China from India or Nepal

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Pete471

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Hi
Curerntly in India and wanting to cross into China to drive down to Vietnam/Laos. Unable to go through Myanmar as NZ travel advisory says no.
What is the best land border crossing for a foreign national on an NZ passport to get from India/Nepal into China please?

With thanks
Pete O'Keeffe
 

socal66

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China doesn't permit foreign nationals entering their country on vehicle without possession of an actual Chinese driving license obtained by passing their driver's test requirements. You can obtain a temporary license through this process but it is only valid for 90 days and only valid for driving a rented vehicle within China. You would have to enter China first to one of the identified major cities that provides the exam with translation to your language if Chinese is not your thing. Furthermore they don't allow for vehicle travel across their roads in a foreign registered vehicle unless escorted in convoy by a Chinese national and/or on an approved pre-determined route with your exact stops for each night identified. I have wanted to cross by vehicle through China if only to get from South Korea to Mongolia to Kazakhstan but in researching this the Chinese government makes it near impossible for outsiders to independently drive their own vehicles anywhere in the country. Your best option is probably just to ferry your vehicle from India to Thailand.
 
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El-Dracho

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Hi Pete,

Up-to-date information is a little difficult, as I don't have the impression that there ares so many overlanders on that route at the moment as it was the years before Covid. You willneed an agency to do the red tape stuff for China, that's nothing new and many overlanders have done it this way over the last few years.
The whole thing is not cheap, which is why overlanders usually join together to team up for the China crossing.
You might want to have a look on caravanistan to see if anyone is currently looking for others to team up. You will also find a lot of information for your route there.

Grood luck and keep us posted,
Bjoern
 
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Sea Diamond

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Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.
 

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Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.
Just found this about the visa-free entry to China. This is great news.

China to apply visa-free policy to nine more countries: spokesperson
 
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Pete471

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Hi Pete,

Up-to-date information is a little difficult, as I don't have the impression that there ares so many overlanders on that route at the moment as it was the years before Covid. You willneed an agency to do the red tape stuff for China, that's nothing new and many overlanders have done it this way over the last few years.
The whole thing is not cheap, which is why overlanders usually join together to team up for the China crossing.
You might want to have a look on caravanistan to see if anyone is currently looking for others to team up. You will also find a lot of information for your route there.

Grood luck and keep us posted,
Bjoern
Thank you as always for your info Bjorn - incredibly helpful
It may be that we hit Myanmar and do a straight shot from one border to the next and get through as quickly as possible

A lot more checking to do first before we make a decision

Thanks again for looking out for us

Pete
 
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Pete471

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China doesn't permit foreign nationals entering their country on vehicle without possession of an actual Chinese driving license obtained by passing their driver's test requirements. You can obtain a temporary license through this process but it is only valid for 90 days and only valid for driving a rented vehicle within China. You would have to enter China first to one of the identified major cities that provides the exam with translation to your language if Chinese is not your thing. Furthermore they don't allow for vehicle travel across their roads in a foreign registered vehicle unless escorted in convoy by a Chinese national and/or on an approved pre-determined route with your exact stops for each night identified. I have wanted to cross by vehicle through China if only to get from South Korea to Mongolia to Kazakhstan but in researching this the Chinese government makes it near impossible for outsiders to independently drive their own vehicles anywhere in the country. Your best option is probably just to ferry your vehicle from India to Thailand.
Thank you for your info - incredibly helpful
It may be that we hit Myanmar and do a straight shot from one border to the next and get through as quickly as possible

A lot more checking to do first before we make a decision

Thanks again for looking out for us and your reply I really appreciate it

Pete
 

Pete471

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Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.
That is a great suggestion- thank you
 

Pete471

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Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.
A further question.

I’m aware the visa restrictions have loosened considerably but I can’t find anywhere to ascertain if they will let a UK registered vehicle to transit through from India, into China and then transit through to Thailand or Laos.

Are you aware of anyone in the know that I could talk with please, or any org that could help?

With thanks

Pete O’Keeffe
 
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Sea Diamond

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A further question.

I’m aware the visa restrictions have loosened considerably but I can’t find anywhere to ascertain if they will let a UK registered vehicle to transit through from India, into China and then transit through to Thailand or Laos.

Are you aware of anyone in the know that I could talk with please, or any org that could help?

