Though surrounded by towering peaks and deep gorges, Tibet is well-connected by road to the outside world. For road trip lovers, traveling by road to Tibet offers you a journey of a lifetime to explore the majestic Tibetan landscape and its rich local culture.

In this travel guide, we will walk you through the complete Tibet road map and navigate your way through the 7 epic Tibet highways for Tibet overland adventures, with top travel highlights, and insider tips. So, you can handpick your favorite Tibet route and get ready to hit to road to Tibet for the ultimate road trip adventure.

Map of G318 Sichuan Tibet Highway: Most Scenic and Treacherous Road to Tibet

Widely known as the most scenic and treacherous road to Tibet, the southern Sichuan Tibet Highway (G318) is both a dream road for adventurous road trip enthusiasts and a legendary pilgrimage route for Tibetan pilgrims across Tibet.

Spanning around 2,146 kilometers, the G318 Sichuan Tibet Highway literally travels at 30 degrees north latitude on the map and connects Chengdu, one of the major inland Tibet gateways, to Lhasa across soaring Hengduan Mountains and enchanting Nyingchi in eastern Tibet.

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Tibet Road Map of Southern Sichuan Tibet Highway (G318) from Chengdu to Lhasa.

Traveling on the G318 Highway, you'll witness some of the world's most diverse and dramatic terrains, including mind-blowing snowy peaks, deep gorges, massive glaciers, pristine forests and alpine lakes, boundless grasslands, all of which are within easy reach on both sides of the southern Sichuan Tibet Highway.

The treacherous Nu Jiang 72 bends along G318 Highway.

This most classic overland tour via G318 Highway takes 7 days across Ya’an, Kangding, Litang, Batang, Markam, Bomi, and Nyingchi until reaching Lhasa. 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 Tibet self-drive tours.

7 Days Chengdu to Lhasa World-Class Overland Tour: Travel across the Top Scenic Road to Tibet from Chengdu via G318 National Highway

Tour Route: Chengdu - Xinduqiao - Litang - Batang - Zogang - Ranwu - Nyingchi - Lhasa

Price from USD1780 p.p

Map of G317 Sichuan Tibet Highway: Off-the-Beaten Road to Lhasa via Northern Tibet

As opposed to the popular southern Sichuan Tibet Highway (G318) to Lhasa, the northern Sichuan Tibet Highway (G317) covers around 2,412km with tougher road conditions, less commercial vibes, and more hidden Buddhist monasteries to explore. It offers you an off-then-beath path from Chengdu to Lhasa via Ganzi, Chamdo, and Nagqu like no other.

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Tibet Road Map of Northern Sichuan Tibet Highway (G317) from Chengdu to Lhasa.

On the Tibet road map, you can take Chamdo as the midpoint to divide the northern Sichuan Tibet Highway into two legs. The first half of the road mostly travels in western Sichuan Province like Wenchuan, Li County, and Barkam, and slowly winds through Daofu, Ganzi, and Dege in Kham Region.

You can explore many prestigious Buddhist sites, such as, Yarchen Gar, also known as the “City of Nuns” and Derge Printing House, Zhizhu Temple, and Golden Jampaling Monastery, with Chamdo shining as the “Pearl of Eastern Tibet.”

The stunning view of Yarchen Gar in Ganzi Prefecture.

Heading west from Chamdo toward Nagqu, the landscape becomes more remote and rugged. Fewer towns, rougher roads, Tibetan nomadic regions, and vast grassland make this stretch of G317 Highway an adventure in true wilderness. En route, you can make a detour to explore heavenly Namtso Lake and enjoy the renowned Yangbajain hot spring before reaching Lhasa.

6 Days Travel to Sky Lake - Lhasa and Lake Namtso Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung - Lhasa

Price from USD779 p.p

Map of G214 Yunnan Tibet Highway: Most Culturally Diverse Road to Tibet

If you are looking for a thrilling road to Tibet, packed with diverse landscapes and rich cultural encounters, traveling overland via the Yunnan-Tibet Highway (G214) is another great option.

