Beijing Tibet Tour

Beijing has many attractions for scenic enjoyment and cultural enrichment.

The Forbidden City: The Forbidden City is China's best-preserved imperial palace, and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. You can appreciate the grand complex, enjoy its architectural beauty, and see treasured collections including ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, jade pieces, and ancient books.
The Great Wall: Hiking the Great Wall is a must-do for all visitors to Beijing. The ancient wall extends 6,000 km long, and many of its famous sections are near Beijing, such as the Badaling Great Wall and the Mutianyu Great Wall.
The Summer Palace: The palace was a summer retreat for the royal family of the Qing Dynasty and now remains the best-preserved imperial garden in China. Take a stroll around Kunming Lake, you can see the beautiful lake and the Seventeen-arch Bridge.

The distance from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet, is about 2,500 km by air and approximately 3,757 km by train via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. You can reach Tibet from Beijing by taking a direct flight to Lhasa, which takes around 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can board the famous Beijing-Lhasa train, which takes about 40 hours and offers spectacular scenery along the world's highest railway. Both options are convenient ways to begin an unforgettable Beijing to Tibet tour.

Taking a Tibet train from Beijing to Lhasa, you can enjoy the stunning landscapes along the way.

Loess Plateau: After entering Shanxi, you can see the typical landforms of the Loess Plateau, including endless mountains and hills and the erosion landscape.
Huangshui River: When you reach Lanzhou, you can see the flowing Huangshui River, a left tributary of the Yellow River. The confluent section shows two contrasting colors of blue and yellow.
Qinghai Lake: As the train departs Xining, you will be greeted by Qinghai Lake. Located in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, it is China's largest alkaline salt lake. The heavenly blue lake is like a sapphire set in the land. The lake is located at the intersection of several bird migration routes. You may witness many species here during migration.
Tanggula Mountain Range: It is the natural boundary of Qinghai and Tibet and also marks the highest section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. As the train climbs to a higher altitude, you can enjoy the stunning view of the blue sky and snow-white mountains.
Cuona Lake: It's the world's highest freshwater lake and the closest lake to the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, with clear and green waters against the blue sky and the mountains beyond.

To visit Tibet from Beijing, you typically need the following permits:

Tibet Travel Permit: This permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) and is required for all foreigners visiting Tibet.
Aliens' Travel Permit: Tourists venturing into partially restricted areas, such as Ngari Prefecture, need to obtain the Aliens’ Travel Permit through a Tibet Travel Agency (like Tibet Horizon).
Military Area Entry Permit: If you want to extend you trip to military-sensitive areas such as Mount Kailash, Lake Mansarovar, etc. or want to traveling along the G318 Highway, you need to apply for a Military Area Entry Permit.
Provisional Driving License: Travelers joining a self-driving trip in Tibet need to apply for a provisional driving license.

Our Tibet tour packages include the Tibet Travel Permit and all the necessary Tibet travel documents. If you book with us, we'll help apply for the permits needed to ensure a smooth and worry-free Beijing Tibet tour.

Like many areas of China, Beijing is affected by the monsoon circulation. It has cold winters and rainy summers. The best time to visit Tibet from Beijing is generally from April to June and from September to October. During these months, the weather is relatively stable, with clear skies and mild temperatures, making it ideal for enjoying the stunning views in both Beijing and Tibet. In addition, you can experience the grand Saga Dawa Festival in May. In summer, the weather may be rainy, but tourists can witness the celebration of Shoton Festival. In winter, Tibet is not so cold as you think. You can enjoy a lower cost of transportation and accommodation and feel less crowded as there are fewer tourists. Also, Losar, the Tibetan New Year, often falls in February or March.

Major Tibetan cities like Lhasa, Shigatse, and Nyingchi offer more diverse options from 3-to 5-star hotels to local guesthouses. They provide basic to luxury facilities, all ensuring a comfortable stay. For travelers on private tours, you can choose according to your standards. However, in remote areas like Everest Base Camp and Mt. Kailash, only cozy tents and guesthouses are available.

Before moving to Tibet, you shouldn't miss Beijing top dishes and snacks, such as Beijing roast duck, shredded pork in Beijing-style sauce, etc. You can find unique Tibetan and Nepali cuisines in Tibet. Tibetan dishes include yak hotpot, sweet tea, butter tea, roasted pig, tsampa, and barley wine. Nepali dishes feature chicken masala and various curries. You can find specialties of other Tibetan prefectures and cities such as stone pot chicken, a specialty of Nyingchi. You can also find Indian dishes and Western-style dishes in Lhasa.

Traveling on the Tibet Plateau with an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, it's common for some tourists to experience altitude sickness. The symptoms of altitude sickness can include headache, nausea, and dizziness.

To minimize the effect of high altitude, it is important to allow time to acclimate to the high altitude and to take precautions to prevent altitude sickness. You should drink plenty of water, eat light meals, and avoid alcohol or caffeine. It is also recommended to pace yourself during the first two days after entering Tibet, avoiding strenuous activities like running.

If you feel uncomfortable, tell your guide. We have prepared oxygen tanks in our vehicles. You can inhale oxygen and take medication when necessary. If symptoms of altitude sickness persist or worsen, we'll help transfer you to the hotel or hospital to seek medical attention immediately.