permit for you. Please note that international tourists must book a tour with a local travel agency in Tibet if they want to travel to Tibet.

After the permit is issued, we will send it to your hotel or the places you stay in China. You need to show the permit while boarding on a train or flight to Tibet. The government do not allow travel agencies to send the permit overseas.

3. How to get to Lhasa? By air or by train, which one is better? +

There are usually two ways to get to Lhasa , depending on your starting point and travel preferences.

(1) By Air: You can fly to Lhasa Gonggar Airport from major cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Guangzhou, as well as from some international destinations such as Kathmandu, Nepal. The airport is located about 62 kilometers (38.5 miles) from Lhasa and can be reached by taxi or bus.

(2) by train The Qinghai-Tibet Railway connects Lhasa with several major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian, and Xining. The train journey is a popular way to reach Lhasa as it offers stunning views of the Tibetan plateau and the Himalayan mountain range. However, the journey can take several days, so it's important to plan accordingly.

Once you arrive in Lhasa, our team at Asia Odyssey Travel will be there to greet you with English-speaking guides and experienced drivers. We'll escort you from the airport or train station to your hotels in Lhasa.

4. How many days for a classic Tibet tour? +

5. How do you get to Tibet Everest Base Camp? +

Travelers can get to Tibet Everest Base Camp from China Tibet side or Nepal side . To reach the Everest Base Camp on the Tibet side, travelers can either take a flight or a train to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and then travel by road to the base camp . From Lhasa, it takes around 8-10 hours directly to Tibet EBC, depending on the route taken. Some travelers prefer to join a tour group to explore from Lhasa to Shigatse to Everest Base Camp for 4 days to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey.

If traveling from Nepal, you will cross the Gyirong Border and then travel by road to Everest Base Camp.

6. Do I need to get a Tibet permit to visit Tibet Everest Base Camp? +

All foreign travelers who wish to visit  Mount Everest from the Tibet side are required to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit and Alien's Travel Permit . These permits can only be obtained through a registered travel agency in Tibet. As a local based Tibet travel agency, we can assist travelers in the permit application process.

It's important to note that the Tibet Travel Permit is required to purchase flight or train tickets to Tibet. Therefore, travelers should plan ahead and allow sufficient time for the permit application process, as it can take one to two weeks to obtain the necessary permits .

Create a tour based truly on your preferences, including all aspects of your travel in the destination

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Travel Tibet with Tibet Vista

As the forerunner of Tibet inbound tourism since 1984, Tibet Vista is a Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator, specializing in Small group and private package tours , Tibet train tour and Tibet travel permit application . It was in 2005 that Tibet Vista officially engaged in online Tibet tour operating. Now, with 6,000 clients world-wide each year, we offer free Tibet tour consultancy and help individual overseas tourists both in mainland China and abroad to travel to Tibet via Qinghai-Tibet Railway and domestic flights. During the past decades, we successfully organized more than 100 thousand tourists to visit Tibet and were your top choice for Tibet tour in China. Contact us and customize your Tibet tour for FREE . Read more about Tibet Vista .

Explore Tibet with a 15-day Visa-Free Entry!

From December 1st, 2023, to November 30th, 2024, travelers from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia can now enjoy a 15-day visa-free entry to China for tourism, business, transit, and visiting friends and relatives.

Take advantage of this opportunity to explore Tibet, and don't miss out on our 2024 join-in small group tours . Book your adventure now!

Most Popular Tibet Travel Itineraries in Small Group Size

We are the first and largest Tibetan local tour operator running join-in small group travel itineraries, covering most popular destinations in Tibet with most departures at BEST local price, in a group size of around only 10 members. Now, we’re ready to take you into our Holy land that you’re waiting to discover in 2024.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour: Marvel at Mt.Everest Real Close from 4 Different Viewing Platforms

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7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Small Group Tour: Traverse from the North Side to the South Side of Mt.Everest for the Best of the Himalayas

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15 Days Kailash and Manasarova Small Group Tour: A pilgrim’s final fantasy and the greatest overland trip in Tibet.

