Trekking in Tibet: All You Need To Know
For hikers with lofty ambitions, Tibet is sure to satisfy any kind of craving for an adrenaline rush.
Often dubbed the ‘Roof of the World’, Tibet is home to some of the world’s tallest mountains. Geography in Tibet is on a humbling scale – dramatic mountains topped with colorful prayer flags loom over vast plains, while glittering turquoise lakes stand in the shadow of centuries-old glaciers.
With its dramatic moonscapes and stunning vistas, Tibet has the power to impress even the most hardened trekkers. Best of all, there are far fewer trekkers here than in neighboring Nepal — but the landscapes are equally — if not even more — spectacular!
While Tibet is hard to get into (on a tour only!) and even harder to trek (due to the altitude), the rewards of trekking in one of the world’s most rugged countries are well worth it. Whether you are a beginner hiker or an experienced mountaineer, trekking in Tibet is sure to challenge and reward you at the same time. Here is a detailed guide for those who are interested in trekking in Tibet.
Trekking in Tibet Guide
Travel to Tibet
- How to Travel to Tibet
- How to Get into Tibet
- By Air
- By Land
- By Train
Click here to go to Travel to Tibet
Trekking in Tibet
- When to Go Trekking in Tibet
- Things to Know Before Trekking in Tibet
Click here to go to Trekking in Tibet
Best Treks in Tibet
- Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Trek
- Everest Kangshung Trek
- Gyama Valley Trek
- Ganden to Samye Trek
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What to Pack
- What to Pack for Trekking in Tibet
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How to Travel to Tibet
Travel to Tibet is highly restricted, and independent travel is not allowed. Foreign travelers need to prearrange a tour in order to obtain a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. Only Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong travelers are free to enter without a visa. Without a TTB permit, you won’t even be able to board a flight or train to Tibet.
Most visitors require a Chinese visa in addition to a Tibet permit — except citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan. Make sure to get your Chinese visa at least a month before your trip, as your tour operator will need it to get the TTB permit. When applying for your Chinese visa, don’t mention Tibet.
In addition, you’ll need extra permits to go to trekking, which can only be arranged by a tour operator. One trekking tour operator worth checking out is World Expeditions. They have a great reputation and over 40 years of experience running unique trips on paths less traveled.
How to Get into Tibet
By Air
You will have to fly via other cities in China or Kathmandu (the only international transit point) to get to Lhasa. Flights to Lhasa are not cheap, and a lot of people suffer from altitude sickness when flying straight into Lhasa. BUT the views of the Himalayas when flying to Lhasa are out of this world.
Flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa is cheapest at around US$300-500 return, and the flight only takes one and a half hours. Return flights from Singapore to Lhasa are around US$400 — strangely, cheaper than flying from Beijing to Lhasa, which generally costs US$600.
By Land
Alternatively, you can travel overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa on a tour. Combining the two is a good idea for those who have lots of time and prefer slow travel. The journey is absolutely epic, with stunning views on rugged highways. A Kathmandu to Lhasa tour generally costs around US$500+ and takes around four to five days.
By Train
Another way of getting into Tibet is on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (the highest rail tracks in the world). The journey starts in Beijing, the Chinese capital, and takes a total of 40 hours to get to Lhasa. But the landscapes only begin to impress from Xining onwards, with traversing tunnels, high-altitude lakes, vast plains and mountain passes.
Train tickets are not cheap, at around US$280 for a soft sleeper and $200 for a hard sleeper each way (prices can change depending on season). You can book this only through a tour operator.
When to Go Trekking in Tibet
A view of the grand Potala Palace in Lhasa, the residence of the Dalai Lamas before the 14th Dalai Lama went into exile in 1959
Tibet can be visited all year round, but the best time to go trekking in Tibet is in spring and summer (from April to October). During this time, the weather is not too harsh and most treks in Tibet are accessible. In general, any time without snow is a good time to go trekking in Tibet.
