Expert: Nilesh Korgaokar - 4/9/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Nilesh,
My husband and I are travelling in India at the moment and would like to go from Delhi to Lhasa. I am having trouble finding flights and am also aware that we would need to apply for our Tibetan visa in Delhi. Do you have any suggestions?
If this is not possible do you have any recommendations on how to get into Tibet without going on an expensive tour from Kathmandu?
Regards,
Katherine
ANSWER: Hello Katherine,

You should get from Delhi to Kathmandu in Nepal - there are daily flights from Delhi by Indian Airlines. You can approach the Indian Airlines office in Delhi or any travel agent will get you tickets. From Kathmandu you can contact any travel agent or tour operator in the Thamel area and ask them to arrange a trip to Lhasa by road. They will also arrange for a Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. If you want to fly direct to Lhasa, you can do so from Kathmandu - I think China South West operates twice weekly flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Otherwise if you have time, the road journey is memorable as you get to see lots of Tibet on the way - the cities of Xigatse and Gyantse as also the Tibet plateau. Its a bit long but one of my most fantastic road trips.

You can also apply for a Chinese visa for entry into Tibet at the Chinese Embassy in Delhi. They take a couple of days or take some extra fees for urgent same-day processing.

There is no way you can get from Delhi to Lhasa directly - at least not to the best of my knowledge.

Hope this information helps.

Have a safe and memorable journey.

Nilesh.

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

QUESTION: Thanks Nilesh
We have been looking into flying Kathmadu to Lhasa however the tour operators we have spoken to over email have quoted us huge prices for acquireing a Tibetian visa and pass through them (ie the Trekking Society - $240 each for just the pass) Do you have any recommendations on who to go through to get our visa (does this really need to be a group visa through an agent?) in Kathmandu? Is it possible then to go independanty through to Lhasa or do you have to do an organised tour? Ideally we would like to fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu and travel back to Kathmandu overland. I can't find anything on China South West Airlines on the web do you have any contact details?
Thanks again,
Katherine
ANSWER: Why don't you try going to the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi and apply for a visa there. This visa should be good for you to get into Tibet and also to fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa. I suppose with the coming Olympic games, the Chinese Embassy in Delhi itself should have a good informaton bureau where they should be able to give you up to date information regarding the costs and formalities of flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa. I know that there are some very archaic and stupid restrictions about flying into Tibet - about groups and all that and only these tour operators know how to do that.

Otherwise I suggest you get to Kathmandu and visit several of the tour operators that you will find in the Thamel area and then take a call.

I tried searching on the web for China South West airlines and could not find anything useful, but a good travel agent in Delhi should be able to fix that and find you some up to date and useful information.

Once you get to Lhasa you should look at the bulletin boards at the hotels in the old Lhasa area - try the Banak Shol hotel. You will find notices asking for people to join up and travel back to Kathmandu by road. It is difficult to travel independently in Tibet although not unheard of - I have cyclists and even lone trekkers and I have no idea how they cut thru the formalities tape.

Hope this helps.

Nilesh

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

QUESTION: Hi Nilesh,
Thanks for your thoughts. The only thing I am concerned about in trying to get Chinese visa in Delhi is this which is found on the website for People Republic of China in Katmandu -  Visa for Tibet Autonomous Region of China

a. Tourist Visa

Individual tourist visa for Tibet Autonomous Region of China is yet available. If you are traveling to Tibet, you are required to get a group visa through a qualified local travel agency. In case there is an existing visa in your passport for mainland of China, this visa will be cancelled and a group visa will be issued instead without any charge. If you intend to make further trip to other places of China through Tibet, you have to change the group visa for a travel permit from the Office of Public Security Bureau in Lhasa . The airplane is the only way for your further trip to other parts of China.

Don't want them to cancel the visa we will have just paid for! It all sounds so convoluted and made intentionally difficult! I think maybe best to go to Katmandu and shop around there as you say. Thanks again.
Katherine

Answer
Hi Katherine,

I think I'm out of my depth here as I don't claim to be an expert on Visas - especially Chinese visas. I think your best bet is to get to Kathmandu and get a Chinese visa there - with the help of a local travel agent or tour guide. They should be having their ear to the ground and know the current formalities regarding the visas.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. Have a good trip.

Take care and have a good trip.

Nilesh.