A Tibet Nepal map should show three things clearly: where the two sides meet along the Himalaya, which border crossings and routes connect them, and what the current status means for a trip. This page maps all of it — six designated border points, the main overland corridor, and the Everest and Kailash landmarks — checked October 2026. It sits inside our wider Tibet map hub, which links every standalone map on the site.
Quick Tibet Nepal Map Facts
Sources: Crossing status reflects the National Immigration Administration announcement of 27 August 2026 (suspension of electronic border-area permits for Shigatse, effective 00:00 on 28 August 2026), Nepal’s Department of Immigration entry-point information, and port and road positions reported by Xinhua, CCTV and Reuters through the August–September 2026 disaster period. Checked 5 October 2026.
Tibet and Nepal on the Map
Tibet lies directly north of Nepal, and the Himalayas run between them like a wall. The boundary follows the southern edge of the Tibet Autonomous Region, mainly along Ngari Prefecture and Shigatse City, with Mount Everest standing on the line itself. Lhasa sits on the plateau to the northeast; Kathmandu sits in the hills to the south, at about 1,400 m against Lhasa’s 3,650 m.
Zhangmu and Gyirong may look close on a regional map, but the mountain roads make the actual journey much longer; Kailash lies much farther west, near Nepal’s western border. Holding those spatial relationships is what a good Tibet Nepal map is for.
Tibet–Nepal Border Map
The Tibet–Nepal border follows the Himalayan range for about 1,400 km — often cited as 1,414 km — with some of the world’s highest peaks on or near the line. Deep river gorges cut through the Himalayan crest. For organized foreign overland travel, the Gyirong corridor in Shigatse has traditionally been the main route between the two sides, although it is currently suspended.
But designated is not the same as open, and the two are worth keeping apart. The table below separates the two questions: which crossings exist and where, and which of them a foreign traveler can actually use right now. Only one of the six has a record of regular third-country tourist traffic, and it is currently closed.
The Six Designated Crossings: Where They Are
| Border point (Tibet – Nepal) | Area | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Gyirong – Rasuwagadhi (Kerung) | Central | Shigatse, at Resuo Bridge; the westernmost of the two road ports and the main corridor for organized foreign overland travel |
| Zhangmu – Kodari (Tatopani) | Central-east | Nyalam county, on the Araniko Highway; the historic Kathmandu corridor and the closest crossing to the capital |
| Purang – Yari (Hilsa), Humla | Far west | Ngari; the Kailash-side crossing, reached on the Nepal side via Nepalgunj, Simikot and a helicopter hop |
| Lizi – Nechung (Mustang) | West-central | On the Nepal side also known as Korala; trade opened here in September 2025 |
| Riwu – Olangchung Gola | East | Remote high-pass route in Nepal’s Taplejung district; local trade only |
| Chentang – Kimathanka | Far east | Remote high-pass route in Nepal’s Sankhuwasabha district; local trade only |
The Same Six Crossings: Which Are Open to Foreign Travelers
| Border point | Open to foreign travelers? | Current position |
|---|---|---|
| Gyirong – Rasuwagadhi | No — suspended | The only crossing with regular third-country tourist traffic. Closed since the August 26, 2026 glacier-collapse mudslide destroyed the port complex and access roads on both sides; no reopening date announced |
| Zhangmu – Kodari | Conditional | Reopened to travelers in March 2025 after the 2015 earthquake closure, and used by foreign self-drive groups in April 2026. Since the August 2026 disaster it operates under changed arrangements, including a relocated customs inspection site and road restrictions — do not assume it is a drop-in substitute for Gyirong; confirm with your operator |
| Purang – Yari (Hilsa) | Specialist groups only | Used by some Kailash–Mansarovar pilgrimage groups and was not affected by the August 2026 disaster; not part of the Lhasa–Kathmandu corridor and not an option for ordinary tourists |
| Lizi – Nechung (Korala) | No tourist access | Opened for trade in September 2025; no foreign tourist crossing |
| Riwu – Olangchung Gola | No tourist access | Designated; local trade only |
| Chentang – Kimathanka | No tourist access | Designated; local trade only |
The Main Tibet–Nepal Travel Routes
Three routes are particularly important on a Tibet Nepal map. For foreign travelers on organized overland trips, the main one has traditionally been the Gyirong corridor between Kathmandu, Gyirong, Shigatse and Lhasa. The historic Zhangmu corridor and the Kailash-side Purang–Yari route serve different purposes. Permits follow your destination rather than the crossing: through Gyirong or Zhangmu to Everest and Lhasa, the Tibet Travel Permit is the core document; add Purang and Kailash to the plan, and the Aliens’ Travel Permit and Military Area Entry Permit come on top.
