Nestled in the lush Gyirong Valley, Gyirong County is a welcoming border town that serves as a vital hub connecting Tibet with Nepal. Renowned for its distinctive Himalayan landscapes, rich fauna and flora, and unique historical appeal for travelers, Gyirong Tibet is credited as the “backyard garden of Mt. Everest”.

So, in this travel guide, we will offer you a complete guide to Gyirong County’s landscapes, top highlights, travel routes, and other insider tips to help you plan your visit to Gyirong.

Where Is Gyirong County Located? Why Is It Important Today?

Gyirong County lies in the southwest of Shigatse Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, bordering Nepal to the south. Covering an area of 9,300 km², Gyirong’s county seat is Zongga Town (4,200m), while Gyirong Town (2,850m, 25km north of Gyirong Port) serves as the key border town for you crossing the Gyirong border from Tibet into Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tucked away amidst the majestic peaks and lush canyons of the central Himalayas, Gyirong has been a vital corridor for the arrival of Buddhism into Tibet and a crucial trade hub linking China with South Asia.

Gyirong County and Gyirong Port on the Tibet Map.

It was from Gyirong that Guru Rinpoche, a legendary Indian master, was invited by Tibetan King Trisong Detsen to spread Buddhism into Tibet in the 7th century. Likewise, Gyirong was also the entry point for Nepali Princess Bhrikuti to cross the Gyirong border to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in Lhasa, an event that led to the construction of Pakpa Monastery in Gyirong Town.

So, whether you plan to travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu or explore the tranquil and welcoming charm of Gyirong, known as “the village of happiness” in Tibetan at the heart of the Himalayas, Gyirong County is well worth your visit.

How to Get to Gyirong from Lhasa: the Best Tour Itinerary You Need

The shortest distance between Lhasa and Gyirong is 731km via Shigatse and Dingri County. However, to most travelers, the best way to reach Gyirong from Lhasa is by adding another 176km to include Gyantse County and Tibet Everest Base Camp.

This epic 907km overland journey promises the best travel highlights across central Tibet, including the turquoise Yamdrok Lake, sprawling Karola Glaciers, pastoral Gyantse County, historic Shigatse City, and most importantly admiring 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 chances to overnight at EBC before passing the sacred Peiku Tso Lake and descending to verdant Gyirong Valley.

Our guests gaze at the highest peaks amid the rolling Himalayas at Gawula Pass.

The most classic and popular itinerary from Lhasa to Gyirong and further into Nepal is the 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu small group tour. You can travel with our local experts and local drivers and share a large sum of the cost of transportation with global travelers and select from extensive quality local hotels and eateries and enjoy a smooth border transfer and other one-stop services for an adventure of a lifetime across the mighty Himalayas.

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

This classic 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu tour offers you a thrilling adventure across Himalayas via Gyirong Port to Kathmandu.

How to Get to Gyirong County from Kathmandu? What Documents Needed?

A more straightforward way to reach Gyirong County is from Kathmandu, Nepal. The distance between Kathmandu and Gyirong Port is around 150km. It takes a 7-hour drive via the treacherous and unpaved mountain road from Kathmandu to the Sino-Nepal border (Gyirong Port) or Nepal-China border (Rasuwagadhi).

The treacherous road from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port.

Since the border immigration only operates between 10:00-13:00 and 15:30-18:00, normally, you need to stay overnight at Rasuwagadhi in Nepal’s Langtang region. The next day, you can cross the border and drive another 25km from Gyirong Port to Gyirong Town, the closest town to the Sino-Nepal border.

Our local experts pick up our guests at Gyirong Port.

As you go through the Gyirong border, you need to have a Tibet Travel Permit and a Chinese Group Visa for customs check. No worries! We will help you get all the travel documents needed and provide you with a seamless border transfer. Meanwhile, our local experts and friendly local drivers will greet you with auspicious Hada (a ceremonial scarf) for the adventure ahead.

