Flights from Kunming to Lhasa and Lhasa to Kunming

Most Frequently Asked Questions about Kunming Lhasa Flight

1. Why take flights to Lhasa from Kunming?

Currently, there are 5 direct flights from Kunming to Lhasa every day, departing from morning to late afternoon, making free and flexible choices for tourists. As one of the major hub airports in China, Kunming Changshui International Airport offers flight routes connecting many domestic and international cities, providing different transfers for tourists.

Taking Kunming to Lhasa flight is a good choice for tourists to experience a Yunnan and Tibet tour, if they do not want to go through the challenging and exhausting overland trip via Yunnan-Tibet Highway. Besides, there is no train available to Lhasa from Kunming. With only 3 to 4 hours’ of flight time on the way, tourists can have enough time to tour either Kunming or Lhasa.

2. How to get a cheap flight ticket from Kunming to Lhasa?

Owing to its short flying distance, the ticket price of flights to Lhasa from Kunming is less expensive than those from Beijing, Shanghai, or other eastern cities in China. However, if you want to further cut down your travel costs by booking a cheaper flight, you do have options. It is suggested to avoid the high tourist season, since the airfare will undoubtedly be much higher during this time, with few discounts.

The most crowded seasons in China are the Chinese Spring Festival and National Day. For Tibet tours, the most popular time is from April to June and September to October. While during the time between July and August, there are still a lot of people rushing to Tibet since it is the summer vacation for students in China. Therefore, try to plan your Tibet trip in low seasons, like winter, and then you can have more chance to get a cheap Kunming Lhasa flight.

3. Which airport should I go for taking the flight to Lhasa in Kunming?

The Kunming to Lhasa flight takes off at Kunming Changshui International Airport, which is 24.5 kilometers to the northeast of Kunming city. As one of the world’s Top 100 Airports, Kunming Changshui International Airport can also be regarded as one of the busiest airports in China since air transportation is the major way for different transfers due to the lack of railways in many places of Yunnan province. With a modern and fashionable design, the airport is also provided with complete facilities.

For the convenience of passengers, shuttle buses are provided to connect each district of Kunming downtown and the airport. The bus sets off every 20 to 30 minutes and costs around 25 CNY per person. Or, you can take the Metro Line 6, the special subway line for airport transfer, which runs from 9:00 am to 18:00 pm every day.

4. Can I take flights to Tibet from other cities in Yunnan Province?

There are a total of three cities offering flights to Lhasa in Yunnan province. Apart from the capital city of Kunming, tourists can also take flights to Tibet from Shangri-la or Lijiang. Shangri-La is a small city of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan, featuring a fascinating natural landscape. There are two nonstop flights from Shangri-La to Lhasa every day during the peak travel time, and it only takes about 2 hours on the way.

Lijiang is another city in Yunnan providing flights to Lhasa. As the second largest airport in Yunnan province, the Lijiang Sanyi International Airport offers one direct flight to Lhasa every day during the peak travel season. The airport is only 30 kilometers away from Lijiang city. With unique cultural and natural landscapes, Lijiang enjoys high popularity among mainland tourists. It will be a good idea to travel around Lijiang for several days, before starting your Tibet tour.

5. Will I suffer from altitude sickness when traveling to Tibet by flight?

When taking the flight to Tibet from Kunming, you will go through a big altitude change from less than 2000 meters to over 3600 meters, in just several hours. Due to its high elevation in Lhasa, tourists may suffer from altitude sickness of different degrees, like headache, chest congestion, polypnea, nausea, emesis, insomnia, etc. Usually, the symptoms of altitude sickness as mentioned above will gradually decrease after 1 to 2 days’ acclimation.

It is suggested to take some medicine, like Rhodiola Rosea, several days before you leave for Tibet. Do not get too excited and never rush to visit attractions shortly after your arrival in Lhasa. Stay quietly and drink more water. In this way, you will be less likely to suffer from acute altitude sickness.

6. How do I get to my hotel after I arrive at Lhasa Airport?

The Kunming to Lhasa flight will arrive at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, which is about 65 kilometers southwest of Lhasa city, and there are several ways to get to the downtown. First, you can take shuttle buses, which always wait right at the exit of the airport and leave every 30 minutes until 21:30 at night. Upon arrival at the terminus, Lhasa Civil Aviation Bureau on Niangre Road 1, you can take other buses to your hotel. Besides, if you miss the shuttle bus, you can also take a taxi. In this way, you can go anywhere you want in Lhasa city, while the price is much higher than you can possibly imagine.

As a better option, you can use our shuttle service between your hotel and the airport for free, as long as you book your Tibet tour with us. In this case, when you arrive in Lhasa, your tour guide will meet you at the exit and transfer you to the reserved hotel.