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Flying to Tibet: All Airlines and Flights to Tibet

February,28 2024 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

How to fly to Tibet? Are there any flights to Tibet? The answer is absolute. In fact, many domestic and international airlines that fly to Tibet are available to both Chinese and overseas tourists.

Currently, tourists in China can fly directly to Lhasa from other major cities of China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xining, Xi'an, and Kunming. Besides, for overseas tourists, you may take flights to Lhasa from Katmandu, or depart from your country to the major cities of China mentioned above and change flights to Lhasa, Tibet.

All Airlines to Lhasa, Tibet

Currently, there are around 10 Chinese airlines operate domestic flights to Tibet. The major airlines with regular service are Sichuan Airlines, Air China, and Tibet Airlines. Smaller and budget airlines like Lucky Air and Chengdu Airlines also offer affordable flights to Tibet from the mainland of China.

There are also international flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa arranged by Sichuan Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Tibet Airlines, and Air China.

Besides flights to Lhasa, there are also flights to other cities in Tibet, including Shigatse, Nyingchi, and Ngari.

airlines to lhasa tibetAll airlines that fly to Tibet

1. Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa: The Only International Non-stop Flight to Tibet (Duration: 1 hrs)

So far, Himalaya Airlines offers the only international non-stop flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. The flight is available once per week on Monday, departing from Kathmandu at 07:25 and taking only 1h20m to arrive in Lhasa.

The flight can be booked online directly from Himalaya Airlines or through a travel company.

Please Notice:
You need to apply for the Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit for your flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Otherwise, you can not board the flight to Tibet.

2. Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa: Around 20 Non-stop Flights Every Day (Duration: 2.5 hrs)

Chengdu is the most convenient city for flying to Lhasa, with more than 20 non-stop flights available each day. Flights depart from both Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport all day long starting from 06:25 until 20:00.

Air China, Chengdu Airlines, Tibet Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines all provide Chengdu to Lhasa flights with flight times around 2.5 hours. Generally, the Chengdu to Lhasa flight tickets cost between 250 and 285 USD.

Please Notice:
There are two airports in Chengdu offering flights to Tibet. Please double-check your departure airport before you go.

3. Fly from Chongqing to Lhasa: 8 Non-stop Flights Every Day (Duration: 3 hrs 10 mins)

With eight direct flights to Lhasa daily, Chongqing is an excellent departure point for flying to Tibet. Air China, Tibet Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and China Southern Airlines have flights available from the early morning at 06:50 to late evening at 21:30. Flight times range from 2h40m to 3h05m.

The evening flights from Chongqing to Lhasa offered by Tibet Airlines are the least expensive at around 222 USD. The quickest route is Sichuan Airlines flight 3U3179, which costs 312 USD.

4. Fly from Xi'an to Lhasa: 6 Non-stop Flights Every Day (Duration: 3.5 hrs)

Xi'an is a popular departure point for flying to Lhasa, with six direct flights available in the morning and afternoon. Flight times range between 3h05m and 3h35m, starting from 07:55 until 16:15. The Xi’an to Lhasa flights are operated by China Eastern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Tibet Airlines.

The most affordable flight is 3U3253 from Sichuan Airlines, which costs 240 USD.

5. Fly from Kunming to Lhasa: 2 Non-stop Flights (Duration: 3 hrs)

China Eastern and Tibet Airlines both offer direct flights from Kunming to Lhasa. China Eastern Flight MU9737 departs daily at 15:00 and arrives 2h50m later at 17:50. Tickets cost from 360 USD.

Tibet Airlines offers one non-stop Kunming to Lhasa flight (TV9878). It departs from Kunming daily at 16:30 and arrives in Lhasa at 19:50, which takes 3h20m. Tickets are available for 230 USD.

6. Fly from Beijing to Lhasa: 2 Non-stop Flights Every Day (Duration: 4.5 hrs)

There are two daily direct flights from Beijing to Lhasa, operated by Tibet Airlines and China Airlines. The morning flight to Lhasa, CA4125 by China Airlines, departs at 08:10 from Beijing Capital Airport and arrives at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport at 12:45, with a total journey time of 4 hours and 35 minutes. Prices start from 443 USD.

The afternoon flight, TV9816 operated by Tibet Airlines, departs from Beijing Capital International Airport at 14:55 and arrives at Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 19:15, with a flight duration of 4 hours and 20 minutes. The fare for this Beijing to Lhasa flight is approximately 340 USD.

7. Fly from Shanghai to Lhasa: Connecting Flights (Duration: 7 hrs or Longer)

Flights from Shanghai to Lhasa typically require a stopover in Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, or Xi’an. The quickest flight may take 7 to 8 hours with one stopover. The ticket prices for flights from Shanghai to Lhasa flights start from 484 USD with one stopover.