With thanks

Pete O’Keeffe
I do recall a group of British rally enthusiasts doing a self driving tour here back in 2023, driving their own antique vehicles. Can't seem to find much about them online, but I'm sure you'll have a broader search than myself. Possibly someone from that group is available and can provide some suggestions.
 

socal66

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I do recall a group of British rally enthusiasts doing a self driving tour here back in 2023, driving their own antique vehicles. Can't seem to find much about them online, but I'm sure you'll have a broader search than myself. Possibly someone from that group is available and can provide some suggestions.
That’s probably the Peking to Paris Rally. I was doing a Baja rally earlier this year that had participants that also did the P2P and asked the same questions. The above regulations still apply so all drivers still needed to obtain a Chinese drivers license and the rally event arranged for enough escort vehicles and personnel during the route in China to meet that requirement. That rally also seems to attract a lot of wealthy participants and it was said that several of them had someone else to fly in before and do the drivers test on their behalf to obtain their license. I don’t have any details on how that aspect was done.

One other thing that you’ll want to double check on is whether or not there are any special security zones within your planned route that restrict access for foreign visitors. The most known of these are the provinces in the west of the country that are involved in the Uyghur lockdown but I think there are other areas as well. These restrictions are not just for self-driving but apply to any type of visitation by foreign nationals without special exemptions.
 
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El-Dracho

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A further question.

I’m aware the visa restrictions have loosened considerably but I can’t find anywhere to ascertain if they will let a UK registered vehicle to transit through from India, into China and then transit through to Thailand or Laos.

Are you aware of anyone in the know that I could talk with please, or any org that could help?

With thanks

Pete O’Keeffe
The only thing I can tell you regarding this is that friends of mine went from Mongolia into China and on to Kirgistan last year with german plates.
 

Pete471

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Have found a route through: Nepal - Tibet - China- Laos. 14 day trip with a guide which I think is a good way to go
 
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Pete471

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need 2 more people to join us to get the Tibet permit.
If you know of anyone wanting to go through in the next month or so, please let me know.
I'm not sure where on this forum, I would post such a request.
At this stage we're due to go through on 17th April.
 
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El-Dracho

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need 2 more people to join us to get the Tibet permit.
If you know of anyone wanting to go through in the next month or so, please let me know.
I'm not sure where on this forum, I would post such a request.
At this stage we're due to go through on 17th April.
Hi Pete,

Maybe you can put it here in the trip planning section with a bit of description of the trip:

Overland Trip Planning | OVERLAND BOUND COMMUNITY

I suggest to put it also onto other travel/ overlanding forums and related social media pages. Are you running an instagram or facebook account for your trip? Then I suggest to put it there also and others could share it.

Good luck!
Bjoern
 

Sea Diamond

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Hey Pete

Thats great news!
Good luck finding a couple more adventurers for your path through XiZang. Keep us posted on your travels...here preferably if possible.

Also, if you could pass on any helpful advice for future overlanders as to how you were able to make this happen it would be greatly appreciated I’m sure.
 
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Pete471

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Hey Pete

Thats great news!
Good luck finding a couple more adventurers for your path through XiZang. Keep us posted on your travels...here preferably if possible.

Also, if you could pass on any helpful advice for future overlanders as to how you were able to make this happen it would be greatly appreciated I’m sure.
Will do - thnak you for your help
 
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Pete471

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Hey Pete

Thats great news!
Good luck finding a couple more adventurers for your path through XiZang. Keep us posted on your travels...here preferably if possible.

Also, if you could pass on any helpful advice for future overlanders as to how you were able to make this happen it would be greatly appreciated I’m sure.
Tibet and China





Good morning


I'm not sure where to post this on the forum for the info you asked me to provide, so may i provide it to you and could you put it into the appropriate forum please





Tibet & China on a Kiwi Passport.


As of April 2025, it is really difficult if not impossible for Kiwis to move through Myanmar. NZ travel site says it is a no-go area at present.


The only way to get your vehicle moving east is to ship it out of India, or go through Nepal, up to Tibet and across China and down into Laos.


The great thing is that China has opened up its borders for a free visa to 36 countries. NZ is one of them.


The only stipulation is that you must have a guide with you at all times, and believe me it is a must to have a guide as it is so much easier.


We chose a Tibetan travel tour company for our trip. "Tibet roof of the world.' What an amazing company, and guide. Authentic, honest and ethical. (Tibetroofoftheworld.com)


For us having a Tibetan company talking authentically about Tibet was preferable to a Chinese company - giving Chinese propaganda. We met many other tourists who had a Chinese tour guide who wished for Tibetan guide like we had.


For a 14 day self-guided tour with a guide and in our own car was $US5500. This included:


3* plus hotels + breakfast - they were fabulous.


Entry to all events, cultural sites and museums etc


Oxygen - wow did we need it at Everest Base Camp!!!! - 17,100 feet


If you are a single person there is a single room supplement of $US500 extra.


Guides Tibetan knowledge on where to go.


We crossed into Tibet from the Nepal side at Timure, which is above Kathmandu and is called The Friendship Bridge.


The crossing took 9 hours. I recommend staying close to the border the day before you cross to get an early start, and because the roads are terrible. 58 minutes to go 12.5km from Timure to the border.


Make sure you get your Carnet stamped at customer in Timure.


They close the border between 1300 - 1430 hrs for lunch. Nothing happens. The Gates on the bridge are closed and padlocked.


Once through the Nepalese side, you will need your guide for the Chinese side. It makes a huge huge difference having the guide to assist.


Be aware - The Chinese will ask you if you have any maps. They are looking for Chinese maps with Taiwan on it. If you do, they will confiscate this map. They are very ‘precious’ on this.


The roads on the Chinese side are very good.


Making our way to Kyirong through the mtns was just spectacular and breath-taking.


Note: Internet and connecting with the outside world in China is incredibly limited in China. Our accounts were closed down. We had to carefully use a VPN, to have any contact outside of China.


Each night at the hotel or entry into a place, you will need to have your passport with you and show it. They will take a photo of it. Also on the roads, in cities, there are cameras every 100m. On some open roads, there are cameras every 1 km. Get used to being photographed and having your car photographed.


Drivers Licence and Temporary Car Rego


Your guide will help you get this at Shigatse if you come in from the west side. It is a MUST. Don’t try and drive without either of these items. At toll booths toward the east you will be asked to produce both. If you don’t have them, you go nowhere.


Getting these items was another 8-9 hours in Shigatse as they do all the checks on you and the car.

I used the time to go to Toyota Shigatse and get my car checked and serviced. (We are driving a 2021 Rav4 hybrid) They were brilliant and didn’t charge us for the service. It was their welcome gift, to China they said.


NOTE: They reduced the tyre pressure from 35psi to 25psi. When I asked why it was due to the high altitude. We were about 4000m. Be aware of this requirement so you look after your tyres.


Moving across Tibet/China is relatively hassle free, The roads are good, but be aware, when you stop, or are at your residence for the night you will be stared at and your personal space invaded because the Chinese and Tibetans are curious. With a foreign number plate, they will look inside your car without being invited. They are not being rude, just curious - although it does grate. You will be treated like a minor celebrity. Flow with it.


The normal question you will be asked is, “Where you from?”


Having crossed Tibet and China, we made for the Mengla border with China and Laos.


This was pretty hassle free. Just ensure your guide has the required paperwork for the border crossing, otherwise you waste hours waiting for it.

Be aware - the border closed from 1130 - 1430 hrs for ‘lunch.’ Get there early and get through. As of Aril. Opening time was 080 hrs. Laos side is 0730 hrs. You go back an hour entering Laos.


The journey


It is absolutely worth going through Tibet with a Tibetan guide. For us E.B.C. and Mt Everest, both at Base Camp and then looking at the Himalayas from the Pangla pass (after 97 switch-backs) was a highlight.


Be aware - of altitude sickness. We struggled to breath at times and needed oxygen. Use it, it makes the trip more enjoyable.


Be aware - The amount of dangerous overtaking has to be seen to be believed. We travelled during the day with our spotlights and headlights on full. It’s the only way to stop the stupidity of it, as they possibly thought we were closer than we were with the beams of spotlights piercing toward them.


And then at roadworks when there is a long long line of traffic, they pull out to get in front of as many cars as possible. That then causes traffic jam and everything becomes gridlocked. It is just ridiculous, dangerous and so so selfish. We had several “near misses.”
 

Pete471

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Hey Pete

Thats great news!
Good luck finding a couple more adventurers for your path through XiZang. Keep us posted on your travels...here preferably if possible.

Also, if you could pass on any helpful advice for future overlanders as to how you were able to make this happen it would be greatly appreciated I’m sure.
Tibet and China





Good morning


I'm not sure where to post this on the forum for the info you asked me to provide, so may i provide it to you and could you put it into the appropriate forum please





Tibet & China on a Kiwi Passport.


As of April 2025, it is really difficult if not impossible for Kiwis to move through Myanmar. NZ travel site says it is a no-go area at present.


The only way to get your vehicle moving east is to ship it out of India, or go through Nepal, up to Tibet and across China and down into Laos.