Kathmandu → Gyirong → Shigatse → Lhasa
This is the overland link the whole page orbits. The road leaves Kathmandu, climbs to the Rasuwagadhi post, crosses at Resuo Bridge, and runs up the Gyirong Gorge onto the plateau toward Shigatse and Lhasa. In the reverse direction it is the classic exit from Tibet into Nepal. For travelers combining Everest, the classic shape runs the other way — Lhasa, Shigatse, Everest, Gyirong, Kathmandu — and the legs below are listed in that direction; northbound is the same road in reverse.
| Leg | Distance | Sleeping altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Lhasa → Shigatse (via Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse) | About 360 km | Shigatse, 3,840 m |
| Shigatse → Everest area (over Gyatso La, 5,248 m) | About 340 km | Everest area, roughly 5,000–5,200 m |
| Everest area → Gyirong Town (over Gongtang La, about 5,236 m) | About 390 km | Gyirong Town, about 2,800 m |
| Gyirong Town → Resuo Bridge | 24 km | Bridge, roughly 1,800 m |
| Rasuwagadhi → Kathmandu | About 150 km | Kathmandu, about 1,400 m |
Leg distances are approximate and will not add up exactly; end to end the corridor is usually quoted at roughly 1,300 km. The altitude pattern is straightforward: after Everest the road descends steadily through the Gyirong Gorge, dropping nearly 2,400 m over about 94 km, and every night after Everest is lower. Driving days are long; foreign travelers do the Tibet side with an operator’s guide and vehicle, and our Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour follows this general route. The two direction-specific maps cover the execution: the step-by-step Kathmandu–Lhasa route northbound, and the same route read southbound — the direction this page describes. This page stays at the level of the whole border system; the execution detail lives there.
Kathmandu → Zhangmu → Nyalam → Tibet
Zhangmu–Kodari is the historic China–Nepal trade corridor toward Kodari and Tatopani, closer to Kathmandu than Gyirong and the historic alternative whenever Gyirong is suspended. The two crossings have moved in opposite directions over the past decade. Zhangmu was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake, carried limited trade again from 2019 and two-way trade from May 2023, and reopened to travelers in March 2025; in April 2026 a 15-vehicle foreign self-drive group entered Tibet through it. Gyirong, meanwhile, was cut by a flood in July 2025 and reopened in January 2026, only to be destroyed again in August 2026.
But being designated does not mean open. After the August 2026 disaster Zhangmu has been operating under unusual arrangements of its own — a relocated customs inspection site and restrictions on the approach road during the transition — on a corridor where landslides, floods and fires have repeatedly interrupted traffic. Treat it as a route to confirm with your operator, not as an automatic substitute for Gyirong.
Kathmandu → Hilsa → Purang → Mount Kailash
The western crossing pairs Purang county with Yari (Hilsa) in Nepal’s Humla district. Some pilgrimage groups reach it by flying Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Simikot and finishing with a helicopter hop to the border; many overland Kailash itineraries use the Gyirong corridor instead. This is a specialist route: any Ngari itinerary needs the Tibet Travel Permit plus the Aliens’ Travel Permit and the Military Area Entry Permit — the Tibet travel route map shows how it fits with the western roads. It serves a fraction of the volume the Gyirong corridor carried, and it is not a replacement for a Lhasa–Kathmandu itinerary.