Most Tibetan festivals take place in spring and summer too, including the month-long Saga Dawa (mainly to celebrate the birth of Buddha, enlightenment and Nirvana), the week-long Shoton festival (Tibetan opera performance and Buddha Thangka unfolding ceremony) and the Nagqu horse racing festival.
Things to Know Before Trekking in Tibet
Trekking in Tibet requires a good fitness condition, good preparation and strong perseverance. I wouldn’t advise beginner hikers to attempt trekking in Tibet. You need to have at least some multi-day hiking experience and preferably experience traveling to high-altitude regions before you attempt a trek here.
This is because the whole of Tibet is perched on a plateau and the average altitude if 4,000m (13,000 ft) above sea level. Almost all treks in Tibet bring you above 5,000m (16,400 ft). At such dizzying heights, it can be easy to suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) if you don’t take the time to acclimatise to the conditions. If you’re flying into Lhasa, there’s a high chance of getting AMS. Symptoms include light-headedness, nausea, shortness of breath and headaches.
Make sure to get some Diamox (Acetazolamide) before your trip and start the medication at least one day before landing in Lhasa. Give yourself plenty of time to rest and take at least two to three days to acclimatise in Lhasa before you start your trek in Tibet. If you find yourself showing symptoms of AMS during the trek, you’ll need to descend to lower altitudes immediately.
Best Treks in Tibet
There are many treks in Tibet, but here are some of the most popular ones.
Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Trek
Mount Kailash is a holy mountain considered to be the center of the world by Buddhists and the home of Lord Shiva by Hindus. Many pilgrims from all over Tibet and India make the long journey here in hopes of being freed from an endless cycle of births and deaths.
The Mount Kailash Kora is a 52km (30 mile) circuit that normally takes three days to complete. It’s a long but exceptionally scenic journey to reach the mountain and requires four days of driving from either Kathmandu or Lhasa. The best time to do the Mount Kailash trek is during the Saga Dawa Festival, when thousands of pilgrims gather to pay homage to the mountain.
A common sight is Tibetan pilgrims doing full-length prostrations while circumambulating the holy Mount Kailash as a practice to purify their karma.
Mount Kailash on a sunny day
Sacred mantras carved on stones are seen scattered throughout Mount Kailash to help generate merits for pilgrims
Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Trek Details
- Distance: 52km
- Duration: 3 Days
- Start: Darchen (4675m)
- End: Darchen (4675m)
- Highest Point: Drolma La Pass (5630m)
- Difficulty: Medium to difficult
Everest Kangshung Trek
This Everest Kangshung Face trek is perfect for those who want to get up-close to Mount Everest and not just drive up to Everest Base Camp like most tourists do. The nine-day Everest trek starts from the Kharta Valley and brings you up to the spectacular Kangshung face of Mount Everest.
Following a more remote and different route, the trek from Kharta Valley into the beautiful Karma Valley to the Everest Kangshung Face is one of the most unusual and interesting approaches to Mount Everest.
Everest Base Camp
Everest Kangshung Trek Details
- Distance: 56km
- Duration: 8 Days
- Start: Kharta Valley (3650m)
- End: Kharta Valley (3650m)
- Highest Point: Langma La (5330m)
- Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Gyama Valley Trek
This eight-day trek takes you to the Gyama Valley, which many claim to be one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in Tibet. The valley has a gorgeous area filled with orchids and many wildflowers, as well as forested slopes at the lower elevations. Since the area is remote and seldom visited, trail conditions can be quite difficult.
The Gyama trek is much like stepping back in time as you will meet locals from a variety of cultures such as the Monpa, Lhoba and Sherpa, who still live in traditional ways.
A picture of Drigung Til Monastery in Gyama Valley, which is famous for its sky burial site
Gyama Valley Trek Details
- Distance: 33km
- Duration: 8 Days
- Start: Tingri (4348m)
- End: Tingri (4348m)
- Highest Point: Shawula Pass (4900m)
- Difficulty: Medium
Ganden to Samye Trek
The Ganden to Samye trekking route in Tibet is considered to be the most popular. It is a beautiful route beginning from Ganden Monastery (one of the famous Gelugpa Monasteries). The trekking route takes you through beautiful alpine scenic views and across various lakes and green meadows. The journey usually takes four to five days.
