Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour
As a popular destination and capital of Nepal, Kathmandu is also an important gateway for Nepali and Indian and European tourists to enter Tibet. Each year, a great many tourists take the trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa, to visit Mount Kailash, Mount Everest or more holy places at the roof of the world.
Few overland tours offer you a pure sense of adventure than Kathmandu to Lhasa tours. Through our expertly-designed trip, you will follow a gradual and safe ascent from Kathmandu Valley to the sacred Lhasa city by crossing the mighty Himalayas. On the way, the changing landscapes, close-up view of Mt. Everest, and memorable encounters with innocent local Tibetans, etc. will bring back the joy of traveling on the road.
we provide a wide selection of budget group tours, but also we can work with you to customize your personalized trip in Tibet, with tourists-friendly services such as flight and hotels booking etc.
Kathmandu to Lhasa Small Group Tours
Take an epic overland journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa with the following 8-day itinerary. One of our most popular Tibet group tours, The Kathmandu to Lhasa small group tours offer you an affordable and thrilling way to enjoy the epic road trip adventure with interesting people. With everything being properly taken care of by our expert local leaders, all you need to do is enjoy the epic ride.
Kathmandu to Lhasa Private Tours
If you happen to travel with your family or prefer more private or look for an overland adventure that is more flexible to your personal needs, then tailor-making your Kathmandu to Lhasa tour can be the best option. To meet different needs of our clients, we collect the most recommended Kathmandu to Lhasa private tours as follows. You can work with our travel consultant to decide the details for which places to visit and how long you want to stay in a particular place and enjoy more choices for hotels,etc., we will help you design an exclusive tour that works best for you.
Explore Tibet by More Themes & Adventures
Keen to engage in a particular activity such as highland trekking, cycling or family tour, photography journey, etc.? We also offer the thrilling thematic tours in Tibet and Nepal for you. Of these diverse travel themes and activities, you got to find the right one for yourself.
Kathmandu to Lhasa Travel Guide
Need more professional help for planning your upcoming Kathmandu to Lhasa tour? No worries! Click the latest travel advice and get to know loads of useful tips before heading to Tibet.
China Visa
FAQs about Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour
1. How to travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by road?
It is wise to take an overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa, as one can appreciate the extraordinary landscape along the way. The road distance from Kathmandu to Lhasa is about 1100 km, requires more than 20 hours for a nonstop driving. Starting from Kathmandu, it is a 7-8 hours’ driving to the Gyirong Port, the border between Nepal and Tibet. After checking permits and entering Tibet, you can follow the well-paved G318 Highway, drive to Tingri, Shigatse, Gyantse and then to Lhasa. Also, you can make a detour to Mount Everest from Tingri, as well as stop to visit great attractions of Yamdrok Lake, Tashilhunpo Monastery etc. before you advance. You are recommended to spend 4 to 6 days for the entire trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa by road.
2. What is the most ideal time for the Kathmandu to Lhasa tour?
Since the monsoon season of Nepal in summer often leads to landslide and muddy roads at border regions, so the most ideal time is March to May and Oct to Nov. The offseason from Nov to early Feb is also an option for budget-minded travelers, like students.
3. Can I take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa?
Of course. The flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa is available and departs daily from the Tribhuvan International Airport. Covering a shorter liner distance of around 600 km, the Kathmandu to Lhasa flight takes only about 1.5 hours, with no stop on the way. Air China is one of the two airlines that operate the flight, and the Air China Kathmandu to Lhasa flight departs every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday around the noon time. If travelling overland is not your liking or you have a limited time for travel, then taking the flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa could be your perfect choice. Besides, you can also sot the amazing view of Himalayan mountain ranges from the window.
4. What travel documents are required to take a Tibet tour from Kathmandu?
One need to obtain the Tibet Travel Permit and Chinese Group Visa to travel to Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal. The Tibet Travel Permit, also known as Tibet Visa, can only be applied through a local travel agency from the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Your travel information including the entry and departure date, itinerary, tour number will be written on the permit.
The Chinese Group Visa, different from what you might suppose, is a special type of single-entry Chinese Visa. It can only be applied through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, and individual application is not permitted. Together with the Tibet Travel Permit, the Group Visa will be obtained by your tour operator.
5.If you have a Chinese Visa, is it enough for Kathmandu to Lhasa tour?
Nope, it’s not enough. You need to get a Tibet Permit and a China Group Visa for entering Tibet from Nepal. You can email the photos of your passport and Chinese visa to our travel consultant to apply for Tibet Permit. While the China Group Visa, you have to apply for it with your original passport after you land in Kathmandu. The processing of it takes at least 3 business days and our Nepali staff will help you.
6. Do I need to worry about the altitude sickness for Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour?
Indeed, traveling overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa is much more challenging than doing it in reverse, due to the huge altitude gain. However, there is no need to panic for it. To ensure our clients’ safety, we extended the original 7-day Kathmandu to Lhasa tour to 8 days. So travelers can spend one night at Syabrubesi (2380m) and Kyirong town (2700m) respectively for the border crossing. And slowly travel to Shigatse (4000m). We provide enough oxygen supply and our seasoned local guide will closely follow each of our client’s health and provide necessary help when needed.