Tibet Travel Guide
Honest, practical advice for planning a trip to Tibet — permits, timing, costs, altitude, culture, and everything in between.
TransportTibet Train Guide: Xining, Chengdu & Beijing to Lhasa
The Qinghai-Tibet railway is the highest in the world and one of the most memorable ways into Tibet. Here is how the main routes compare, what the classes are like, the oxygen system, and the permit rule you must know before boarding.
11 min read
PlanningTibet Weather & Climate: What to Expect Each Season
Tibet's high-altitude climate means strong sun, big day-to-night temperature swings, a short summer rainy season, and brilliant winter skies. Here is what each season actually feels like and how to plan around it.
9 min read
PlanningWhat to Pack for Tibet: The Complete Packing List
Tibet's high-altitude climate swings from hot sun to freezing nights, often in the same day. Here is a complete, practical packing list built around layering, sun protection, and the realities of the plateau.
9 min read
PermitsTibet Travel Restrictions & Entry Requirements (2026)
Tibet has unique entry rules for foreign visitors: you cannot travel independently, you need a special permit on top of your China visa, and the region can close for short periods. Here is exactly how it works in 2026.
10 min read
HealthAltitude Sickness in Tibet: Prevention, Symptoms & Tips
Altitude is the single biggest health factor in Tibet, and the good news is that it is very manageable. Here is how acute mountain sickness works, the symptoms to watch for, and a practical plan to acclimatize well.
11 min read
CostHow Much Does a Tibet Tour Cost? (2026 Budget Breakdown)
A realistic look at what a Tibet trip costs in 2026, from daily rates and what is included to the choice between small-group and private tours, plus honest tips on where you can and cannot save.
10 min readTransportHow to Get to Tibet: Flights, Trains & Overland Routes
There are three ways into Tibet: fly, take the high-altitude railway, or travel overland from Nepal. Here is how each works, what it costs in time, and the permit rules that apply before you can board.
10 min read
PlanningBest Time to Visit Tibet: A Month-by-Month Guide (2026)
April to October is the sweet spot for Tibet, but every month has a different character. Here is an honest month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, and what to expect, plus the one window you may not be able to travel at all.
9 min readHealthStaying Healthy in Tibet: Medical Tips & What to Bring
A practical, honest health guide for travelers to the Tibetan plateau, covering altitude, a sensible medical kit, food and water, travel insurance and what care is available, so you can travel well at high elevation.
10 min readPlanningMoney in Tibet: ATMs, Cash, Cards & Tipping
From withdrawing yuan at Bank of China to using Alipay with a foreign card, plus how much to carry and what to tip — a practical guide to handling money on your Tibet trip.
7 min readCultureTibet's Great Pilgrimage Sites: A Spiritual Journey
For Tibetan Buddhists, the plateau is a living sacred landscape of holy mountains, lakes and monasteries. Here is a respectful traveler's guide to Tibet's great pilgrimage sites and the practice of the kora.
10 min readPlanningInternet, SIM Cards & Staying Connected in Tibet
WiFi in the cities, dead zones at Everest, blocked apps, and SIM card rules — here's a realistic guide to staying connected (and knowing when you won't be) while travelling in Tibet.
7 min read
PlanningTipping in Tibet: Who, How Much & When
Tipping is not mandatory in Tibet, but it is a genuinely appreciated way to thank your guide and driver. Here is a clear, honest guide to who to tip, sensible amounts, and how and when to do it.
7 min read
CultureButter Tea & Tsampa: The Heart of Tibetan Daily Life
Salty, warming butter tea and a simple bowl of roasted barley flour have fueled life on the plateau for centuries. Together, tea and tsampa are the quiet center of every Tibetan day.
7 min readTransportThe Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Route: A Complete Guide
One of the great overland journeys on earth, the route from Lhasa to Kathmandu crosses the Tibetan plateau, passes the north face of Everest, and descends into Nepal. Here's everything you need to plan it.
9 min read
HealthHow to Acclimatize in Tibet: A Day-by-Day Plan
A practical day-by-day acclimatization plan for Tibet, how to spend your first 48 hours in Lhasa, how to ascend safely, and the warning signs to act on.
10 min readExperiencePhotographing Tibet: A Practical Guide
Tibet is one of the most photogenic places on earth — and one of the trickiest to shoot well. Here's a practical guide to light, gear, altitude, permits, and photographing people respectfully.
9 min readPlanningTibet for Couples & Honeymoons: A Romantic Guide
Tibet is an unforgettable honeymoon for adventurous couples who want awe over indulgence. Here is how to plan a romantic, comfortable trip, from turquoise lakes and quiet monasteries to pacing, privacy and the practicalities.
9 min readCultureTibet Travel Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts for Visitors
A respectful traveler is a welcome traveler. Here are the practical dos and don'ts for visiting Tibet — at monasteries, on koras, around pilgrims, and in everyday encounters on the plateau.
8 min readTransportGetting to Lhasa: Train vs Flight Compared
Should you take the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway or fly straight into Lhasa? We compare cost, time, comfort, scenery, and the all-important question of altitude acclimatization.
8 min read
CultureFascinating Tibetan Customs, Beliefs & Everyday Etiquette
A tongue stuck out in greeting, a white scarf draped around your neck, a path always walked clockwise — Tibetan daily customs are full of meaning once you know the stories behind them.
8 min readDestinationsTibet's Sacred Lakes: Yamdrok, Namtso & Manasarovar
A guide to Tibet's three great holy lakes, Yamdrok, Namtso, and Manasarovar, covering altitude, location, what makes each special, and how to visit respectfully.
9 min read
CultureTibetan Food: What to Eat and What to Expect
From butter tea and tsampa to momos and thukpa, here's an honest guide to Tibetan food — what the plateau staples are, how they taste, and how to eat well at altitude as a visitor.
