Welcome to your Lhasa journey! As the main aerial gateway to Tibet, Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is situated on the magnificent south bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, approximately 60 kilometers from the city center. As you soar over the snow-capped plateau and land at this airport, which sits at an altitude of 3,570 meters, an awe-inspiring and magical adventure officially begins. Here, you can witness the majestic Potala Palace, experience the profound devotion at the Jokhang Temple, and explore the bustling Barkhor Street. Wishing you a safe and wonderful journey. Tashi Delek!

Fly into Lhasa Gonggar International Airport - For an Efficient Arrival

1. The Definitive Gateway to the Holy City

Lhasa International Gonggar Airport is the undisputed aerial gateway to Tibet's spiritual heart. Arriving here places you within a 90-minute drive of the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, ensuring your journey begins with maximum cultural immediacy. Its extensive domestic network from over 30 cities makes it the most time-efficient portal for a pilgrimage-centered itinerary. Flying from major Chinese cities (e.g., Beijing, Chengdu) to Lhasa takes only 2~5 hours, while traveling by rail from the same cities requires 20~40 hours.

2. The Dramatic Landscape Like No Other

The final descent into Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is a spectacle. As the aircraft aligns with the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley, passengers witness a breathtaking tableau of barren mountains, patchwork farmland, and distant monasteries from above.

3. Comprehensive Support Services You Can Trust

The airport is equipped with oxygen supply stations, a high-altitude medical clinic, and a well-established transport network (including shuttle buses and taxis). This makes it particularly suitable for first-time visitors to Tibet or travelers who are less confident about acclimatizing to high altitudes.

Aerial View from Chengdu to Lhasa

4 Days Holy Lhasa City Highlights Private Tour with Cultural Heritage Treasure

Itinerary: Lhasa
Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery Monk Debate Overview: 4-Day Lhasa Private Tour: This is one of our most popular tour packages in Tibet. On this classic journey, you will explore the best attractions of Lhasa in 4 days, perfect for those with limited travel time and first-time travelers.

Domestic Flights to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Currently, Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is well connected with many destinations in China. During the peak season (June to October), there are more than 30 flights heading to Lhasa each day. Top cities like Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xian, Kunming, usually operate more than 2 daily direct flights to Lhasa each day. Some other destinations, such as Shangri-La, Lijiang, Xining, Urumqi, Guangzhou, Kangding, Mianyang, Zhengzhou, Xiahe also have direct flights or connecting flights to Lhasa everyday. Among all these cities, Chengdu is the most popular hub for taking flights to/off Tibet. There are more than 20 flights flying between Chengdu and Lhasa each day. Xian also operates over 10 flights to Lhasa each day.

Chengdu to Lhasa Flights - The Most Frequent Route

As the most important gateway to Tibet, Chengdu operates over 25 nonstop flights between Chengdu and Lhasa from early morning about 6am to late afternoon around 8pm. The flight duration from Chengdu to Lhasa is approximately 2.5~3 hours, depending on the departure airport (about 2.5 hours from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport to Lhasa, and about 3 hours from Chengdu Tianfu Airport to Lhasa). If you are planning a travel to Tibet, you can choose Chengdu as the flight departing hub because it has a much more frequent flight schedule. While in other cities like Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, it is quite difficult to book flight tickets especially during tourist peak seasons (June to October).

Check Real-time Schedule and Fares of Chengdu Lhasa Flights 丨 Tibet Tours from Chengdu

6 Days Classic Chengdu Lhasa Highlights Tour by Direct Flight

Itinerary: Chengdu / Lhasa
Highlights: Panda Base, Wenshu Temple, Potala Palace, Sera Monastery Overview: Experience the relaxing lifestyle of Chengdu and have a close encounter with the adorable Giant Pandas, then take a fast flight (only about 2 hours) to the holy land of Lhasa and enjoy the beautiful high plateau landscape and soak in the devoted atmosphere of Buddhism in the Potala Palace and sacred monasteries.

Beijing to Lhasa Flights - The Capital & Holy City Sky Link

Beijing is the most used international arrival city in China, also a popular gateway to Tibet. There are 2 nonstop flights to Lhasa from Beijing Capital International Airport every day. The whole journey will take about 4.5 hours.

