Tibet Travel Update, Nov 2026: The overland route between Tibet and Nepal is closed. The military permit is no longer required to visit Kailash Mansarovar, reducing permit application time by 60%. Kailash has been closed for winter; the region will reopen in May 2027.

UPDATED 26th Nov 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.

Heavy snowfall at Mount Kailash; Kailash Kora is likely to close for the next few days

Update 26th September 2026

At the time of updating this post, there is heavy snowfall at Darchen. Everyone in Dirakpuk is asked to return, and many are being evacuated off the Kora route back to Darchen. The Kailash Kora route is likely to remain closed for the next few days.

The same issue happened at the end of May this year, and the Kora was closed for 5 days. If you plan to go to Kailash, talk to your travel agency about extending the tour to allow enough days for the weather to clear.

Military permit is no longer needed for the Kailash journey

Update 20th September 2026

It is very good news that we no longer require a military permit to go to Mount Kailash. The region around Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake is now open to international travelers, and a military permit is no longer needed. With this update, the permit process for the Kailash region has been reduced by up to 70%; you can now complete your permit application within a week, the same as the permit for Mount Everest Base Camp. But if you are going to visit Guge Kingdom, Tsamda County, overland from Xinjiang - Tibet, you will have to obtain a military permit from the Xinjiang Military District, which will be taken care of by your local Tibet travel agency. If you are traveling overland from Ngari to Lhasa via the northern route, or on a Chengdu-to-Lhasa overland tour via the northern route, your Tibet agency must obtain a military permit from the Tibet Military District in Lhasa.

The ban on visiting Mount Everest and Saga has been lifted

Update 19th September 2026

After the recent devastating landslide in Kyirong port and the valley of the Trishuli River in Nepal. The Chinese Government has banned all vehicles from entering from Tingri to Saga to reduce traffic congestion during the rescue effort at the border. This ban has now been lifted, and you can go to Kailash directly from Everest Base Camp or Shigatse without going via the northern route.

Landslide along the Nepal-China border, including the Kyirong Border Port

Update 26th August 2026

On the morning of 26th August, a massive landslide occurred at the Sino-Nepal border. Massive icefall on the Nepal side of the Himalayas triggered the landslide, washing away villages, roads, and entire settlements along its path. The border between China and Nepal on the Kyirong has been completely washed away, leaving no trace of human civilization. I have personally lost many friends and partners on both sides of the border. About 4-5 tour guides and 2 drivers on the Tibet side, and my good friend, border guide, and driver, Resam Gurung, on the Nepal side of the border. My thoughts and prayers are with all those souls.

Since this landslide washed away hundreds of kilometers of roads between Nepal and Tibet. the Kyirong border is unlikely to be operational for the next few years. For years to come, it is best to travel to Tibet via other cities in China or by flight from Kathmandu.

Trekking in Mount Everest National Nature Preserve is Banned

Update 19th April 2026

Environmental protection regulations for Qomolangma National Nature Preserve have been introduced. Trekking in Mount Qomolangma National Nature Preserve is no longer permitted, that includes Old Tingri to Mount Everest Basecamp, Shishapangma basecamp trekking, Kartha Valley or Kanshung Valley trekking. If you are planning to trek in this region, contact your travel agency and ask them to check with the Shigatse Prefecture-level tourism bureau or the Tingri County-level tourism bureau.

It looks like you can only arrange treks in this area through the Tibet Mountaineering Association. I will update you as soon as I have more information. The ban on trekking in this region now makes Mt Chomo Gangkar near Namtso Lake one of Tibet's most attractive trekking routes.

Trekking in Mount Everest National Nature Preserve is Banned

Update 19th April 2026

Kailash is closed for the Indian Yatra group for 3 days in May

Update 17th April 2026

The China Indian Pilgrim Service Center of Tibet will not receive any Indian Yatra group tours to Darchen, Dirapuk, and Zuktrulpuk due to concerns about accommodation availability during the Saga Dawa festival. Please contact your yatra organizer for updates and plan accordingly.

Requires an original permit to board the train to Lhasa

Update: 1st March 2026

Until now, if you are coming to Tibet by train from the mainland, you do not need the original permit when boarding the train at the departure station. Right now, if you are traveling to Tibet by train, you will need the original permit when boarding the train. Therefore, your travel agency in Lhasa will need to send the permit to your hotel in mainland China, and it is best to take a train to a city in China to collect it.

Tibet will remain open in March

Update: 1st January 2026

This year, Tibet is expected to remain open in March. Our recommended travel agency in Tibet has informed us that Tibet will not close for its annual closure this year, 2026.

Permit when leaving home country

Update: 15th July

Recently, our recommended travel agency has a couple visiting Tibet from Italy via Chengdu. When they checked in for the flight from Milan to Chengdu, Air China Crew members asked them to show the Tibet travel permit. This contradicts Tibet travel regulations, which state the permit must be obtained outside the PRC's domestic jurisdiction. The Travel agency has to send them an image of the permit, and they are only allowed to board the flight after the permit is checked. They were also told Air China started checking for the permit 6 months ago. I don't think they have the authority to check someone's travel documents.

So, it is a good idea to have a copy of the permit in hand before leaving your home country. Or even better, don't say anything about your plan to travel to Tibet at all.

