1. What vehicle should I drive for a Self-Drive tour to Tibet?
Most of the roads are in very good condition. Even the way leading to the Everest Base Camp was paved with asphalt. You can drive saloon cars, 4WD vehicles, classic cars, caravans, or motor cycles etc. If you drive from Nepal to Nepal or the other way around, a 4 WD vehicle will be much better since the way from Kathmandu to Tibet is crumbling.
2. From which ports I can enter Tibet?
China borders 14 countries and has many ports open to the third country. Foreign tourists traveling to Tibet mostly enter China from Xinjiang, Yunnan and Nepal. Here please find some popular ports the former tourists taken.
| Ports in China | Foreign Ports and Countries |
|---|---|
| Tourgart in Xinjiang | Naryn in Kyrgyzstan |
| Irkeshtam in Xinjiang | Irkeshtam in Kyrgyzstan |
| Jeminay in Xinjiang | Maikapchagai in Kazakhstan |
| Khunjerab in Xinjiang | Sost in Pakistan |
| Khorgos in Xinjiang | Xoproc in Kazakhstan |
| Karasu in Xinjiang | Kulma in Tajikistan |
| Takeshiken in Xinjiang | Bulgan in Mongolia |
| Laoyemiao in Xinjiang | Burgastai in Mongolia |
| Hekou in Yunnan | Lao Cai in Vietnam |
| Tianbao, Masupo in Yunnan | Thanh Thuy Vietnam |
| Dulong, Maguan in Yunnan | Xin Man in Vietnam |
| Mohan in Yunnan | Boten in Laos |
| Ruili in Yunnan | Mu Se in Mayanmar |
| Gyirong in Tibet | Rasuwagadhi in Nepal |
3. When is the best time to drive our own vehicle to visit Tibet?
If you drive to Tibet from China, April to June and September to October are the best time. During this period, the weather is good with warm temperature and without much rainfall or strong wind. July and August are also good but there might be many rainfalls. Winter from November to March are not a good time since driving all the way to Tibet will pass many mountainous areas and the road might be blocked with heavy snow.
Nepal rainfall season is during June and September. The road from Gyirong, the border with Nepal, to Kathmandu is very bumpy and muddy. If you travel in this period, it is better to avoid entry or exit from Nepal.
4. Can we drive through Tibet without a guide?
No, this is not possible. No matter which part you travel in Tibet, a local guide is a must. But the guide will not stay with you all the time, you can still have free time each day after the sightseeing is finished.
5. How do I get internet on the way to Tibet?
Almost all the hotel, even guesthouses on the way to Tibet, have WIFI service in the rooms. When you are on the road, we recommend you to buy a Chinese phone card. You can buy a phone package with no data cap at a very cheap price. However, some foreign social medias and search engines as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google, Gmail etc. are not accessible in China unless you log into a VPN firstly.
6. Should I install a dashcam in my vehicle if I drive to Tibet?
Yes, you are highly advised to install a dashcam in your vehicle. It can record dangerous driving that defends your case in an accident lawsuit, or it might capture video of somebody attempting to make a factitious accident.
