The Potala Palace in Lhasa

Nasty surprise for some climbers heading for destinations in Tibet this spring: I have been confirmed by several sides that China currently does not allow tourists to enter Tibet in case that there is a visa for Pakistan issued in the past three years in their passport. Especially professional climbers, who like to tackle the impressive mountains of the Karakoram in summer, run the risk of not obtaining a visa for Tibet. Some mountaineers are stuck in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, because they have learned too late about this new regulation. So if you want to travel to Cho Oyu, Shishapangma or the Tibetan north side of Mount Everest and do not want to experience a bad surprise, take a look at your passport!

No problem without Pakistan visa

It is unclear why China suddenly reacts so allergically to former Pakistan travelers. Without a Pakistani visa stamp or sticker, the entry is obviously problem-free. So an expedition operator informed me that his group had arrived in Lhasa without being bothered by the border authorities.