Tibet Tours from Nepal: Kathmandu Flights, Overland & Permits (2026)

Nepal is the one place outside mainland China with a direct gateway into Tibet, which makes it a special and popular starting point. From Kathmandu you can either fly straight to Lhasa or travel overland across the Himalaya by the Friendship Highway. Either way, the trip is on an organized, guided tour, and Tibet Trails arranges the Tibet side, including permits and your itinerary.

How to Get to Tibet from Nepal

There are two classic options, and both begin in Kathmandu:

Route	Mode	Typical duration	Notes
Kathmandu → Lhasa	Flight (direct)	~1h20	The only international flight straight into Lhasa; a spectacular Himalayan crossing
Kathmandu → Gyirong → Shigatse → Lhasa	Overland (private vehicle)	2–3 days	Cross the border at Gyirong, usually with a night in Shigatse
Kathmandu → Gyirong → Everest → Lhasa	Overland (private vehicle)	4+ days	Adds the north-side Everest Base Camp en route

The direct flight is short, dramatic, and ideal if time is tight. The overland route is one of the great Himalayan road journeys, crossing high passes and rolling through Tibetan towns before reaching Lhasa, and it can naturally include Everest. We will suggest the best option for your dates and interests.

China Visa & Tibet Travel Permit

Entering Tibet from Nepal works differently from entering via mainland China. Most travelers crossing from Nepal use a China Group Visa, which is arranged in Kathmandu (typically through your tour operator's partner) shortly before departure. Importantly, this group visa is issued in Kathmandu regardless of any Chinese visa already in your passport, so the timing and your physical presence in Kathmandu matter.

In addition, you need the Tibet Travel Permit, and Tibet must be visited on an organized, guided tour; independent travel is not permitted. We arrange the Tibet Travel Permit and the necessary documents for you once you book, and we will guide you on the Group Visa process and timing in Kathmandu. Allow several days in Kathmandu before departure for the visa to be processed. See our Tibet Travel Permit page, and contact us via contact to plan the details.

Recommended Tibet Tours

From Nepal, the natural trips run the Friendship Highway between Kathmandu and Lhasa, often including Everest, with the most ambitious continuing to sacred Mount Kailash.

• 7-Day Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour: Lhasa, Everest Base Camp and the Gyirong valley, ending at the Nepal border, where you cross on your own.
• 13-Day Everest & Mount Kailash Tour: Everest, the Kailash kora and Guge, finishing at the same Gyirong crossing.
• 9-Day Everest Base Camp & Namtso Tour: Lhasa, the north side of Everest and Namtso, for travellers who fly in and out of Lhasa.

Explore every itinerary on our Tibet tours page.

Practical Tips

• Plan time in Kathmandu. The Group Visa is issued there, so build in several days before departure.
• Acclimatize carefully if flying. Going straight from Kathmandu (1,400 m) to Lhasa (3,656 m) is a big jump; rest on arrival, hydrate, and avoid alcohol.
• The overland route climbs fast too. Crossing from low Nepal to the high plateau in a day or two demands a sensible pace.
• Travel as a group. On a Group Visa, the group enters, travels, and exits Tibet together along the submitted itinerary.
• Pack warm layers and waterproofs. The Himalaya is unpredictable. For more, see our how to get to Tibet guide.