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Since the 2015 earthquake closed Zhangmu, Kyirong is the only land border. The drive drops from 5,200m to 2,800m in one day — subtropical forest replaces barren plateau. Here’s the exact visa, permit, and packing situation.
TibetGo Team
Travel Expert
The Lhasa-to-Kathmandu overland journey is one of the world's great road trips. In 7 days, you descend from the Tibetan Plateau at 3,650m through the highest mountains on Earth, past Everest Base Camp, and down into the subtropical Kyirong Valley at 2,800m before crossing into Nepal.
Since the old Zhangmu border closed after the 2015 earthquake, all overland crossings use the Kyirong (Gyirong) route. The descent from the high plateau to Kyirong is one of the most dramatic drives in Asia — you drop from 5,000m to 2,800m through forests, waterfalls, and deep gorges.
Your Tibetan guide will see you off on the Chinese side. You walk across the bridge, clear Nepal immigration, and arrange transport to Kathmandu (about 8 hours by jeep, $60/person).
Important: Your Chinese visa becomes single-entry once you leave. Make sure you don't need to return to China.