Friendship Highway — Lhasa to Kathmandu via Gyantse, Shigatse, and Tingri (Classic Full Traverse)
Earth's highest international highway.
You leave Lhasa at 3,650 meters and it only goes higher from there. The Friendship Highway — China’s G318 and G219 where they diverge — crosses five major passes above 5,000 meters before the land finally collapses into Nepal. The Gyatso La tops out near 5,220 meters and on clear days you’re looking across the entire Himalayan spine. Side-tripping to Everest Base Camp from Tingri adds a brutal 70-kilometer spur on loose gravel, but you’ll regret skipping it for the rest of your life. Shigatse and its Tashilhunpo Monastery are your last real fuel and resupply before the high desert pushes south. The Nepal border at Zhangmu — or Tatopani if it’s been reopened — is the end of the plateau and the beginning of a completely different world.
Tibet requires a Tibet Travel Permit, Alien’s Travel Permit, and a mandatory licensed guide — independent driving is not permitted for foreign nationals on the Chinese side; most foreign overlanders access this route via organized expedition or by joining a group vehicle convoy. Chinese-plated vehicles only inside Tibet. Best window is May–June and September–October; July–August brings monsoon mud on the Nepal side and road closures. Fuel at Shigatse and Lhatse — after that, carry extra. Altitude sickness is not a joke at these elevations; acclimatize in Lhasa for at least two days before heading out. The payoff is the most dramatic high-altitude overland route on the planet.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 560 mi / 900 km |
| Duration | 7-10 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 17126 ft |
| Best season | May-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD (Chinese-plated, guided convoy required for foreigners) |
| Nearest town | Lhasa, Tibet |
| Land manager | Tibet Autonomous Region Tourism Bureau / China Ministry of Transport |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Tibet Travel Permit info |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive my own vehicle on the Friendship Highway as a foreign overlander?
No. Foreign nationals cannot drive their own vehicles in Tibet. You must hire a Chinese-plated vehicle with a licensed Tibetan driver, and travel as part of a guided group. Your personal rig stays behind the border.
When is the Friendship Highway actually driveable, and what kills the window?
May–June and September–October are the reliable windows. The July–August monsoon turns dirt sections into mud traps and triggers landslides, especially on the Nepal side near Zhangmu. Winter closes high passes with snow and the Chinese government often restricts foreigner permits further.
What permits do I need and how far in advance do I need to sort them?
You need a Chinese visa, a Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), an Alien's Travel Permit for restricted areas like Shigatse and Tingri, and a Military Permit for the Everest region. Stack at least 4–6 weeks lead time minimum — the TTB alone requires a licensed tour operator to apply on your behalf, and it cannot be obtained independently.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually expect there?
The stretch from Tingri over the Lalung La and down to the Nepal border is the most punishing — rough unpaved road, sharp drops, and altitude above 17,000 ft hammering your body and your engine. The descent into Zhangmu from the Tibetan Plateau is steep, narrow, and frequently damaged by landslides, with sheer cliff drops and no guardrails on much of it.
Is there reliable fuel along the route between Shigatse and the Nepal border?
Fuel is available in Shigatse and Tingri, but stations are sparse and sometimes dry after the Tingri stretch. Carry a significant fuel reserve — a range of 300+ km between reliable fill-up points is realistic in the back half of the route. Confirm with your driver before leaving Shigatse.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.