International Flights to Tibet

To enjoy Tibet tour, for majority of International tourists, involves taking international flights from your country to mainland China. And then after you get China Tibet Visa, you may choose to travel to Tibet by domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, sometimes even both means during peak travel seasons. Tibet Vista sampled the latest information of international flights from 12 countries to China, and you may find the most appropriate departure and arrival places for you.

Flight to Tibet from Nepal

In fact due to the proximity to Nepal, Tibet has only one international flight bridging Tibet with the outside world, which flys from Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet. The Non-stop flight between Nepal and Tibet is run by Air China and Sichuan Airline.

Tourists may board to plane from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,400m) to fly directly to Lhasa (3,658m), Tibet. The flight takes around 1h30m to cover 609 km.

Air China:  Lhasa and Kathmandu Flight Schedule

  Sichuan Airline: Lhasa and Kathmandu Flight Shcedule

Flight to Tibet from USA

Currently, there are a number of direct international flights to China from United State, mainly from cities like Chicago, Dallas/Forth Worth, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington and land in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xining, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an and Hangzhou, etc. in China.

US citizens may choose the following non-stop flights from US to China:

Non-stop flight from US to China (American Airlines):
San Francisco---Beijing/Shanghai;
Chicago---Beijing/Shanghai;
Newark---Beijing/Shanghai;
Washington---Beijing;
Los Angeles---Shanghai;
San Francisco---Beijing/Chengdu/Xi’an/Hangzhou
Detroit---Shanghai; Seattle---Beijing
Dallas---Shanghai
Honolulu---Beijing
Los Angeles---Beijing (available from Dec, 16, 2016)

Non-stop Flight from US to China (Chinese Airlines):
San Francisco/Los Angeles/New York /Newark/Huston/Honolulu/Washington/Seattle/Chicago/ Boston/San Jose---Beijing
Los Angeles/ New York/Honolulu/San Francisco---Shanghai
Los Angeles---Nanjing/Guangzhou
New York---Guangzhou
San Francisco---Wuhan/Guangzhou
Boston/Seattle---Shanghai

Travel Tip: As to the latest international flight information, please check it online and find the proper departure and arrival places for you. Until now, there is no international flight from US to Tibet directly, and you need to transfer to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu or Guangzhou, etc. and later either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Switch from International Flight to Qinghai-Tibet Railway

In fact, taking into account of the acclimatization to altitude change, budget and view, the best way to travel to Tibet is actually via Qinghai-Tibet Railway after you land in China and successfully get your China Tibet Visa (also known as Tibet Travel Permit), which is a prerequisite for Tibet Tour.

Major train routes of Qinghai-Tibet Railway are shown as follows:
a.Beijing to Lhasa Train (3753 km, 44 h)
b.Shanghai to Lhasa Train(4373km,47.5h)
c.Chengdu to Lhasa Train(3348km, 44h)
d.Guangzhou to Lhasa Train (4980km, 54h)
e.Xining to Lhasa Train (1960 km, 20:43h, the shortest railway route to Lhasa and most essential part of Qinghai-Tibet Railway with most stunning view)
f.Lanzhou to Lhasa Train ( 2188km, 23:22h)
g.Xi’an to Lhasa Train(2864km, 32:18h)
h.Chongqing to Lhasa Train (3654km,44:28h)

Flight + Train to Lhasa, Tibet

During the peak travel season in China ( such as Spring Festival, summer and winter break for nationwide students), many may fail to book the train tickets from Beijing to Lhasa. A highly recommended solution is to fly from Beijing to Xining and later take Xining-Lhasa train to Tibet. One reason is that compared with Beijing-Lhasa train ticket, Xining-Lhasa train ticket is easier to book. Meanwhile, the highlight and beginning of Qinghai-Tibet Railway lies in the route of Xining-Lhasa train.

