Is a tour guide required to enter Lhasa, or can I purchase a Tibet Travel Permit without obtaining a tour guide? I'm confused about what I must do. Also, are Tibet Travel Permits being sold now? I read that they won't be sold until after March 31. Is that true?

Dear Michelle,

Thanks for contacting Top China Travel!

I would like to clear your questions one by one as follow.

(1) Is a tour guide required to enter Lhasa, or can I purchase a Tibet Travel permit without obtaining a tour guide? I'm confused about what I must do.
A tour guide is definitely required to enter Lhasa. You can not purchase a Tibet Travel permit without obtaining a tour guide. Generally speaking, foreigners can not manage to apply for a Tibet Travel permit by themselves. With the opening of the Tibet Railway and the construction of more airports, Tibet is more accessible for international tourists than ever before. However, to preserve the distinctive natural environment, the rare cultural relics, and the local customs of Tibet for years, and also due to limited transportation and other tourist facilities in Tibet, overseas tourists can only travel to Tibet in groups organized by a travel agency in China or by the offices of the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB). As a result, certain documents for traveling must be obtained before entering Tibet. There are some more useful info at Tibet Travel Permit. 

If you book Tibet tour with us, we can apply the Tibet Travel permit for you, and you do not do it by yourself. You just have to apply for China visa in your country by yourself. And to manage to apply for Chinese visa, you'd better not mention that you are planning to travel to Tibet while in the application procedures, or they may fail to apply for the Chinese visa.

(2) Also, are Tibet Travel Permits being sold now? I read that they won't be sold until after March 31. Is that true?”
In 2015, Frebruary and March are closed to the foreign travelers. So you are right, they won't be sold until after March 31. You'd better travel to Tibret after April 15 to leave enough time to apply for travel agents in China to apply for the Tibet Travel permit for you. It usually takes about 15 days for the procedures.

Are you planning a China trip to Tibet? As overseas toursits can only travel to Tibet organised by a travel agent in China or by the offices of the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB), you can not travel there by yourself. And while you are touring in Tibet area, you must be accompanied by a local tour guide. We can organise the Tibet tour with Tibet Travel permit and tour guide service included. Would you advise some more details of your trip plan as follow, so that we can work out a proposal with price for your reference?

1) How many people will travel together?

2) Could you please tell me your tentative arrival date in China? And how many days are you planning for the trip?

3) What kind of hotel would you like to stay in? 5 star for deluxe, 4 star for comfortable or 3 star for budget hotel?

4) Except for Tibet, is there any other places you want to visit in China? We can offer tailor-made tour package for you.

By the way, there are som pre-made Tiber tour package on our site at Explore Tibet Tours. If you are interested in one of them, just let us know, we can quote for you.

Any further request or question, please feel free to contact with us.