How to Plan a China Tibet Nepal Tour

Planning a China Tibet Nepal tour is not that complicated as many have supposed, even if it is your first time to visit these destinations together. Generally, you only need to figure out the basic things required for a China Tibet Nepal trip, including travel time, tour days, transportation, travel permits, tour operator etc. Read this guide to get inspired on planning your forthcoming China Tibet Nepal tour.

When is the Best Time to Visit China Tibet and Nepal?

China has a relatively comfortable climate across most of its land, and can be visited all the year around. But it is suggested to avoid the national holidays, like Labor Day Holiday (May 1 - 3), Chinese National Day Holiday (October 1 - 7) etc. During these times, all popular destinations will be crowded with domestic tourists. It will also become harder to get a train or flight ticket to Tibet.

The best time to visit Tibet is from April to June and September to October, when the climate is mild and stable. Tibet in summer will be full of rain, and is not suitable for trekking in high mountain areas, but the scenery during this time will be more bright-colored. Winter in Tibet will be too cold and snowy, and some sites like Mount Kailash will be closed to avoid danger. But it is the low season when one can enjoy cheaper flights and hotels.

Nepal, sitting at the foot of the Himalaya, has a climate of two seasons. The best time to travel to Nepal is from October to November, during the dry season with clear air and moderate climate, best for trekking. In addition, the time from February to April is also a good time, when the weather is warm.

What to See and Do in China, Tibet and Nepal?

The three places of China, Tibet and Nepal feature their own highlights, and it is important to decide what to see and do in each place. For most international tourists to China, Beijing is always the first choice that should not be missed. The capital city represents glorious culture and profound history of Chinese civilization, boasting many world-known attractions. Thus, it is a classic route to start a China Tibet Nepal tour from Beijing.

From Beijing, one can visit Xining or Xi’an on the way to Tibet. Xining is the starting point of the scenic Qinghai-Tibet Railway, while Xi’an is the city that can bring one to explore deeper into ancient China. Besides, for tourists feeling like seeing Giant Pandas, one can go to Chengdu, Sichuan. Chengdu is close to Tibet and is very convenient for one to take a flight to the plateau.

When touring Tibet, many tourists will take the popular overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu, with a visit to the Everest Base Camp en route. This route not only connects magnificent Buddhist monasteries like Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, but also presents unique natural sites of Tibet, including Korala Glacier, Yamdrok Lake, and the world-famous Mount Everest.

While in Nepal, except for the sightseeing in the holy capital of Kathmandu, one can also travel to Pokhara to enjoy boating or do jungle safari in Chitwan National Park. It depends your time and interests to choose where to go and what to do in these destinations.

How Many Days to Spend Touring China Tibet and Nepal?

The more places you plan to go, the more days you will need for your China Tibet Nepal tour. Normally, a classic itinerary of a Beijing Lhasa Kathmandu overland tour will take at least 10 days. Excluding the arrival day and departure day, you will need 2-3 days tour Beijing, 2 days in Lhasa, 3 days for the road trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu, and then 2 days in Kathmandu.

If you want to include more destinations in your itinerary, e.g. visiting two or three cities in China, you should reserve 5 to 6 days on average. Plus, if you choose to take the train for transferring from China to Tibet, you will need extra one or more days.

What Kind of Transportation to Choose?

a. China to Tibet by Train or Flight

The best way to get from mainland China to Tibet is to take the Tibet train or the flight. The train is suitable for those who have enough time and do not want to miss the fascinating landscape along the Qinghai-Tibet railway. One can take the train to Tibet from one of seven gateway cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Xining, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou. It takes from 20 hours to 52 hours, with the shortest train ride from Xining being 21:19 hours.

On the other hand, the flights to Tibet will only take several hours for tourists to get to the plateau from mainland China. Among all departure cities, Chengdu is the city that offers the most frequent flights to Tibet. There is a dozen of direct flights from Chengdu to Lhasa every day. From Beijing, the flights to Tibet depart three times per day, and take about 2:15 hours on average.

b. Tibet to Nepal by Overland or Flight

There are two options for one to travel from Tibet to Nepal. One is taking the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu. If you just want to tour Lhasa and its surroundings and have no plan to visit other regions of Tibet, you can head directly to Kathmandu by taking the flight. The flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu departs every day, and only takes one and a half hours on the way.

The other choice is to travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu. This is also a popular itinerary for touring Tibet and Nepal. The route goes along the Friendship Highway, leading westwards to Gyirong border, after crossing Tibet’s important cities like Gyantse, Shigatse, Tingri etc. One can choose to pay a visit to the Everest Base Camp en route, by making a detour in Tingri, before continuing to exit Tibet at the border.

What Travel Permits to Prepare for China Tibet Nepal Tour?

For tourists taking a trip to China Tibet and Nepal, you need to first get the Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit. The Chinese Visa can be obtained through the Chinese Embassy in your home country or a third country before you fly to China. Your passport should have a remaining validity of at least 6 months.

The Tibet Travel Permit should be obtained before you enter Tibet, and it is will be checked at the railway station or airport before you board the train or flight to Lhasa. Since individual application of Tibet Travel Permit is not allowed, you need to contact an authorized local travel agency like us. We will help to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit once you book your trip with us. It normally takes 8 to 9 work days to get the permit issued, and then we will deliver it to you in your address in mainland China.

Besides, when touring Tibet, you may also need to obtain other travel documents except for the Tibet Travel Permit. If you plan to visit Mount Everest region, you will need to obtain Aliens’ Travel Permit. If you want to visit Mount Kailash in Ngari region, you will need to get the Military Permit. Both Aliens’ Travel Permit and Military Permit will be applied by your tour guide on behalf of you.

Do I Need A Travel Agency to Organize My Trip?

Since international tourists are required to join in an organized tour to visit Tibet, it is best to find a trustworthy travel agency to handle your China Tibet Nepal trip. After you have made clear about your travel plan, you can tell your ideas about trip to your tour operator, and let them arrange the itinerary for you.

As the leading local travel agency with years of experiences, we have operated Tibet tours for thousands of clients. Not only will we help to get the required Tibet Travel Permit and other documents, but we can guarantee your Tibet train ticket, and help to arrange dinning and accommodation in each destination of China, Tibet, and Nepal. Also, you can pick from our well-designed China Tibet Nepal tour itineraries, to get rid of exhausting and complicated planning by yourself.

Conclusion

Many people may feel overwhelmed when planning a trip to China Tibet and Nepal, as there are various options on routes and itineraries. Actually, if you have made certain about the questions as mentioned above in this passage, you will surely sort out a rough plan for your trip. But if you still feel confused or have any question about planning your China Tibet Nepal tour, you can just contact us for more information.