There have been many inquiries regarding travel to Tibet, and one of the most confusing aspects is the Tibet Travel Permit (sometimes called a “Tibet Visa”). Because many travel advisers or agencies outside of Lhasa provide incomplete or outdated information, travelers often find conflicting advice online.
To clarify: if you are holding a foreign passport and want to travel to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), you must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit before arriving in Tibet. In addition, if you plan to travel to western Tibet (e.g. Mt. Everest, the Nepal border, Saga), you will also need an Alien’s Travel Permit. Travelers visiting Mt. Kailash, Ngari Prefecture, southern Tsethang, or Chamdo will be required to obtain both the Alien’s Permit and a Military Permit.
SnowLand Explorer
The areas not strictly closed within the TAR are limited parts of southern Tsethang and Chamdo, but these also require permits.
? However, it is important to note that nearly 60% of the Tibetan Plateau is not inside the TAR. These areas are the regions of Amdo and Kham Tibet, which are administratively part of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces. If you are traveling in these regions, you do not need a Tibet Travel Permit. They are open to all travelers, and you can visit them independently without joining a tour.
Sometimes, specific areas may be temporarily closed to foreign travelers without prior notice. This is unpredictable, so if you are unsure about a destination, please contact us to check the latest situation.
In fact, most of the iconic photos you see of Tibetan grasslands, snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, yak-hair tents, nomads, yaks and sheep, horse riding, and homestays are from Amdo and Kham, not the TAR. For this reason, we highly recommend visiting Amdo and Kham, where you can experience authentic Tibetan culture without the restrictions of permits.
Places You Can Travel Without a Permit
Yunnan Province / Kham Tibet
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Shangri-La (Gyalthang)
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Dechen
Sichuan Province / Amdo & Kham Tibet
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Ganzi / Gantse Prefecture (Kham)
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Aba / Ngawa Prefecture (Amdo)
Gansu Province / Amdo Tibet
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Gannan Prefecture
Qinghai Province / Amdo & Kham Tibet
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Guoluo (Golog / Golok) Prefecture
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Yushu Prefecture
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Haibei Prefecture
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Hainan (Chabcha) Prefecture
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Huangnan (Rebkong) Prefecture
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Haidong Prefecture
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Haixi Prefecture
Note: Though these areas are generally open to tourists, there may still be local restrictions in place. It is important to understand the specific rules and conditions of the region you plan to visit. The information provided above serves only as a general overview and may vary from place to place.
.jpg "amdo monlam festival tour")