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16 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: Touching Mount Kailash with Spiritual Saga Dawa Festival Experience

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10 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour

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8 Days Driving Across Himalaya Overland Adventure from Kathmandu to Lhasa

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Why Travel with Tibet Vista

With 100% Tibet Visa guarantee, innovative small group tour and superb tour service (such as Tibet train booking and diverse Tibet tour and China Tibet tour itineraries), Tibet Vista is taken as the most reputable and trusty Tibet tour operator by international tourists. Over 10-year Tibet tour running experience allows Tibet Vista to focus more on each client’s travel experience while striking a balance between the eco-tour and benefiting local communities of Tibet.

Travelling with Tibet Vista, clients will not only experience the hassle-free journey as you are guided to enjoy the stunning alpine scenery and mysterious Tibetan monasteries, but also see , feel and taste as much as you possibly could the true life of local Tibetans and exotic Tibetan culture and customs. Travel with us for an once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey on the roof of the world from today.

Tibet Travel Advice & Information

• Tibet Travel Permit
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• Mount Kailash Trek
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• High Altitude Sickness
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Everything about Tibet Travel: Five Articles you must Read for an Easy Tibet Trip

You will grow into a Tibet travel guru and plan your trip much easier with these five articles carefully written by our Tibetan travel experts who all have more than 20 years' experience in Tibetan tourism.

Written by Master Kungga Dundruk

• Where is Tibet Located
• Tibet Weather
• Flights to Tibet
• Train to Tibet
• Tibet Tour Cost
• Tibetan Food
• Money & Currency
• Shopping in Tibet
• Roads in Tibet
• Etiquette and Taboos
• Tibet Tour Calendar
• Best Time to Visit EBC
• What to Pack
• Tibet Trekking Advice
• Is it safe to Travel Tibet?
• Travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu
• Avoid High altitude Sickness in Tibet
• Tibetan Greetings
• Best time to Visit Kailash
• Tibetan Local Customs
• Tibetan Language
• Useful Tibet Travel Tips
• Enter Tibet from Nepal
• Tibetan Festivals
• How to Obtain Chinese Visa
• Tibet Overland Tour
• Tibet Train Schedules and Fares
• Online Tibet Permit Application
• Tibet Permit without Tour

Qinghai-Tibet Railway Travel

Full and Detailed information about travelling to Tibet by Rail

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Tibean Festival Calendar, on a monthly basis

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Tibet Travel Information and Tour Brochure

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Check for more  Tibet travel advices and  information .

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Tibet Travel FAQs

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China closes Tibet to foreigners for sensitive anniversaries

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BEIJING (AP) — China is barring foreign travelers from Tibet over a period of several weeks that includes a pair of sensitive political anniversaries questioning the legitimacy of Beijing’s rule over the Himalayan region.

Travel agencies contacted Wednesday said foreign tourists would not be allowed back into Tibet until April 1. It’s not clear when the ban started, although some monitoring groups said it began this month.

The ban was confirmed by the online customer service portal of the Tibet Youth International Travel Service, as well as staff at the Tibet Vista and Go to Tibet travel agencies. Both are based in the southwestern city of Chengdu — the main jumping-off point for visits to Tibet.

Staff members declined to give their names or offer details.

March 10 is the 60th anniversary of an abortive 1959 uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, while anti-government riots occurred March 14, 2008, in the regional capital Lhasa.

Although the foreigner travel ban is an annual occurrence, the occasion of the 60th anniversary is drawing added attention.

Amid heavy security on the ground, Tibet is almost entirely closed to foreign journalists and diplomats and information about actual conditions there is difficult to obtain.

The 1959 uprising resulted in the flight of Tibet’s traditional Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, into exile in India and the beginning of increasingly harsh Chinese rule over the region. Nearly five decades later, anger exploded in a series of protests in an around Lhasa that culminated in attacks on Chinese individuals and businesses in which the government says rioters killed 18 people.

An unknown number of Tibetans were killed by security forces in the aftermath.

China claims Tibet has been part of its territory for more than seven centuries and regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist.

Many Tibetans insist they were essentially independent for most of that time and have protested what they regard as China’s heavy-handed rule imposed after the People’s Liberation Army’s battled its way into the Himalayan region in 1950.

More recently, traditionally Tibetan regions of western China have been racked by a series of self-immolations by Buddhist clergy and lay people protesting Chinese rule and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama, now aged 83.

Despite the suffocating level of security, Tibet is an increasingly popular destination for tourists looking for mountain adventure and monuments to its unique Buddhist culture.

