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The permit is usually declared together with your entry dates and route; submit once your plans are fixed and allow ample processing time.Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet; the Everest, Ngari, Yadong and Zhangmu directions also require a border pass.During peak periods volumes are high and processing may take longer; for trips close to departure choose express and confirm acceptance in advance.

Home / Travel Guide / Lhasa to Kathmandu overland via Gyirong

Lhasa to Kathmandu overland via Gyirong

Guide details

GyirongKathmanduNepalBorder areas 47 views 2026-10-28 08:53:47

Route

The overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu runs by road to Gyirong town on the Nepali border. Travellers with a valid passport and Nepali visa do not need a separate border pass for this crossing.

What to expect at the border

After crossing the suspension bridge you enter Nepal and must get a Nepali entry stamp; the immigration office is about 1.5 km from the bridge. Leaving Nepal requires an exit stamp in the same way.

Onward transport

From the border it is a short walk to immigration, then about 20 km to the small town where country buses leave the next morning; the ride to Kathmandu takes around seven hours.

Money and time

There is a time difference of about 2 hours 15 minutes between China and Nepal, so adjust your watch. Rules on how much cash may be carried across the border are enforced, so declare properly and stay within the limits.

Before you go

Get the Nepali visa in Lhasa first if you plan to travel overland, keep copies of your documents, and allow a spare day in case weather or road conditions delay the crossing.

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FAQ

How do I get to Tibet from Nepal?
You can fly Kathmandu–Lhasa directly or enter overland through Gyirong. Another option is to fly first to Chengdu, Guangzhou or Xian, obtain the permit and then continue by air or rail. Either way the permit must be declared through the receiving service in advance, with the itinerary arranged.
How does the overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu work?
Exit through the Gyirong port: drive from Lhasa to Gyirong town, cross the suspension bridge into Nepal and get an entry stamp at the immigration office about 1.5 km from the border, then take a country bus from the nearby town the next morning — about seven hours to Kathmandu. A valid passport and Nepali visa usually mean no separate border pass is needed.
What is the difference between the permit and a border pass?
The permit covers entering Tibet; the border pass covers entering border areas such as Everest, Ngari, Yadong and Zhangmu. They cover different scopes, and itineraries touching border areas usually need both.
Is a border pass the same as the Tibet Travel Permit?
No. The Tibet Travel Permit covers entry to Tibet itself, while the border pass covers border areas such as the Everest direction, Ngari, Yadong and Zhangmu. They are issued and checked separately, and itineraries that touch border areas normally need both.
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