Check Real-time Schedule and Fares of Beijing Lhasa Flights 丨 Tibet Tours from Beijing

4 Days Lhasa Tour from Beijing by Flight

Itinerary: Lhasa
Highlights: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery Overview:

Xian to Lhasa Flights - The Historical Corridor to Tibet

Compared with Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Xian is closer to Lhasa. Travelers only have to fly about 1230 miles (1980 km), approximately 3.5 hours. Xian Xianyang International Airport operates 5 daily nonstop flights to Lhasa. These flights are operated by Tibet Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Eastern Airlines, etc. which are all experienced airlines to operate flights on high plateau area.

Check Real-time Schedule and Fares of Xian Lhasa Flights 丨 Tibet Tours from Xian

7 Days Xian Lhasa Highlights Tour by Flight

Itinerary: Xian / Lhasa
Highlights: Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple Overview:

Shanghai Lhasa Flights - The Classic Route from East China to Tibet

Currently (January, 2026) there are 2 stopover flights per day from Monday to Saturday (and 1 flight on Sundays) from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, all with a stopover in either Chengdu or Xi'an. It takes about 7.5~8 hours to fly there over a distance around 1930miles (3107km).

Check Real-time Schedule and Fares of Shanghai Lhasa Flights 丨 Tibet Tours from Shanghai

7 Days Classic Shanghai Tibet Highlights Tour

Itinerary: Shanghai / Lhasa
Highlights: The Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Potala Palace, Sera Monastery Overview:

All Flights to Tibet in Summary

International Flights to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

So far, there is only 1 international air line connecting Lhasa: Kathmandu – Lhasa. Geographically speaking, Lhasa is only about 375 miles (603.5 km)’s flight from Kathmandu. It takes only about 1.5 hours to get to Lhasa from Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Lhasa Air Route is also considered as one of the most beautiful air routes in the world because it flies over many famous peaks over 8000 meters on the Himalaya Range, such as Mount Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,536m), and Lhotse (8,516m).

During summer days, there are daily direct flights operated, sometimes 2 flights and sometimes just 1 flight. This route is operated by Himalaya Airlines. In the low seasons, there might be less or no daily flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa. To take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, one will need to have three necessary documents – Tibet Group Visa, Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet Border Pass.

Check Full Schedule and Fares of Kathmandu Lhasa Flights

Transfer to/off Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Lhasa Gonggar Airport is about 60km from Lhasa downtown. Transportation between the airport and the city center is available via private vehicle, taxi, or airport shuttle bus.

Worry-Free Private Transfer with Tibet Discovery

Tibet Discovery provides convenient and comfortable airport pick-up and drop-off services, which are usually included in our Tibet tour packages. Upon stepping out of the arrival hall at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, your friendly local guide and driver will be there to greet you. You will be transferred directly to your hotel or first scenic stop in our comfortable, private vehicle, ensuring a hassle-free start to your journey without language barriers or the need to arrange transport. Feel free to contact us!

By Taxi

It costs about 200~300 CNY to the Barkhor Street area of Lhasa city by taxi and the journey typically takes about 1~1.5 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

By Shuttle Bus

Airport shuttle bus is also available, and costs only about 30 CNY. It usually takes about 1~1.5 hours to transfer between the airport and Lhasa downtown.

Note: The airport shuttle bus and taxis are convenient transportation options primarily for domestic independent travelers. For international visitors, please kindly note that local travel regulations require all travel within Tibet to be organized through a registered tour agency. Therefore, your transportation will be pre-arranged, and independently using public transport like the shuttle bus is typically not applicable under such arrangements.

Our Guest Terri enjoyed pick-up service at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport Shuttle Bus at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Tibet Travel Permit and Flight Travel

A Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Entry Permit) is the MUST-DOCUMENT to take a flight to Tibet. It is firstly needed to book flight from the airport or ticket agent. When you check in and check out the airports, the original Tibet Travel Permit also will be checked. (Note: if you take flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you only have to have the scanned copy of Tibet Travel Permit.) Please remember to duplicate at least 3 copies of Tibet Travel Permit because the permits are required for many occasions. The permit can only be issued in Tibet by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, and also can be only applied by travel agency behalf of travelers. It needs about 14 working days to obtain the permit.