In 2017, more than 25 million trips from around the world were made to Tibet, an increase of 10.6 percent over the year before, generating 37.9 billion yuan ($5.6 billion) in tourist revenue, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Numbers of visits rose again last year to more than 33 million, a rise of 31.5 percent, Xinhua said.

While Chinese may travel to Tibet at will, foreigners are required to obtain a special permit in addition to their Chinese visas.

While China has at times denied closing Tibet and never offered an explanation for any such measures, monitoring groups say it’s part of a strategy of concealing the extent of repression in the region.

“This most recent development is part of the overall policy of the Chinese government to restrict access to Tibet for independent observers in order to maintain an iron grip in the region while at the same time avoiding any form of external scrutiny,” Washington, D.C.-based International Campaign for Tibet said in an emailed statement.

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‘At the Breaking Point’: Tibetans, Under Lockdown, Make Rare Cries for Help

China’s ever-tightening Covid rules have prompted public complaints from residents of areas usually intimidated into keeping quiet.

By Vivian Wang

BEIJING — Infected patients quarantined alongside those who tested negative. No food for hours, despite repeated requests. Lines of buses, loaded with people, waiting late into the night to drop them off at makeshift isolation centers.

These are the scenes described by residents of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, who have been locked down for one month as officials try to contain a coronavirus outbreak.

Lockdowns, including of entire cities, have become almost commonplace in China, which remains bent on eliminating the coronavirus even as the rest of the world tries to live with it. But the recent calls for help out of Tibet, as well as Xinjiang — two border regions where the Chinese government has put in place highly repressive controls — speak to how desperate conditions have become there, where many residents are usually intimidated into keeping quiet.

Yet the incentive for the authorities to hold fast and silence discontent is also stronger than usual. The Chinese Communist Party is slated to hold a major political meeting next month, where its leader, Xi Jinping, is almost certain to extend his tenure. In the run-up, it is crucial for officials to ensure that the effort to achieve “zero Covid,” which Mr. Xi has declared a personal priority, appears smooth and successful.

The result is a vicious cycle. The authorities enact ever-harsher quarantine and censorship rules. Those, in turn, create more hardships and dissatisfaction.

“The social media posts you see from people in Lhasa are all about suffering, but that’s the real Lhasa. Lhasa’s public announcements, I feel they’re all fake,” said a food delivery worker in the city who gave only his surname, Min, for fear of official retaliation.

The government has promoted positive videos of officials encouraging frontline workers and promising ample supplies of food and medicine. But Mr. Min said he was quarantined with five family members in an unfinished apartment building, even though he had not tested positive. Workers said he could be released if his latest test, on Sept. 10, also came back negative — but it had been days with no word on a result.

While he was waiting, officials had sent another man to join their family in quarantine, because they were all of the Hui ethnic minority, Mr. Min said. But the man said he had tested positive. Mr. Min said all he could do was wear two masks and try to keep a distance.

Restrictions are tightening across China. Last week, the central government announced that the entire country, even areas without cases, would need to mandate regular testing of all residents through October. Tens of millions of people have been locked down in recent weeks . The capital, Beijing, is on high alert, after several dozen cases have been detected in recent days.

The lockdowns in Tibet and Xinjiang, though, stand out for having dragged on for more than a month. Lhasa — home to nearly 900,000 people, about 70 percent of them ethnically Tibetan — began ordering certain areas to close after discovering a handful of infections on Aug. 8, with restrictions soon spreading citywide. Yining, a city in the northwestern part of Xinjiang, has also been under restrictions since early August.

The shutdowns gained relatively little attention at first, compared with those in larger cities like Shanghai and Chengdu , whose lockdowns this year dominated Chinese social media. But in recent days, as the controls have shown no sign of easing, residents have mounted an online campaign to draw attention to their plight. Some have tagged state media outlets in hopes of attracting official coverage. Others have attached unrelated trending hashtags, such as one about an actor accused of hiring prostitutes.

Perhaps most remarkably, the chorus of voices has also included ethnic Tibetans — a group that can face intense repercussions for any criticism of the government. Under Mr. Xi, the authorities in Tibet — a part of China known officially as the Tibetan Autonomous Region — have stepped up longstanding efforts to assimilate ethnic Tibetans through resettlement programs, political indoctrination and a crackdown on their language.

On Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, some residents have shared videos in Tibetan describing being unable to work or pay rent, according to translations by Tibet Action Institute, an overseas activist group supporting Tibetan independence. One man, filming himself in a vehicle, said he had been sleeping in his car for a month. A woman begged to be allowed to return to her village elsewhere in Tibet, describing her worry about food running out.

Lhadon Tethong, the director of Tibet Action Institute, said she had been stunned by what she called a flood of Tibetan voices this week, compared with a trickle of information before.

“They’re these direct cries for help coming from inside in a way that we just don’t see anymore,” she said. “So we know they’re at the breaking point.”

Several of the videos have been deleted. In the video of the woman asking to go home — no longer available online — she emphasized that she was not protesting. On Weibo, a Twitter-like platform, a user whose post about Lhasa’s lockdown was shared more than 6,000 times later posted again thanking users for commenting on government accounts to raise awareness but asked them to stop tagging her. “The risks of speaking out are really very high,” she wrote. “I’m panicking.”

The Lhasa authorities’ zero-tolerance approach has also swept up Han Chinese, the country’s dominant ethnicity.

Wen Yan, 30, said she, her boyfriend and four roommates were ordered into centralized quarantine on Monday, though their latest test results were negative. They boarded an ambulance around 4 p.m. but were not dropped off at the quarantine center — another unfinished apartment complex — until after 7. In the apartment, the bathroom was flooded.

They were not given any food; a worker said they had arrived too late, Ms. Wen said. Around midnight, her boyfriend and another man confronted some workers to demand food. They were beaten, she said, providing photos of their injuries.

Ms. Wen also shared her photos on Weibo, where they were shared thousands of times. The next day, an official at her quarantine facility asked her to delete them, but she refused.

“If these posts don’t exist, then no one cares,” she said. “I won’t delete them because they’re all true.”

Conditions also remain dire for some in Yining, in Xinjiang, home to many ethnic Uyghurs. The plight of residents there, who have reported shortages of food and female sanitary napkins, also remained largely unknown until a recent storm of social media pleas. Last week, local officials apologized for residents’ difficulties accessing medical care.

Halipa, a mother of two in the city who gave only her first name, said officials in recent days had delivered meat and naan — the first time she had eaten meat in three weeks. But she was still unable to buy fruit and worried the lack of nutrition had weakened her children’s immune systems. Both contracted fevers this month.

The Yining government has said it is gradually reopening the city. But Halipa said there was no sign that the steel lock keeping residents inside her apartment building was going to be removed.

As more stories of suffering have emerged online — and efforts to suppress them have ramped up — some have warned that the measures are going too far.

This week, local officials in Shandong Province announced that they had detained a man for sharing a livestream by China’s state broadcaster in his neighborhood’s group chat and urging people to “go and ask for help” in the comments. Commenting on the notice, Hu Xijin, the retired editor of a nationalist state media tabloid, warned local governments against undermining public support for the zero-Covid policies.

“We must correctly understand what it means to be ‘resolute’ in epidemic prevention, and more heavy-handed measures are not necessarily more correct,” he wrote on his personal Weibo page, adding that it was important to “work hard to win the understanding” of the people.”

For now, the authorities are still relying on more coercive tactics.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared that the end of the pandemic was “in sight” — a declaration that quickly aroused a flurry of posts on Chinese social media expressing hope, and weariness at the extended controls.

By Thursday, Weibo had banned the hashtag “W.H.O. says the end of Covid is in sight.”

Joy Dong contributed research and reporting from Hong Kong, Isabelle Qian from Seoul and John Liu from Taipei, Taiwan.

Vivian Wang is a China correspondent based in Beijing, where she writes about how the country's global rise and ambitions are shaping the daily lives of its people. More about Vivian Wang

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Authorities allow Tibetans in Lhasa to travel in region amid COVID wave

UPDATED at 10:05 A.M. EDT on 2022-11-02

Chinese authorities have relaxed strict COVID-19 lockdowns in parts of the far-western Tibet region, allowing Tibetans residing temporarily in the regional capital Lhasa for work or other reasons to return to their hometowns beginning Monday, sources in the region said.

