Planning a trip to Tibet from China? Before you look for China Tibet tours online, here are some of the most important things to note:
First off, guided tours are required for all Tibet tourists. You can’t enter Tibet without a local Tibetan guide, whether you’re flying from mainland China or crossing the border from Nepal. Even if you could, you’d miss out on key spots without a guide. Plus, to get your Tibet travel permit, the local agency needs to provide your guide’s details when applying for the paperwork.
That said, if you’re headed to Kham in eastern Tibet or Amdo in the northeast, you’re in luck because no special permit is required. These regions fall under the Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu provinces, so you can explore them with just a regular China visa.
Planning your trip with Tibet Shambhala Adventure
Tibet Shambhala Adventure has you covered when it comes to China Tibet tours. Choose from our long list of tour packages, or let our local experts create a custom trip just for you based on your preferences! We focus on giving you the real Tibetan experience. Expect nothing short of handpicked hotels and guides who know the region inside and out.
Are you looking for China Tibet tours that take you off the beaten path? Tibet Shambhala Adventure organizes trips to all corners, including hidden gems in Kham and Amdo. We scout out new destinations each year, so there’s always something fresh to discover, even if you’ve been here before! And if you wish to experience an even deeper dive into Tibetan culture, we can arrange your visit to local families and/or treks through remote areas that few tourists ever get to see.
Here are just some of the many China Tibet tours we can arrange for you:
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Lhasa sightseeing tour
The capital of Tibet and the country’s beating heart, Lhasa, is where cultural history and religion come together. It’s nestled along the Kyichu River and will surely be one of the most unforgettable destinations you will visit in your lifetime.
Your first stop is the iconic Potala Palace — a towering structure that Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo built in the 7th century (the 5th Dalai Lama later expanded it). This UNESCO World Heritage site, which has over 1300 years of history, is truly a sight to behold.
Next, we head to Jokang Temple, which is another UNESCO treasure and over 1300 years old. You will get to wander through the Bharkor Bazaar and also visit the Drepung and Sera Monasteries.
If you want more than the usual sight, our Lhasa tour can take you on a day trip to Yamdrok Lake. The zigzagging drive through the Kyichu Valley is stunning and will take you over the Gampala Pass. You’ll get panoramic views of the lake and Mount Noejing Kangsang at the top, and on the way back to Lhasa, you’ll stop to visit a local Tibetan family.
You can also explore the 15th-century Ganden Monastery (60 kilometers from Lhasa) and visit a Tibetan Thangka factory.
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Tibet classical tour
Our Tibet classical tour is one of the most enriching journeys through Tibet. We will kick off in Lhasa, where you’ll visit the iconic Potala Palace, Jokang Temple, Bharkor Bazaar, and the Drepung and Sera Monasteries. From there, the adventure takes you south to Tsetang, located about 160 km from Lhasa in the Yarlung Valley, which is home to some of Tibet’s most ancient landmarks. Here, you’ll get to see It strartsSamye Monastery (the very first monastery built in Tibet) and Yumbu Lhakang (the first castle). You will also explore Zara (the region’s oldest farming field).
Your China Tibet tour continues west to Gyantse — a town that was once a major trade hub between Tibet and India and is now an important agricultural center and one of the largest counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Here, you will explore Palchoe Monastery and the Kubum Pagoda, which has stood for more than 600 years. As your tour moves to Shigatse, you’ll visit Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, and traveling along the Brahmaputra River, you’ll pass through charming villages where local farmers grow barley, potatoes, and various vegetables.
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Everest Base Camp tour
If you’re seeking an adventurous China-Tibet tour with some of the most stunning mountain views, the Everest Base Camp tour from Tibet might be for you. It starts in Lhasa, where you’ll get to spend three days exploring the city’s sights before heading out west toward Mount Everest. Flying into Tibet (whether from Chengdu or Kathmandu) gives you a spectacular aerial view of the Himalayas and sets the tone for what’s to come.
You’ll cross several mountain passes on the road to Everest, and all of them average over 5,000 MASL. You’ll get a glimpse of snow-capped peaks along the way and drive past Yamdrok Lake, where you will see Noejing Kangsang mountain towering in the background at over 7,000 meters.
This China Tibet tour then takes you through the central western region of Tibet (also known as the Tsang region), where you’ll visit Palchoe Monastery and Kubum Pagoda Stupa, both with over 600 years of history, along with Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Panchen Lama’s spiritual seat.
Reaching the Everest Base Camp from the Tibetan side and standing face-to-face with the world’s tallest peak (known as Mount Qomolangma in Tibetan) is a truly awe-inspiring experience!
Ready to go? Tibet Shambhala Adventure — a trusted and fully Tibetan-owned travel agency — can arrange your China-Tibet tours.
