As the only international gateway city to Lhasa, Kathmandu has become a very popular destination among tourists. A Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour is one of the best tour packages that takes you traveling along the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway to explore the tranquil lakes, ancient monasteries and beautiful cultural reflections of the Tibetan Buddhism lifestyle. Choose one of the itineraries from our travelers favorite Tibet and Nepal trips below to uncover the mysteries of the Himalayas with help from our friendly local travel experts. All of the tours are customizable, so just tell us your needs and we'll do the rest to give you a once in a lifetime experience to these two Himalayan kingdoms.
There are two ways to get to Tibet from Kathmandu, via road transportation or by plane. Most travel agencies have to arrange a car drive to Gyirong port without carrying any tourists to pick you up if you choose to go to Lhasa from Kathmandu via road transportation, so the price is very high, so we suggest you take a plane to Lhasa. It is a much cheaper and faster way.
Nepal is the only country with direct flights to Lhasa, which costs about 300 US dollars. The whole journey is about 600 kilometers, and it takes about an hour and a half, which is pretty short for an international flight. There are two flights per day from Kathmandu to Lhasa, CA408 (12:10-16:00) and 3U8720 (11:30-15:05). The flights schedule may change without noticing any side, so it is suggested to check out the exact schedule with us at least one week in advance.
If you do want to travel to Lhasa from Kathmandu via road transportation, our partner in Nepal will send you to Gyirong, the new port between China and Nepal, and our Tibetan guide will pick you up after you pass customs. Due to the increasing elevation, you should stay at the port for a while to acclimatize yourself to the altitude, and then set off to the east Tibet slowly. Before reaching Lhasa, you’ll visit Tingri, Everest base camp and Shigatse.
There are numerous fascinating attractions along this classic route, such as Mount Everest, magnificent Buddhist monasteries and Lake Yamdrok. In addition, you will have the chance to meet face-to-face with local residents and explore exotic cultures and traditions.
Currently, it takes 4 working days to apply for a group visa for Tibet. That means you’re need to stay in Kathmandu for at least 4 working days. Then you can leave for Lhasa on the fifth day. Please note that you do not need to apply for a China visa if you have applied for the Tibet group visa.
For international tourists, visa applications need to be submitted to the Chinese embassy in Nepal through local operators. Visa fees vary according to your nationalities. It usually ranges from 90 US dollars to 200 US dollars.
Necessary documents include invitation letter, original passport and application form.
It takes about four days from Kathmandu to Lhasa. The following itinerary is for your reference:
If you want more sightseeing, it is recommended to spend one more day in Shigatse. The Karola Glacier and Kumbum Monastery could be included in the one-day tour in Shigatse. The Tashilhunpo Monastery could also be visited on the day you go to Lhasa from Shigatse.
The Tibetan group visa is one type of Chinese visa, but it is different from other types of Chinese visa.
Difference in entry cities: Tibetan group visas are only available for international tourists who enter Tibet from Kathmandu. Other types of visas allow tourists to travel to other places except Tibet. If other visa holders want to travel to Tibet, they need to apply for a Tibet Entry Permit.
Difference in the number of applicants: Tibetan group visas are applicable to more than 5 people and are supposed to apply through local travel agencies (If you don’t have travel partners, we could arrange other tourists to make the number reach 5. They will only share the visa, but will not travel with you); but there are no such restrictions in applying ordinary visas.
Difference in the requirements for entries to China: Visitors with Tibetan group visa are required to enter Tibet and leave China at the same time. there are no such restrictions for ordinary visa holders.
Difference in the requirements for visa extensions: Visas for Tibetan groups cannot be extended. Ordinary Chinese visas are more flexible and can be extended.
Until now, visas for Tibetan groups can only be issued in Kathmandu. The original passport must be submitted to the Chinese embassy in Nepal. Therefore, if you prefer to get to Tibet from Kathmandu, you should leave enough time for the application in Kathmandu.
Some of our customers posted their passports to Kathmandu for applying for the Tibetan group visa. According to their feedback, it took almost one month due to the slow international mail service in Nepal. Some of them even lost their passports. So it is not a good option.
Only local travel agencies in Kathmandu can submit applications for Tibetan group visas. Tourists are not allowed to submit applications as individuals. Asian Odyssey Travel has been operating trips in Tibet for over 10 years and has a long-term relationship with local travel agencies in Nepal. We are confident that we can handle it well for you and provide you with a comfortable journey if you book a trip to Tibet with us.
Amy local agent have done great job in arrange the 15days tour. She is always ready to answer any queries and keep checking on us during the trip. Our guide Ngawang local Tibet guy was excellent in guide and take care us individually to complete this tour without any problem.with his expertise manage guide us well and very accommodating for all our needs.
For first time traveler to TIbet, please clear all your doubts and explain well your expectations on food and accommodation so Amy will able arrange it accordingly. Overall it was pleasant trip.Thanks to Amy and Ngawang
Had a 10 days trip to Tibet with Asia Odyssey. The staffs and tour guide are very nice and helpful. Kay was the person who got in touch with me, and she assisted me with all the document and trip information. Honestly, she made me a lot more comfortable with the trip since I just found this company on the internet and I wasn't sure if it was a legit thing. She also came picked me up from the airport and sent me all the way to the hotel. She is truly a sweet and warm girl! :) Besides, the tour guide and driver are very friendly, they provided a lot of information for me to understand and discover Tibet from a different angle. Overall, I had a great experience with them, and I would love to travel again with Asia Odyssey. Highly recommend people to try their service because you won't be disappointed.
We definitely recommend to book a Tibet trip through Tibet Odyssey! We had a great trip in June，exploring beautiful lakes and Mt. Everest base camp. Our guide was super patient.
I highly recommend a tour with Asia Odyssey Travel If you want to see the best part of Tibet, you should definitely book a tour with Asia Odyssey Travel. They are very helpful with the permit application and gave me the best impression of the wonderful roof of the world. I am looking forward to seeing our lovely guide and driver again in Tibet. Wish everything goes well with Nancy and her colleagues at Odyssey.
Firstly, special thanks to our tour guide we met, Mr. 扎西. He was so helpful, knowledgeable, considerate, experienced and professional. He is fluent in English. We had smooth conversation.
Secondly, thanks to our tour Consultant, Amy, for organizing o
This is my first trip to Tibet, so I have high expectation to my Tibet trip. First, our guide, Jack, arranged for visit to temples and monasteries. Also, they're able to adjust our itinerary quickly. I'm glad I had a great Tibet trip.
