How to Plan a China Tibet Tour?
Can Foreigners Visit China and Tibet Now? Yes, Far Easier than Ever!
Absolutely, yes! China including the Tibet Autonomous Region is available to global travelers for visiting now.
Normally, to tour China Tibet, foreign nationals are required to have two important travel documents: a Chinese Tourist Visa for China entry and a Tibet Travel Permit for entering the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Luckily, to keep promoting inbound tourism in China in 2025, the China National Immigration Administration has extended a visa-free policy, allowing the citizens of the following countries to visit China without a visa for 10 to even 30 days.
Continents | 10 Days China Visa-Free Countries in 2025 |
---|---|
Europe | Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, the United Kingdom Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway |
America | the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile |
Asia | Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar |
Oceania | Australia, New Zealand |
Continents | 30 Days China Visa-Free Countries in 2025 |
---|---|
Europe | France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia |
Asia | Brunei, Malaysia, Korea, Japan |
Oceania | Australia, New Zealand |
So, if you are from one of the above Chinese visa-free countries, all you need is to email the clear photo image of your Chinese Visa information page to us. Then, we can help you process the Tibet Travel Permit for free and deliver it by SF Express or in person to your hotel to travel from inland Chinese cities to Lhasa.
Can I Travel Independently in Tibet Like Anywhere Else in China?
No! Independent travel is not available in Tibet. Overseas travelers must join a pre-booked guided tour with a local Tibet travel agency like us to travel in Tibet.
However, no worries! Our local experts respect your privacy. After the day tour, you are free to explore local streets, shop around, and try out local eateries. Our attentive local experts love to share their favorite spots with you.
What Are the Must-Visit Places in a China and Tibet Tour?
The must-visit places for a China and Tibet tour depend on your travel route, interests, and time available.
Take a classic 11-day Chengdu Tibet tour by train, you can visit Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center to closely watch lovely giant pandas and journey from Chengdu to Xining to ride the scenic Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world’s highest railway to Lhasa.
In Lhasa, you can spend three days covering Tibet’s most landmark attractions in Lhasa and later travel west to Shigtase to admire majestic Mt. Everest at Tibet Everest Base Camp to fulfill your travel bucket list.
Wherever you wanna go, our budget-friendly China Tibet small group tours and diverse fully customizable China Tibet Tour will help you tick off your must-visit destinations.
How Long Should I Spend on a China Tibet Tour?
A typical China and Tibet tour lasts 10 to 15 days. You can budget 2 to 5 days exploring key cities in inland China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an, and Chengdu, and another 4 to 15 days in Tibet, covering Lhasa, Shigatse, and Tibet Everest Base Camp and holy Mt. Kailash in remote and mystical western Tibet and beyond.
Besides, you need to set aside 1 day for a flight to Lhasa. If you travel by Tibet train to Lhasa, 1 to 3 days are needed depending on your departure cities.
Our expert travel consultants will learn more about your interests and travel plans and help you arrange a seamless China and Tibet tour.
When Is the Best Time to Visit China and Tibet?
As the world’s third-largest country, China has diverse landscapes, climates, and cultures to explore. Touring China Tibet at any given time will bring you different experiences and views.
March to early June and September to early November are the best times for pleasant temperatures, clear Himalayan vistas, and crisp air for all outdoor activities in a China Tibet tour. If you love photography and are an outdoorsy person, the joyous peach blossom festival in Nyingchi from mid-March to early April is a perfect time to visit.
Traditionally, July to August marks the high season for domestic tourism due to the summer break and family travels. So, attractions are expected to get crowded, and hotels get booked up quickly. However, it’s also a great time to experience diverse festivals like the Shoton Festival in Tibet and the Qixi Festival in other parts of Chinese cities. Learn more about Tibetan festival tours.
If you travel on a budget, mid-November to February is the best time for a China and Tibet tour. You can expect hefty discounts on flights and hotels. In Tibet, you can even enjoy an entrance-free policy to diverse Tibetan attractions. Meanwhile, the attractions get less touristy for an immersive travel experience with our local experts.
How to Get to Tibet from Mainland China?
To most international travelers, getting to Tibet from mainland China involves two legs: first, fly from your country to Tibet entry cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and more; then into Tibet by flight, Tibet train, or overland.
Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Kunming, and Shangrila have non-stop flights to Lhasa within 2 to 4 hrs.
Whereas, Xining is the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world’s highest railway connecting Xining to Lhasa. You may also take connecting trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Kunming, and Chongqing to Xining to Lhasa.
For road trip lovers, the classic 7-day Chengdu to Lhasa overland tour via scenic G318 National Highway is your best bet. Alternatively, you may also travel overland from Kunming to Lhasa via the G214 and G318 Highway to experience diverse landscapes and ethnic cultures.
Which Is Better: Flying or Taking the Train to Lhasa?
Flying into Tibet offers you the fastest and most effortless way to get to Tibet from inland China.
