Tibet Travel Expert team shares and discusses what is the best way to travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa

Many travelers choose to travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Travelling from Kathmandu to Lhasa is a very regular travel route chosen by many travelers. Below Tibet Travel Expert team (www.tibetctrip.com) outlines the different ways to travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa and discusses which is the best one.

Travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by OVERLAND 

Yes, you can travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by overland. A new port called Gyirong has been opened to foreign travellers since the end of 2017 after the Nepal earthquake in 2015 which had devastated the old Zhangmu Port between Nepal and Tibet. The most common route is: Kathmandu → Rashuwaghadi → Gyirong Port → Everest Base Camp → Tingri → Shigatse → Gyantse → Lhasa. Travelers will sightsee along the way, and it usually takes about 8 days. To travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by overland is a definitely a good choice for nature lovers, you will see waterfalls, rivers, a panoramic view of the legendary Himalayan ranges, and to see Mt Everest up-close at Everest Base Camp.

Travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by AIR 

There is nonstop flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa almost available daily. To travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by air is the most convenient choices for tourists, which takes only about one hour and a half. The flights are operated by either Sichuan Airlines or Air China, two of major airlines in China. Travelers should not be afraid that to travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by air will deprive you of the beautiful views. You will see from your plane the Himalayan ranges and Mt Everest.

Travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by TRAIN 

Sorry, there is currently no train from Kathmandu to Lhasa, but it is said that it will be in the next 5 years. This will be a great news for us locals as well as travelers. This future railway from Kathmandu to Lhasa is very likely to pass through Gyirong Port and be an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by BUS 

Yes, there is buses from Kathmandu to Lhasa. You can choose to travel from Kathmandu to Rashuwaghadi, the Nepal side of the border, by bus or other available public transport. But you CANNOT travel from Gyirong Port, the Tibet side of the border, to Lhasa. Because in Tibet, foreign travellers are requested to take the travel registered vehicle only.

What Is the Best Way to Travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa

As with everything it depends on what are you looking for from your Tibet tour. For some, who doesn’t mind the long hours of driving, travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by OVERLAND is the challenging yet rewarding choice. For others, who prefer comfort, travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa by AIR is the easiest and quickest way. One more thing may come as a surprise – the expense of traveling by overland and by air, would not be much different. It is because that after a Nepali vehicle transfer you from Kathmandu to Rashuwaghadi, it needs to return to Kathmandu where most vehicles are based in Nepal. And in order to pick you up at Gyirong Port, a Tibetan vehicle needs to first drives to Gyirong from Lhasa, where most vehicles are based in Lhasa.

Tibet Travel Expert team works to provide the latest travel information about Tibet travel. For more inside tips about Tibet travel, please feel free to contact Lhasa-based local tour operator, Tibet Travel Expert team. Tony, a local Tibetan travel agent, author of this release, is a professional travel agent based in Lhasa, Tibet and in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, who related this information to spread awareness of Tibet and its people. Email: Tony from Tibet Travel Expert team <service@tibetctrip.com>