The trek passes through two mountain passes at more than 5,000m above sea level before descending to Samye Monastery at 3,540m. This ascent and descent in the trekking route make it an extremely challenging trek.
A view of one of the “Great Three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet – Gaden Monastery, also known as Ganden Namgyeling. This great monastery was built by Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen in 1409 and offered up to his teacher Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419), founder of the Gelug order.
Ganden to Samye Trek Details
- Distance: 80km
- Duration: 4-5 Days
- Affair Permit, Froniter Pass
- Start: Ganden Monastery (4180m)
- End: Samye Monastery (3540m)
- Highest Point: Shogula Pass (5250m)
- Difficulty: Very Difficult
What to Pack for Trekking in Tibet
This depends on which month you’re traveling Tibet. Regardless, you’ll need to bring warm clothes whether you’re traveling in summer or spring/autumn as temperature drops a lot once you’re at higher altitudes.
Be sure to invest in some high-quality winter gear to stay warm. I recommend wearing four to five layers: thermals, wool bottom, fleece and a thick winter parka. It’s not essential to bring hiking poles, as your tour operator will most likely provide them. You can also rent thick sleeping bags (usually at $10 for the whole trip) and save yourself the hassle of carrying them.
- Long Sleeve Moisture Wicking Tees: The key to staying warm while trekking in Tibet is layering. Bring some long sleeve t-shirts that you can easily remove throughout the day. I brought three of them for my one-week trip.
- Fleece-lined Long Sleeve Thermal Underwear: Mine turned out to be very useful and I wore them several days in a row. Temperatures can dip below zero at above 4,000m, so they are particularly useful and comfortable to sleep in when camping.
- Fleece Base: This is my favorite gear for cold climates. It’s thick but lightweight, and keeps me warm even in sub-zero temperatures. Plus, most fleeces are cheap and easy to find everywhere. I usually get one that can be zipped all the way down, so I can easily remove layers when I’m warm.
- Waterproof Ski Jacket: It may be heavy and a pain to travel with, but you’ll need it if you’re trekking in Tibet. Don’t skimp on a quality coat as it’ll keep you comfortable.
- Quick-Dry Pants: These are something I wear on almost every trip. They’re lightweight, thin, comfortable and waterproof. I can wear them in winter and summer without feeling too warm or cold. If you feel cold in them, you can always wear your leggings beneath.
- Fleece-lined Leggings: For ladies, these are brilliant to keep warm and comfortable (without looking too shabby).
- Beanie: You’ll definitely need something warm on top of your head at cold temperatures.
- Ski Gloves: Bring thick ski gloves as they’re good for snow and rain. I would recommend getting a pair of gloves with touchscreen pads so you don’t need to take them off to snap photos on your smartphone.
- Wool Socks: Invest in some high-quality wool socks that can keep your feet dry and warm when hiking in the snow.
- Microfibre Towel: You won’t be able to shower during the trek, but a small towel will be useful to freshen up in the evenings. Buy a thin, quick-dry one that can be rolled up into a small bundle.
The above information and some pictures are extracted from: Wild Junket. (2019, Jan 05). Retrieved from: https://www.wildjunket.com/trekking-in-tibet-all-you-need-to-know/
For more interesting information:
- Wonderful Lhasa
- Wonderful Nepal
- Sacred Mountains Around the World
- Pabongka Rinpoche and his yogini student, the Lady Lhalu
- Alexandra David-Néel
- Lama Anagarika Govinda: The Pioneer Who Introduced Tibetan Buddhism to the World
- Ekai Kawaguchi – Three Years in Tibet
- In the Footsteps of Joseph Rock
- George Roerich – Light of the Morning Star
- Kazi Dawa Samdup: a Pioneering Translator of Tibetan Buddhist Texts
- Walter Evans-Wentz: American Pioneer Scholar on Tibetan Buddhism
- Li Gotami: The Woman Who Dedicated Her Life to the Arts
- Potala of the West: Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
- Bigger and more Buddha statues makes a difference | 为何佛像越大、越多越好
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Trekking in Tibet is completely different from trekking in the neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan, and has some of the world’s best high-altitude treks in the world. Moreover, Tibet has amazing landscapes, stunning scenery, and awesome mountain with the unique Tibetan culture behind it all . A trek in Tibet is more than just a hike and is a way of seeing through the mountains, the natural environment. Tibet has amazing landscapes, stunning scenery, and awesome mountains that you cannot find anywhere else on the planet. Mount Kailash pilgrimage trek is a holy mountain considered by Buddhists and Hindus as the center of the world.