However, in terms of punctuality, ticket price, and scenic view, it is the China Tibet train tours that strike the perfect balance, esp. from the Golumd to Lhasa section, the highlights of scenic Tibet train journey.
Different strokes for different folks. Please choose based on your schedule and preference. As a local Tibet travel agency, helping around 10,000 global travelers visiting Tibet from all corners of China annually, we vote for taking a train to Lhasa.
From Which Inland Chinese Cities Can I Take a Train to Tibet?
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, an engineering marvel, starts from Xining to Lhasa.
However, the trains departing from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Lanzhou, and Guangzhou all converge at Xining Railway Station, where you will transfer to a specially-designed and air-sealed Tibet train with oxygen supply to travel from Xining to Lhasa. Check all Tibet train schedules and fares in 2025.
Is It Possible to Travel Overland to Tibet from Mainland China?
Yes! Currently, five overland routes connect Xining, Chengdu, Kunming, and Xinjiang to Tibet.
Of all the five overland routes to Lhasa, the Chengdu to Lhasa overland route via the scenic G318 Highway stands as the most popular road trip to Tibet. The adventurous 2,146 km road connects Chengdu to Lhasa across soaring Hengduan Mountains and enchanting Nyingchi in eastern Tibet.
The most classic overland tour via G318 Highway takes 7 days. We offer you budget-friendly small group tours with fixed departures and local experts and local drivers for this epic week-long adventure. Alternatively, you drive yourself with our local Tibetan guide on the rental 4WD vehicle for the adrenaline-packed ride. Check diverse Tibet self-drive tours.
Apart from Getting to Tibet from Mainland China, Any Other Options Available?
Yes, apart from getting to Tibet from mainland China, international travelers, esp. those from Europe, can first fly to Kathmandu, Nepal, and later travel by flight or road to enter Tibet.
Currently, the flight between Nepal and Tibet is run by Himalayan Airlines and operates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The Kathmandu to Lhasa flight (H9-774) departs from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport at 08:00 and arrives at Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 12:15. Remember to pick the left window seat to enjoy an amazing bird’s eye view of the majestic Himalayas including imposing Mt. Everest.
Though flying into Tibet from Nepal gives you a quick ride to Tibet, to adventurous travelers, don’t miss out on the once-in-a-lifetime overland tour across the lofty Himalayas from Kathmandu to Lhasa.
The most classic Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour takes 8 days with a 360° view of Mt. Everest and offers you chances to explore Shigatse and Lhasa, two of the biggest cities in Tibet.
As a local Tibet travel agency, with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Chengdu, we can help you secure all the travel documents, book flights and quality local hotels, and arrange smooth border transfers and local experts and attentive services to your needs.
Do I Need to Worry about Altitude Sickness for China and Tibet Tour?
For travelers traveling by direct flight from inland cities with low altitudes, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu to Lhasa, you may experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness due to quick ascent to the Tibetan Plateau.
However, no worries! It’s our natural physical response to altitude rise and thin air. Normally, to most travelers, after spending a couple of days in Lhasa, such symptoms will gradually disappear.
After you land in Lhasa, please avoid strenuous activities, such as jumping and running, and don’t immediately roam over Lhasa Street after you check in at the hotel. Instead, having a good sleep offers ample time for your body to adjust to the altitude rise in the first 24 hours in Lhasa.
Meanwhile, our local experts will offer you many insider tips for quick acclimatization. Besides, booking hotels with oxygen supplies is also a great option.
How Should I Book My Hotels for a China Tibet Tour?
For booking hotels for your China and Tibet tours, you can rely on online platforms, such as Trip.com, Booking, Tripadvisor, and Agoda to book hotels in inland Chinese cities.
As to booking hotels in Tibet, we suggest that you book your hotel accommodations through a reputable, local travel agency like us at Tibet Vista.
In high travel season, and for remote areas like Tibet Everest Base Camp and Darchen in remote western Tibet for the Mount Kailash trek, the best local hotels sell out quickly and some of them even don’t have online booking like Rongbuk Hotel in Tibet EBC.
With local offices in Lhasa, Chengdu, and Kathmandu, we will manage to help you secure the best local accommodations based on your needs.
What Is the Best Budget-Friendly Option for a China and Tibet Tour?
Since a typical China and Tibet tour can last up to 8 to 20 days, the travel cost can be pretty high, given the accommodations, transportation, guide service, drivers, and dining and seasonal fluctuation.
If you travel on a budget, the best option is to join our diverse China Tibet Small Group tours. By doing so, you can split the hefty cost of transportation and hotels, guided service, entrance ticket fees, and Tibet train tickets with like-minded global travelers, making your China Tibet Tour more affordable.
Besides, you can enjoy our one-stop service to secure Tibet Travel Permits for free and process other travel documents needed, and enjoy convenient local pick and transfer service.
With the support of our expert travel agent and attentive care, and proactive service from our customer service managers in Lhasa and online, you can enjoy a seamless and immersive China Tibet tour, free of worries.
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