Expert: Nilesh Korgaokar - 6/12/2008

Question
QUESTION: hi.im planning to drive from bangalore to mount everest base camp ie till there is a motorable rd..i need to knw do indians require a visa for tibet and is there any spl documentation neded to get to base camp and also do we apply for the visa in india or on arrival/border...also needed  to knw if u knw the route to base camp there is 1 road from katmandu to lahasa..is there any route in nepal itself

ANSWER: Hi Sameer,

You need to apply for a Chinese Visa if you want to visit Tibet. However, I believe that the Everest Base Camp trail passes entirely thru Nepal. You cannot apply for a visa on arrival at the Tibet border and you need to have your visa done in advance. Regarding routes to the Everest Base Camp, I suggest you get in touch with Automobile Association of India (South) in Chennai and find out all the formalities from them about driving an Indian registered car across the border to Nepal. Here's their website -

http://www.aasindia.in/aasi/index.htm

There is a road from Kathmandu to Lhasa but you will need a powerful four wheel drive if you want to negotiate that road.

Hope this helps.

Nilesh.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank u for the quick n promt reply....lhasa is in tibet n the tht is the route to get to base camp n this runs through nepal...that i thought is the route to base camp frm the north side and the south side runs through nepal..pls lemme knw if im rite..also any idea how long it takes if i apply for a visa in india and whom to contact

Answer
Hi,

To the best of my knowledge if you approach Everest from the South you should not have to enter Tibet at all. You can apply for a visa to enter Tibet at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi or any of their consulates in Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata. It should not take more than two days and they also have an 'emergency' visa system where for some extra payment you can get it in one day.

Here's the website -
http://www.chinaembassy.org.in/

Hope this helps and have a great trip.
Nilesh