Traveling from Nyingchi to Lhasa not only offers you easier acclimatization to the altitude but also allows you to experience the “Swiss-style” landscape from eastern Tibet to Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet.

In this travel guide, we offer you a complete guide to how to plan your visits from Nyingchi to Lhasa, including top travel routes, best highlights, and more insider tips. So, you can plan your Nyingchi to Lhasa tour with ease.

How Far Is It from Nyingchi to Lhasa? Why Travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa?

Situated to the east of Lhasa, Nyingchi is a distinctive prefecture with “Swiss-style” landscapes and lush forests in eastern Tibet. The Nyingchi to Lhasa distance is around 401km. It takes a 4-hour drive from Nyingchi's capital city Bayi District to downtown Lhasa.

Two main travel routes from Nyingchi to Lhasa on the Map.

Instead of directly flying or boarding the Tibet train to Lhasa, traveling from Nyingchi to Lhasa promises you many hidden benefits, unknown to most travelers.

Firstly, if you are worried about experiencing altitude sickness upon arriving in Lhasa, consider flying to Nyingchi first. Averaging 3,000m above sea level, Nyingchi is much lower than Lhasa (3,650m) and has more oxygen in the air, thanks to the dense Lulang Forest. This allows you to acclimatize gradually in Nyingchi before heading to Lhasa.

The verdant forests in the deep canyons of Nyingchi.

In addition, Nyingchi's iconic snow-capped canyons, turquoise Draksum-tso Lake, lofty Midui glaciers, and lush Lulang forests, and especially the massive Nyingchi peach blossoms in Spring offer a striking contrast to the monastic charm of holy Lhasa City and serene Lhasa Valley. Traveling from Nyingchi to Lhasa will enrich your Tibet-entry experience with diverse otherworldly alpine scenery along the enchanting Nyang River.

10 Days Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival Small Group Tour with Everest Base Camp in 2025

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Bomi - Basom tso Lake - Lhasa - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD1729 p.p

Embrace massive rosy peach blossoms in Gala Village in Nyingchi and travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa and Tibet EBC.

What’s more, the easy transportation makes it easy for you to take non-stop flights from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Xi’an to Nyingchi Mainling Airport within 2 to 4 hours and later switch to expressway or bullet train from Nyingchi to Lhasa with ease. It could be a great alternative if flights and trains to Lhasa were sold out.

Nyingchi to Lhasa by Expressway: Most Classic & Popular Route

Nowadays, traveling by car via the scenic G4218 Nyingchi-Lhasa Expressway is the most classic and popular way to get to Lhasa from Nyingchi.

This newly built expressway spans 409.2km and literally overlaps the enchanting G318 Highway alongside the winding waterway of the turquoise Nyang River, the second largest tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. It takes 4hr 9min to reach Lhasa from Nyingchi.

Drive on the enchanting Nyingchi-Lhasa Expressway over the turquoise Nyang River.

En route, you will traverse rolling snowy mountains, deep gores with pristine Nyang River, azure sky, and idyllic Tibetan villages accompanying you along the way. Particularly, during the early Spring, the full-bloomed rosy peach blossoms in Nyingchi will flank the Nyingchi-Lhasa Expressway on the river banks, offering you a surreal scene to behold. BTW, you can follow the easy exit of the Nyingchi-Lhasa expressway mid-way to explore the photogenic Draksum-tso Lake from Nyingchi to Lhasa.

7 Days Nyingchi Bomi Draksumtso Lake Lhasa Tour

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Bomi - Nyingchi - Draksumtso - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Enjoy lovely peach blossoms and "Swiss-style" landscapes from Nyingchi to Bomi before heading to Lhasa via Draksum-tso Lake.

Nyingchi to Lhasa by Bullet Train: Fastest Way to Reach Lhasa

Can you imagine yourself riding on a bullet train to Lhasa? Yes, it is now a dream come true. As an engineering marvel on the Tibetan Plateau, the Nyingchi to Lhasa Railway is the only railway system that runs a bullet train connecting Nyingchi to Lhasa.

