Nepal/Tibet border

Hi! Anyone knows if it's open the border on the friendship highway? I've
heard it's open but not yet for tourists?
If yes, we're in 4 people and we'd like to do this journey in August 2003.
Do you think we'd better to go to chineese embassy in our country (Italy)
before leaving to obtain a chineese visa or it's not important since we'll
"have to" go to a local travel agent in Katmandu to get the permit for Tibet
and organize the trip?
Thanx a lot!
Gianni

"GianniG" <REgianni.garutiMOVE@REMOtin.itVE> wrote:
> Hi! Anyone knows if it's open the border on the friendship highway? I've
> heard it's open but not yet for tourists?
> If yes, we're in 4 people and we'd like to do this journey in August 2003.
> Do you think we'd better to go to chineese embassy in our country (Italy)
> before leaving to obtain a chineese visa or it's not important since we'll
> "have to" go to a local travel agent in Katmandu to get the permit for
Tibet
> and organize the trip?
> Thanx a lot!
> Gianni
>
I did the trip during the month of august 2002 and it was absolutely open to
tourists. (the only problem were the landslides due to a very heavy rain)
I went from Hong Kong and I got there my chinese visa, later I got the
permission to Tibet in Chengdu.
I met many people on the road that got the chinese visa in Tibet.
To be sure, contact by internet some travel agent in Katmandu.
Try to avoid the Chinese Embassy in Italy, they do not encourage the
independent travellers.

ciao e buon viaggio

federicop

> I did the trip during the month of august 2002 and it was absolutely open
to
> tourists. (the only problem were the landslides due to a very heavy rain)

I've read that's open from 1st of July (it was closed because tibetan
government fear of SARS) but maybe not yet for tourists...



> Try to avoid the Chinese Embassy in Italy, they do not encourage the
> independent travellers.

LonelyPlanet (also italian edition) and other indipendent travellers said
"it's easy to get a chinese visa abroad withou saying you want to go to
Tibet. With this you can get a Tibet travel permit in Katmandu". But how can
I get Chinese visa if the embassy of China in Italy wants a copy of return
air ticket and my destination flight is Katmandu (since I want to do an
overland trip...). It's sounds like a joke!
Maybe the only chance is to arrange everything (also visas and permits) in
Katmandu with a travel agencies that will provide us of collective visas...


> ciao e buon viaggio
>
> federicop

GRAZIE!
Gianni

"GianniG" <REgianni.garutiMOVE@REMOtin.itVE> wrote...

> I've read that's open from 1st of July (it was closed because tibetan
> government fear of SARS) but maybe not yet for tourists...
>

Contact somebody in Katmandu to get up to date information
(maybe you could try to ask the Katmandu Guest House at ktmguest@mail.com.np
,usually they are very kind)

> LonelyPlanet (also italian edition) and other indipendent travellers said
> "it's easy to get a chinese visa abroad withou saying you want to go to
> Tibet. With this you can get a Tibet travel permit in Katmandu". But how
can
> I get Chinese visa if the embassy of China in Italy wants a copy of return
> air ticket and my destination flight is Katmandu (since I want to do an
> overland trip...). It's sounds like a joke!
> Maybe the only chance is to arrange everything (also visas and permits) in
> Katmandu with a travel agencies that will provide us of collective
visas...
>
I agree, if you are tight in time, ask an agent how long you will need to
get all the permits.

ciao

federicop