How to Enjoy Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour by Bus

Though it is more convenient and faster to get to Lhasa from Kathmandu by flight, there is something worth seeing on the way to Lhasa by land. If you really want a lifetime journey, not just get to your destination, the bus tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa is the best choice.

You will drive through the Himalaya regions from west to east, witness the highest mountain in the world, visit the local villages and enjoy the unique landscape of Tibet Plateau during your overland journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa. The in-depth travel experience is absolutely what you can only get from an overland journey.

Travel Documents Needed for Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour

While you are planning to visit Tibet from Nepal, you need to apply for several travel documents before you enter Tibet. The most important one is Tibet Travel Permit, which is required for all foreign tourists entering Tibet. Besides, you also need to apply for a special Group Tourist Visa from Chinese Embassy at Kathmandu, which is a kind of single-entry Chinese Visa for tourists entering Tibet from Nepal. We can help you get it on your behalf in Kathmandu. According to your Nepal to Tibet travel route, you also need to get the Alien’s Travel Permit and Military Permit so that you can pass through the Himalaya regions head to Lhasa City via Shigatse.

Travel Document

Tibet Travel Permit

The Tibet Travel Permit, as well as all the other travel documents required for a Nepal Tibet Tour, can be only applied through a local travel agency. Once you confirm your travel schedule and book the tour service with us, a reliable local travel agency with years’ experience in Tibet travel, you just need to send us the copy of your passport, and we will do the rest.

Best Time for Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour by Bus

When you travel from Nepal to Tibet by land, the weather condition along the way is an important thing to know before you go. The best time for a Kathmandu to Lhasa bus tour is during spring and autumn, which is around mid-April to early June and Sept. to Oct.. In this period, the weather is fine with less rainfall. In addition, you will have more chances to witness the top of Mount Everest at the base camp.

Accommodation and Dining for Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour by Bus

The overland journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa is a kind of tough journey, but it is really a great trip to explore the Himalaya region and experience the local culture from the local villages and monasteries along the road.

The accommodation standard from the Gyirong Border to Everest Base Camp is quite basic. Generally, there are only simple guesthouses for you to choose. At Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 5200 meters above the sea level, there is only one guesthouse in Rongbuk Monastery. Most tourists choose to live in the tent hotel at the base camp, which gives you the lifetime experience to sleep beside the foot of Mt. Everest.

After you arrive in Shigatse, there are more hotels for you to choose. In the second largest city of Tibet, you can even choose to live in a comfortable 4-star hotel. And in Lhasa city, there are much more luxury 5-star hotels. As your journey is closer to Lhasa, there are more accommodation options for you to choose.

Luxury 5-star Hotels

Luxury 5-star Hotels in Lhasa

But please notice that, due to the special location and inconvenient transportation of Tibet, the local accommodation conditions cannot be compared with other places in the world. Even in the sample class, the hotels in Tibet may be not as well as the hotels in other mainland cities in China.

For things to eat during the journey, there are many food options in Lhasa, including the traditional Tibetan food, Sichuan cuisine, Nepalese dishes and Indian Food. But during the first few days from the border to Shigatse, there are not many restaurants for you to choose. Every simple food and drinks are offered on the little towns, such as fried rice, Tibetan butter tea and so on. So it is suggested to prepare some food and snacks with you, such as chocolate, energy bars with you for it is quite a long journey on the bus.

How to Travel from Kathmandu to Gyirong Border by Tour Bus

Gyirong Border is located 175 kilometers away from Kathmandu, and it generally takes about 9 hours to go. The winding road to Gyirong Border is not quite good. Usually, tourists who take a bus from Kathmandu to Lhasa will camp in Syabrubesi Village for one night, and cross the border in the next morning.

The opening hour of the border office is from 10:00 to 17:30, so make sure you will arrive at the border in time. When you cross the border, you can get to Gyirong town, which is 40 kilometer away from Gyirong Border. It is better to stay one night in the town to acclimatize the high altitude in Tibet. It is also for you to preparing your journey to Everest Base Camp.

Enjoy the Overland Tour from EBC to Shigatse

After passing through the Gyirong border, you enter Tibet, the most holy land on Earth. You can stay one night at Gyirong town, and move on to Everest Base Camp via Peikutso Lake, a beautiful alpine lake in west Tibet.

The trip to Everest Base Camp is one of the highlights of your Nepal Tibet overland tour. It is suggested to stay for a night at the Base Camp, which is the highest place that ordinary tourists can reach at 5200 meters above the sea level. From late April to May and from September to October are the best time to visit EBC, during which you can get more chances to have a clear view of the peak of Mount Everest. There is no doubt that witness the sunset and sunrise from the top of the world could be a once-in-a-lifetime memory that not everyone can have.

EBC

Everest Base Camp

On the next day, you can continue your journey to Shigatse trough the Friendship highway. The must-see attraction in Shigatse is the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the sacred seat of Panchen Lama. During your trip to the largest Gelug Monastery in Shigatse, you can see the largest statue of Future Buddha on earth, get close to the local lamas who living in the monastery and learn more about the religious culture of central Tibet.

Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse

The last part of your Nepal to Tibet overland journey is from Shigatse to Lhasa city. Though there are two roads leading to Lhasa city from Shigatse, it is highly recommended to take the way through Gyantse, during which you can pay a visit to the famous Yamdrok Lake and Perklor Monastery.

Before arriving in Lhasa, you still have some time to visit the splendid Perklor Monastery with Kumbum Stupa, which houses many Buddhist sutras, scripts and artifacts. You can also enjoy a panorama view of Gyantse Town from the mountain in front of the monastery.

Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake

Then, you will drive to Yamdrok Lake, one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet. The turquoise lake reflects different kinds of blue colors. The best place to take picture of Yamdrok Lake is from Kambala pass. You will be amazed by the peaceful blue water face that surrounded by the endless mountains.

After the visit to Yamdrok Lake, you will go directly to your final destination, Lhasa City. It takes about 1.5 hours to finish the 90 kilometers’ journey from the holy lake to Lhasa city. You can get a rest on the bus and just enjoy the scenery outside the bus window.

Your Nepal Tibet bus tour will be completed when you arrive in Lhasa. However, another exploration in the central city of Tibet will start soon. You can arrange your day tours in Lhasa city to visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and other attractions as you like. Just tell us your interests, our experienced Tibet tour consultant will help you arrange the best tour according to your need.

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So if you’re ready to an Adventure Tour to Tibet

1.) enjoy the mind-blowing Himalayas

2.) trek to the foot of Mt. Everest, the world’s summit

3.) explore mysterious Tibetan Buddhism

4.) appreciate the beauty of holy Tibetan lakes

5.) experience divine kora around holy Mt. Kailash

6.) witness exotic Tibetan culture

7.) taste Tibetan, Nepali, Indian cuisine

8.) look for a paradise of photography

9.) have safari on the roof of the world

Then Let’s Get Started with Our Local Tour Experts

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