Traveling from Lhasa to Kathmandu is quite convenient, as you can travel by overland or air. The week-long Lhasa to Kathmandu overland journey via the Friendship Highway is a world-famous overland route, offering in-depth exploration through the Tibetan Plateau and Mt.Everest. The 1.5-hour direct flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu provides the fastest way to travel across the Himalayas.

Moreover, the Lhasa to Kathmandu overland route can be traveled by self-driving, motorcycle, or bike, offering flexibility for adventure seekers.

So, which is the best way to Kathmandu from Lhasa? Here, we’ll explore the pros and cons of each option to help you find the ideal way to go and ensure a smooth travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu with our useful tips.

In 2025, 7-Day Overland Travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu is the Best Choice

Traveling to Kathmandu from Lhasa via overland is the most interesting way. The 1,300 km Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway is a scenic route connecting Lhasa with Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

From Lhasa, the Friendship Highway follows the Yarlung Tsangpo River up to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. En route, you will pass by the Yamdrok Lake, a turquoise holy lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains at 4,441 meters above sea level.

You'll pass the turquoise Yamdrok Lake on the overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

From Shigatse, you will follow the route to Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, where the northern Everest Base Camp is located. It is a rare chance to witness the panoramic view of the highest peaks of the Himalayas lining together in front of you at Gawula Pass. When spending a night at the Base Camp, you will admire the stunning sunset and sunrise over the world’s highest peak.

After the visit to Everest Base Camp in Tibet, you will get back to the main route heading to the Gyirong Border. After passing through the Gyirong Port, you will follow the route to Kathmandu for around 7 to 8 hours.

Enjoy the Himalayan Range at Gawula Pass in Tibet on the way to Kathmandu via Everest Base Camp.

The classic Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour generally takes 7 days. As travel through the majestic Himalayas from the northern side to the southern side, this is the best way to experience the best of Mount Everest while traveling to Kathmandu.

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

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Another Best Way is Flying from Lhasa to Kathmandu in just 1.5 Hours

Besides the week-long overland journey, another best way to Kathmandu from Lhasa is by taking a flight. The direct flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu runs three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes to fly from Lhasa Gonggar International Airport to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport.

The non-stop Lhasa Kathmandu flight is only operated by Himalaya Airlines. It departs at 13:00 every day and arrives in Kathmandu at 12:25 local time. It is recommended to choose a window seat on the right side so that you can overlook the spectacular view of the Himalayas and the summit of Mount Everest from the plane.

Enjoy a stunning view of the Himalayas on the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Overland vs. Flight: the Pros and Cons of Each Option to Kathmandu from Lhasa

Depending on your preferences for speed, comfort, and travel experiences, both options to Kathmandu have their own set of pros and cons.

Getting to Kathmandu from Lhasa over Overland

Pros: It is the most scenic way to travel to Kathmandu from Lhasa. While traveling by land through the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway, you will explore all the essence of the Tibet Plateau from the holy city of Lhasa to Mount Everest. You will also get a lifetime journey to Everest Base Camp in Tibet to witness the top of the world just in front of you.

Cons: It takes at least 7 days to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu by overland. For those who are short on time, this is not a good option to choose. Moreover, you may experience altitude sickness while traveling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp over 5,000 meters above sea level.

Don’t worry too much! Our Lhasa to Kathmandu journey starts with a few days in Lhasa to help you adjust to the altitude before gradually heading to Everest Base Camp.

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

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You can visit both Mt. Everest and Mt. Kailash on an overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Getting to Kathmandu from Lhasa by Flight

Pros: Traveling by flight is the fastest way to get to Kathmandu. Compared to the one-week overland journey, the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu only takes 1.5 hours. If you only have a few days to visit Lhasa before heading to Kathmandu, it is the best choice. Also, there is no risk of getting altitude sickness if you take a flight directly from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Cons: Although flying to Kathmandu from Lhasa saves a lot of time, you will miss the opportunity to explore the Everest region in depth. During the flight journey, you can only overlook the snow-capped Himalayas from above. With only three flights per week, Lhasa to Kathmandu flight tickets are limited and prices will skyrocket during the peak season. Booking in advance is essential to secure a seat.

Recently, only the Himalaya Airlines offers flights to Kathmandu from Lhasa.

