How to get to Tibet?
 

Hi guys, just a quick question, my friend and I going to China in Sep for holiday, and we are thinking to go to Tibet for a few days, and I was told my friend needs a travel permit to go to Tibet, because he is not a Chinese( he has a New Zealand passport), so where can he get a Tibet travel permit?

Many thanks

Short answer: Unless you're a glutton for punishment, your options are to fly or take the train. However, permit policy has been tightened up and it's basically not possible to travel to Tibet independently at the moment -- you need to sign up for a package tour.

Long answer: http://wikitravel.org/en/Tibet

Chengdu is the usual transit point for backpackers wanting to enter Tibet by plane from inside China.

The travel agents there organise groups and TTB permits to get you to Lhasa. Once there you can organise you own accommodation and any further travel you may wish to undertake.

A good travel resource for travelling to Tibet is the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum.