There are 3 permits are mandatorily required for traveling in whole TAR.
 

(1) Tibet Entry Permit - The permit is required to enter Lhasa from any of the portal cities outside TAR.

(2) Alient Travel Permit - The permit is required for traveling to the unrestricted prefectures outside Lhasa city.

(3) Military Permit - The permit is required for visiting the bordering regions such as E.B.C or Ali, always check the current situation as these regions sometimes would be closed to tourists.
 

Without the permits mentioned above, traveling in Tibet is considered illegal, the monetary penalty and political inspection can apply.

Permit application
The TTB (Tibet Tourism Bureau) doesn't accept the personal application for the permits, just simply send us some scanned travel documents (please contact for details), then leave rest of the jobs to us.

Plan my trip
The "rules" of traveling in Tibet for foreign tourists have been changed since 2008, now you can't just simply grab the permits and go, instead you need to be "organised" (Even only 1 person). It now works as following:

(1) Your itinerary and permit application must be submit to the "TTB" before entering Tibet. So, we need to provide us or discuss with us for an itinerary which is going to be submit along with other documents.

(2) A licensed tour operator will be designated to carry out your journey through out the "TAR", a Tibetan English speaking guide and driver will accompany you till the tour ends.

(3) There is no limit for the number of people to join this organised tour, even only yourself, but since the main cost goes to hiring the driver and car, a right number of people in the group becomes essential. (4 persons for SUV car, and 6-7 people for van would be ideal).

Experienced!
(1) Our hostel has been arranging backpackers the Tibet permits and budget tours to Tibet for more than 10 years, full of experiences. We have reliable connections in Tibet, they are all licensed and experienced.

Cheap!
(2) We have 4 hostels in chengdu with the capacity of nearly 400 beds, we help you to find more guys to share your travel cost to meet your budget.

Customer service!
(3) We care about the customer service and our reputation, we stand with our guests to fight for the interest and right.

Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS) is common at high altitudes, and depends on the elevation, the rate of ascent and individual susceptibility. Most visitors to Tibet will suffer from at least some symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization in several hours to several days.
 

Symptoms tend to be worse at night and include headache, dizziness, lethargy, loss of appetite, nausea, breathlessness and irritability. Difficulty sleeping is another common symptom, and many travelers have trouble sleeping for the first few days after arrival at Lhasa.
 

An altitude over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) is usually defined as high altitude. Since most places in Tibet are higher than this level. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), also called Altitude Sickness is the biggest health risk to tourists travelling in Tibet. AMS is common at high altitudes due to the decreasing availability of oxygen. Most people will suffer differing degrees of symptoms at high elevation. The occurrence of AMS is dependent on the altitude, the ascent rate and individual physical condition. Symptoms of AMS include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. Most people will experience one or more AMS symptoms upon their arrival in Tibet. The symptoms will usually gradually decrease in severity during acclimatization. Mild AMS usually will not interfere with mild activity.
 

However, AMS can be very serious, with the most serious symptoms being High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), which can be fatal. Symptoms of HAPE include weakness, shortness of breath, even at rest, impending suffocation at night, and a persistent productive cough with white, watery, or frothy fluid. Symptoms of HPCE may include headache, ataxia, weakness, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, coma and loss of memory. Both approach and strike at night and can be fatal! Immediate descent is the surest treatment.
 

AMS can be lessened or avoided with proper acclimatisation, which will also ease and reduce AMS symptoms. A gradual ascent will allow your body to acclimatise to higher altitudes and the decreased oxygen supply. Go no higher 300 - 400 hundred meters (984 - 1,312 feet) daily and have a rest after each 1,000 meter (3280 feet) ascent. Medication also helps to prevent AMS. Mild AMS symptoms can be treated with proper medication. If medication does not relieve the symptoms, go to hospital or evacuate immediately to safe altitude!

The following precautions may help to prevent or lessen the effects of AMS:

1. Drink plenty of fluids (3 - 4 litres daily at least) and eat carbohydrate food to keep the body properly hydrated;

2. Do not over exert and only partake in light activity immediate after your arrival

3. Don't smoke, drink alcohol or take other depressants such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These will depress the respiratory drive and limit oxygen intake.

4. Avoid catching cold before you entering Tibet.
 

Preventive Medication

1. Diamox (Acetazolamide) have been found helpful. It allows you to breathe faster so that you metabolize more oxygen, thereby minimizing the symptoms caused by poor oxygen supply. Since it takes a while for Diamox to have an effect, it is advisable to start taking it 24 hours before you go to altitude and continue for at least five days at higher altitude. The recommendation of the Himalayan Rescue Association Medical Clinic is 125 mg, twice a day (morning and night) but you are recommended to consult your physician for the prescription.

2. Hongjingtian Tibetan herbs are still good preventive and treatment effects for AMS. Honjingtian (Rhodiola Eoccinea) may help sleep at high altitude and thus increase oxygenation at night.

Before you go to Tibet. Get as fit and healthy as possible, both physically and psychologically. Visitors having record of heart, lung, other organ problems or anemia should consult their doctor before making the decision to visit Tibet.

Who can't go to Tibet? We suggest people who suffered from high blood pressure and severe heart disease not travel to Tibet.