Tibet Overland Tours

Tibet Overland Tour FAQs & Travel Tips

• 1. What is the best time to overland to Tibet?

  The most ideal time to travel overland to Tibet is April to June and Sept to Nov, roughly overlapping the spring and autumn in Tibet. You can enjoy fantastic visibility for viewing snowy peaks under the deep blue sky when traveling between Lhasa and Kathmandu. In spring, the massive rosy peach blossoms and blooming Rhododendron on the roadside from Chengdu to Lhasa are just unbelievable.

  The summer lasts from mid-June to August when the road is muddy and landslide happens during the Sino-Nepal border or G318 Hwy. It can be risky on treacherous mountain roads. However, some who want to enjoy the verdant grassland and diverse wildflowers find it worth traveling as well.

• 2. What are major overland routes to Tibet?

  There are 5 major overland routes to Tibet, i.e. Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway, Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Yunnan-Tibet Highway, and Qinghai-Tibet Highway, Xinjiang Tibet Highway. You can access Tibet from different directions via these 5 routes, widely known as world-class overland routes.

  As the most epic overland route in Tibet, the Lhasa Kathmandu overland tour allows you to visit Mount Everest at the Everest Base Camp in Tibet and traverse the mighty Himalayas to Kathmandu. You can do it both ways from Lhasa to Kathmandu or vise versa.

  Chengdu to Lhasa overland tour via G318 Highway takes you from northern Sichuan basin to enter Tibet from eastern Tibet by crossing valleys of Mt. Hengduanshan and Kham region and enchanting Nyingchi prefecture, etc. The otherworld landscapes and treacherous roads make this famous pilgrimage route world famous.

  Xinjiang Tibet Highway is the most challenging one. The G219 highway to Tibet has a total length of 2530 kilometers. The average elevation of the highway is above 4500 meters, and you will traverse hundreds of kilometers of the uninhabited area with limited supply. The most challenging thing for you is to pass several mountains over 6000 meters above sea level of the Kunlun Mountains, which is at the junction of Xinjiang and Tibet. This route is also one of the highest, hardest, and most dangerous highways in the world.

• 3. What about the road condition to Tibet?

  Nowadays, the road leading to Tibet is exceedingly good. Most of the mountain roads are two-lane highways built with quality asphalt. The previous hazardous mountain passes are also replaced by newly built tunnels. Though you will be traveling past lofty peaks and treacherous hairpin bends, the road itself is perfect for driving. And all of our drivers have years of driving experience on a particular travel route.

  The worst road condition occurs in the valley between the Sino-Nepal border, esp. during the monsoon season. The treacherous road is made more dangerous by landslides. Sometimes, travelers need to get off the tour vehicle and walk pass the blocked road.

• 4. Do you have to worry about altitude sickness for the Tibet overland tour?

  Almost, all of the overland routes to or from Tibet involve traveling at a high altitude. To most travelers, it’s very likely to have symptoms like dizziness, headache, or shortness of breath as the tour vehicle passes high mountain passes. There is a natural physical response to altitude ascent (above 3,000m). So, don’t panic. Our tour vehicle is equipped with an oxygen canister. You can use it to ease the headache.

  Meanwhile, our local travel expert will also closely monitor your health and offer the timely help you need. As you descend to a lower altitude, the discomfort will disappear soon. Besides, motion sickness pills are also recommended for you to relieve the dizziness triggered by long and winding roads.

• 5. What about the accommodation and dining during the Tibet overland tour?

  For small group travelers, you will be staying at designated 3-star hotels along the way. You may also upgrade your lodging by paying more. If you travel on a customized tour, you will have more options for better hotels. All your lodging will be pre-booked by our local tour operator.

  Lhasa, Shigatse, and Nyingchi offer more diverse options for hotels from 3-star budget hotels to mid-range 4-star hotels and 5-star international luxury resorts. In border areas such as Gyirong or in locations with extreme altitudes like Everest Base Camp (EBC) or remote areas, typically only local guesthouses are available for lodging."

  You will be dining at designated restaurants with a food safety guarantee. Sichuan cuisine like spicy diced chicken, stir-fried green beans, and Tibetan food, such as yak noodle soups, Tibetan dumplings, dried yak meat, and lambs, etc, would be fun to taste. There is no need to camp in the wilderness.

• 6. What travel documents are needed for the Tibet overland tour?

  First, you'll need a Tibet Travel Permit. Since the journey goes through remote areas outside Lhasa, you might also need an Alien's Travel Permit and sometimes a Military Permit.

  If you plan to take a self-driving trip to Tibet, you'll need a temporary Chinese driving license and a vehicle plate.

  Don't worry; we'll help you get all the necessary documents for your trip. Just let us know your travel plan, and our experts will guide you through the process.

• 7. Overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa or do it in reverse. Which do you recommend?

  We suggest that you fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa and later travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu. In this way, it’s much better to avoid quick altitude gain as you cross the mighty Himalayas.

  However, many of our travelers still prefer to overland to Lhasa from Kathmandu, our 8-day Kathmandu Lhasa tour is expertly built to allow you to have proper acclimatization before ascending higher. Nevertheless, it remains a tough challenge for some since whether or not you will have altitude sickness has a lot to do with genes. Just relax, we have an oxygen supply, know-how, and most importantly expert local leaders to ensure your travel safety.