On the map, the Yunnan-Tibet Highway only stretches around 700 km, and it quickly merges with the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (G318) at Markham upon entering Tibet. Then, you can pass through Zogong, Bomi, and Nyingchi to Lhasa. The total distance of the G214 Yunan Tibet Highway is about 2,293, while the first section from Dai is 698km in Yunnan Province.

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Yunnan Tibet Highway Road Map

From Dali to Markham, you meet diverse ethnic groups including Bai, Hui, Pumi, Lisu, Naxi, Yi, and Tibetan communities, and explore pristine Cangshan Mountain & Erhai Lake, and marvel at Shangri-La, Meili Snow Mountain, ancient salt fields at Markham and gaze upon raging Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nujiang River running side by side.

As you enter the Tibet Autonomous Region at Markham, you will immerse yourself in a “Swiss-style” landscape in eastern Tibet where snowy Mt. Namcha Barwa, the serene Nyang River, and verdant Lulang Forest shall accompany you to holy Lhasa City.

12 Days Yunnan to Tibet Overland Journey

Tour Route: Lijiang - Shangri-la - Deqin - Zuogong - Ranwu - Pomi - Nyingchi - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Map of G109 Qinghai Tibet Highway: Shortest "Sky Road" to Tibet along Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Covering 1,937km from Xining to Lhasa, the Qinghai Tibet Highway (G109) is the shortest road to Tibet with the best road conditions. It runs almost parallel to the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and winds through Kunlun Mountain, Tanggula Mountain, and Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain. Over 1,000 km of the road lies above 4,000m above sea level, making it truly a “Sky Road” to Tibet.

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Qinghai Tibet Highway Road Map

It takes seven days to travel along the G109 Highway from Xining to Lhasa. You will be able to explore the famous Tar’er Monastery in the suburb of Xining and enjoy the picturesque Qinghai Lake, the largest inland saltwater lake in China, and admire the Chaka Salt Lake and vast Qaidam Basin, which used to be under the ocean during the Mesozoic Era.

The 4WD vehicle running in Qaidam Basin along G109 National Highway.

From Golmud to Lhasa, you will travel through Kunlun Mountain Pass (4,767 m) and pass Kekexili Nature Reserve, home to Tibetan antelopes and other wildlife. After passing Tanggula Mountain Pass (5231m), you will enter Ngaqu, northern Tibet, known for boundless grasslands and Tibetan nomadic culture.

Another highlight along the G109 Highway is to explore heavenly Namtso Lake and dig into the refreshing Yangbajain hot spring before heading to Lhasa. As a local Tibetan agency, you can enjoy our classic 10-day Qinghai to Tibet self-drive tour with our local experts for this epic ride.

10 Days Qinghai to Tibet Self-drive Tour

Tour Route: Xining - Qinghai Lake - Heimahe - Chaka Salt Lake - Dulan County - Golmud - Kunlun Mountain Pass - Kekexili - Tanggulashan - Amdo - Nagqu - Damxung- Namtso Lake - Lhasa

Price from USDupon request p.p

Map of G219 Xinjiang Tibet Highway: The Highest Road to Tibet Passing the Holy Mt. Kailash

Of all the roads to Tibet, Xinjiang Tibet Highway (G219) is the most challenging route with the highest altitude. This 2,138km road starts in Yecheng, Xinjiang Province, and passes through Rutog, Zanda, and Purang Counties in Ngari Prefecture until reaching Lhatse County in Shigatse, Tibet.

About 1,700 kilometers of Xinjiang Tibet Highway lie above 4,000 meters and you will endure the thin air and drive through imposing Mt. Kunlun, Gangdise, and Karakoram, which are all above 5,000m and cross 16 icy high passes and 44 glacial rivers. It is a true test of endurance and spirit.