This Nyingchi-Lhasa Bullet Train (C882) departs from Nyingchi Railway Station at 12:00 and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station at 15:42. The bullet train dashes at a speed of 160km/hr on 435.48 km of railway via Mainling, Nang County, Shannan, and Gonggar County before arriving in Lhasa. You can book a business-class seat (¥452/ $62.33) or a first-class seat (¥206/$28.41), which offers the most comfortable experience.

The mesmerizing travel experience on the Nyingchi-Lhasa bullet train.

During the 3hr42min comfy ride, you will feast your eyes on the serene Nyang River winding through lush valleys and get a glimpse of the traditional Tibetan villages in remote Nang County. During Spring, the scattered peach blossoms will add a splash of pink color along the way. Learn all the Tibet train schedules and fares.

Nyingchi to Lhasa from Chengdu: In-depth Overland Tour via Scenic G318 HWY

Since the 401km scenic road from Nyingchi to Lhasa is actually the final leg of the epic Sichuan Tibet overland journey via the thrilling G318 Highway, if you are an avid road trip lover with ample time, you certainly don’t wanna miss out on the full adventure of the 2,146km epic overland adventure that crosses the imposing Hengduan Mountains from Chengdu basin to the sacred Lhasa City on towering Tibetan Plateau.

So, instead of flying to Nyingchi, your Tibet-entry city shall be Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. The classic Sichuan Tibet overland journey via G318 Hwy takes 7 days and you will literally travel at 30 degrees north latitude towards Lhasa.

The epic Sichuan Tibet overland route via scenic G318 highway on the Map.

On the way, you will experience some of our planet’s most stunning and diverse landscapes. From awe-inspiring snow-capped mountains to steep gorges, mighty glaciers, untouched forests, sparkling alpine lakes, and rolling grasslands, they are all located several hundred meters away beside the G318 Highway. Besides, you can also witness devoted Tibetan pilgrims making full-boy prostrations along this legendary pilgrimage route to Lhasa.

As a local Tibetan travel agency with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Chengdu, we offer you the classic and budget-friendly 7-day Chengdu to Lhasa small group overland tour with fixed departures.

7 Days Chengdu to Lhasa World-Class Overland Tour: Travel across the Top Scenic Road to Tibet from Chengdu via G318 National Highway

Tour Route: Chengdu - Xinduqiao - Litang - Batang - Zogang - Ranwu - Nyingchi - Lhasa

Price from USD1780 p.p

Embark on the epic overland tour from Chengdu to Lhasa via Nyingchi on the scenic G318 Highway.

We will help you get a Tibet Travel Permit for free to enjoy this overland tour and offer you extensive choices of quality and luxury hotels along the way and assign our best local experts and seasoned local drivers and deploy spacious, clean, comfortable vehicles and other backup services for the epic ride. If you prefer, you can book our self-drive tours to experience the adventurous ride yourself with our local experts.

How to Plan Your Visit in Nyingchi and Lhasa?

Together, Nyingchi and Lhasa cover a walloping size of 144,510 km² with diverse landscapes and countless Buddhist sites to explore. Nyingchi is best known for its “Switzerland-like” scenery with iconic peach blossoms in Spring and lower altitude while Lhasa is the spiritual and political heart of Tibet and home to Tibet’s landmarks such as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and more.

So, planning a trip from Nyingchi to Lhasa basically blends the best natural wonders in Nyingchi with an immersive spiritual experience in monastic Lhasa city. Here are some of our practical advice to help you plan the Nyingchi to Lhasa tour based on your interests and durations.

If your main goal is to enjoy peach blossoms in Nyingchi with a classic Lhasa tour, you can time your visit from March to April and budget 2 days in Nyingchi for peach blossoms and spend another 3 days to travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa with a detour to explore Nyingchi’s iconic Draksum Tso Lake.

The enchanting peach blossoms at Draksum Tso Lake.

First, fly into Nyingchi Mainling Airport from Chengdu or Beijing and overnight at Bayi District, the capital city of Nyingchi Prefecture. On day two, you can head to Gala Village, Kasimu Village, and Daze Village, three of the best places to enjoy massive wild peach blossoms in Nyingchi. On Day three, travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa with a day tour of the turquoise Draksum Tso Lake. Then, spend another two days exploring Tibet’s landmarks, including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street, and watch the Tibetan monk debate at Sera Monastery and explore Drepung Monastery.