8 min read
DestinationsNyingchi Travel Guide: Tibet's Green Valleys & Peach Blossoms
Lower, greener and gentler than the high plateau, Nyingchi is Tibet's forested southeast, famous for spring peach blossoms, the Yarlung Tsangpo gorge and easier altitude. Here is what to see and when to go.
9 min readPermitsTibet Permit vs China Visa: What's the Difference?
A China visa gets you into the country; a Tibet Travel Permit gets you into Tibet. Here's how the two documents differ, who issues them, and the order you need to obtain them.
7 min readCulturePrayer Flags, Prayer Wheels & Mani Stones: What They Mean
The colorful flags on every Tibetan pass, the spinning wheels in pilgrims' hands, the carved stones along the trail — each carries prayer into the world. Here is what they truly mean.
8 min readCultureTibet's Festivals: Losar, Saga Dawa, Shoton & When to See Them
A practical guide to Tibet's major festivals — Losar, Saga Dawa, and Shoton — including what each one means, what you'll witness, and how the Tibetan lunar calendar affects timing your trip.
9 min readPlanningVisiting Tibet in Winter: What to Know
Fewer crowds, lower prices, clear blue skies, and streets full of pilgrims — winter is an underrated time to visit Tibet. Here's an honest look at the cold, the conditions, and the rewards.
7 min readExperienceResponsible & Respectful Travel in Tibet
How to travel Tibet thoughtfully, monastery and kora etiquette, sacred sites, photographing people, protecting a fragile high-altitude environment, and supporting local life.
9 min readExperienceThe Mount Kailash Kora: A Complete Pilgrimage Guide
Mount Kailash is sacred to four faiths, and the kora around it is one of the world's great pilgrimages. Here's a complete, practical guide to the route, the altitude, and how to prepare.
11 min readCultureTibetan Buddhism & the Great Monasteries: A Visitor's Guide
Understand the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the living monasteries you can visit, from Lhasa's great Gelug seats to the chanting halls of Shigatse — plus how to visit respectfully.
9 min readPlanningSolo & Female Travel in Tibet: A Practical Guide
Practical advice for solo and female travellers in Tibet, how the organized-tour rule works for you, dress and conduct, costs, and staying comfortable at altitude.
9 min readPlanningTibet vs Nepal vs Bhutan: Which Himalayan Trip Is Right for You?
Three Himalayan destinations, three very different trips. Compare access rules, altitude, costs, and experiences to decide which one fits your travel style.
10 min readCultureLife as a Tibetan Nomad: Yaks, Tents & the Open Plateau
High on the grasslands, Tibet's nomads have herded yaks for thousands of years. Their black tents, their animals, and their rhythms reveal a way of life shaped entirely by the plateau.
8 min read
DestinationsGyantse Travel Guide: The Kumbum & Pelkor Chode
Gyantse is one of Tibet's best-preserved historic towns, home to the extraordinary Kumbum stupa and the multi-school Pelkor Chode Monastery. Here is what to see, how it fits the road to Shigatse and Everest, and how to plan your visit.
9 min readPlanningVisiting Tibet with Kids: A Family Travel Guide
Tibet can be a remarkable family trip with the right planning. Here is how to manage altitude with children, choose kid-friendly routes, and keep everyone comfortable.
9 min read
CostBudget vs Comfort vs Luxury Tibet Tours: What You Get
A clear, honest comparison of budget, mid-range, and luxury Tibet tours, what differs in hotels, vehicles, group size, and guiding, and how to choose.
9 min readPlanningFirst Time in Tibet: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Everything a first-time visitor needs to know, from permits and altitude to what to pack and how the guided-tour rules actually work.
10 min readCultureSky Burial in Tibet: A Respectful Explanation of Jhator
Sky burial is one of Tibet's most profound rituals — an act of generosity rooted in Buddhist teaching on impermanence. It is also deeply private: visitors are not permitted to watch or photograph it.
8 min readPlanningTibet Packing Checklist by Season (Printable)
A practical, season-by-season packing checklist for Tibet, covering layering, sun protection, altitude essentials, and what changes between summer and winter.
9 min readDestinationsShigatse Travel Guide: Tashilhunpo & the Road to Everest
Tibet's second city is the seat of the Panchen Lama and the gateway to Everest. Here is how to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, what to see along the way from Lhasa, and how Shigatse fits into a wider plateau itinerary.
9 min readPlanningThe Best Tibet Itineraries: 4 to 15 Days
From a focused Lhasa city break to a two-week Everest and Kailash expedition, here are practical, altitude-aware itineraries to help you choose your route.
9 min readDestinationsEverest Base Camp Tibet: The Complete Visitor's Guide
How to reach the north-side Everest Base Camp in Tibet, what you can and can't access, where you sleep, and how to handle the 5,200-metre altitude.
10 min readPlanningThe Best Tibet Tours for First-Time Visitors
New to the plateau? These first-timer-friendly tours balance the must-see sights with sensible acclimatization, so you see the best of Tibet without overreaching.
8 min readCultureMarriage in Tibet: The Tradition of Fraternal Polyandry
Few customs intrigue visitors more than Tibet's old tradition of brothers sharing one wife. Far from sensational, fraternal polyandry was a careful, practical answer to life on a high, hard land.
8 min readDestinationsLhasa Travel Guide: Potala, Jokhang & the Barkhor
Everything you need to plan a first visit to Lhasa, from the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to walking the Barkhor pilgrim circuit at 3,650 metres.
9 min readPlanningHow Many Days Do You Need in Tibet?
The honest answer depends on altitude, your bucket list, and how far west you want to go. Here is how to choose between a 4-day taster and a two-week expedition.
8 min read