A wave of coronavirus infections hit the restive region in August, where China, wary about independence movements, has strengthened its governance in an effort to prevent frequent unrest of the repressed Tibetan minority group.

The latest move came days after hundreds of angry demonstrators took to the capital’s streets on Oct. 26-27 to protest harsh “zero COVID” measures, including lockdowns in place for about 80 days. During the lockdowns, people complained of food shortages and poor conditions in mass quarantine facilities, RFA reported earlier.

Many of the demonstrators were Han Chinese migrant workers demanding permission from authorities to return to their homes in eastern China because they could not earn money amid the lockdowns, city sources told RFA . 

The Chinese migrant protesters dispersed after authorities agreed to process applications for them to leave the Tibet Autonomous Region, while Tibetans from towns outside the capital area had to remain in place. 

Now authorities are allowing Tibetans living in Lhasa who are natives of the cities and towns of Shigatse, Kongpo, Lhoka, Nagchu, Chamdo and Ngari to return to their homes. But they can do so only after first getting in touch with their respective points of contact as set by regional authorities for “swift processing,” according to an official notice dated Oct. 31. They are prohibited from returning on their own.

Authorities will provide Tibetan migrant workers in the Lhasa area with transportation services to return to their hometowns once the regional office makes the contact points public, the notice said, but provided no further details. 

Despite the relaxation of COVID lockdowns in both Lhasa and Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city in a prefecture of the same name with a population of about 800,000, as of Oct. 29, the capital remained under lockdown for three additional days, said sources from Tibet. They added that they did not know the reason behind the move which was not publicly announced.

Tibetan sources indicated that Chinese government officials treated Tibetans differently when it came to giving them permission to leave Tibet for other places in China, noting that authorities accommodated Chinese migrant workers who agitated against the lockdowns.

“Tibetans who study in high schools and universities in mainland China were supposedly planning to visit China three months ago under special circumstances, but that didn’t happen,” said a source, who declined to be named for safety reasons.  

As of Monday, Tibet recorded 18,653 confirmed coronavirus cases in the region of roughly 3.65 million people, according to the latest Chinese government census data. 

Two new asymptomatic COVID-19 infections have been found in Lhasa in the last 24 hours, and 33 asymptomatic cases have been detected in the northern region of neighboring Qinghai province on Oct. 29, according to an official Chinese announcement.

Local authorities in Xining, capital of Qinghai province near the Tibetan Plateau, reported 70 new COVID-19 infections on Oct. 28.

Translated by Tashi Wangchuk for RFA Tibetan. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

The story update clarifies that the city of Shigatse is in a prefecture with the same name that has a population of about 800,000 people.

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Environment-protecting Measures Take Place in Everest and Namtso from 2019

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February 17,2020

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Local government takes several measures to protect the fragile environment of Tibet Plateau in 2019. The tour itineraries in Mount Everest and Namtso Lake change accordingly.

China's Qinghai: owns the largest prayer wheel in the world

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September 18,2017

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The 42-meter-tall Chinese Fortune Wheel, which contains a wheel of 26.285 meters in height and 10.22 meters in diameter, was recognized as the world largest prayer wheel by Guinness World Records on Saturday.

Number of Tibet Antelopes, Wild Asses Increases in Hol Xil Natural Reserve

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February 23,2018

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The population of Tibetan antelopes in Hoh Xil grew from about50, 000 in 1995 to 170,000 in 2012, as social awareness and the measures of environmental protection have been enhanced in recent years.

Entrance Fees Changes from June 1, 2012 in Tibet

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The Tibet Tourism Administration issues a notice that the Entrance fees to Potala Palace, Tashihunpo Monastery, Palkor Monastery, Kumbum stupa and Baksum Tso Lake will be raised from June 1, 2012.

Qinghai Lake Getting Larger for 7 Years

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Qinghai Lake has been expanding for seven consecutive years and it turns to 4351.50 square kilometers after its complete thawing this year, according to Qinghai Academy of Meteorological Sciences.

2012 Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival on the way

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This year’s the 10th of the Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival was held in the “Peach Village” Gala Village in Nyingchi Prefecture on April 1st.

Eight lamas Awarded Highest Academic Degree in Tibetan Buddhism Studies

April 13, 2012

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Eight lamas are awarded Gexe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism studies, at the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 13, 2012.