Sino-Nepal Border opens at Zhangmu

Update: 10th July

After the bridge was washed away. This morning, the Zhangmu Border Port opened for both inbound and outbound journeys. You can't stay overnight in Zhangmu town; instead, you can stay overnight in Nyalam town. Zhangmu is the old border port, which was closed after the Nepal earthquake in 2015. It is rumored that a Temporary bridge will be built, and Kyirong Port will resume in the middle of this month.

Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge at Kyirong Border Port washed away

Update: 9th July

This morning, the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge at Kyirong Border Port was completely washed away. Overland travel between Nepal and Tibet is no longer accessible from the Kyirong border. We will update you on any further progress on overland travel between Lhasa and Kathmandu.

An alien travel permit is no longer required

Update 25th May 2025

Right now, I am getting updates from a local Tibetan Travel Agency that an alien 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 Base Camp in Tibet. Nyingtri and Chamdo: If you are traveling Overland from Yunnan to Tibet or Sichuan to Tibet. But it is not clear for the Kailash region right now.

Chinese Group Visa is no longer needed for a Nepal-to-Tibet journey

Updated 22nd May 2025

I am writing this update after we successfully had someone visit Tibet from Nepal on an individual tourist visa. Before this update. you had to get a Chinese group visa if you were coming to Tibet from Nepal.

Now you can travel from Kathmandu to Kyirong overland or to Lhasa by flight without getting the Chinese Group Visa. You can enter Tibet from Nepal with an individual visa in your passport. Please make sure you have a Chinese Tourist Visa, marked L on the visa category. You can't enter Tibet with any other visa type.

If you would like to know more. Please email us at info@thelandofsnows.com or WhatsApp us at +86 181 0899 2271

Kailash Kora has a resume for International Travelers

Updated 20th April 2025

Every year, the Kailash Kora (trekking) is closed to international visitors from late October until late April. This year, the Kailash Kora has resumed on 22nd April. We are the first to have two groups for trekking around Kailash for two consecutive years.

So far, there is no update on Kailash Yatra for Indian citizens. If you have a non-Indian passport, any Hindu can visit Kailash at ease. We have a Kailash-Guge Kingdom group tour on 15th September.

kailash is open

Temporary Traffic Control to Kyirong Port

Update 14th April 2025

On 14th April, traffic control was announced between Kyirong town and Kyirong Port. They are repairing the road, which was destroyed by last year's flood. The route is open between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm. Please read on the topic here.

Mount Everest Base Camp region is open to tourists

Update 7th January 2025

On 7th January 2025, a 7.1 earthquake struck Tingri County in the Shigatse region of Tibet. Authorities immediately closed to tourists for safety reasons. The region reopened to all travelers on 15th February 2025, so if you are planning to visit Tibet and the Mount Everest region, please plan accordingly.

We also recommend a local Tibet travel agency for better service and experience in Tibet. Please contact us for the latest Tibet Travel Information and Tibet travel agency recommendations. Contact us at info@thelandofsnows.com.

Free Visa for Visiting China

Update 2025

The Chinese Government has been increasing the number of countries that offer a free visa to travel to China. Right now, around 59 countries have a free visa policy for visiting Tibet and other parts of China.

The free visa policy also includes travel from Nepal to Tibet, where you must get a Chinese Group Visa instead of a regular tourist visa. Under this free visa, you can go 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 foreign travelers. Tourism in Tibet has now returned to pre-pandemic levels. In April and May, the Tibet Tourism Bureau has reported a huge number of International travelers visiting. Our friendly Tibetan Travel agencies in Tibet have also seen a large number of foreign visitors this year.

Additionally, the Tibet Tourism Bureau has also made it easier for local travel agencies to obtain permits. Now the permit application process has been reduced to almost half of what it used to take. Please Contact Us for the latest Tibet travel information and Tibet travel agency recommendations.

Flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa resume

Update: 15th April 2024

Himalayan Airlines has resumed direct flights between Lhasa and Kathmandu. Currently, there are three flights per week on Mon/Wed/Fri. However, availability may depend on the number of travelers. In addition, 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 can 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, a negative COVID test, among other possible documents. Although it's not 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 to 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 the beginning of 2023, the Tibet Autonomous Region has been open to all foreign Travelers. This year, major travel agencies in Tibet report more visitors, nearing pre-pandemic levels.

When will the TAR Reopen to Normal Tourism?

Will The Amdo and Kham Regions

What?!? Have you never heard of the Amdo and Kham regions? They happen to have some of the best-preserved Tibetan culture and many of the most authentic monasteries, nomadic regions, and villages on the Tibetan 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 as 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 nearly all Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide have suspended tourist visa issuance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you currently reside in Mainland China or have a valid China visa, you can travel to the Amdo and Kham regions. Another issue across China is that some areas may require you to quarantine for 7 to 14 days. The list of regions that require quarantine changes multiple times a day, so I won't try to keep it updated.

I'll 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

Find more Tibet travel information on our Tibet travel guide.

Jamin

amin “Lobsang” Lee has lived and worked in various areas of Tibet for over 14 years. He spent several years working for an NGO focusing on adult education programs for Tibetans from the Amdo and Kham regions and in 2006 he co-founded a successful travel agency which organized nearly 500 custom journeys, photography tours, cultural excursions and treks across Tibet and Nepal.