Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Solo travellers shouldn't be too put off by the official insistence on 'group travel'. For
the purposes of getting permits and visas, a 'group' can normally be as small as one per-
son. The Lonely Planet Thorn Tree (lonelyplanet.com/thorntree) is full of travellers look-
ing for travel partners. Some agencies (particularly hostels) offer fixed departures and will
help you find other travellers to form a small group. A 4WD can fit four people fairly
comfortably (including the guide). For a long overland trip, eg to Kailash, it's well worth
paying a little extra to have more space.
Note that the agency that arranges your TTB permit is legally responsible for you in
Tibet. Should you get caught talking politics with the wrong person, or staying in Tibet
after the date on your TTB permit, the agency will likely be questioned by the authorities
and perhaps fined. This is one reason why some guides can appear overprotective.
TRAVEL OUTSIDE TIBET
Note that Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) and Alien Travel Permits are only required for travel
in the TAR. You can normally travel through most of the culturally Tibetan areas of Yún-
nán, Sìchuān, Gānsù and Qīnghǎi (the former Tibetan provinces of Kham and Amdo)
without the need for pesky permits. At the time of writing certain parts of Sìchuān were
closed due to political unrest (notably Aba county and sometimes parts of Ganzi county)
but in other areas you are free to travel independently to Tibetan monasteries, Khampa
villages and sacred peaks around the region. For details of the Tibetan areas in Yúnnán,
Sìchuān, Gānsù and Qīnghǎi, see Lonely Planet's Chinaguide.
Tours from Nepal
Arranging a tour to Tibet from Nepal makes sense geographically but there are several
complications to bear in mind, primarily visas. In general, the same rules of Tibet travel
apply - you have to pre-arrange a guide and transport in order to get the requisite permits.
Instead of posting your TTB permit to a city in China your Tibet travel agency will send
the permit details to the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. You then need to pay a Nepali
travel agency to obtain your visa. This can take up to a week.
Note that the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu does not give individual Chinese visas to
travellers headed to Tibet, only group visas. If you already have a valid individual China
visa in your passport it will be cancelled (
Click here
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