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Getting to Tibet

Tibet is one of the few places where how you arrive shapes the trip itself. There are two ways in — by air, or by the railway — and four main gateways. Below is what each one actually involves, so you can choose the approach rather than have it chosen for you.

By air

Direct flights reach Lhasa from a number of Chinese cities, and the journey is short: about two hours from Chengdu, around four from Beijing, slightly longer from Shanghai. The catch is the abrupt arrival at 3,650 m. Flying in is perfectly safe, and thousands of visitors do it every month, but the first day needs to be a slow one, and our itineraries are built to assume exactly that.

There is also a flight across the Himalaya from Kathmandu to Lhasa, which is one of the most spectacular scheduled routes in the world when the weather cooperates — on a clear day the entire eastern Himalaya, Everest included, lies below you. We arrange that leg for guests combining Nepal with Tibet.

By train

The railway from Xining to Lhasa crosses the plateau at over 5,000 m and takes about a day. From Chengdu it is longer — roughly a day and a half — and from Beijing or Shanghai it is a two-day journey with changes. What the train gives you is a gradual ascent instead of a sudden one, a great deal of extraordinary scenery, and an arrival that most guests describe as the highlight of the trip.

All trains into Tibet pass through Xining, where the carriages are changed for the high-altitude stock. This is why the Xining route is the one most often recommended, and why our train itineraries are built around it. Cabins are comfortable, with berths and dining cars; the oxygen supply begins automatically at altitude.

From Chengdu

The biggest gateway, with the most flights and the most connections. Sichuan’s Tibetan districts — Kham — begin on the city’s own doorstep, which makes Chengdu the natural start for a G318 overland journey as well as for a simple flight in. Our guests often use it for pandas first, then Tibet.

From Xining

The rail gateway. Almost every itinerary that arrives by train begins here, and the city itself has the Kumbum monastery and the Qinghai Lake within reach — some of the best Tibetan country outside the Tibet Autonomous Region, and a gentle way to start acclimatising before the train.

From Beijing and Shanghai

Direct flights from both, taking four to five hours, as well as long rail journeys for travellers who want the crossing itself to be part of the trip. Both cities are common starting points for guests adding Beijing’s Forbidden City or the Shanghai waterfront to a Tibet journey, which is a natural pairing.

From Kathmandu

Either by air across the Himalaya, or overland across the Gyirong border on the Friendship Highway — a two- or three-day drive that takes in the north face of Everest. The overland crossing is one of the great journeys in Asia, and it is the route most of our Nepal-and-Tibet guests choose.

Which approach is right for you?

Fly if your time is short. Take the train if you have two extra days and want the plateau to arrive at the speed it deserves. Come overland from Nepal if you are already in Kathmandu, or if the journey itself matters as much as the destination. Whichever you choose, we handle the permits, the tickets and the transfers.

Arrivals we arrange

One route for each way in

Every journey here is private and can be reversed, extended, or combined with another city. Tell us where you are flying from and we will build the arrival around it.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is best to fly to Tibet from?

Chengdu has the most flights and the best connections, and it is the natural choice if you also want to see the pandas or continue overland through Kham. Beijing and Shanghai have direct flights as well. All routes land at the same airport outside Lhasa, and we meet you there either way.

How long does the train to Lhasa take?

Around a day from Xining, roughly a day and a half from Chengdu, and about two days from Beijing or Shanghai with a change. Every train into Tibet passes through Xining, where the carriages are switched for high-altitude stock, which is why the Xining route is the one usually recommended.

Do I get altitude sickness if I fly in?

Arriving by air means going from sea level to 3,650 m in a couple of hours, so the first day has to be quiet — light meals, plenty of water, nothing strenuous. Most guests feel normal within a day. The train gives a gentler ascent and is the better option if you are worried, but it is not a guarantee: acclimatisation still takes time.

Can I fly into Lhasa and out through Nepal?

Yes, and it is a popular shape for a combined trip: fly in, cross the plateau, and leave down the Friendship Highway for Kathmandu, or the reverse. The border crossing is arranged with your permit and takes a full day of driving, which we build into the itinerary.

Before you send your inquiry

  • No deposit — ever. Your dates are held with a free inquiry, and nothing is due until we confirm. On fixed group departures, book early to secure your seats.
  • Cancel free before your Tibet Travel Permit is issued — full refund, every dollar.
  • After the permit is issued: the USD $100 permit fee is non-refundable, everything else is refunded. Refunds within 7 business days.
  • Bring a group of 7 and your spot is free (7+1).
  • Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
  • Tell us your dates and route on the form below — you will have a written itinerary and an item-by-item quote within 12 hours, with no obligation to book.
  • Prices depend on group size, hotel standard, season and how you travel into Tibet, so we quote each trip individually rather than from a price list.
  • Hotel details — the exact hotels we use — come with your quote. Ask below for the standard you would like and we will match it.
  • A Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator since 1999 — our own guides, vehicles and office in Lhasa, 7,200+ travellers from 40+ countries, 4.9★ on TripAdvisor.

We answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.

Tibet Travel Inquiry