How to Get to Tibet

Located on the third pole on Earth, Tibet, the dreamy destination for many tourists, is a mysterious land to go. Once you start to plan your lifetime journey to this holy land, how to get there is one of the big questions you are searching for.

In fact, it is not as difficult as you thought to get to Tibet. Connected by airlines, railways and highways, there are many ways to travel to Tibet from mainland China as well as the rest of the world.

To make your trip to Tibet easier, here we offer the detailed updated transportation guide on how to get to Tibet from China, Nepal and other major countries either by air, by train or by land.

Get to Tibet from Mainland China

Most tourists choose to enter Tibet from mainland China because it is quite convenient and there are many ways to choose. You can either choose to take the famous Tibet train through the world's highest Qinghai Tibet railway, or take the fast direct flight to Lhasa. Or also, there are adventure overland journeys for you to fully explore the Tibet plateau. Just choose your favorite way to start your Tibet tour from mianland China.

Get to Tibet by Train

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway was completed in July 2006 and has brought millions of tourists to Tibet since then. If traveling to Lhasa from within China, this is a great option as it might help you acclimatize to the altitude a bit better. You can travel from low altitude to higher gradually. Trains start from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lanzhou and Xining.

  • Beijing to Lhasa Train Book
    Beijing to Lhasa Train

    Beijing to Lhasa train is the most popular railway rotue to Tibet via Qinghai-Tibet railway. The whole journey covers 2757km and takes about 39hrs 43mins. Though the train to Tibet departs daily from Beijing, it is still difficult to get one ticket in peak season.

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  • Shanghai to Lhasa Train Book
    Shanghai to Lhasa Train

    The daily Tibet train from Shanghai to Lhasa is one of the popular railway rotues to Tibet. From the most dynamic metropolis to the remote Tibetan plateau, the train journey takes about 3 days to take you to the holy city.

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  • Guangzhou to Lhasa Train Book
    Guangzhou to Lhasa Train

    The train from Guangzhou to Lhasa is the longest journey to go. Covering 4980km, it takes more than 50 hours on the way. But the train journey to Tibet still attracts many tourists every year from Guangzhou to Lhasa.

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  • Chengdu to Lhasa Train Book
    Chengdu to Lhasa Train

    The Chengdu-Lhasa train departs every other day from the hometown of Giant pandas to the holy land on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

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  • Xining to Lhasa Train Book
    Xining to Lhasa Train

    The train from Xining to Lhasa covers the most essential part of a Tibet train tour - the Qinghai-Tibet railway. Since all trains to Tibet stop at Xining railway station, it is recommended to take a train to Tibet from Xining.

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  • Chongqing to Lhasa Train Book
    Chongqing to Lhasa Train

    There is one train running from Chongqing, one of the important port cities along the Yangtze River to Lhasa every other day. The total journey covers 3030km and takes around 36 hours to finish.

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  • Lanzhou to Lhasa Train Book
    Lanzhou to Lhasa Train

    As a major stop at China Silk Road, Lanzhou is also an important station for Tibet train tour. Every day, there are around 4 to 5 trains to Lhasa from Lanzhou railway station.

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  • Xi
    Xian to Lhasa Train

    There are two Tibet trains passing by Xian every day and a train from Xian to Lhasa every other day. It is also one of the popular way to get to Tibet from the ancient capital of China.

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  • Hong Kong to Lhasa Train
    Hong Kong to Lhasa Train

    How to get to Tibet from Hong Kong by train? Check the scheduel of Hong Kong-Tibet trains and find the best way to get to Tibet from Hong Kong.

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Get to Tibet By Flight

From within China, travelers can fly to Lhasa via Chengdu, Beijing, Shangri-la, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, etc. You can check detailed flight schedule, flight information and airport guide as below.

  • Flights to Tibet
    Flights to Tibet

    Gongga Airport is the main airport in Lhasa, Tibet, which operates flights to/from Lhasa from/to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kathmandu and many other major cities home and abroad.

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  • All Airports in Tibet
    All Airports in Tibet

    In this article, you will get to know the four main airports in Tibet along with the various destinations and airlines they cater to.

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  • What Airlines Fly to Tibet
    Tibet Airlines

    Air China, Sichuan Airlines and Tibet Airlines are the most popular airlines providing the most frequent flights to Tibet. Check the flight schedule of each respectively in this guidance.

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Get to Tibet By Overland

Lying on the high-altitude plateau of the Himalayas, Tibet is a land that has been isolated for centuries from the outside world until recently. Nowadays, it is a lot easier to get to Tibet with new roads. Off all the ways to get to Tibet, there are four major highways that lead from different parts of China to Tibet.

Driving to Tibet is no longer just a dream, and with these new roads, traveling overland to Tibet has become a popular way to get to the plateau, as it allows for more exploration and is appealing to those hardy adventures who want to experience the long and hard drive to the roof of the world.

Get to Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu to Lhasa Travel Map

Besides the mainland China, Nepal is the busiest gateway to Tibet. Recently, tourists can get to Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal by air and by overland.

Nepal to Tibet by Air

From outside China, travelers can only fly from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal to Lhasa. There are non-stop from Kathmandu to Lhasa every day. The flight from Nepal and Tibet costs about 2 hours and the average price of flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa is around 5000RMB.

Overland from Nepal to Tibet

Many travelers book Nepal to Tibet overland tours via the Friendship Highway that runs from Kathmandu to Lhasa. The 920km (570 miles) trip is spectacular although don't expect a shower along the way. It takes three to five days with stops for sightseeing.

Tourists can also get to Tibet from Nepal by bike or motorbike, and the Tibet-Nepal train is planned to be opened in the near future.

Get to Tibet from Other Countries

How to get to Tibet from my country? Is there any direct way to Tibet from United States? Here we offer the ultimate guide to Tibet from some of the popular international countries.

More Travel Guide about Getting to Tibet

Before traveling to Tibet, one of the most mysterious lands in the world, you may have many questions. Is it safe to travel to Tibet? How much does it cost to visit Tibet? You may seek for the best way to get to Tibet at the best time. Here we offer you most useful guide on how to Travel to Tibet. Hoping these will solve your problems. If you still have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

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