HOW TO TRAVEL TO TIBET
FLIGHTS TO TIBET
Flying to Lhasa is the fastest way to get to Tibet. There are numerous flights every day from all major cities in China. There is one international flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu, Nepal. You will land in Lhasa Gonggar airport, one of the highest airports on Earth. During the flight, if weather permits, you can see the Himalayas- the highest mountain range in the world. We recommend it for those who have limited time. Afternoon and evening flights tend to be delayed more often than morning flights due to weather conditions.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
There is only one international flight going to Lhasa from Kathmandu. If you are traveling from Nepal, you will need to acquire Chinese Group visa. It takes at least 3 full business days. Details about the Chinese Group Visa»
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
There are multiple flights to Lhasa each day departing all major Chinese cities.
Non-stop flight connections from cities: Chengdu, Beijing, Xian, Xining, Kunming, Chongqing, Shangri La, Lijiang.
Connections with layover from cities: Shanghai, Guangzhou.
To board one of the domestic flights, you will need an original Tibet Travel Permit. We usually send it to your hotel in China or to the airport.
FIND A FLIGHT
TRAINS TO TIBET
Traveling by train can take up to 40 hours, however, you will be enjoying stunning views on the way. Depending on the departure time, you can see various parts of Eastern Tibet, including mountains, grasslands, forests, and can spot some wildlife. Trains originate from several Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Lanzhou. In addition, you can take a train on one of the stations, where trains stop, such as in Xian (train from Shanghai or Guangzhou) and Xining (several trains each day).
| City | Duration | Distance | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 40 hours | 3757 | Every Day |
| Shanghai | 47 hours | 4373 | Every Day |
| Xian | 31 hours | 2864 | Every Day |
| Chengdu | 36 hours | 3070 | Every Other Day |
| Chongqing | 36 hours | 3030 | Every Other Day |
| Guangzhou | 53 hours | 4980 | Every Day |
| Xining | 21 hours | 1972 | Several Times Every Day |
| Lanzhou | 24 hours | 2188 | Several Times Every Day |
There are two sleeping classes: more comfortable soft-sleeper (with 4 beds in a berth with a door) and less expensive hard-sleeper (with 6 beds in a berth without door).
While riding on a train, you can also start acclimatizing to the high altitude of Tibet. You will spend a few hours with an air pressure similar to that in Lhasa, which is better than flying directly to Lhasa.Traveling to Lhasa on a train is also less expensive than flying, making it very popular.
Interested in taking a train to Tibet? Here you will find 3 reasons to travel to Tibet on a train»
OVERLAND ROUTES
You can enter Tibet from Nepal through the newly opened border pass at Gyirong port. You will need to join an organized tour once you cross the border with Tibet.
We offer private tours connecting Nepal border with Lhasa»
Alternatively, you can start your tour in Tibet and travel towards Nepal. You can join one of the group tours and in 7 days travel from Lhasa to Nepal border and further to Kathmandu»
Currently, only Chinese citizen can travel overland from China to Tibet via the Northern route. For other visitors, the earliest point of entry on the Northern Route is in the Eastern part would be Golmud. You can take a train from China to Golmud and start your journey from there. The Southern Route following highway G318 from Chengdu to Lhasa is open for everyone. You can also travel overland from Nepal and and Kashgar, the capital of Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
GATEWAY CITIES TO TIBET
PREPARE FOR TIBET TOUR
CONTACT US
RECENT BLOG POSTS
TIBET REOPENING 2023
The Best Meditation Places in Tibet
Prepare to Visit Mount Kailash – Complete Guide
The Roof of The World: 10 Facts about Altitude in Tibet
Mount Everest is Closed for Spring 2020 Climbing Season