For many hikers with lofty ambitions, Tibet will a place to satisfy any kind of craving for adrenaline and challenge. Tibet is home to some of the world’s tallest mountains. With its beautiful dramatic moonscapes Tibet has attracted many to explore the beauty of its mountains.
Reading this article will definitely help anyone who is keen to trek in Tibet.
Thank you for sharing this informative article making trekking easier.
Trekking in Tibet is a good way to explore Tibet.It is really challenging for anyone going to Tibet itself due the high attitude and further going trekking will more challenging.
For pilgrims they would go circumambulating the holy Mount Kailash as a practice to purify their karma and it will take at least 3 days to round the holy mountains.This article is really informative and thank you very much for sharing with us.
Mount trekking has been one of the most popular adventures sports for many. One has to be physically and mentally fit to take up this activity and to make sure they have good stamina before going starting the journey.
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This article has wonderful tips and guide that will be very useful for those who are planning to go for trekking. Well we know the nature of Tibet always fascinated many to experience and explore the beauty of the mount . I too read that the high mountains, deep valleys and endless plains of Tibet offer incredible opportunities for trekking.
Thanking you for the sharing and hoping to experience ones in the life time to trek at Tibet.
Great and useful tips for travelling and hiking in Tibet. It’s really challenging for anyone going to Tibet itself due to the high altitude and further going trekking will be even more challenging. Many foreigners do enjoy trekking in Tibet to explore new adventures and especially to been on the Himalayan trails to Mount Everest. Great article to share with friends who love tracking. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this informative article.???
Good tips for travelling and hiking in Tibet, do note some of the tips given in this article, they could mean the difference between a smooth trip or one that is faced with much obstacles.
Thank you for sharing.???
Great article to share with friends who love tracking.
Trekking or climbing the Himalayas had always been a daunting adventure for most people but as more and more venture into this challenge, it has raised interests of more, especially now that more facilities are available. This article pique our interests and provides information to start our plans if should decide to take on the rewarding challenge of “conquering” the Himalayan mountains. It is really the conquering our minds in possibilities. It would be good to visit the temples and monasteries that pepper along the treks to receive blessings for the success and safety of your trip. Thank you Rinpoche for this article that many may learn how best to start their journey.
Thank you for this comprehensive guide to trekking in Tibet. I really like this One Minute series it is perfect for busy people and those who prefer shorter reads.
Trekking in Tibet is a perfect way to explore Tibet. There are many trekking tours in and around Tibet. The trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp is the most popular one for thousands of tourists in Tibet. Its really challenging for anyone going to Tibet its self due the high attitude and further going trekking will be even more challenging. Many foreigner do enjoy trekking in Tibet to explore new adventures and especially to been on the Himalayan trails to Mount Everest. They do also like to see the most beautiful mountain valleys in Tibet. Those trekkers will have a full insight of Tibetan culture during trekking tour it self.
For pilgrims they would go circumambulating the holy Mount Kailash as a practice to purify their karma. Yearly thousands of pilgrims from all over Tibet, India and all over the world , trying to make the long scenic journey there. From those picture , Mount Kailash is indeed a beautiful site. Merely looking at it , it’s a blessing as Mount Kailash is a holy mountain considered by Buddhists. Wow …..it will take pilgrims three days to circumambulate round the Holy mountain.
Amazing there are many world famous trekking and hiking route in Tibet. To them trekking in Tibet is an amazing experience of a life time. Interesting read .
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful and details article .