Gyirong Port, also known as Gyirong Border, is a crucial entry point for travelers traveling between Tibet and Nepal. Whether you are planning to travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu or from Kathmandu to Tibet, Gyirong Port will be a major stop along the route.

In this travel guide, we offer you a complete guide to how to get to Gyirong Port from Lhasa or Kathmandu with practical insider tips. So, you can enjoy a seamless border crossing between Tibet and Nepal for your Tibet Nepal tour or in reverse.

Where Is Gyirong Port? How Far Is It from Lhasa and Kathmandu?

25km southeast of Gyirong Town in Gyirong County, Shigatse Prefecture of Tibet lies the Gyirong Port or Gyirong Border, a vital gateway for travel and trade between China and Nepal. To most travelers, Gyirong Port is the key transit point to travel to or from the Nepal border via the Resuo Bridge over the Trishuli River.

Historically, as a vital corridor connecting Tibet to South Aisa countries like Nepal and India, Gyirong Port is now easily accessible by road from Lhasa and Kathmandu, the capital cities of Tibet Autonomous Region and Nepal respectively.

To reach Gyirong Port from Lhasa, the shortest route covers around 824km and takes days across the amazing central Tibetan Plateau, while the distance between Kathmandu and Gyirong Port is much shorter, with around 160km or 7 to 8hrs drive on a treacherous mountain road. Please, keep reading for more details below.

The location of Gyirong Port on the Sino-Nepal border on the map.

Get to Gyirong Port from Kathmandu: by Local Bus or Private Car (over 7 hrs)

Traveling by road from Kathmandu to the Gyirong Port offers you quick access to Tibet across the majestic Himalayas. Currently, you have two options.

The first budget-friendly option is to take a local bus from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port. In the early morning, you can take a taxi to Dhading Bus Park where you can pay bus fare (1100 NPR/8 USD) and board the local bus bound for Gyirong Port at 06:00 or 07:00.

It takes around 7-8 hours (160km) via rugged mountain road to reach the Nepal Immigration Office next to the China border. Then, you can go through the Nepal customs office and walk around 1.5km to Gyirong Port via Resuo Bridge and have your Chinese Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit checked for entering the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Nepal local bus from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port.

Insider Tips: In reality, due to the long bus ride from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port, you will reach the Nepal border at 14:00 or 15:00 local time. Yet, since China is 2:15 hours ahead of Nepal time, the Gyirong Port is likely to be closed by the time you arrive. So, usually, you need to stay overnight at the Nepal border and cross the Gyirong Port to Tibet, China the next morning.

For better comfort and extra flexibility, the other option is to book a private transfer with a local travel agency like us from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port. Instead of randomly hiring a taxi or using unsafe carpooling, you can enjoy our 7-seat Scorpio 4WD SUV for a smooth transfer from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port.

We will pick you up at your hotels and our private seven-seat SUV only accommodates four guests to maximize your comfort. Besides, in our expertly-crafted 8-day Kathmandu to Lhasa small group tour, we will help you book the local guesthouse for overnighting at the Nepal border for crossing Gyirong Port the next day, saving you from tons of hassle.

Our Tibetan local experts greet our guests from Kathmandu to Gyriong Port.

8 Days Driving Across Himalaya Overland Adventure from Kathmandu to Lhasa

Tour Route: Kathmandu - Gyirong - Everest Base Camp - Tingri - Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa

Price from USD1019 p.p

Enjoy the thrilling overland adventure from Kathmandu to Tibet via Gyirong Port.

Get to Gyirong Port from Lhasa: by Overland via Mt.Everest (3 days)

Traveling to Gyirong Port from Lhasa and subsequently crossing the border to Nepal is also a popular choice if you wish to travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu for your Tibet Nepal tour.

However, for foreign nationals, unlike in Nepal where you can travel independently from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port, in Tibet, you have to travel on a guided Tibet tour with a local Tibet travel agency like us, according to the Tibet travel policy.

The road trip from Lhasa to Gyirong Port itself is a thrilling adventure to behold. The most classic overland route takes 3 days and covers around 1,000km across Shigatse in the central Tibetan Plateau with an exhilarating visit to Tibet Everest Base Camp (5,010m).

The classic road trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu via Gyirong Port on the map.

You will follow the scenic Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway and marvel at some of the stunning alpine lakes and jaw-dropping Himalayan vistas Tibet has to offer, including Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Everest (8,848.86m) and Cho Oyu (8,201m) and Shishapangma (8,012m), five of the highest peaks along majestic Himalayas.

