Travel agencies in Tibet have been preparing to open new travel routes between Lhasa and the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, according to the Tibet Autonomous Regional Tourism Bureau.

Meanwhile, the Gyirong Port of Entry in southern Tibet, a newly-opened port for the trade between China and Nepal, is set to open to tourists next year, according to Tibet's Ancient Tea and Horse Route Travel Agency.

Tourists from Austria take a tour in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 5, 2009. Travel agencies in Tibet have been preparing to open new travel routes between Lhasa and the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, according to the Tibet Autonomous Regional Tourism Bureau.?[Photo: Xinhua]

Gyirong Town, boasting dense forests and beautiful sceneries, enjoys the reputation of the "backyard garden of Mount Qomolangma" and is considered the "oriental mini-Switzerland."

The travel agency will offer a six-day trip for tourists to enjoy the grand scenery of the Himalayas, i.e., a route from Mount. Qomolangma, to Gyirong and then to Zham Town, a major border town between Tibet and Nepal.

At the same time, the agency will also explore a trekking trail from Nepal's Mustang to Lake Manasarovar in Tibet in line with the agreement signed by Tibet's Tourism Bureau and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) last week.

Travel agencies in the region will also open more routes from Lhasa to Kathmandu via Zham Town.

The 3rd Joint Coordination Committee Meeting for the Promotion of the tourism between Nepal and Tibet was held in Kathmandu on Nov. 9.

At the meeting the two sides agreed to cooperate in airlines and rafting, as well as in opening new hiking routes.