The great thing is that China has opened up its borders for a free visa to 36 countries. NZ is one of them.


The only stipulation is that you must have a guide with you at all times, and believe me it is a must to have a guide as it is so much easier.


We chose a Tibetan travel tour company for our trip. "Tibet roof of the world.' What an amazing company, and guide. Authentic, honest and ethical. (Tibetroofoftheworld.com)


For us having a Tibetan company talking authentically about Tibet was preferable to a Chinese company - giving Chinese propaganda. We met many other tourists who had a Chinese tour guide who wished for Tibetan guide like we had.


For a 14 day self-guided tour with a guide and in our own car was $US5500. This included:


3* plus hotels + breakfast - they were fabulous.


Entry to all events, cultural sites and museums etc


Oxygen - wow did we need it at Everest Base Camp!!!! - 17,100 feet


If you are a single person there is a single room supplement of $US500 extra.


Guides Tibetan knowledge on where to go.


We crossed into Tibet from the Nepal side at Timure, which is above Kathmandu and is called The Friendship Bridge.


The crossing took 9 hours. I recommend staying close to the border the day before you cross to get an early start, and because the roads are terrible. 58 minutes to go 12.5km from Timure to the border.


Make sure you get your Carnet stamped at customer in Timure.


They close the border between 1300 - 1430 hrs for lunch. Nothing happens. The Gates on the bridge are closed and padlocked.


Once through the Nepalese side, you will need your guide for the Chinese side. It makes a huge huge difference having the guide to assist.


Be aware - The Chinese will ask you if you have any maps. They are looking for Chinese maps with Taiwan on it. If you do, they will confiscate this map. They are very ‘precious’ on this.


The roads on the Chinese side are very good.


Making our way to Kyirong through the mtns was just spectacular and breath-taking.


Note: Internet and connecting with the outside world in China is incredibly limited in China. Our accounts were closed down. We had to carefully use a VPN, to have any contact outside of China.


Each night at the hotel or entry into a place, you will need to have your passport with you and show it. They will take a photo of it. Also on the roads, in cities, there are cameras every 100m. On some open roads, there are cameras every 1 km. Get used to being photographed and having your car photographed.


Drivers Licence and Temporary Car Rego


Your guide will help you get this at Shigatse if you come in from the west side. It is a MUST. Don’t try and drive without either of these items. At toll booths toward the east you will be asked to produce both. If you don’t have them, you go nowhere.


Getting these items was another 8-9 hours in Shigatse as they do all the checks on you and the car.

I used the time to go to Toyota Shigatse and get my car checked and serviced. (We are driving a 2021 Rav4 hybrid) They were brilliant and didn’t charge us for the service. It was their welcome gift, to China they said.


NOTE: They reduced the tyre pressure from 35psi to 25psi. When I asked why it was due to the high altitude. We were about 4000m. Be aware of this requirement so you look after your tyres.


Moving across Tibet/China is relatively hassle free, The roads are good, but be aware, when you stop, or are at your residence for the night you will be stared at and your personal space invaded because the Chinese and Tibetans are curious. With a foreign number plate, they will look inside your car without being invited. They are not being rude, just curious - although it does grate. You will be treated like a minor celebrity. Flow with it.


The normal question you will be asked is, “Where you from?”


Having crossed Tibet and China, we made for the Mengla border with China and Laos.


This was pretty hassle free. Just ensure your guide has the required paperwork for the border crossing, otherwise you waste hours waiting for it.

Be aware - the border closed from 1130 - 1430 hrs for ‘lunch.’ Get there early and get through. As of Aril. Opening time was 080 hrs. Laos side is 0730 hrs. You go back an hour entering Laos.


The journey


It is absolutely worth going through Tibet with a Tibetan guide. For us E.B.C. and Mt Everest, both at Base Camp and then looking at the Himalayas from the Pangla pass (after 97 switch-backs) was a highlight.


Be aware - of altitude sickness. We struggled to breath at times and needed oxygen. Use it, it makes the trip more enjoyable.


Be aware - The amount of dangerous overtaking has to be seen to be believed. We travelled during the day with our spotlights and headlights on full. It’s the only way to stop the stupidity of it, as they possibly thought we were closer than we were with the beams of spotlights piercing toward them.


And then at roadworks when there is a long long line of traffic, they pull out to get in front of as many cars as possible. That then causes traffic jam and everything becomes gridlocked. It is just ridiculous, dangerous and so so selfish. We had several “near misses.”