Tibet to Hold Mountaineering Assembly

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The Tibetan Mountaineering Assembly that features climbing expeditions, lectures and meetings will be held in Tibet from April 28 to May 6.

Majority of travelers content with Tibet, plan second trip

March 7, 2012

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98.2 percent of the tourists are content with Tibet’s environment and service, while 73 percent are planning a second trip.

Potala Palace to extend opening hours to meet tourists' demand

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Palace’s Administration said recently, the Potala Palace would extend its opening hours during the peak season to meet the tourists’ demand. The opening time will adjust from 7:30a.m. to 4:40 p.m.

No Tibet Travel Permits being issued from 25th June to 30th July, 2011

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No Tibet Travel Permits are being issued for foreign travelers (including Hong Kong and Taiwan tourists) from 25th June to 30th July, 2011.

Lhasa to Xian Flight Ticket at ONLY ￥500

Nov. 13, 2010

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Sichuan Airlines has just made an overwhelming decision: Lhasa to Xian air tickets save up to 70% at the most. In Tibet, this kind of great discount is rare and unparalleled.

Tibet's First Luxury Hotel Opens

November 1, 2011 till Now

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St. Regis Lhasa Resort, the first international luxury hotel in Lhasa and Tibet, has now opened up for business. Its opening ends Tibet’s history of no luxury hotels.

Xigaze Airport Opens in Tibet

Oct. 30, 2010

May 30,2022

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Xigaze Airport opened last Saturday, marking the launching of the 5th civil airport in Tibet. An Airbus 310 of Air China landed at Xigaze Airport at 9:50 am, Oct. 30, to mark the formal opening of the facility.

Tibetans Celebrate White Lhamo Festival in Jokhang Temple

November 21, 2010

Activity time: November 21, 2010

Lhasa women and Tibetan Buddhism pilgrims got together in Jokhang Temple and celebrated the traditional Tibetan "White Lhamo Festival" on November 21, 2010, which stands for October 15 in Tibetan calendar.

Tibetan People Celebrate Annual Buddha Return Day

Oct. 29, 2010

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Tibetan people celebrated their traditional annual festival "Buddha's Return Day" on Oct. 29, 2010, that is Sept. 22 on the lunar calendar of the Tibetans.

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Entering Tibet – Travel News

Train to Tibet are available daily from different cities in China mainland according to schedule.

Entering Tibet for tourists used to have much wider options than just choosing between a hard train ride or an expensive flight. Before a new or two, entering Tibet was quite easy and comfortable with choices of overland entry through many border passes.

The overland tour that starts in Zhangmu, Tibet-Nepal border, was especially convenient for those finishing their Nepal trip (and India) and moving on to China mainland after the Tibet tour. But the whole Zhangmu town and the Friendship Border Bridge has been closed since the Nepal earthquake on 25 th April, 2015, and there isn’t any rumours of opening it again for another few years. Now, the only way to enter Tibet from Nepal is 3 weekly direct flights from Kathmandu, Nepal and daily indirect flights through Chengdu, Sichuan.

The entry from Chengdu and Shangri-La (Yunnan) through Kham parts of Tibet was an overland trip that no one should miss. The trip shows you the real Tibetan scenery that we have always imagined of Tibet, the open grasslands dotted with nomads and surrounded by sky-touching snow-capped mountain. But that too was closed due to political sensitivity of the area.

Now, the overland entries are all closed except the least chosen trips like entering from Xinjiang(North-West of Tibet) and from

A hostess serving guests

Xining through Golmud, leaving the only choices to taking trains or flights to Tibet. The train tickets are really hard to get at times that some people take the hard seater ticket for more than 24 hours journey, but we at Explore Tibet , such misfortunes don’t happen at all, we provide our guests the comfort that we always promise. And the train rides are all accompanied by the endless wilderness of Kham, most of the train are back-aching long but always worthwhile. While, the flight tickets can be easier to book, but the price differs are lot about season of your travel and the city from where you are flying to Tibet. Explore Tibet has all the information regarding all the schedule and tickets. Itineraries for China Tibet train tour,  8 Days Chengdu-Lhasa Train tour ,  8 Days Beijing-Lhasa Train Tour ,  11 Days Beijing-Xian-Lhasa Train Tour .

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