This chapter provides full information for the visitors including the planning of Tibet trips, practical information and some Tibet travel tips. Through them, hope you can have a good preparation before your Tibet trip.
 What to PackLanguage & Communication TransportationFood and DrinkMoney & Shopping |
|
Travel Documents
Considering the special ethnic traditions, the cultural reli
cs, the environmental protection and the transportation capacity of Tibet, Chinese Government regulates that non-Chinese citizens, including foreign tourists, Taiwan tourists and overseas Chinese must have a Tibet Travel Permit as well as a valid passport and a visa (Travelers from countries having visa exemption agreement with Hong Kong do not need a visa) to visit Tibet. A visa can be obtained from the local Chinese consulate in your country. However, the foreign journalists and diplomats are not allowed to go to Tibet as a tourist.
Who has to carry a Tibet Travel Permit?
1. The Taiwan tourists, who do not have the valid identity card of China
2. Non-Chinese passport holders
3. The overseas Chinese, who do not have Chinese passport
Note: The Hong Kong and Macau citizens who hold SAR passport, Home-Visiting Certificate or Permit to Traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macau do not need a Tibet Travel Permit.
Since the government encourages group tours to Tibet, the permit is issued only to tour groups traveling with a Chinese tour operator. The Tibet Travel Permit is issued for free by China Tibet Tourism Bureau. Your travel agency will represent you to facilitate the application process.
For those overseas tourists want to travel to Tibet as an individual, the administrative offices of Tibet Tourism Bureau in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu (in Sichuan) and Golmud (in Qinghai) will answer for the related affairs. Tibet Tourism Bureau
Tel: 0086-891-6835472/ 6834315
E-mail: webmaster@xzta.gov.cn
Address: No.3 Norbulingka Road, Lhasa, Tibet Information on the administrative offices of Tibet Tourism Bureau:
1. Chengdu Office
Tel: 028-8555171
Address: No.3 Wuhou Hengjie, Chengdu
2. Xian Office
Address: Qomolangma Hotel, No.333 Youyi Dong Lu, Xian
3. Shanghai Office
Tel: 021-62578447; 021-62572413
Address: 1/F, No.350 Wuning Lu, Putuo District, Shanghai
4. Beijing Office
Tel: 010-64060954
Address: No.149 Gulou (Drum Tower) Xi Da Jie, Xicheng District, Beijing
5. Golmud Office
Address: No.11 Yanqiao Zhong Lu, Golmud
6. Zhongdian Office
Tel: 0887-8229028; 0887-8227892
Address: Room 2206, Xiangbala Hotel, Shangri-La, Yunnan
Related Link: Faqs on Tibet Travel Permit
Copyright© 1998-2009 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.
Travelers' Voices on Tibet Travel Tips
1.
Sep. 22,2009 00:56 Reply
Mr.rita(cn) said:
Tibet Travel Permit unavailable from Sept.20 to Oct. 8
Tibet Tourism Administration has suspended the approval of Tibet Travel Permit as of September 20. The temporary regulation willl remain in effective until October 8, the end of National Day celebration, which means foreigners are not allowed to visit Tibet during this period.
2.
Sep. 26,2009 01:41 Reply
Ms.pallavi(india) said:
miss pallavi
as we are login with 30 persons want to visit kailash-mahansrowar in tibet around september 2010.we want
that your agency will organise our whole trip and proviede all necessary facilities to us.
Sep. 26,2009 20:18
Mr.paula(cn) replied:
Hi, could you please advise your contact ways?
3.
Jul. 27,2009 08:57 Reply
Mrs.Millar(UK) said:
Dear Sir/Madam,
we are currently organizing our group tour in Tibet but have not finalized it yet with the travel agency (It depends which of the two will be cheaper for our itinerary). However, in order to have a chance of buying train tickets to Lhasa when they go on sale ten days before departure we need to go to the railway station and buy them within the next days. Do we need the Tibet Permit already when buying the ticket or only when boarding the train?
Does one get the health card at the Beijing railway station or somewhere else?
With many thanks
Sandy Millar
Jul. 27,2009 20:46
Mr.ciny(cn) replied:
Hi, dear, you must follow a travel agency, as it is not allowed to visit tibet individually. If you follow a travel agency, and there is no need to worry about the tickets, they will arrange everything! I am sorry that i can not understand your second question.
4.
May. 26,2009 22:47 Reply
Mrs.Karnsita(Thailand) said:
I come froom Thailand wanna go to visit in Tibet and I have multiple china visa for 6 month already but How can i go Tibet? How can I make Tibet Travel Permit? Do you know what the agency make it for me?? and How much for join to group tour for make Tibet travel Permit only? I wanna go there on 5th June -17th June 2009 if someone know or can guide or advice me....help me please
May. 27,2009 01:04
Mr.yina(cn) replied:
You should join a group which is organized by Chinese travel agency. They will get you a Tibet Travel Permit for free. Generally speaking, yo can not join a group only to make a tibet travel permit. But i heard that some of the small travel agencies offer this service, i do not know the cost. You can post your request on the community forum of this this website to see if there are replies,good luck!
5.
Feb. 11,2009 02:45 Reply
Mr.Gregger said:
A new policy for foreigner who are working in China applying for the permit. Besides of the manifold of the visa and passport, a proof letter of the working company is required~
Apr. 24,2009 05:18
Mr.merry(france) replied:
hi,
this is merry.
i am looking for that too.
namlha34@yahoo.com
6.
Mar. 22,2009 13:02 Reply
Mrs.Ishua Oronoz(Puerto Rico) said:
I'm Mexican, planing to go to Nepal and Lhasa for tourism on May. Do I need a visa? vaccines? where can I get it (I live in Puerto Rico) and which documents are required?
thanks for the advise.
7.
Nov. 28,2008 10:44 Reply
Ms.S. van Tongeren(The Netherlands) said:
Dear Sir/Madam,
We hope you will be able to help us with the following:
We would like to travel independently to Tibet by bicycle.
We're in India now and will proceed to Nepal, from where we would like to enter Tibet. After Tibet we will go to China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
Can you please be of any assistence considering the required travel permits, visa etc.
Is it possible to travel to Tibet independent?
Where can we arrange the necessary permits and visa?
Will the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu be able to arrange these documents?
We are looking forward to your answer. Thank you for your response.
Many regards,
Sascha Holthaus and Suzanne van Tongeren
Nov. 30,2008 21:08
Ms.Evelyn(China) replied:
At present overseas tourists can not go to Tibet as an individual. If you want to go there, you must join a tour group. The administrative office of Tibet Tourism Bureau in Kathmandu, Nepal may provide you with more detailed information about the trip from Kathmandu to Tibet. The address: P.O.Box 3639,Heritage Plaza II,Kamaladi,Kathmandu,The Kingdom of Nepal. By the way, you can see this page about the bicycle tour in Tibet for reference: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/tour/bicycle/chengdu/