Can I Travel to Tibet? Tibet Travel Restrictions & Guide in 2024

Tibet is now open for travel, and for foreign tourists living in China, you can get the required documents to take a trip to this holy land. If you are planning a Tibet tour, read this article to know the latest Tibet travel restrictions, how to travel to Tibet in 2024, and more useful insider tips!

Who Can Travel to Tibet? Latest Updates

Tibet is open to China expats now

The good news here is that: for expats living in mainland China, you are now able to travel to Tibet. Tibet has been reopened to China expats since May 2021. Until now, we have already arranged a number of tours for our foreign clients in the mainland to visit Tibet.

So for China expats, you can just book your Tibet tour with us right now, if you are looking forward to a journey to Tibet in 2024.

One of our groups has visited Mt. Everest.

Tibet is to reopen to overseas tourists in 2024

In the past three years, outbreaks of COVID-19 cases have emerged in different places one after another in China, and different provinces and autonomous regions including Tibet have responded accordingly with travel restrictions.

But now, these restrictions on travel are greatly relaxed. There is no need to take a nucleic acid test before you take a train or flight to other cities in China. And green health code is also no longer required in most places. Even the mask is not mandatory except for some public places like the subway, public bus, etc.

So it is very optimistic to foresee that Tibet will open to foreign travelers soon in 2024. For overseas tourists, you can just plan your Tibet tour right now. And we are ready to help you to fulfill your dream trip to the plateau.

Is It Safe to Travel to Tibet Now?

Situation in Tibet under Covid-19

Unlike other places in mainland China, Tibet is vast and sparsely populated. The environment is relatively oxygen deficient, and the strong ultraviolet lights make it relatively difficult for viruses to spread. This explains why Tibet has only undergone one outbreak during the last three years.

Also, most Tibetans have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Locals are willing to wear masks when they are outside. For those who want to go on a trip while avoiding crowds at the same time, Tibet is a good choice.

Tibet is safe to travel.

Tibet is a safe place to travel

The local society of Tibet is quite safe and stable, even better than in many cities in the mainland. Even for solo females, you can find that Tibet is a safe place to travel. Also, most Tibetans are devout Buddhists who are humble and kind, welcoming foreign visitors.

When you touring Tibet, you just need to pay attention to local customs and taboos, and respect the religious beliefs of local Tibetans. This will make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.

Local Tibetans are devout Buddhist believers and friendly to others.

In the meantime, you should also be aware of the natural disasters that may occur. Most of the travel itineraries in Tibet are well-developed and rarely dangerous. Only when you take some unconventional routes, such as the Sichuan-Tibet overland route, you may encounter landslides or mudslides in the rainy season. Just pay attention to the weather conditions before you depart.

How to Travel to Tibet in 2024?

1. You need to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit

No matter you are expats now living in other Chinese cities, or tourists from overseas, you are required to get the Tibet Travel Permit before entering Tibet. But the process to get yourself a Tibet Travel Permit is not that difficult as you may think.

First, you need to tell us your travel plan and make a confirmation of your itinerary, and book your Tibet tour with us. The Tibet Permit cannot be applied through individual, and a complete itinerary should also be made before the application, as it will be written on the paper page.

Then, send us the copies of your passport and Chinese Visa, which will be used for the permit application. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months. And for expats in China, you should also provide your school enrollment certificate or working certificate.

We can help to get Tibet Travel Permit on your behalf.

After that, we will do the rest. We will submit your documents to the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa. Normally after 8 or 9 working days, we will get the issued Tibet Travel Permit from the bureau. Then we will immediately deliver it to your address or hotel in mainland China.

2. You need to join in a tour

Travelling alone in Tibet is not feasible, and you need to join in an organized tour with a registered Tibet tour operator or travel agency, like us.

You cannot visit local attraction if you are not accompanied with a local guide. Also, when you go to distant places outside Lhasa, there are no public transport available for you. And We will arrange the tour guide, driver and private vehicle for you, after you book the tour through us.

You can join a small group tour of ours to travel to Tibet.

But the choice is yours to decide to join in a group tour or private tour. Our Small Group Tours have fixed departure dates, the best local prices, and the most tourist-friendly service as well. From classic 4-day Lhasa city tour to 15-day Mount Kailash tour, our itineraries cover the most popular routes for Tibet travel.

Usually, a group tour will be sufficient for most people. While if you want professional travel guru to tailor your Tibet trip, we can also meet your demands. We have a team of excellent Tibet travel consultants that can make your Tibet tour be like no other!

3. You can choose to take a Tibet train or flight to Lhasa

Flight and Tibet train are the main ways for most foreign tourists to get to Tibet. It is quite convenient to get to Tibet by air, since most major cities in mainland China offer direct or non-stop flights to Lhasa. Among them, Chengdu, as one of the closest cities to Lhasa, has the most frequent daily flights to the plateau.

Although it could be more expensive by taking a flight to Tibet, you can book in advance to get some discounted fare tickets. When booking the flight, your passport number will be required. And also, your Tibet Travel Permit will be needed when you check in at the airport.

Trains are also popular among tourists, especially those who have long holidays and are interested in the breathtaking Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The Tibet train also depart from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xining, Chongqing, Chengdu etc. And the train from Xining to Lhasa offer the shortest ride, and depart most frequently as well.

Taking Tibet train is one of major ways to get to Tibet.

And during the pandemic period, you will also need to show your health certificates like green health code, and sometimes even negative nucleic acid test report, no matter you take a train or flight. And flight cancellations will also become more likely. So it is suggested to keep in touch with us, to get informed with the latest situation.

4. You can travel with your Chinese friends or relatives

If you have Chinese friends or relatives who are going to Tibet, you can travel with them. But you still need to obtain the Tibet Travel Permit, and be in a tour group organized by a local travel agency, as a foreign tourist to Tibet.

The best suggestion is joining a private tour that only include you and your friends or relatives. In this way, you can freely choose your own itinerary, and enjoy your quality travel time alone with each other.

Conclusion

Traveling to Tibet is now possible for expats in China, as long as the local travel requirements are followed. Although it seems complicated to plan a Tibet tour at this moment, we will try our best to help you. We can help to handle the Tibet Travel Permit, the flight or train ticket to Tibet, as well as arrange all other things you need for a smooth trip to Tibet. Just contact us for any ideas or questions you have.