Tibet Nepal Map: Everest Region
Everest is the landmark most people use to orient themselves on a Tibet Nepal map, so three short answers:
Where is Everest? On the China–Nepal border itself — the summit sits on the line.
Which side is Tibet? The north. You reach the north side by road from Tingri, past Rongbuk Monastery at 4,980 m, to Base Camp at roughly 5,000–5,200 m.
Which side is Nepal? The south, reached by trekking from Lukla through the Khumbu valleys. There is no road connecting the two base-camp areas; reaching the Nepal side requires a trek through the Khumbu region, though the two sides are neighbors on the map. The August 26, 2026 disaster was on the Nepal side of the border, and no blanket suspension of Everest Base Camp tourism has been announced — but confirm current road access and permit checks with your operator before booking.
The Everest leg of the crossing is broken into passes, checkpoints and overnight stops on its own page.
Tibet Nepal Map: Kailash and Western Tibet
Mount Kailash sits in far-western Ngari, much farther west than Everest: roughly two more full driving days via Saga from the Everest region — its own trip, not an extra stop on the Lhasa–Kathmandu corridor. On a map, Everest, Kailash and Nepal can look like a compact combination, but the actual road distances make this a much longer journey.
From Nepal there is more than one way in. Some pilgrimage groups fly Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Simikot and finish with a helicopter hop to Hilsa, crossing at Purang–Yari; others drive from Kathmandu through the Gyirong corridor and on to Kailash, the shape of our Kathmandu Kailash Mansarovar tour. Permits follow the destination, as set out above. The Mount Kailash map covers the region on its own page.
Tibet vs Nepal: What Changes When You Cross the Himalayas?
| Tibet side | Nepal side | |
|---|---|---|
| Main city | Lhasa, about 3,650 m | Kathmandu, about 1,400 m |
| Himalayan access | North, from the plateau by road | South, from the Himalayan foothills and valleys |
| Everest access | North side, by road from Tingri | South side, by trek from Lukla |
| Kailash access | In far-western Tibet, by road or flight | Nepal-side approach via Humla, by flight and helicopter, for some groups |
| Main crossing | Gyirong – Rasuwagadhi for ordinary foreign travel; formalities differ on each side (below) | |
Tibet–Nepal Border: What Travelers Should Check
Important: Border status changes without much notice. Gyirong remains suspended following the August 26, 2026 glacier-collapse mudslide on the Nepalese side, which destroyed the port complex and cut the roads on both sides of the border — no reopening date announced (our October 5, 2026 check). National Immigration Administration notice No. 5 of 2026 suspended electronic border-area permits for Shigatse from zero hour on August 28, 2026, and the Lhasa–Kathmandu flight continues to operate. Never build a non-refundable itinerary around a border crossing — see our Gyirong update for the latest we know.
- China side: the Chinese entry document required for your nationality — for most visitors a Chinese Tourist Visa (L visa) — plus the Tibet Travel Permit, arranged before you travel; your operator coordinates the paperwork. The Gyirong route has not normally required a separate Aliens’ Travel Permit since June 2025 — though Ngari routes, including Kailash, still do.
- Nepal side: most nationalities get a Nepal visa on arrival at Rasuwagadhi, or at the airport if you fly; a few must apply in advance — check for your own passport.
- Border-area pass: the electronic border pass for the Shigatse border counties, introduced in April 2026, has had its issuance suspended from August 28, 2026 under National Immigration Administration notice No. 5 of 2026 — a paperwork measure separate from the crossing’s operating status; foreign travelers currently handle border-area registration on site with their operator.
- From Kathmandu into Tibet: entry procedures depend on your passport, visa status and the current border arrangement — at our last check some L-visa holders could enter Tibet directly. Confirm with your operator at booking.
Last checked: October 5, 2026.
Crossings and passenger access can change because of weather, road conditions, disasters or administrative arrangements. The route-by-route border-area permits breakdown is kept current on its own page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tibet Nepal Map: Common Questions
Where is Tibet compared with Nepal?
Directly to the north. The Himalayas run between them, and the border follows the crest for about 1,400 km, with Lhasa sitting on the plateau northeast of Kathmandu.
