The information about getting to Tibet is rather confusing starting with a single permit (a pass issued by the Chinese authorities) and ending with travel agencies telling about an obligatory tour (organized by this specific agency) and a specific permit for entry to Lhasa. In fact, the truth is laying somewhere in between.

I should warn you that you won’t get any necessary information at the local Public Security Bureau. They wouldn’t show any formal paper and won’t say what is legitimate and what is not. For whatever you will be interested in, you’ll be sent to a travel agency. In turn, the travel agency would offer you TTB (Tibet Tourism Bureau). It is a permit for the entry to Lhasa which can be issued only to an organized tourist group. Allegedly, without it you won’t be even able to buy a ticket for a train. Indeed, the permit is virtual. Nobody has seen it. So it’s quite a question whether it exists.

Tibet

It is said that it is impossible to buy a ticket for an airplane without a travel agency. The same true is for entry from Nepal. To say the truth, I don’t know. But you may check it. The simplest way to get to Tibet is by train. Nodody’s checking you. Just a calm journey. There are several types of train tickets: without a seat, hard seat, hard sleep and soft sleep. Choose what suits you best.

As for the climate, in Tibet it is characterized by a large difference in the climates in different areas, unique natural phenomena caused by winds, clouds, rain, frost and fog, as well as unusually remarkable sunrises and sunsets. Thus minding unstable weather conditions, be sure you’ll have: a water and wind proof jacket, trekking shoes, a warm sleeping bag (you can rent it in Kathmandu), a sport hat, gloves, warm trousers, personal first aid kit, backpack, sunglasses with protection from ultraviolet radiation and two photos 3×4 cm for a visa.

Travelling to Tibet won’t be an easy trip. But if you’re planning it, you already know it. Good luck!