Tibet Travel Requirements: How Can I Visit Tibet in 2024?

As the worldwide epidemic evolves and changes, so do travel policies and restrictions in many regions and countries. So what are the new regulations to be aware of for travel to Tibet in 2024? How to smoothly visit Tibet in 2024? Read this article to know the latest travel requirements for Tibet travel.

Tibet is Open to China Expats Currently

Tibet has already been opened to expats living in mainland China since May 2021. And we have helped thousands of expats tourists to realize their dream travelling to Tibet.

So for China expats who are planning to visit Tibet, you can book our Tibet small group tour now to enjoy your dream drip to Tibet in 2024.

Tibet Will Reopen to Overseas Foreigners in 2024

In the past few years, Tibet has been closed to foreign tourists overseas due to the pandemic. Overseas tourists are not allowed to enter China and cannot obtain a China Tourist Visa.

But now the situation has become much promising, as many restrictions on COVID-19 are greatly relaxed. Health code and negative nucleic acid test result are no longer required for domestic travel between many cities in China, including Tibet.

So we have faith in the full reopening of Tibet in 2024. For foreign tourists, you can plan your Tibet tour now to prepare your journey to the plateau. As the leading tour operator based in Lhasa, we are ready to arrange you a worry-free Tibet tour.

Tibet Travel Permit is Required to Visit Tibet

Tibet Travel Permit is still the key to visit Tibet, and expats in China are also required to apply for this document. According to policy, individual application of the Tibet Permit is not allowed, so you need to contact a registered Tibet travel agency which will help to go through the application.

As the leading travel agency in Lhasa, we can help to guarantee your Tibet Travel Permit, and the application only needs 4 simple steps as follows:

Step 1: Book your Tibet tour with us.
Step 2: Submit copies of your passport and Chinese visa to us, as well as other required documents.
Step 3: The Tibet Tourism Bureau will check the documents and send us a paper travel permit 7 days before you enter Tibet.
Step 4: We will give you the travel permit before you board the flight/train to Lhasa.

The document requirements for applying for the Tibet Travel Permit vary a little between different tourists. For expats living in China, you need to prepare the following documents:

a. Your Chinese Visa (or residence permit);
b. Your passport which is valid for at least 6 months;
c. A working certificate by your company, if you are working in mainland China;
d. An admission certificate if you are a student studying in mainland China.

It is suggested to mail your documents to us at least 20 days before you leave for Tibet, to make everything go smoothly.

Join in an Organized Tour through a Trustworthy Travel Agency

For all international tourists to Tibet, individual travel is not allowed. So you need to join in an tour group organized by a registered Tibet travel agency, even you are an expat living in mainland China.

This actually can make your journey to Tibet much safer and smoother, as you don’t need to go through all troubles to arrange your itineraries on your own, and you can get accurate and comprehensive view of the sites you visit with the help of your guide.

And as a trustworthy local travel agency with over 10 years of Tibet tour running experience, we have a team of processional Tibetan local guides and travel experts, to ensure you enjoy a worry-free and quality Tibet tour.

Also, there are group tours and private tours for choice, to meet different needs. If you want to save money on a tight budget, you can join in our small group tours, from 4-day Lhasa city tour to 8-day Lhasa EBC tour, a wide of selections available.

If you have your own idea on the itinerary, or want to travel with your friends or families in a single group, then you can join in a private tour. We have professional travel guru to tailor your trip, based on your specific demands and conditions. Just contact us for details.

Travel to Tibet from Mainland by Train or Flight

Getting to Tibet is quite easy and convenient nowadays, since there are many direct trains and flights bound for Lhasa every day from major cities in mainland.

You can take a direct flight to Lhasa from popular cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing etc. And Chengdu offers the most frequent daily flights to Lhasa, which takes around 2 hours on the way.

Flights from Beijing to Lhasa also run fast, takes around 2 hours, while the flights from Shanghai can take around 7 hours. But overall, you will only spend several hours on the plane before arrive at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport. So it is quite a popular choice among tourists traveling to Tibet.

On the other hand, if you have sufficient time and want to enjoy the beautiful scenery along world-famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway, then you can also take the train. There are direct trains departing from major cities, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xining and Xi’an.

The shortest journey is from Xining to Lhasa, which takes 21 hours 20 minutes as scheduled. And every train leaving for Lhasa will make a stop at Xining Railway Station. By taking the train, you can also gradually acclimate yourself to the rising altitude from inland to Tibet plateau.

Both trains and flights can be in short supply in peak travel time or some special time. So it is advised to book your ticket as early as possible. Trains in China usually can be booked 30 days before departure. The schedule of flights is more changeable according to different situation.

If you have difficulty in booking your train or flight ticket to Tibet, you can turn to us for help. We are glad to offer the booking service for you.

There is No Age Limit, but Be Careful with Altitude Sickness

Many tourists may wonder if there is age limit to travel to Tibet, after all the place seems to be kind of dangerous owing to its high plateau and harsh weather. Actually there is no age limit, as long as you are healthy, you can pay a visit to Tibet.

But you need to pay attention to the altitude sickness during your Tibet tour. Altitude sickness is a common discomfort that occurs when one enters a plateau at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. The common symptoms include headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, fatigue and breathlessness.

In most cases, the symptoms will gradually decrease or disappear after 24 to 48 hours of adaption on the plateau. So there is no need to be panic. Only in a small number of patients, the condition may develop into plateau pulmonary oedema and plateau cerebral oedema.

For prevention of the acute altitude sickness, it is suggested to stay in Lhasa for a couple of days before head to higher places in western or northern Tibet. And don’t rush around as soon as you get to Tibet. Drink more water and have a good rest, also avoid taking a shower on your first days in Tibet.

Conclusion

Under the current situation, travel is more or less restricted all over the world. But going to Tibet is not as difficult as you might think. As long as you prepare the required documents, comply with the relevant travel requirements, your journey will still go relatively smoothly. And we will also do our best to help you. For more question, please contact us or leave a message below.