A first trip to Tibet runs on four fixed facts: every foreign passport needs a Tibet Travel Permit filed 15–20 working days ahead; independent travel is not available, so a licensed guide and vehicle come with the booking; Lhasa sits at 3,656 m, which dictates a slow first 48 hours; and the main season runs April to October. Everything else — packing, money, connectivity — is detail that fits around those four.
This page is the planning checklist. Deeper dives live on the permit channel, the month-by-month weather guide and the routes-in comparison.
The non-negotiables
The permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau only through registered Tibet agencies, against a fixed itinerary with guide and vehicle attached — there is no embassy counter and no online portal. Standard processing runs 15–20 working days; routes touching Ngari (Mount Kailash, 6,714 m) need 25 or more. Since 2008, foreign visitors travel with a licensed guide throughout and a private vehicle outside Lhasa. None of this requires effort from you beyond two scans — a passport copy and your Chinese visa page — but it does fix the calendar.
The planning timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| 8+ weeks out | Choose month and route; check the weather windows |
| 5–6 weeks out | Book the tour; send passport and visa scans — they must reach the agency 20 working days before arrival |
| 3–4 weeks out | Book flights or train to the gateway city (Chengdu, Xining or Kathmandu) |
| 1 week out | Permit issued in Lhasa; courier dispatch confirmed |
| 48 hours before | Original permit reaches your departure-city hotel |
| Days 1–2 in Tibet | Stay at Lhasa altitude; light walking only, no alcohol |
Altitude, honestly
Lhasa’s 3,656 m gives most arrivals a mild headache and broken first-night sleep; the large majority adjust within 48 hours. The standard itinerary logic holds the first two days at city altitude before climbing toward Yamdrok Lake (4,441 m) and beyond — Everest Base Camp sits at 5,150 m on the Rongbuk side. Come rested, drink more water than feels necessary, skip alcohol on day one, and discuss acetazolamide with your doctor before travelling rather than improvising on arrival. Guides carry oxygen on all high routes, and hotels in Lhasa stock canned oxygen routinely.
Money and connectivity
Payment in urban Tibet is app-first: WeChat Pay and Alipay both accept foreign cards linked in their international versions, and that covers restaurants, taxis and shops in Lhasa and Shigatse. Carry some cash in CNY as backup — small tea houses and rural stalls still prefer it, and reliable ATMs thin out fast outside the cities. On connectivity, hotel Wi-Fi is standard in 3- and 4-star properties; mobile coverage along the Friendship Highway is better than most visitors expect. Note that many international apps and sites are unavailable on Chinese networks — set up whatever access you need before you land, and download offline maps in advance.
What to pack, briefly
- Sun kit: SPF 50, lip balm, sunglasses, a brimmed hat — UV at 3,656 m is fierce even at 0 °C.
- Layers: a 20 °C daily temperature swing is normal; down jacket year-round for EBC nights.
- Paper: passport, visa, and the original permit your guide will shepherd through checkpoints.
- Health: personal medication, basic painkillers for altitude headaches, doctor-approved altitude medication if advised.
- Power: China runs 220 V; sockets take both flat and round two-pin plugs.
Travel insurance should explicitly cover trekking altitudes above 5,000 m and medical evacuation — read the altitude clause, not just the headline.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Tibet trip cost?
A fixed-departure group seat costs a fraction of a private tour on the same route; the price moves with season, route length and hotel class. Every Tibet Daily quote includes guide, vehicle, accommodation, entrance tickets and all permit filing — the permit itself is never a paid extra. Flights and trains to the gateway city are the main cost on top.
Can I travel Tibet independently?
No. Foreign passport holders need a booked tour with a licensed guide throughout, and a private vehicle for any travel outside Lhasa — the rule has applied since 2008. A small-group fixed departure is the closest substitute for independent travel and keeps the cost near backpacker levels; you are free to explore Lhasa’s old town on foot in your own time.
How fit do I need to be?
For a standard Lhasa–Shigatse–EBC itinerary, ordinary walking fitness is enough — sightseeing involves stairs and kora circuits, not trekking. Altitude is the real variable, and it does not correlate with gym fitness. Travellers with heart or lung conditions should clear the trip with a doctor first. Trekking add-ons like the Ganden–Samye route demand genuine hill fitness.
Do I need vaccinations for Tibet?
No vaccinations are required for entry to China or Tibet beyond your home country’s routine schedule. The health work for Tibet is altitude planning, not immunisation: a pre-trip conversation with your doctor about acetazolamide, travel insurance that covers 5,000 m, and a realistic first 48 hours in Lhasa at 3,656 m.
Can I use my phone and cards in Tibet?
Mostly yes. WeChat Pay and Alipay accept linked foreign cards and handle most city payments; carry CNY cash for rural stalls. International roaming works in towns and along main highways. Many international apps are blocked on Chinese networks, so arrange access and offline maps before arrival. Hotel Wi-Fi is standard in 3- and 4-star properties.
How do I start planning?
Pick a month, then work the permit clock backwards: scans must reach us 20 working days before arrival, so commit four to five weeks out. Send us your travel month and rough interests — monasteries, Everest, the train — and we reply with a day-by-day plan, one price, and the exact paperwork timeline for your dates.