The final leg of the journey follows the G216 National Highways and descends to lush and oxygen-rich Gyirong Town (2,800m) where you need to spend one night there before crossing Gyirong Port the next morning to Kathmandu.

Our guests take photos with Mt. Everest marker at Tibet EBC.

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

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD989 p.p

Enjoy the rollercaster ride across mighty Himalayas to Kathmandu via Gyirong Port, with a stunning 360-degree view of lofty Mt. Everest.

Bonus Tips: If you can afford 7 more days in Tibet, don’t miss out on a great chance to journey further west to mystical Ngari Prefecture where you can embark on the 3-day Mt. Kailash trek, the holiest mountain in Tibet and purify your soul at holy Lake Manasarovar before heading to Gyirong Port. Embrace the ultimate spiritual odyssey in your life!.

By joining our 13-day Lhasa Mt. Kailash and Kathmandu small group tours, you can travel with our local experts and local drivers for an immersive and authentic Tibetan experience. We will help you process all the travel documents and offer you extensive choices for local hotels, quality local eateries, a smooth border transfer from Gyirong Port to Kathmandu, and more attentive care.

Our guests enjoy the holy Mt. Kailash kora in Ngari Prefecture of western Tibet.

13 Day Lhasa, Mt. Everest, Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasarovar and Kathmandu Adventure Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD2069 p.p

Embark on the epic pilgrimage to holy Mt.Kailash with an exploration at Tibet EBC before heading to Kathmandu.

How Is the Road Condition to Gyirong Port? The Landslide Happens during Rainy Season

The road condition from Kathmandu and Lhasa to Gyirong Port differs. The route to Gyirong Port from Kathmandu (160km) starts well, along a well-paved road that heads northwest out of the city.

About 80 km of the journey is on a narrow, unpaved dirt road with potholes, and steep bends, next to treacherous cliffs. Do expect delays at sharp turns as vehicles going opposite directions make room for each other to pass. June to September is the monsoon season in Nepal and landslides are pretty common. Yet, no worries! You can rely on your experienced Nepali drivers.

On China’s side, the road from Lhasa to Gyirong Port is well-paved via the G318, G219, and G216 National Highways, connecting Tibet to Nepal. There is nothing to worry about.

The well-paved road from Gyirong Town to Gyirong Port in Tibet.

Is It Easy to Cross the Gyirong Port? What Documents Are Required?

It can’t be easier to cross the Gyirong Port to or from Nepal. For foreign nationals traveling from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port, you need a Tibet Travel Permit and a Chinese Group Visa and go through the customs office to check your belongings.

A sample of Tibet Travel Permit.

To cross Gyirong Port into Nepal from Tibet, simply show your passport and Tibet Travel Permit, and have your belongings checked to pass through the border.

After you cross the Resuo Bridge to Nepal’s side, it only takes a few minutes to apply for a Nepali On Arrival Visa at the Nepali Immigration Office. Then, you can take either our private vehicle or a Nepali bus to Kathmandu. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

More Insider Tips for Crossing Gyirong Port

If you plan to travel from Kathmandu to Gyiron Port and further to Mt. Kailash or Mt. Everest, due to the steep altitude rise, make sure you set aside at least two acclimatization days on the Sino-Nepal border to give your body enough time to acclimatize the altitude and avoid acute mountain sickness.

The rule of thumb is to “Travel high and stay low". For example, after visiting Tibet EBC (5.010m) from Gyirong Port (1,818m), you can travel further to Tingri (4,300m) for lodging and keep moving to Shigatse (3,836m) the next day.

Besides, due to the treacherous ride along the mountain road to Gyirong Port from Kathmandu, it’s advisable to drive in the daytime. It’s much better to use a reliable transfer service like ours for the final ride to Kathmandu from or to Gyirong Port.

As a local Tibetan travel agency, with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Chengdu, we offer you a one-stop service, including all travel permits and seamless border transfer, quality local hotel booking, local experts and local drivers and all the attentive services needed.

Conclusion

Whether coming from Kathmandu or Lhasa, the journey to Gyirong Port itself is an unforgettable adventure. If you have more questions about Gyirong Port and Sino-Nepal border crossings and the Tibet Nepal tour, don’t hesitate to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Looking forward to traveling with you in Tibet, Tashi Delek!