If you are seeking a cheaper flight to Tibet from Shanghai, you may choose longer journeys with two or more stopovers. These flights can be found for around 290 USD.

8. Fly from Guangzhou to Lhasa: Connecting Flights (Duration: 6 hrs or Longer)

Flying from Guangzhou to Lhasa requires stopping in a connecting city, so the travel time depends a lot on the length of the stopover. The fastest option is flight MU5774 from China Eastern. It departs every day at 9 am and takes 6 hours to arrive, including a layover in Diqing (Yunnan). Tickets cost around 308 USD.

China Southern Airlines also operates flights to Lhasa from Guangzhou with a stopover in Chongqing. Flight CZ3463 departs at 08:25 and arrives in Lhasa at 14:35. Tickets cost around 406 USD.

9. Fly from Shangri-la to Lhasa: Seasonal Non-stop Flight (Duration: 2 hrs 15 mins)

Shangi-la, the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, has seasonal non-stop flights to Lhasa. The short 2h15m flight from Shangri-La to Lhasa, operated by China Eastern, departs at 12:45, which costs around 125 USD.

10. Fly to Nyingchi, Tibet: The Second Most Popular Air Route to Tibet

Besides flying to Lhasa, the second popular air route among tourists to Tibet is the flight to Nyingchi in eastern Tibet. Nyingchi Milin Airport is the second most important airport for tourism in Tibet. It is located 40km south of Baiyi town. Many tourists prefer entering Tibet through Nyingchi because the low altitude of Nyingchi (3100m) can help to better acclimatize to high altitude in Tibet Plateau.

It is possible to fly directly to Nyingchi from the mainland of China, like Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Beijing, and Xichang. Among these Chengdu offers the most frequent flights to Nyingchi. The flight from Chengdu to Nyingchi takes a little over 2 hours, and the ticket costs from 247 UDS.

Please Notice:
Spring and summer are the peak seasons for flights to Nyingchi. With limited flights to Nyingchi, if you plan a Tibet tour from Nyingchi, please book the air tickets as early as possible.

11. Fly to Shigatse, Tibet: An Option, but Less Popular among Tourists

Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet, and flights to Shigatse Peace Airport are available from Xi'an and Chengdu.

Flights from Xi'an are available several times a week via China Eastern Airlines and Tibet Airlines. The flying time is around 3.5 hours, with tickets costing approximately 151 USD. There are one to two flights available each day from Chengdu to Shigatse, taking 2.5 hours and costing around 251 USD.

12. Fly to Ngari, Tibet: the Quickest Route to Mount Kailash, but be aware of Altitude Sickness

Ngari, in remote western Tibet, is home to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. The quickest way to get to Mount Kailash is to fly to Ngari Kunsha Airport and take a drive to Mount Kailash.

Most direct flights to Ngari originate from Lhasa or Kashgar (Xinjiang). Tibet Airlines operates three flights every Sunday and Monday from Lhasa to Ngari, all departing in the morning. The journey lasts approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, with tickets priced from 1,134 USD. Flights from Kashgar are available every Tuesday. This quick flight takes only 1.5 hours and costs 294 USD.

Please Notice:
Although not a common choice for traveling to Tibet, flying to Ngari is a good option for those wanting to visit Mount Kailash quickly. However, be careful of altitude sickness, as Ngari is much higher than Lhasa. Spend a few days acclimatizing in Lhasa before heading to Ngari. This will help you adjust better and also give you time to explore Tibet's famous cultural sites.

13. Which is the best city to fly to Tibet from?

Chengdu stands out as the premier city for flying to Tibet, offering unparalleled flexibility with numerous direct flights available daily and boasting the shortest flight duration.

However, the choice of departure city for your Tibet journey ultimately depends on convenience and personal travel preferences. Cities like Beijing or Xi'an present their own unique attractions alongside serving as gateway flight destinations for Lhasa.

Should you require assistance in organizing your Tibet tour and flights, please don't hesitate to tell us your travel plan. Our travel consultants will tailor the best travel route to suit your needs and facilitate ticket arrangements for your journey to Tibet.

Conclusion

Flying to Tibet is the most convenient way to travel from either Nepal or mainland China. Many cities offer direct or connecting flights to Lhasa, Nyingchi, Shigatse, and Ngari. When planning your Tibet trip, choose the best city for your flight and remember to obtain your Tibet Travel Permit beforehand. Without it, you won't be able to board your flight to Tibet.

Master Catherine Jigme

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

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