Is it viable to travel through Nepal and Tibet?

Question

Is it possible to cross the border into Tibet from Nepal, considering the politics?? Also, would it be safe?

Answer 1

Yes, people do it all the time.  I've done it.  However, it is not currently possible for a westerner to do it independently.  You must be part of a tour, approved by the Chinese government, and will be issued a "group visa" which does not permit you to leave your group.   This visa is arranged in Kathmandu and requires your passport be taken to the Chinese Embassy, by your tour arranger, for processing there.  It takes a day or two.  

The tour is most commonly operated from Kathmandu to Lhasa via a twice-weekly flight, then the groups drive from Lhasa back to a neutral zone before the Nepali border, jump in a truck or other vehicle to the bridge at the border, walk across the bridge into Nepal, conduct visa formalities, then jump in another vehicle for the 3-4 hour drive back to Kathmandu.  The whole tour usually lasts a week and is well worth it.  It is very safe and the political situation is fine for this type of travel.  

People also do the tour I mentioned in reverse, but acclimation is harder since the road climbs to over 5000m within 100 miles from the Nepali border.  

There are also some treks from Nepal into Tibet.  Humla to Kailash comes to mind.  I wanted to do that trek this year, but the cost was prohibitive due to the logistics of two countries and the remoteness of the region.  Until two years ago, travel in the far-western Humla region was not possible due to Maoist activity, but I understand the situation there has improved.     I was also informed by my trustworthy tour provider (Thirdpole Expeditions) that the Chinese customs officials at the remote outpost along that trail are notoriously inconsistent about whether they'll let even a valid visa-holder into the country, and in the event they turned me back, I'd still be on the hook for the full trek cost.

Answer 2

yes it is