How to Apply for Tibet Travel Permit

1. Contact us to work out and confirm an itinerary in Tibet;
2. Send us the scanned copies of your passport, and provide an available address in China(hotel or local agency) to receive your permit;
3. We apply for the Tibet Travel Permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa;
4. Once the permit is issued, we will send the original permit to you by post.

Learn more detail about Tibet Travel Permit Application

Tibet Travel Permit

Useful Notes on Tibet Flight Travel

1. Necessary documents required to take a flight to/off Tibet

- Chinese visa is always needed no matter you are taking a flight or a train to Tibet. The office man in the airport will check your Chinese visa when your go to board the plane.

- The passport will be needed for many situations: booking flight ticket, checking in flight, checking in hotel, checking in the Border Station in Tibet, etc. Make sure your passport is valid and original.

- Original Tibet Travel Permit will be checked when you board your plane at the airports.

2. How to book flight ticket?

The flight ticket can be booked at online websites, such as Booking.com, Expedia, Ctrip, Qunar, etc. You can also buy the ticket from the airports in China or flight resellers. You are also welcomed to let us book your flight. We are always keeping up with the latest flight news and usually can book the ticket at a cheaper price. During summer and autumn, it usually gets difficult to book the flights to Lhasa. While using our booking service, we will not only book the ticket, but also arrange a valuable tour package.

3. When is the best time to fly to Tibet?

Generally speaking, months from April to October are recommended for traveling in Tibet. Other months are usually very cold, and possibly have heavy snow, especially in regions like Mount Everest, Mount Kailash, Namtso Lake, etc. The flights schedules are also more frequent during April to October. During December to March, the airline companies will cut down the flight schedules, usually from daily weekly, even to none. But top cities like Chengdu and Xian still operate daily flights during the shoulder season. It is recommended to take the morning flight so that you can get to Lhasa before late afternoon, and have enough time to acclimatize yourself to the altitude and thin air in Lhasa. The morning flights also cut down the risk that your flights would be delayed or canceled.

4. What are the most popular gateway cities to fly to Tibet?

Our Guests - Sabine's group visited the Potala Palace, Lhasa in July

Currently Chengdu, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chongqing, Kunming, Shangri-La are mostly used by travelers as gateway hubs to fly to Tibet.

5. International flights to China

So far, Kathmandu is the only international city which operates flights to Lhasa. It is only about 375 miles (1.5 hours)’s flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa. During months from May to October, there are usually one or two daily direct flights operated. In the low seasons, there might be less or no daily flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa. To take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, one will need a Group Visa, Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet Border Permit.

6. What else airport I can fly to except for Lhasa Gonggar International Airport?

Tibet has 5 airports in total. Besides Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, you can also take a flight to Shigatse, Nyingchi, Ngari, and Qamdo. But only certain cities in China operate flights to these smaller cities.

- Shigatse - there is daily flight flying between Chengdu and Shigatse each day. The airport name is Shigatse Peace Airport, which is about 46km from Shigatse city.

- Nyingchi - Chengdu usually offers 9 morning flights to Nyingchi Milin Airport. While its neighboring city Chongqing also has 3 morning flights to Nyingchi each day. If you travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa, you are recommended to take a flight to Nyingchi firstly from Chengdu or Chongqing. It is also available to fly out Tibet directly from Nyingchi.

- Qamdo - Both Chongqing and Chengdu operate a daily flight to Qamdo Bangda Airport in Tibet. But there are few travelers have chosen this line because Qamdo is not a popular tourist destination in Tibet.

- Ngari - Urumqi (capital of Xinjiang) offers a daily direct flight to Ngari Gunsa Airport with a stop at Kashgar.

Nyingchi Milin Airport

7. The regulation on the free luggage allowance on the plane

Different airlines have different baggage policies. Full-service carriers such as Air China and Sichuan Airlines typically include free checked baggage allowance. The specific allowance depends entirely on your fare class and the operating airline's rules.

