A different way to see Tibet
Tibet Trails exists for one reason: travelers deserve a Tibet trip that is honest, well-run, and genuinely local — without the hidden fees, forced shopping stops, and copy-paste itineraries the market is full of.
Tibet is one of the most rewarding and most regulated places on earth to visit. Foreign travelers can't simply book a hostel and wander — you need a Tibet Travel Permit, an organized tour, and a licensed guide. That complexity is exactly where most trips go wrong, and exactly where we focus.
We are a small, founder-led operator. We plan every itinerary ourselves, arrange your permits, and pair you with Tibetan guides and drivers who know the plateau intimately. We run affordable fixed-departure small groups for travelers who want to keep costs down, and fully private trips for those who want the journey shaped entirely around them.
We'd rather be the operator you trust than the cheapest line on a search results page — and we think doing Tibet right is how you earn that.
What we believe
Honest by default
Clear prices, real inclusions, and straight answers — even when the honest answer is that a simpler or cheaper trip suits you better.
Local at the core
We work with Tibetan guides and drivers who live on the plateau. The people who show you Tibet should be from Tibet.
Travel that respects the place
We keep groups small, follow the rules that protect the region, and travel in a way that supports local communities.
How we work
Your permits, handled
We arrange your Tibet Travel Permit and every supplementary permit your route needs — included with your tour, not an add-on.
Local Tibetan guides
English-speaking guides who live here, plus a private vehicle and driver on every trip beyond Lhasa.
Transparent pricing
Clear from-prices and a full list of what's included and excluded on every tour. No forced shopping stops, no hidden fees.
Built around altitude
Itineraries paced for safe acclimatization, with supplemental oxygen carried on the vehicle on high-altitude routes.