Flights from Chengdu to Shigatse and Shigatse to Chengdu

Most Frequently Asked Questions about Chengdu Shigatse Flight

1. What is the best time to take the flight from Chengdu to Shigatse?

Shigatse has a humid continental climate greatly influenced by elevation. With obvious wet and dry seasons, the summer in Shigatse is wild and humid, and the winter is windy and dry. The best time to travel to Shigatse is from May to October. While during the months of July and August, heavy rains will cause some obstacles to smooth transportation. And the best time to trek Mount Everest and other soaring mountains is May and June. During this time, many adventurous travelers and climbing enthusiasts will head to Shigatse.

Besides, Shigatse boasts many religious buildings and temples, including the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery, Pachor Monastery, Sakya Monastery, etc. These places will not be affected by climate and can be visited at any time. Therefore, you can simply decide your time to visit based on where you want to visit and what you want to see.

2. What are the documents required for taking the flight from Chengdu to Shigatse?

As is known to a majority of foreign travelers, an authorized permit is needed for traveling around Tibet. And it is the Tibet Travel Permit, also called Tibet Vista. According to the regulations and laws, all foreign tourists are required to obtain a Tibet Visa before they enter Tibet. Meanwhile, the original Tibet permit together with your Chinese visa will be checked at the airport before boarding the flight to Tibet.

Therefore, the application of Tibet Travel Permit is the primary consideration you should pay attention to when you plan a tour in Tibet. As the leading tourism service agency in Tibet, we provide one-package services for the permit application, please feel free to contact us for details.

3. Where is Shigatse Peace Airport and how to get to my hotel?

The flight from Chengdu to Shigatse will arrive at Shigatse Peace Airport, the only airport in Shigatse Prefecture. The airport is located on the south side of the Yarlung Zangbo River valley, 43 kilometers to the east of Sangzhuzi District, Shigatse. It is the fifth civil airport in Tibet after Lhasa Gonggar Airport, Qamdo Bamda Airport, Nyingchi Mainling Airport and Ngari Gunsa Airport. Currently, there is a special highway used for transfer between Shigatse and the airport.

At present, there are no airport shuttle buses offered, thus tourists have to take a taxi to get downtown. Taxies usually wait right at the exit of the airport and will charge around 100 CNY for one person. As a better choice, you can choose our free shuttle service as long as you book your Tibet tour with us. In this case, upon your arrival at the airport, you will receive a warm welcome from our tour guide and be safely transferred to your hotel downtown.

4. Where is Shigatse and how to get to Lhasa from Shigatse?

Located in the southwest of Tibet, Shigatse is about 260 km to the west of Lhasa city, and 350 km to the east of the famous Mount Everest. Following the well-paved road of 318 National Highway, tourists can move westwards to Mount Everest. After passing the Tsola Pass, Gyatsola Pass, and Gawula Pass, the zigzag road will lead you to the Everest Base Camp at 5200 m, where you can catch the stunning view of the Everest peak.

After enjoying the tour in Tibet, most tourists will choose to leave Tibet via Lhasa, where it is much more convenient to take flights to their next destinations. If you want to get to Lhasa from Shigatse, you can take the train. There are 2 daily scheduled trains running between Lhasa and Shigatse. Taking about 3 hours to Lhasa, the train only charges 40.5 CNY for a hard seat.

Besides, there are two highways between Lhasa and Shigatse. The north road is shorter with fewer sights, taking only 5 hours. The south one is longer with more scenic attractions, including the famous Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, and Palcho Monastery. Though it will take about 8 to 9 hours on the way, it will be a great regret if you miss these breathtaking sights.

5. What else city in Tibet can I fly to except for Shigatse?

In addition to Shigatse, tourists can also take the flight to Lhasa or Nyingchi from Chengdu. The Chengdu to Lhasa flight is quite a popular one and is usually the first choice for many tourists to enter Tibet. There are 23 nonstop flights between Chengdu and Lhasa in peak travel season, departing from early morning to midnight. And it only takes around 2 hours on the way. By choosing the flight from Chengdu to Lhasa, tourists can have flexible arrangements based on their travel schedule.

For tourists traveling to Tibet for the first time, it is a good choice to fly to Nyingchi from Chengdu. As Nyingchi is the lowest region in Tibet, the lower elevation of Nyingchi can help tourists better adapt to the plateau environment before they ascend to other higher places in Tibet. At present, there are seven direct flights flying between Chengdu and Nyingchi every day, all leaving in the early morning. It takes around 2 hours to reach Nyingchi Mainling Airport.

6. How to avoid suffering from high altitude sickness when touring Tibet?

The altitude sickness normally shows up as headache, chest distress, asthma, lack of strength, and drowsiness or insomnia. In more severe cases, dropsy, intense coughing, high fever, and other symptoms will appear. Usually, new visitors to Tibet will more or less suffer from altitude sickness. It is strongly suggested to stay quietly for the first two days upon your arrival in Tibet. Never scream or make a dash at any time, because this may lead to hypoxia and induce altitude sickness. Also, try not to take showers as it may cause a cold. When touring Tibet, tourists can bring some medicines against altitude sickness and ensure comfortable sleep, like Rhodiola Rosea, etc.

One more thing to be noted, if you suffer from altitude sickness and there is no sign of reducing symptoms, you are strongly suggested to end your Tibet tour and descend to other places of lower elevation. This often happens when tourists visit Mount Everest and other higher sites in Tibet. In this case, tourists can go directly back to Shigatse and take the flights to Chengdu. Compared to returning to Lhasa for departure, the Shigatse to Chengdu flight offers a chance for tourists to rapidly draw back from Tibet within a shorter time.