If you are planning to enter Tibet from Kathmandu by crossing the Gyirong border, our latest upgraded 8-day Kathmandu to Lhasa small group tour is your best bet for the epic overland journey across the mighty Himalayas. We help you secure the travel documents needed and you can enjoy our seamless border transfer from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port with comfy and quality local hotels on either side of the Sino-Nepal border and two acclimation days included before ascending to Tibet EBC for exploration and beyond. Our local experts and local drivers will ensure you a lifetime adventure.

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

Join our expert-crafted 8-day Kathmandu to Lhasa small group tour with an exploration to Tibet Everest Base Camp.

Gyirong Is Also a Shortcut for the Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage from Nepal

Since it’s only a 2-day drive from Gyirong County to holy Mt.Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Purang County in western Tibet, for centuries, traveling from Kathmandu to Mt. Kailash via Gyirong has been a cherished pilgrimage path for Nepali, Indian and other pilgrims, esp during the Saga Dawa Festival honoring Sakyamuni’s enlightenment and entry into nirvana.

Though it is a shortcut for the Mt. Kailash pilgrimage, it is a challenging route, physically. As you ascend from Kathmandu Valley (1,400m) to western Tibet, averaging 4,500m, the dramatic altitude rise means you need to plan your journey wisely for proper acclimation.

Our travelers enjoy Mt. Kailash Kora with our local expert in western Tibet.

However, no worries! Our popular 10-day Kathmandu and Mt. Kailash small group tour from Kathmandu to Gyirong and onward to Mt. Kailash is expertly crafted. You can have a gradual acclimatization with a smooth border transfer, easy travel documents processing, knowledgeable local experts, local drivers, and oxygen supplies, and more attentive care to ensure you an immersive Mt. Kailash kora experience in western Tibet.

10 Days Kailash Pilgrimage Tour from Kathmandu, via Gyirong Port

Tour Route: Kathmandu – Gyirong – Saga – Mt.Kailash – Lake Manasarovar – Darchen – Saga – Gyirong – Kathmandu

Price from USD1749 p.p

Enjoy the ultimate Mt. Kailash kora from Kathmandu and Gyirong Port.

How Many Days Are Recommended to Stay in Gyirong County?

Most travelers only take Gyirong County as a transit point to or from Nepal. Since Gyirong County has a relatively moderate altitude of about 2,000m to 3,300m with lush forests, canyons, and ample oxygen content in the air, it’s an ideal place to adjust especially if you're coming from the lower elevations of Nepal.

So, you can budget one or two days here to enjoy the historic Buddhist sites, incredible canyons, and leisurely treks in serene forests. Most of the attractions in Girong County are scattered around Gyirong Town (2,600m), 25km to Gyirong Port to the southeast.

If you are coming from Nepal’s side, on day one, after crossing the border, you will soon reach Gyirong Town, where you can explore the Pakpa Monastery. This four-tiered Nepali-style pagoda temple has over 1,000 years of history. You can see a mirror of Songtsen Gampo’s Nepali wife Bhrikuti Devi hanging on a pillar, a stone footprint of Guru Rinpoche, and one of three statues of Phakpa Lokeshvara (a form of Chenresig). Pakpa Monastery is most active with pilgrims in the morning when they walk the kora around the monastery to pray.

The four-tiered Pakpa Monastery in Gyirong Town.

Then, you can head to Kyipu Canyon, which is a 7-minute drive from Pakpa Monastery. At Kyipu Canyon, you can cross an iconic suspension bridge draped with colorful Tibetan prayer flags and follow the serene mountain trails to explore Guru Rinpoche’s former meditation cave.

Walk across the suspension bridge with colorful Tibetan Prayer Flags in Kyipu Canyon.

On day two, you can drive around 30min from Gyirong Town to Nainuobu and Naixia Village, two of the best vantage points to capture stunning views of Gyirong surrounded by the imposing Himalayan peaks in Gyirong Valley. Then, leave Gyirong Town for Tingri County where Tibet EBC lies, or head west to Purang for holy Mt. Kailash.