Regardless of the tough climate and challenging driving conditions, Xinjiang Tibet Highway (G219) travels past some of the most incredible attractions in western Tibet. As you enter Rutog County, you can enjoy the enchanting Pangong Lake and Rutog rock paintings, the prehistoric rock carvings of ancient Tibetans while in Zanda, you can explore the ruins of majestic Guge Kingdom and Dungkhar & Piyang Cave Paintings and barren Zanda Clay Forest.

The majestic ruins of Guge Kingdom around Xinjiang Tibet Highway in western Tibet.

The biggest highlight unfolds as you enter Purang County where you can pause your journey for a few days for the epic 3-day kora around holy Mt. Kailash, the most sacred mountain in Tibet, and meditate around sacred Lake Manasarovar to purify your soul.

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

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

Since the steep rise from Xinjiang to Tibet via G109 HWY is way challenging to most travelers, alternatively, you can sign up for our 16-day Tibet to Xinjiang overland tour. In this way, you can have better acclimation and travel from the towering Tibetan Plateau to lower Xinjiang to minimize the risk of altitude sickness, still with visits to holy Mt. Kailash.

16 Days Tibet to Xinjiang Land Trip

Tour Route: Lhasa - Shigatse - Sakya - Saga -Mt.Kailash - Zanda - Ali - Pangongtso - Dorma - Dahongliutan - Mazar - Yecheng - Kashgar

Price from USD p.p

Map of Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway: Trans-Himalayan Road to Tibet via Gyirong Valley

The Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway is the most popular road that connects Lhasa with Kathmandu, Nepal. This first part of this highway follows the scenic G318 Highway to Shigatse and Lhatse County, spanning around 409km.

From Lhatse, the Sino-Nepal Highway winds through Tingri, and the G219 Highway to Gyirong border, the current Sino-Nepal border. This section of road covers 422km and follows another 131km of winding roads to Kathmandu Valley.

The trans-Himalayan Sino-Nepal Friendship HWY road map.

For travelers, what makes the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway so special is that it covers Lhasa, and Shigatse, two of the biggest cities in Tibet with perfect road conditions, and en route, you can explore turquoise Yamdrok Lake and idyllic Gyantse County along scenic G318 Highway.

Most importantly, from Tingri, you can head to Tibet Everest Base Camp to admire the Makalu (8463m), Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Everest (8848.86m), and Cho Oyu (8201m) and Shishapangma (8012m), five of the highest peaks along the mighty Himalayas and overnight at EBC to gaze up the north face of Mt. Everest at sunrise up close.

Our guests enjoy the highest peaks on the mighty Himalayas at Gawu La Pass.

For our guests, our budget-friendly 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour with fixed departures is your perfect choice for the trans-Haimaayan ride. Meanwhile, we offer you convenient border transfers to Kathmandu as well. Learn more about how to plan your visit to 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

Map of G4218 Lhasa Nyingchi Express: Scenic Road to Nyingchi Peach Blossoms from Lhasa

Last but not least, if you plan to visit Nyingchi for the Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival from Lhasa in early Spring, Lhasa Nyingchi Express (G4218) is your go-to choice. This scenic expressway covers 409.2km and it takes around 4:21hrs to reach Bayi District, the capital city of Nyingchi Prefecture from Lhasa.

Then scenic Lhasa Nyingchi Express on the turquoise Niyang River.

En route, you can travel along the turquoise Niyang River and pass the Mila Mountain tunnel, serene Tibetan villages surrounded by snowy peaks, and lush forests, and then drive from Nyingchi to Bomi to enjoy massive peach blossoms in full bloom. BTW, the Lhasa Nyingchi Express even has an exit directly to Draksumtso Lake to enjoy this most famous holy lake in Nyingchi.

10 Days Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival Small Group Tour with Everest Base Camp in 2025

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Bomi - Basom tso Lake - Lhasa - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD1729 p.p

Conclusion

So, these are the top 7 Tibet highways with Tibet road maps. Each promises utterly different Tibetan landscapes and road trip adventures. Whether you're looking for scenic beauty, remote adventure, or a cultural journey, there’s a Tibet road for you. If you have more questions about the Tibet overland tour, don’t hesitate to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Cheers!