Tourism is highly restricted in Tibet 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 and Hongkong travelers are free to enter without a visa. Every company that runs Tibet tours will help you obtain a TTB when you book a tour with them.
Without a TTB permit, you won’t even be able to board a flight or train to Tibet. Besides citizens of Singapore, Brunei and Japan, all visitors require a valid Chinese visa in addition to a Tibet permit. 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 and don’t list your occupation as ‘journalist’.
I'm glad I chose to run my first WildJunket Tour to Tibet. It’s safe to say everyone in the group enjoyed the trip tremendously and appreciated the great job our local guide and driver did. If you are looking for your own path on how to travel Tibet, I will be running more tours to Tibet in 2018 — join my mailing list to be notified of the new tours!
