UPDATED Jan 2026 Tibet Travel update: Updated post on the current travel regulations across Tibet. Tibet to remain opens for the month of march this year 2026, Aliens permit no longer require for majority of prefectures of Tibet
2026 Tibet Travel Update
UPDATED Jan 2026
For more Tibet Travel Information, please email us at info@thelandofsnows.com
We have decades of experience traveling, climbing, and trekking the Himalayas at The Land of Snows. Use us for information on when to go to Tibet, what travel routes to take, and more! Here are the latest travel updates for Tibet for 2026.
Contact us at: info@thelandofsnows.com.
Prayer flags on the Gyatso La Pass
Require original permit to board train to Lhasa
Update 1st March 2026
Until now, if you are coming to Tibet on train from mainland, there is no requirement for the original permits when boarding into train from departing station. Right now, if you are traveling to Tibet on train, you will need the original permit when boarding the train. Therefore your travel agency in Lhasa will have to send the permit to your hotel in mainland and it is best to have a train in any cities of china to recieve the permit.
Tibet will remain open for March
Update 1st January 2026
This year tibet is expect to remain open in the month of March. Our recommend Travel agency in Tibet has been informing that usually annual closure of Tibet will not happen this year of 2026.
Permit when leaving home country
Update 15th July
Recent our recommend travel agency has a couple visiting tibet from italy via Chengdu. When they check into flight from Milano to Chengdu, there are ask by Air China Crew members to show the Tibet travel permit. Condirary to Tibet Tavel Regulations which say permit should leave the domestic juristiction of PRC. The Travel agency has to send them a image of the permit and they were only allow board flight after the permit is check. They were also told Air China has started checking for the permit 6 months ago. which i dont think they have authority to check some one’s travel document.
Hence it is a good idea to have the permit copy in your hand before leaving your home country. Or Even the better option is not at say anything about your plan to travel to Tibet at all.
Sino-Nepal Border opens at Zhangmu
Update 10th July
After the bridge was washaway. This morning the Zhangmu Border port has been open for both inbound and outbound journey. You cant stay a night in Zhangmu town for a night, instead you can stay a night in Nyalam town. Zhangmu is the old border port which was close after the Nepal Earth quake in Year 2015. It is remoured that a Temporary bridge will be build and Kyirong port will resume in the half of the this month.
Sino-Nepal Friendship birdge at Kyirong Border Port Wash away
Update 9th July
This morning the Sino-Nepal Friendship birdge at Kyirong Border Port Wash away completely. So the overland travel between Nepal and Tibet is not acessiable from Kyirong border. We will update any further progress on the Overland travel between Lhasa and Kathmandu.
Aliens Travel permit is no longer required
Update 25th May 2025
Right now i am getting updates from local Tibetan Travel Agency that aliens travel permit is no longer required for visiting Lhoka Prefecture, including places like Tsedang, Samye Monastery, Shigatse Prefecture including places like Shalu Monastery, Gyantse, Shigatse city and Mount Everest Basecamp in Tibet. Nyingtri and Chamdo If you are traveling Overland from Yunnan to Tibet or Sichuan to Tibet. But right now it is not clear about it for Kailash region.
Chinese Group Visa no longer need for Nepal to Tibet journey
Update 22nd May 2025
I am writing this update after we have successful have some one visit tibet from Nepal on individual tourist Visa from Nepal to Tibet. Before this update. It is mendatory to get the chinese Group visa if you are coming to Tibet from Nepal.
Now you are travel from Kathmandu to kyirong overland or Lhasa in flight without getting the Chinese Group Visa. You can enter into Tibet from nepal with individual visa on your passport. But please be sure that you have Chinese Tourist Visa which is Mark L on the visa catagory. You cant enter into tibet with other types of Visa.
If you would like to know. Please email us at info@thelandofsnows.com or whatapp us on +86 181 0899 2271
Kailash Kora has resume for International Travelers
Update 20th April 2025
Every year the Kailash Kora (trekking) is close for international visitors my the end of october until late april. This year the kailash kora has be resume on 22nd April. We are the first to have to group for trekking around kailash for two consecutive year.
So far there is no update about kailash Yatra for indian Citizen. If you have non Indian Passport, any hindus can visit Kialash at ease. We have Kailash – Guge Kingdom group tour for 15th September.
