Linked with many domestic cities and a famous international tourist destination - Kathmandu Nepal, Lhasa has opened many airline routes for travel convenience. If you would like to get to Lhasa by flight, you have over 50 flights to select every day.

Domestic Flights to Lhasa

Lhasa has the most number of flights in Tibet, operating dozens of domestic flights originated from various cities in China: Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xian, Kunming, Shangri-La, Lanzhou, Xining, Lijiang, etc. Among all the cities, Chengdu is the most popular gateway to Lhasa, because Chengdu offers nearly 20 flights to Lhasa every day. Besides, you can also transfer to international destination or fly back to home country from the above major gateway cities.

International Flight to Lhasa

So far, there is only one international air line connecting Lhasa: Kathmandu – Lhasa. Only Air China and Sichuan Airlines are operating this international flights. In peak tourist season like summer, there is 1~2 flights every day.

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

As the biggest and most important airport in Tibet, Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA, 拉萨贡嘎国际机场) is known as one of the highest airports in the world with an altitude of 3,570m. The Airport is located in Gonggar County, Shannan City, Tibet, about 60km to downtown Lhasa City. It takes about 1h~1.5hrs to drive from the airport to central Lhasa area. There are airport shuttle buses in fixed route and flexible taxies you can take, normally the bus costs about 25CNY and taxi fee is around 150-200CNY to the centralized accommodation Barkhor Street area. Tibet Discovery will offer all-inclusive package including convenient and comfortable pickup and drop off service and quality Tibet tour for you if you take our tour package.

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>>Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

>>Recommended Tibet Tour Packages

Except the flight way, Lhasa is accessible by train as well. Since the official operation of Qinghai Tibet Railway in 2006, Lhasa started its connection with major inland cities in China. Now taking a train to Lhasa is praised as once in a lifetime travel experience for every Tibet tourist. If you prefer a budget and special way to Lhasa, taking a train is a good choice you can’t miss. You will not only experience the unique Tibet train travel but also enjoy the impressive scenery along the route. Still Lhasa has opened fast and convenient daily train to Shigatse, which only needs less than 3hrs.

Where to Take Trains to Lhasa?

Lhasa is well connected with main popular domestic tourist cities. Currently, passengers can take direct trains to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xining and Lanzhou. If you are in the passing by cities like Xian, Nanjing, Suzhou, Zhengzhou, Shijiazhuang, Changsha and so on, you can also catch the Lhasa trains. The daily direct trains to Lhasa costs around 21- 53hrs based on the distance to Lhasa, while Chengdu and Chongqing run trains to Lhasa every other day for about 43hrs duration.There are 3 kinds of seats are available on each specilized plateau train: Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper and Hard Seats. Better plan your itinerary as early as possible, because each kind of ticket is in highly demand and difficult to book in summer peak seasons.

Lhasa Railway Station

Sits in southwest Lhasa, the Lhasa Railway Station (拉萨火车站) is the terminal and the biggest station of Qinghai Tibet Railway. It is located in Liuwu New District, southwest of Lhasa, nearly 10km to the downtown Lhasa area, for about 30mins riding to Potala Palce from the railway station. At an elevation of 3,641 meters above sea level, the railway station build on plateau is about 71meters higher than Lhasa Gonggar Airport, so please walk slowly when you get out of the train station against altitude sickness.

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>>Lhasa Railway Station

>>Trains to Lhasa Timetables

In Lhasa City, famous destinations Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka are concentrated in downtown area within short distance. Independent tourists can take a public bus or taxi to those attractions. The bus fee is much cheaper (1-2 CNY per person), but it’s hard to find the stops which aren’t noted in English. A better choice is get there by taxi, charging fare over 10 to dozens of CNY based on driving distance. Still, there are other featured transports in Lhasa – rickshaw and sharing bike, such as OFO and MOBIKE. For foreigner tourists, Tibet Discovery offers convenient car service to the scheduled destinations or your hotel.