Flight to Tibet from India

To Indian citizens, the first step is also to travel to mainland China and then get China Tibet Visa and continue to head to Lhasa, Tibet. You may either choose to travel to Nepal first and then enter Tibet via Nepal or fly from India to China. The non-stop flights between India and China are rather in small number as shown below:

Non-stop flight from India to China:
Delhi--- Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou
Mumbai---Beijing/Chengdu
Kolkata---Kunming

Direct flight from India to China:
Delhi—Hong Kong /Bangkok/Singapore---Shanghai
Mumbai---Singapore/Hong Kong/Bangkok---Chengdu

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Travel from Hong Kong to Tibet

If international tourists happen to land in HK, you may follow the 4 ways to reach Lhasa, Tibet.

a. HK---flight---Chengdu---flight---Xining---train(24h)---Lhasa
This is the second fastest way to access Tibet. You can first fly to Chengdu, one of the major overland gateways to Tibet, and enjoy giant pandas and later board Xining-Lhasa train, the essence of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, to Lhasa.

b. HK---flight---Chengdu---train(44h)---Lhasa
This travel route is cost-effective and promises great sightseeing in Chengdu and stunning scenery for the train ride from Chengdu to Lhasa.

c. HK---flight---Chengdu---flight---Lhasa
This is the most time-saving way to travel from Hong Kong to Tibet. (The entire fly itself only takes around 5:30h, transfer to airport not included.). However, your body won’t have a gradual ascent, which might trigger stronger altitude sickness symptoms.

d. HK--- Kowloon-Guangzhou Train (2h)---Guangzhou---train(52:41h)---Lhasa
This is a budget travel route and if you are a big fan of train journey, this travel route to Tibet will be the ultimate journey you are looking for.

Flight to Tibet from UK

Interestingly, Tibet is never new for British explorers and adventurers and Tibet tour remains hot for British tourists. For British citizens, you may fly directly from London to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong as listed below:

Non-stop Flight from UK to China:
London---Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong
Manchester---Beijing

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Malaysia

IIn fact, Tibet tour is fairly popular among Malaysian and Singaporean tourists. And flying from Malaysia to China is much easier and there are many flight options for you.

Non-stop Flight from Malaysia to China:
Kuala Lumpur---Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Chengdu/Hong Kong/Kunming/Xiamen/Fuzhou/Tianjing/Guilin/Haikou/Hangzhou

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Singapore

Till now, there are around 27 cities in China that have non-stop and direct flight from Singapore. Singaporean citizens can travel easily to mainland China. 
Non-stop and Direct Flight from Singapore to China:
Changi----Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Chengdu/Xi’an/Chongqing/Kunming/Shanyang/Wuhan, etc.

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Australia

Australian citizens can depart from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Cairns to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, and Chengdu respectively.

Non-stop and Direct Flights from Australia to China:
Sydney---Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Hong Kong/ Chongqing
Melbourne---Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Hong Kong/Chengdu
Brisbane/ Perth ---Guangzhou/Hong Kong
Adelaide---Hong Kong
Cairns---Shanghai/Hong Kong

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Canada

Canadian citizens can fly from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal and Calgary to Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang and Kunming, Chongqing.
Non-stop and Direct Flights from Canada to China:
Vancouver---Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Chengdu/Chongqing/Kuming/Hangzhou/Qingdao/Tianjin/Xiamen
Toronto---Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Hong Kong
Montreal/Calgary ---Beijing

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from France

French tourists have many options to travel to different cities in China, mainly from Paris.
Non-stop flights from France to China:
Paris---Bejing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Chengdu/Hong Kong /Kunming

Direct Flight from France to China:
Paris---Tianjin/Dalian/Jinan

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Germany

In fact, among the European countries, Germany is the one with the most frequent flights to China. German citizens can depart from Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf for Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, Shenyang and Qingdao and HK.
Non-stop Flight from Germany to China:
Frankfurt---Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong/ Nanjing/ Chengdu
Berlin/ Düsseldorf ---Beijing
Munich---Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Italy

Italian citizens may choose to fly directly from Milan and Rome to Beijing and Shanghai. Overall, the number of flights in Italy so far is not as many as other European countries.
Non-stop Flight from Italy to China:
Milan---Beijing/Shanghai/Hong Kong
Rome---Beijing/Chengdu/Shanghai/

Travel Tips: After you land in China and get your China Tibet Visa, you may either choose to use domestic flight or Qinghai-Tibet Railway, or even a combination of two, (esp. during peak season in summer or one week before and after Spring Festival in China,)to travel to Lhasa, Tibet.

Flight to Tibet from Spain

So far, the only non-stop flight from Spain to China is between Madrid and Beijing and Barcelona and Beijing; while another non-stop flight from Madrid to Shanghai is expected to be launched in winter in 2016.