Travel to Tibet from India

Tibet holds a lot of significance in Hinduism and is held close to the hearts of many Indians. Tibet hosts locations like Mount Kailash, where the revered Indian god Shiva is supposed to reside. Kailash is recognized by the Hindu people as the center of the world. There is a Lake called Manasarovar where you can find eternal life. According to Hindu scripture and mythology, Lake Manasarovar was created by Brahma in his mind. Famous as one of the five holy lakes in Hinduism, Lake Manasarovar plays an important role in Hindu theology. What’s more, Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are regarded as the most sacred places in Hinduism. Therefore, pilgrims from India make frequent trips here. Also, tourism in Tibet is highly celebrated, and many folks travel to experience the scenic beauty of Tibetan charm.

To help Indian travelers enjoy the Tibetan landscape and practice their faith, we offer various trip packages to Kailash and Manasarovar. It's easy to travel to Tibet from India.

Every year, lots of Indian pilgrims visit Mt.Kailash in July and August.

How to Travel to Tibet from India

From India to Tibet is relatively easy now. You can fly or travel overland from India to Kathmandu, then take a flight or a land trip to Tibet. Another option is to reach Tibet from mainland China. Then you take a domestic flight or Tibet train to Lhasa.

Option I - India to Tibet via Nepal (Recommended!)

There are plenty of flights to Kathmandu starting from Delhi, Goa, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Varanasi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Royal Nepal Airlines, Air India, Jet Airways and IndiGo provide direct flights. The flight departing from Delhi to Kathmandu costs about INR 9, 100. You can check the price online to obtain a ticket. Then you can take a flight or road journey to Tibet. There is currently no train from Kathmandu to Tibet.

Delhi to Kathmandu by flight

The flight from Delhi to Kathmandu only takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. A direct flight from Nepal Airlines RA218 (19:40-21:40) costs about US$90 (6,697 INR). Due to the close distance between the two countries and the short flight duration, the cost of flying from India to Kathmandu is relatively lower. Nepal is also the preferred gateway for Indian passport holders to enter Tibet because there is visa-free travel between India and Nepal. They do not need a passport or visa to enter Nepal and only need a government-issued ID card.

Delhi to Kathmandu by land

The direct drive from New Delhi to Kathmandu is 700 miles (1,126 km), which should take about 13 hours and 10 minutes in normal traffic. If you want to drive by yourself, the route is Delhi - Lucknow - Basti - Sunauli border. (Not touching Gorakhpur) - Butwal - Chitwan - Kathmandu. Alternatively, you can also take a bus. Delhi-Nepal bus starts from Delhi's Dr Ambedkar Stadium Bus Terminal, Delhi Gate at 10 AM and then takes the Delhi-Agra-Kanpur-Lucknow route. The bus trip takes about 27 hours and the cost is 2,800 INR as a one-way fare. You need to reserve in advance. >> See more methods to travel from India to Nepal

Kathmandu to Lhasa by flight

Kathmandu to Lhasa direct flights are provided by Himalayan Airlines. The flight costs about US$500 (47,825 INR) and it takes 2 hours. And there is an additional advantage that when the plane flies over the Himalayas, you can get a bird's-eye view of the summit of Mount Everest. >>See more about Kathmandu to Lhasa flight

Kathmandu to Lhasa by land

The land trip from Nepal to Tibet is an incredible journey via the border between Tibet and Nepal, and the distance is around 1120km. From the lowland valleys of Kathmandu to the highlands of the mighty Himalayas, you will visit Mount Everest and the holiest Mount Kailash for Indian Hindus. Then get across the plains and prairies, see the sparkling lakes, and finally travel to the holy city of Lhasa - the religious and cultural center of Tibet. It usually takes 3 to 4 days, and you will have time to see the amazing sights on the plateau and enjoy the magnificent landscape.

Option II - India to Tibet via China

You can take direct/connecting flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Cochin, and Mumbai to China. Airlines like Air India, Aeroflot, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, etc., operate these flights. Among all the flights, flying from Delhi to China is the most convenient and cheapest.

Delhi to gateway cities of China

There are many flights from New Delhi, India to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. There are several different airlines operating flights, so it is best to choose the most suitable departure airport for you. Below we list the flight schedule for your preference.

