Flights from Shangri-la to Lhasa and Lhasa to Shangri-la

Most Frequently Asked Questions about Shangri-la Lhasa Flight

1. When is the best time to travel to Shangri-La and Lhasa?

The best time to visit Shangri-La is May to June and September to October. During this period, kinds of flowers complete for blossom, and the weather is warm with fewer rains. Winter is a good time to appreciate snow, while the temperature is relatively cold. For Lhasa tour, it is a good choice to travel to this holy city from May to October. During this time, the city of Lhasa is provided with warm sunshine and high oxygen content, good for sightseeing. From March to October, the climate becomes mild and humid, and is the best season for travel in Tibet.

2. Which airport should I go for taking the flight to Lhasa in Shangri-La?

As a civil airport of Yunnan Province, Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) is situated in the southwest of the Shangri-La County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is five kilometers away from Zhongdian County, the capital of Diqing. Currently, there is no bus or airport shuttle service there. Thus, tourists who are ready to take Shangri-La to Lhasa flight can only go to the airport by taxi from the central town. It mainly costs around 30 CNY.

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

Apart from Shangri-La, tourists can also take flights to Tibet from Kunming or Lijiang, two popular cities of Yunnan. As the capital of Yunnan Province, Kunming is provided with an international airport, Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG), located at an altitude of 2,102m. The airport offers 5 direct Kunming to Lhasa flights each day during the peak season. It is also one of the most important airports in Southwest China, offering airlines connecting to a large number of international destinations.

Besides, 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 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.

4. Will I suffer from altitude sickness when taking the Shangri-La flight?

Since both Shangri-La and Lhasa are at high elevations above 3,000 m, tourists may suffer from altitude sickness of different degrees in both cities. You may suffer from headaches, chest congestion, polypnea, nausea, emesis, and even insomnia, etc. But usually, these symptoms 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 start your journey. 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.

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

Lhasa Gonggar Airport is about 65 kilometers southwest of Lhasa city, and there are several ways to get to the downtown. First, you can take the 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.

6. What are the necessary documents required to take flights to Tibet?

All tourists from foreign countries should hand the passport, Chinese Visa, and the original Tibet Travel Permit for the check, before boarding the flights to Tibet. The passport and Chinese Visa are the primary documents required for traveling to China from abroad. As for the Tibet Travel Permit, which is also called Tibet Visa, it is the required document for all foreign tourists to enter Lhasa and travel around Tibet. To avoid the troublesome application procedure, we can help to obtain your Tibet travel permit on your behalf, please feel free to contact us for details.