The stunning view of Gyirong County surrounded by the rolling Himalayan Range.

What Are the Accommodations and Dining Options Like at Gyirong Port?

Most travelers who travel to or from Nepal would choose Gyirong Town for lodging since it is only 25km from Gyirong Port and where most Gyirong attractions can be easily reached within 30 minutes.

We recommend the QoMoLangZong Hotel, the only 4-star hotel in Gyirong Town, open to the public since 2024. It is located in central Gyirong town and is only a 1-minute walk to the Pakpa Monastery with easy access to local eateries and cafes. The room is spacious, clean, and tidy with all the amenities needed. There is even a small fitness room available.

The clean room of QoMoLangZong Hotel in Gyirong Town.

Besides, the 3-star Minshan Kangyan Hotel, around a 9-minute drive from central Gyirong Town, is also another great budget-friendly option with clean and modern interior design. Since it is located in a tranquil valley, you can have a great sleep here as well as a stunning mountain vista at sunrise. Other than that, there are many two to three-star hotels in Gyirong Town. We can help you book the hotel preferred. Learn where to stay in Tibet.

Due to its proximity to Nepal, Gyirong County, esp. in Gyirong Town, is famous for authentic Nepali cuisine. You can savor iconic Nepali food like Dal Bhat, a classic Nepali dish of lentil soup served with steamed rice, and Gundruk and Nepali Momos, chicken curry.

The finger-licking Nepali cuisine in Gyirong Town.

For veggies, you can enjoy Thenthuk, Tibetan noodle soup made with hand-pulled noodles, seasonal vegetables, and herbs or Tibetan momos, or try out fresh vegetable stir-fries. The spicy and ubiquitous Sichuan dishes are also available in local restaurants.

What Is the Climate and Weather Like in Gyirong Port Year-round?

Known as the “Backyard Garden of Mt. Everest”, Gyirong enjoys a mild and pleasant climate year-round. This unique weather is thanks to its lower altitude, warm, moist air from the Indian subcontinent, and its location in the lush Gyirong Valley, nourished by the Gyirong Zangbo River, stretching from Zongga Town to Gyirong Port.

April to May and September to October are the best time to visit Gyirong County. You will enjoy pleasant weather, blooming flowers, and clear views of the Himalayas, free of the annoying landslides, and dense clouds due to the monsoon from mid-June to August.

Our travelers enjoy the journey past Gyirong Valley.

November to March is possible to travel to or from Gyirong Port but less ideal due to cooler temperatures and icy roads. With that said, the clear skies in winter offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Learn the best time to visit Nepal and Tibet.

18 Days Kathmandu, Mt.Kailash, EBC and Lhasa Motorbike

Tour Route: Kathmandu - Mt.Kailash - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Ride your motorbike across Gyirong Port from Kathmandu to Mt. Kailash and Tibet EBC for an adventure of a lifetime.

More Insider Tips for Traveling to Gyirong County

For foreign nationals who want to visit Gyirong County, either from Lhasa or Nepal, currently, you can only travel through a pre-booked guided Tibet tour. As a local Tibet travel agency, with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Chengdu, we offer you free processing of the Tibet Travel Permit and other travel documents like a Chinese Group Visa for Gyirong Port entry from Nepal.

A sample of Tibet Travel Permit.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy our smooth round-way border transfer at Gyirong Port and select from extensive local quality hotels, and most importantly travel with our 20+ year local experts and seasoned local drivers for a comfortable and thrilling adventure in Gyirong County and beyond. 

Conclusion

Nestled in the lush Gyirong Valley, Gyirong County is a unique destination to explore and a must-visit transit point between Tibet and Nepal. If you have any questions about Gyirong or other travel destinations in Tibet, feel free to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Cheers!