Other Travel Options to Kathmandu from Lhasa: Self-Drive, Bus, Bike or Motorcycle

With road links, there are more options for traveling to Kathmandu from Lhasa, such as self-drive, cycling, motorcycle, or even by bus.

Self-driving to Kathmandu from Lhasa offers more flexibility and an adventurous travel experience as you can take control of the steering wheel and go wherever you want to go. However, there are some restrictions for self-drive in Tibet. Besides the necessary travel documents for both you and your vehicles, you also need to travel with a tour guide, who will help you navigate and lead you to explore the local customs and culture along the way.

A Lhasa to Kathmandu motorcycle tour is a real adventure through the Himalayas, and so is a bike tour following the same route to Kathmandu from Lhasa. The classic motorcycle tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu takes 11 days, while the bike tour takes longer, around 16 days. There adventure travel to Kathmandu from Lhasa is expensive and not a budget option. It is better to travel as a group so you can share the costs with fellow members. Feel free to contact us for more details and a quote.

The Lhasa to Kathmandu cycling tour via Everest Base Camp is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

There are also buses available running from Lhasa to Gyirong, and from Gyirong to Kathmandu. However, the Lhasa to Gyirong buses travel are only available for Chinese passengers. After crossing the Gyirong border, you can take a Nepali bus from the border to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

7 Day Lhasa to Kathmandu Self Drive Road Trip via the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway

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

Price from USD1,599 p.p

You can now drive to Kathmandu yourself via the popular overland route.

Required Documents for Any Route to Kathmandu

No matter which way you choose to get to Kathmandu from Lhasa, you need to get a Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit for the journey within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and a Nepal Visa for entering Nepal. If you travel to Kathmandu from Lhasa by land, you also need to apply for the Alien’s Travel Permit upon arrival in Tibet.

A sample of Nepalese on Arrival Visa.

The Nepal visa can be easily applied for at the land border or upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. For the border crossing at Gyirong, you need to prepare passport-sized photos and cash to pay the visa fee, which is 30 USD for 15 days. Or, you can obtain a tourist visa at Kathmandu airport, valid for 15, 30, or 90 days, with respective costs of 30 USD, 50 USD, or 90 USD.

However, the Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit require early application so that you can enter Tibet with these documents in time. Generally, it takes up to 8 business days or longer for a Chinese Tourist Visa application, and another 8 to 9 business days for the Tibet Travel Permit. So, it is suggested to book your Tibet Nepal tour at least one month in advance for all the required travel documents to be issued.

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

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Our Lhasa to Kathmandu small group tour ensure a hassle-free travel with guaranteed Tibet Travel permit!

More Helpful Insider Tips for Your Next Lhasa to Kathmandu Tour

If you plan to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu by overland, try to avoid visiting during the monsoon season in July and August. As the rainy season in both Tibet and Nepal, the rainfall may destroy the road to the border, especially on the Nepali side. The best time to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu is April, May, September, and October for the fine weather and clear views of Mount Everest.

The local currency used in Tibet is the Chinese Yuan (CNY), while the currencies used in Nepal are both Nepalese Rupees (NPR) and US dollars (USD). Make sure to exchange enough currency before crossing the border.

Please pay attention to the time difference between China and Nepal, as Nepal time (UTC + 5:45) is 2 hours and 15 minutes behind China time (UTC +8). When booking a flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu, be mindful of the local departure and arrival times, and arrange boarding and pick-up times reasonably.

Foreign tourists can not travel independently in Tibet but can travel freely in Nepal. If you need our border transfer service to Kathmandu or a packaged Nepal tour, feel free to contact us while enquiring about your tour. With local offices in both Lhasa and Kathmandu, we ensure a seamless travel experience across Tibet and Nepal.

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We offer the best choice to explore China and Nepal with an epic overland journey to Kathmandu.

Conclusion

Nowadays, getting to Kathmandu from Lhasa is convenient. You can either travel by land or by air and each option offers different travel experiences. No matter which way you choose, making sure you get the necessary travel documents in time is important.

Based in Lhasa, with a local office in Kathmandu, we at Tibet Vista have successfully arranged Tibet Nepal tours for 2198 tourists. It’s time to plan your lifetime journey through the best of Tibet and Nepal with us in 2025!