Kathmandu to Tibet

Hello Pamali,

Greetings from Nepal....

Well please here you go to find the answer properly as your questions, hope you won't avoid this message...thank you

You Wrote:
1. Do I really have to go on a package tour to be able to go to Tibet from Kathmandu? How much would that be?

I write:

Ofcourse you should need tour package for tibet and there is not any possible to go on your own that's why please don't be confuse and as you know that this site is strictly prohibited for any kind of business adevertise that's why send your PM for more details....

You wrote:
2. If I can go there on my own, what would be the best way to go about it? By plane? By land? How much?

I write:

You can't go alone yourself and there is no way of going alone and even you won't get individual visa for Tibet...

You Wrote:
3. What is the best way to go to Dharamsala from Kathmandu?

I write:

Best way to go to Dharamsala from Kathmandu is either you take flight(Ktm-Varanashi and then local transport up to Daharmasala)or take Bus from Kathmandu directly up to Varanashi.......I hope this all above details are helpful for your travel schedule and let us know if you need further more..thank you

I can't give you a definitive answer on your first two questions, but I have not heard of people going to Tibet alone. I will note that the "tours" are little more than a jeep that takes you across the border, after which you should be free to go your own way. However, please confirm with somebody who has actually done this first.

Regarding getting to Dharamsala - I'd say the best way it to fly to Delhi (1 hr) then take a bus to Dharamasala, 14-18 hours. There is also an airport near Dharamsala which you could fly to when you land in Delhi (instead of the bus), but it's costly - It looks like $206 each way, but if you don't have much time, it might be worth it - I found this schedule from Jagson Airlines: http://www.jagsonairline.com/fs_himachalpradesh.htm . I imagine you might be thinking about taking a bus west across Nepal, crossing the western border, then going over land in India. I believe this is possible, but I would expect it to take two days or more. It's a long distance on poor/hilly roads. Would probably be an interesting adventure though.

Good Luck,
Dan

Hi,

Concerning your queries about tibet, yes, you have to go with package tour so you have to fix your Itinerary & date first, then need to have at least 6 months valid Passport so that Tibet Permit & Visa can be arranged.

There is 2 possibilities to go there by surface & by plane but no way of going yourself. You have to travel under the package tour
and even you can't get individual visa for Tibet....

If you are going to Dharmasal from Nepal, then It's suggestive to go by plane instead of surface drive since it's longway drive.
I hope that a short information will help for your travel plan however, if you need any further information, please do not hesitate
to write me at info@aryataraadventure.com

Thanking you.

Best wishes

Radi Schoblocher

There's been the odd occasion here where someone has said they managed to get a group visa with just the one name on it. But its not an everyday occurrence, be warned.<BR>BTW, #'s 1 &2 are touts and to be avoided at all costs. #2 is no more German than I am.<BR>The tours dont just take you across the border and leave you there. The Trekkers Society was recommended to me by one of Tibet branches most reliable poster. Here is their itinerary which is much the same as everyone elses.<BR><BR>ITNERARY: <BR>Day 01: Kathmandu to Kodari. Cross boarder then drive to Nyalam (3750 m.) <BR>Day 02: Nyalam - Tingri (4350 m.) <BR>Day 03: Tingri - Everest Base Camp (4920 m.) <BR>Day 04: Everest Base Camp to Shigatse (3900 m.) <BR>Day 05: Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhsasa - LEAVE THE TOUR <BR><BR>COST DETAILS: <BR>Tour cost: US $ 550<BR>Tibet visa: US $ 45<BR>Total cost: US $ 595 per person (for a private tour)<BR><BR>Price Includes: <BR>01. All Tibet travel permits<BR>02. Transportation in Tibet by 4WD Land Cruiser (old model) 03. English speaking Tibetan Guide 04. Kathmandu - Zhangmu (Tibetan boarder town) transfer by private vehicle 05. Tibet group visa 06. Permission for Everest Area <BR><BR>Price doesn't include:<BR>01. Meals other than breakfast in Tibet 02. Nepal re-entry visa fee (US $ 30) 03. Your travel insurance 04. Personal expenses 05. Tip for guide & driver 06. Any additional expenses due to unforeseen circumstances and natural calamity<BR>

You can get an group visa with one name on it - saw people with these in tibet.. but doesn't change that you will have to be on that tour to get into tibet and to lhasa.. you cannot just buy the visa and go it alone as even at the border crossing they willo not let you cross unless you have a tour guide there and there are checkpoints on the road (although i managed to make it through these without a permit, etc going in the other direction..). Met people who had these individual group visas and so could go it alone once in lhasa but also met people who had a group one and tried to exit tibet into china and were then forced to go to Hong kong to get a new chinese visa.

#5, The one person visas arent readily available. Not every travel agent will supply one.

I was on an overland tour to Tibet (drive in & fly out) a few weeks ago. It was a large group of around 30 people who had booked trough many different travel agents. Everyone in the group had a group visa for one person so I guess a lot of travel agents will supply one for you.

All of us with the exception of few people travelled with the group all the way to Lhasa. Also those who didn't travel with the group had a car with the driver of the same organized tour so basically they were also part of the tour even if they didn't travel with the larger group. After the tour ended in Lhasa some flew back to Kathmandu and some stayed behind with their individual group visas - myself included. Some people booked a jeep privately in Lhasa to drive back to Kathmandu and they had no problems on the drive back. Some people rode back to Kathmandu with bicycles and so on. Others continued to China or Pakistan, even.

So, you will need to book a tour because without a booked tour you cannot enter Tibet. Once in Tibet, there are checkpoints along the way as someone wrote but you'll get through them with your very own group visa.

If you need more assistance or a name of a travel agent who will get you a group visa with just your name on it, PM me.