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Selina Chen, professional English-Chinese interpreter Selina Chen 陈丽明 EN ⇄ 中文 · Tibet · Guide & interpreter

Book a Tibet tour

Tibet is the demanding end of a China trip: restricted, high-altitude, permit-gated. Most Tibet itineraries stage through Chengdu, the main gateway, where the same person who handles your business can arrange the Tibet Travel Permit and run the days on the plateau.

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Potala Palace13 stories above LhasaJokhang Templethe spiritual heartSamye MonasteryTibet's firstYamdrok Laketoward Mount KailashPermit-gatedstaged through Chengdu
What you'll see

The day, at a glance.

  • Potala Palace in Lhasa: the 13-story winter residence of the Dalai Lamas
  • Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Lhasa
  • Samye Monastery, Tibet's first, on the north bank of the Brahmaputra
  • Gyantse Kumbum, famed for its golden domes and layered murals
  • Yamdrok Lake and the views toward Mount Kailash
Yamdrok Lake with a prayer-flag mountain pass at golden hour
Yamdrok Lake with a prayer-flag mountain pass at golden hour
How the day runs

A private day, your pace.

An example of how the day can run, not a fixed script. Yours flexes around what you want to see, your pace, and how much time you have.

01

Day 1

Arrive in Lhasa and rest for the altitude. A gentle first afternoon at Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of the city.

02

Day 2

The Potala Palace, the 13-story winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, with the climb paced for the thin air.

03

Day 3

Out to Samye Monastery, Tibet's first, on the north bank of the Brahmaputra.

04

Day 4

Gyantse Kumbum for the golden domes and layered murals, then Yamdrok Lake and the views toward Mount Kailash.

What this costs

What a private Tibet trip costs.

Tibet can't be booked as a simple day rate: foreign visitors need a permit, a licensed Tibetan guide and a private vehicle, arranged together as one package, from about $150 per person per day, all in. Take it as a planning estimate; the whole trip is quoted to you in writing within 12 hours.

  • Priced per person, because the permit and the licensed guide are set per traveller.
  • Several days back to back carry a per-day discount.
What shapes your quote
  • Number of days
  • Group size
  • Season & permit window
  • Your route
FAQ

Tibet Tour, Private Guided Trips from Chengdu: your questions.

How much does a private Tibet tour cost?
Tibet is not sold as a day rate. Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit, a licensed Tibetan guide and a private vehicle, all arranged together as one package, from about $150 per person per day, all in. Several days back to back lower the per-day cost, and we put the whole trip in writing within 12 hours.
Is the price per person or for the whole group?
For Tibet, per person. The permit, licensed guide and vehicle package is quoted per person per day, because the permit and licensed-guide rules are set per traveller. Group size still helps a little, since the guide and vehicle are shared, so a small group pays less per head than someone travelling solo.
What is included in the tour guide fee?
The Tibet package covers the permit, your licensed Tibetan guide and the private vehicle with driver. Attraction tickets, meals and your flight or train into Tibet are separate. The written quote itemises all of it before anything is confirmed.
Does the tour guide price change by season?
The package price holds fairly steady, but the season decides the rest. Tibet is open to foreign visitors roughly April to October, permits tighten around sensitive dates, and the Golden Week holiday is the busiest. Book a month or more ahead for those windows.
Do I need a special permit to visit Tibet?
Yes. Beyond your Chinese visa you need a Tibet Travel Permit, obtainable only through a registered Tibet travel agency. We arrange this as part of booking the tour.
How many days should I allow for Tibet?
Plan a minimum of 3 to 4 days. The altitude (above 4,500m) needs acclimatisation, and the key sites in and around Lhasa are spread out.
Why does the tour route through Chengdu?
Chengdu is the principal gateway into Tibet, with the most direct flights and the permit logistics handled on the ground before you fly to Lhasa.
When is the best time to visit Tibet?
April to October, with the warmest, clearest stretch from May to September. Winter is cold and some passes close, though Lhasa itself stays open and far quieter. We book around the season and the permit lead time.
How do I handle the altitude?
Lhasa sits at about 3,650m and the outer sites climb higher, so the first day is deliberately gentle to let you acclimatise. Drink water, move slowly, skip alcohol early on, and tell me of any heart or lung condition so the pace is set right.
Can the same person interpret if my trip is also business?
Yes. Because Tibet stages through Chengdu, the person arranging your permit and plateau days is also your Chengdu interpreter for any meetings on the same trip.
In Chengdu for business?

Book a Chengdu interpreter for the meetings.

The tour is the easy part. If you're sourcing, negotiating or visiting a factory in Chengdu, the same person can run your meetings: published rates, written quote in 12 hours.
Keep exploring

More private days in China.

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Next step

Add a private day in Tibet. Ask for a quote.

Tell me your dates and how much time you have. I'll put together a private Tibet day around your schedule, no obligation.

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superinterpreter · selina@mychinainterpreter.com · Xiamen, China · UTC+8

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