Does Tibet share a border with Nepal?
Yes. Tibet and Nepal share roughly 1,400 km of border along the Himalayas, with six designated crossing points. Only Gyirong–Rasuwagadhi has handled regular third-country tourist traffic, and it is currently suspended.
Where is the Tibet–Nepal border crossing?
The main crossing for organized foreign overland travel is Gyirong Port at Resuo Bridge, opposite Rasuwagadhi in Nepal — currently suspended since the August 26, 2026 mudslide. Zhangmu–Kodari is the historic eastern corridor and reopened to travelers in March 2025, but it is running under changed post-disaster arrangements and should not be treated as an automatic alternative. Purang–Yari serves some Kailash pilgrimage groups. Check current access before travel.
How do you travel from Kathmandu to Tibet?
The two main connections are by air or overland. Direct flights link Kathmandu and Lhasa in about an hour and a half; the traditional overland route runs through Rasuwagadhi and Gyirong with an organized operator, permits required. The Gyirong crossing is currently suspended, so the overland option is not available at the moment. Our Kathmandu to Lhasa map details that direction.
Is Mount Everest in Tibet or Nepal?
Both — the summit sits on the border. The north face is in Tibet, reached by road from Tingri; the south face is in Nepal, reached by trek from Lukla.
What are the main places on a Tibet Nepal map?
Four nodes explain the route geography. Lhasa is the main origin: most Tibet itineraries start here, and the flight from Kathmandu lands at Gonggar Airport at 3,570 m. Shigatse is the junction where the southbound corridor meets the roads branching west toward Everest, Saga and Kailash. Gyirong is the border node, the last Tibetan town before Nepal and the first after crossing. Saga is the quiet pivot between the Everest region and western Tibet, and many routes to Kailash pass through it. With the Gyirong crossing currently suspended, the direct flight is in practice the only scheduled public link between the two capitals.
How are Mount Kailash and Nepal connected?
Kailash stands in far-western Tibet’s Ngari Prefecture, much farther west than Everest. Pilgrimage groups reach it from Nepal’s Humla district via the western crossing, after a flight to Nepalgunj and Simikot and a helicopter hop to Hilsa; many overland visitors from Kathmandu use the Gyirong corridor instead.
Can I take a train or a regular bus from Lhasa to Kathmandu?
No. There is no through train and no public bus across the border for foreign travelers. The Lhasa–Kathmandu flight is the only scheduled public link at present, at about 1.5 hours. Overland travel is possible only as part of an organized tour with a licensed guide and vehicle, using the Gyirong or Zhangmu crossing — and Gyirong has been suspended since the August 26, 2026 mudslide, so the overland option is not running at the moment.
Show me the overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu.
The mapped sequence runs Lhasa → Shigatse (about 360 km, via Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse) → Everest area (about 340 km, over Gyatso La, 5,248 m) → Gyirong Town (about 390 km, over Gongtang La, about 5,236 m) → Resuo Bridge (24 km) → Rasuwagadhi → Kathmandu (about 150 km). End to end it is usually quoted at roughly 1,300 km. Every night after Everest is progressively lower — the road drops nearly 2,400 m through the Gyirong Gorge.
Can foreign travelers cross from Tibet to Nepal?
Yes, in principle, and only as part of an organized tour with permits arranged in advance. At present the practical answer is the flight rather than the road: the Gyirong crossing has been suspended since the August 26, 2026 mudslide on the Nepalese side with no reopening date announced, and the historic Zhangmu–Kodari line is running under changed post-disaster arrangements. Confirm the current arrangement with your operator before booking.
Should I do a Lhasa round trip or continue to Kathmandu?
They answer different questions. A Lhasa round trip returns to Lhasa and suits travelers who want the plateau and Everest without border uncertainty. Continuing to Kathmandu adds the overland crossing and a second country, but it depends on the border being open — and right now that leg is not running, so the flight is the fallback. If your dates are fixed and the trip is non-refundable, the round trip is the lower-risk shape until the crossing reopens.