9 Days Nyingchi Peach Blossom Highlights and Lhasa Tour

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Bomi - Nyingchi - Draksumtso - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Cover top 5 peach blossom villages in Nyingchi and Bomi before traveling to Lhasa via turquoise Draksum Tso Lake.

If you plan to cover all the best highlights in Nyingchi with an in-depth Lhasa Tour, you can spend 4 to 5 days in Nyingchi, Bomi, and Ranwu and set aside another 5 to 6 days in Lhasa and its outskirts.

Likewise, firstly fly into Nyingchi, and on day two, visit Lamaling Temple in Nyingchi and head west to Lulang Town. On the way, admire Mt. Namcha Barwa (7,782m) at Serkhym-la pass (4,728m), and explore the verdant Lulang Forest, and visit local Tibetan families at highland pastures. On day three, journey west to Ranwu Lake via Bomi and explore the Midui Glacier. On day four, explore the majestic Laigu Glacier and hike in its glacial blue cave, and head back to Nyingchi.

The photogenic Ranwu Lake surrounded by snowy peaks.

On the fifth day, travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa with an excursion to turquoise Draksum Tso Lake. Then spend, another two days covering Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera, and Drepung Monastery. Then, spend one day exploring off-the-beaten Drak Yerpa Monastery and Ganden Monastery, or travel from Lhasa to explore the heavenly Namtso Lake in two days. The options are limitless. You may email us to customize a Nyingchi to Lhasa tour best suited for you.

10 Days Private Tour from Nyingchi to Lhasa and Namtso Lake

Tour Route: Nyingtri - Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung - Lhasa

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Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime from Nyingchi to Lhasa and heavenly Namtso Lake.

What Is the Best Time of Year to Travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa? March to April

Both Nyingchi and Lhasa can be visited all year round and the best time to go depends on what you are looking for to experience.

One of the best times to travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa is from mid-March to mid-April.

Over 85% of travelers will choose to travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa at this particular time since it is the prime season to enjoy massive peach blossoms that blanket the serene canyons and idyllic Tibetan villages in Nyingchi and Bomi.

The Gala Village, Kasimu Village, and Daze Village in Nyingchi and Yuxu Village, and Peach Blossom Valley in Bomi will be the center of your visits. In particular, the Gaga Village is known as the No.1 Tibetan village for enjoying massive wild peach blossoms. You can join locals to celebrate the peach blossom festivals and enjoy singing, dancing archery, and other traditional festivities.

6 Days Best Nyingchi Peach Blossom Villages Tour in Spring

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Bomi - Ranwu Lake - Nyingchi

Price from USD p.p

Surround yourself with the dazzling peach blossoms from top 5 peach blossom villages from Nyingchi to Bomi.

If you are keen to explore the magnificent Midui and Laigu Glaciers, the best time to visit is from December to early March. The Tibet winter tour sees fewer travelers and many discounts as to hotels, flights, and entrance fees. Meanwhile, the snowfall unveils the most dramatic side of the Glaciers. You can put on ice claws to hike along designated trails with our local experts to get close to the glacier’s edges and explore the blue-tinted ice cave and glacial lakes up close.

6 Days Nyingchi Bomi Ranwu Laigu Glacier Tour

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Lulang Forest - Bomi - Laigu Glacier - Ranwu Lake - Midui Glacier - Peach Blossom Valley - Nyingchi

Price from USD p.p

Closely explore the largest glaciers in Tibet with our local experts.

More Insider Tips for Travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa

Last but not least, for foreign nationals visiting Tibet, currently, you can only book a guided Tibet tour for visit with a local Tibetan travel agency like us. We will help you apply for the Tibet Travel Permit to legally board the flight or train to Tibet and offer you a variety of quality and luxury local hotels to choose from. You can travel with our local experts and local drivers to enjoy an immersive travel experience in Tibet with prompt and attentive customer service throughout your journey.

A sample of Tibet Travel Permit.

Conclusion

To sum up, traveling from Nyingchi to Lhasa not only allows you to enjoy an easier adjustment to the altitude but also to experience one of the most diverse and enchanting journeys in Tibet. Whether for natural beauty in eastern Tibet or a spiritual monastery tour in Lhas, this route is truly unforgettable. If you have more questions about Tibet travel, don’t hesitate to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Cheers!