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Permit Without Tour

Any foreign travelers who plan to travel to Tibet should obtain a Tibet Entry Permit which can only be applied by the Tibet travel agencies. Unfortunately, due to governmental regulations, we are not allowed to help with a Tibet Travel Permit for independent travelers anymore.

Since the strict regulations of Tibet tourism release in 2008, all foreign travelers traveling to Tibet should book Tibet tour services. An experienced tour guide, a car and a pre-arranged itinerary should be involved in the whole tour in Tibet. When applying for the Tibet Travel Permit from the Tourism Bureau of TAR, the Tibet travel agencies have to submit their elaborate tour schedule for approval including your guide, driver, vehicle, accommodation, itinerary, etc. Once the permit is issued, tourists are not able to change their trip schedule and travel itinerary at all.

Travelers, especially backpackers who long to travel to Tibet have to pay a lot for renting a car and hiring a tour guide for the whole tour but with limited flexibility. Therefore, it is necessary to book a Tibet Tour with an organized Tibet Travel Agency. If you wanna obtain the Tibet Permit without a tour, we have no choice but to say “no” to your inquiry. However, we have found some solutions to increase flexibility and reduce your cost as much as possible.

1. To increase flexibility

In order to increase the flexibility of your Tibet tour, you are suggested to apply for more destinations and a longer time than planned which makes it possible for you to extend or shorten your trip in Tibet flexibly within the validity of your permit.

2. To reduce the cost

As a professional Tibet travel operator based in Lhasa, Great Tibet Tour has designed some Tibet group tours to help tourists get down the expenses. We also can design tailor-made Private tours to suit your needs.

If you book a group tour with us, you can travel to Tibet at a cheaper price. Meanwhile, you should share the Tibetan guide and vehicles with others and the itinerary and hotels are fixed. There is no need to worry about our service because the group size is 12 persons at maximum, but mostly 4-8 persons which makes it possible for the tour guide to take care of every tourist. Our popular Tibet tour packages such as Lhasa to Everest Base Camp or Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour are budget tours for tourists.

The Private Tour we offer to you is a little bit higher than the group tour. However, when choosing a private tour, you can have a private Tibetan guide and vehicle. Moreover, you are able to have a flexible itinerary that is fully customized, and a flexible hotel to meet your standard. The private tour is specially designed for you according to your demands and will not recruit other visitors to join in.

3. To obtain more free time

You can spend 1-2 free days shopping, resting, or doing other things you are interested in with the accompany of a tour guide.

4. Various kinds of permits

There are three kinds of Tibet Travel Permit.

  • If you just want sightseeing around Lhasa, a Tibet Entry Permit will meet your requirements;
  • If you want to explore places outside Lhasa such as Mount Everest, you need to obtain both the Tibet Entry Permit and Alien Travel Permit;
  • If you want to travel to backend areas such as Mt Kailash, you need to get an extra Military Permit.

For more details, please feel free to contact our travel consultant and we can arrange your permits accordingly.

Related Articles

  • Bhutan Visa
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  • China Visa
    A China Visa is required if you are entering China. How do you smoothly apply for a Chinese Visa in your country? Check the details and find the answers.

  • Tibet Travel Permit(Tibet Visa)
    Tibet Travel Permit/Tibet Visa is a mandatory entry document to Tibet. To obtain it, you need to entrust a Tibet travel agency to apply it for you.

  • China Group Visa(Tibet Group Visa)
    To enter Tibet from Nepal, you need a China Group visa from the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu with your passport, an invitation letter and one headshot.

  • Alien's Travel Permit
    Alien's Travel Permit is required if foreign travelers wish to visit the territories outside Lhasa, such as Shigatse, Shannan, Ngari, Nyingchi, etc.

  • Tibet Border Pass
    Traveling to Mt.Everest, Mt.Kailash and other border areas between Tibet and other countries, you are required Tibet Border Pass.

  • Why Not Mention Tibet During Your China Visa Applying
    When going to Tibet, you would be advised you not to mention Tibet during your China Visa application. But why it is so? Check more for detailed info.

  • Nepal Visa
    Tourists can get a Nepal visa on arrival when reaching Kathmandu airport or road borders at Birganj, Sunauli, etc. $30 for a 15-day entry Nepal tourist visa.

  • Tibet Visa for Indian
    For Indian citizens or passport holders, the first thing to travel to Tibet is to obtain Tibet Visa, which is not as difficult as you imagine to obtain.

  • Tibet Tourism Bureau
    Tibet Travel Permit, also known as the “Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit”, is an indispensable permit for international travelers to travel to Tibet.

Ask a Quick Question Below?
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients

Asked by Wa***

Hello, my Chilean husband and me (i am Hong Kong resident) would like to stay at Lhasa for 7-9 days. Then join a group tour 4d3n to Everest base camp. How much please? Does it include 2 nights hotel & 1 night camping? Thank you.

Cherry
Answered by Cherry

In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to have a Lhasa &Everest Base Camp tour. We have 8 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest Group Tour. May I know when would you like to have this group tour?

You can stay more days in Lhasa before or after you have this group tour. 

Asked by Harl***

My entry point in China is Shanghai I will only have 1 hour and 50 minutes layover then to Xi'an were I only have 1 hour and 55 minutes of layover before Lhasa. Is this a problem we can get around. I already have confirmed flight and hotel. I think we talked about this before. I don't want to ball out of this trip if its possible to achieve.
Harlan

Caroline
Answered by Caroline

Your Tibet tour is possible. Then we will hire a guide to deliver the permit to Xi'an airport. 

Please don't worry. Just let me know when you have the new schedule and members of your group.