Direct Flights Flight Time
Delhi → Hong Kong 5h 20m
Delhi → Beijing 6h 20m
Delhi → Shanghai 6h 10m
Delhi → Guangzhou 5h 20m
Delhi → Chengdu 8h 35m/11h 5m
Flights from Delhi to China and train routes to Tibet from China.

After you arrive in China, you can transfer to another direct flight or take a train to Lhasa.

Beijing to Lhasa

Beijing is one of the most popular gateways to Tibet, offering both direct flights and the train to Lhasa along the scenic Qinghai-Tibet Railway. There are typically 2–3 direct flights to Lhasa each day, taking about 4–5 hours. If you have more time, the train journey takes around 40 hours and is considered one of the world's most scenic rail trips.

Good to Know

Shanghai to Lhasa

Shanghai is another popular gateway to Tibet, especially for travelers arriving from eastern China. There are usually one or two direct flights to Lhasa each day, while some services include a short stopover in Chengdu, depending on the season. The journey takes about 4.5–7 hours. If you have more time, you can also take the Tibet train from Shanghai to Lhasa. The train journey takes around 45 hours and offers breathtaking scenery across the Tibetan Plateau, making it a memorable travel experience.

Good to Know

Guangzhou to Lhasa

Guangzhou is a convenient gateway to Tibet for travelers arriving from southern China or Southeast Asia. Flights to Lhasa are available daily, although most services require a short stopover or transfer along the way. The total journey typically takes about 6–7 hours.

If you have more time, you can also travel to Lhasa by the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The train journey takes around 53 hours, making it the longest rail route to Tibet. Along the way, you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Tibetan Plateau while having more time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Good to Know

Visas Required for Visiting Tibet

Going to Tibet from India is convenient, but the permits are indispensable. Generally, several types of visas are required for Indians for their pilgrimage to Tibet.

Enter Tibet via Nepal

Entering Tibet via Nepal requires a Tibet Travel Permit(also called Tibet Visa) and a China group visa. If you go to Tibet from Nepal, regardless of whether you have applied for a Chinese visa or not, it will become invalid. You must apply for a China Group Visa to enter Tibet from Nepal. Great Tibet Tour can help you get the required documents.

Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you only need to provide your passport and a tourist invitation letter(approved by the Tourism Bureau, the voucher for group visa application) to apply for your China Group Visa. Our staff will help you obtain a tourist visa from the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Although it is called a "group" visa, you don't need to be in a group to apply.

Enter Tibet via China

Entering Tibet via China requires a Chinese Visa. You can apply for it at your nearby Chinese Embassy. If it is not an "L" tourist visa, you need to provide relevant certification. Please consult our professional travel consultant for details.

And, you need a Tibet Travel Permit. It’s issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, and only a local Tibet Travel Agency can apply for it for you. So you should book a tour and send your documents to your travel agency to obtain it in advance. The procedure usually takes 10 working days. You need to present it when you board the flight or train to Tibet.

For Pilgrimage Journey to Mt.Kailash

For Indian pilgrims who are going to Mt.Kailash in Purang, Tibet, in addition to the Tibet Travel Permit, China Visa/China Group Visa, another special visa is required, which is issued jointly by the governmental Foreign Affairs Office, Military Office, Armed Police Corps OF Frontier Defense, and the Department of Public Security of Tibet Autonomous Region. And there is another particular non-governmental organization called "Pilgrim Reception Center" for Indian people to get such a visa. Please contact us to consult more details.

These two organizations are responsible for organizing the Indian pilgrimage to Mt.Kailash. They assist with permits, accommodation, and different modes of transportation. They are also very helpful and are the best guides you will receive. You’re advised to plan your Tibet tour in advance so that they can prepare all the visas for you in time.

The pilgrimage to Tibet is said to be more expensive than an ordinary tour due to the monopoly of the two organizations. But actually, Indians can consult online services and many tourism offices to get better travel deals and packages.

Conclusion

Whether you're planning a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash or your first journey to Lhasa, traveling from India to Tibet is straightforward with the right preparation. Once your permits, visa, and transportation are arranged, all that's left is to enjoy one of the world's most extraordinary travel experiences.

If you need help planning your trip, Great Tibet Tour is happy to assist with permits, transportation, and customized itineraries.

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