Temporary Traffic Control to Kyirong Port
Update 14th April 2025
On 14th April there is an announcement of traffic control between Kyirong town and Kyirong port. They are fixing the road which has been distroy by flood last year. The route is open between 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm. Please read on the topic here.
Intermittent Traffic Control from Kyirong Town to Kyirong Port
Mount Everest Basecamp region is open for tourist
Update 7th January 2025
On 7th January 2025, an earthquake measuring 7.1 stuck Tingri County in Shigatse region of Tibet. immediately The region was close for tourist for safety reason. Now the region is reopen for all travelers from 15th Febuary 2025, so if you are planing to visit Tibet and the Mount Everest region please make your plan as per.
Also please note that we do recommend a local Tibet travel agency for better services and experience in Tibet. Please contact us for the latest Tibet Travel Information and Tibet travel agency recommendation. Contact us on info@thelandofsnows.com.
Free Visa for Visiting China
Update 2025
Chinese Government has been increasing number of countries who will get a free visa to travel into China. Right now there around 59 countries with free visa policy in visiting Tibet and other parts of China.
Free visa policy is also includes travel from Nepal to Tibet where it is require to get the Chinese Group Visa instead of regular tourist visa. Under this free visa you can get to Tibet without getting the group visa.
Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR): OPEN for All travelers
Update March 2024
As of March 2024, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is completely open for all the foreign travelers. Tourism in Tibet is now return back to per pandemic level. Month of April and May Tibet tourism Bureau has report huge amount of International travelers visiting. Our friendly Tibetan Travel agencies in Tibet has also seen huge amount on foreign visitor coming in tibet this year.
Additionally, Tibet tourism Bureau has also made it easier for local travel agencies to make permit. Now the duration of permit application process has reduce almost half of what is use to take previously. Please Contact Us for the latest Tibet travel information and Tibet travel agency recommendation.
Flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa resume
Update: 15th April 2024
Himalayan Airlines has resume direct flight between Lhasa and Kathmandu. Currently there are three flights per week on Mon/Wed/Fri. Yet availability these flights could be subjected to availability of amount travelers in the flight. Other there is a daily flight from Kathmandu to Chengdu.
Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR): CLOSED
Update 8 June 2021
As of June 8, 2021, the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is closed to ALL foreign travelers, EXCEPT those with a resident visa for Mainland China. Only those with a resident visa in Mainland China are able to travel to Tibet. Even then, you will require a Green Code, certificate or evidence of residence or isolation for 28 days after entering China, a letter from your company/school, negative COVID test among other possible documents. Though not overtly easy for foreign expats in China to get to Tibet, it is possible.
For ALL other foreigners, all areas of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) are closed to travelers due the current COVID-19 pandemic. Though there are almost no cases of COVID-19 in Tibet, the government wants to keep it that way. Or, so they say…Covid-19 could just be an excuse to keep foreign travelers out of politically-sensitive Tibet. The closed areas include the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa, Mt Everest, the overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu, Mt Kailash, Nam Tso Lake, the train route from Mainland China to Tibet and ALL other areas of the TAR.
When will the TAR Reopen to Normal Tourism?
Tibet is open. Since year beginning of year 2023 Tibet Autonomous Region has been open for all foreign Travelers. This year all the major travel agencies in Tibet are reporting in increasing number of visitor to pre pandemic level.
The Amdo and Kham Regions
What?!? You’ve never heard of the Amdo and Kham regions? Well, they just happen to have some of the best preserved Tibetan culture and have many of the most authentic monasteries, nomadic regions and villages on the Tibet Plateau. The Amdo and Kham regions are outside of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), therefore the travel regulations to these areas are far less strict. The Amdo and Kham regions are found in Qinghai province, southwest Gansu, northern and western Sichuan and far northwest Yunnan. Most of these areas (aside from some areas in Qinghai such much of Haixi and Haibei prefectures and some of Golok prefecture), are open to foreign travelers.
One problem right now is getting a China visa. It seems that nearly all China embassies and consulates across the globe have suspended issuing China tourist visas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you currently reside in Mainland China or currently have a valid China visa, you can currently travel to the Amdo and Kham regions. Another problem right now across China is that some areas may require you to quarantine for 7 to 14 days. The list of regions that require the quarantine changes multiple times per day, so I am not even going to try to keep that list updated.
I’ll be sure to update the 2025 Tibet Travel Regulations. If you have a question that isn’t answered in this post or on other posts on this site, send us an email at: info@thelandofsnows.com