Common Baggage Allowance (For Reference Only):

8. Will my kids get a discounted flight ticket?

Kids aging 2 to 12 years old (including 12) will get a discount of 50% of the full price of the flight fare. If an adult take a flight to Lhasa from Chengdu with a child aging at 10 and the full price for the economy class is 1680 CNY, the ticket fare for the child is 840 CNY. The child also doesn’t have to pay for Airport Construction Fee while the adult has to. Infant under 2 years old only has to pay 10% of the full price, but the separate seat is not provided.

9. How do I collect (receive) the flight ticket?

Since most flight tickets are booked online, so firstly you will receive an e-ticket. You will change it to a paper ticket when you check in your flight at a counter in the airport.

Discover Tibet with a Journey Tailored to You

International travelers are required to join an organized tour with a licensed travel agency to visit Tibet, which means independent travel isn’t permitted. But rather than viewing this as a limitation, we at Tibet Discovery see it as an opportunity to craft something extraordinary for you. Our decades of experience operating in Tibet allow us to transform what could be a simple route into a carefully curated journey. Just contact us to plan your adventure!

When you travel with us, you’ll benefit from:

◾ An expert local guide who brings Tibet’s history, culture, and hidden stories to life.
◾ A comfortable private vehicle suited to Tibet’s unique road conditions.
◾ An experienced driver who knows every curve of the route and can spot wildlife or photo opportunities you might otherwise miss
◾ Flexible pacing that lets you linger at viewpoints or explore unexpected discoveries along the way

Travel with Tibet Discovery

How to Plan a Lhasa Tour

Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is known as the "Sunlight City" and serves as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. We recommend spending 3~4 days exploring the city.

☛ How to Plan a Lhasa Trip & Visiting Lhasa Advices

The 4-day classic Lhasa journey is designed for first-time visitors to Lhasa. Its carefully paced itinerary allows for gradual acclimatization while covering Lhasa's highlights, gently guiding you from heritage sites to living traditions. Spend your first day gently adapting to Lhasa's high altitude (3650 m). On your second day, begin at the Tibet Museum, where you'll gain a thoughtful introduction to the region's history, art, and heritage. From there, step into the tranquil Norbulingka, the former Summer Palace celebrated as a masterpiece of Tibetan garden design. By afternoon, experience the lively Buddhist debates at Sera Monastery, offering a glimpse into Tibetan Buddhist scholarship.

On the third day, ascend to the UNESCO-listed Potala Palace, standing at 3,700 meters and housing sacred halls and historic artifacts. Continue to the spiritual heart of the city, Jokhang Temple, where pilgrims gather in devotion before the revered Jowo Shakyamuni statue. Finally, step into the vibrant Barkhor Street circuit, circling the temple amidst a lively blend of prayer, traditional markets, and local craftsmanship. The final day is reserved for departure.

☛ 4 Days Holy City Lhasa Private Tour - Heart of Tibet

For a touch of nature beyond the city, consider a day trip to one of Tibet’s Three Sacred Lakes: Namtso Lake or Yamdrok Lake. Namtso Lake ranks among the world's highest saltwater lakes, with prayer flags and mani stones along its shores completing a landscape of profound serenity. Yamdrok Lake is famed for its ribbon-like turquoise waters winding through the mountains. Its ever-shifting shades of blue and green create a view often described as "heaven on earth".

☛ 5 Days Lhasa City and Holy Lake Namtso Tour
☛ 5 Days Best of Lhasa & Beautiful Yamdrok Lake Tour

With 6~9 days to explore, extend your journey from Lhasa to more of Tibet's iconic destinations, such as the world's highest peak Everest, the lush and scenic Nyingchi known as "Tibetan Switzerland", and Shigatse, the Tibet's second-largest city and home to the historic Tashilhunpo Monastery.

☛ 6 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Historical Tour
☛ 7 Days Classic Lhasa Nyingchi Landscape Discovery Tour
☛ 8 Days Everest Base Camp Tour - Top of the World
☛ 9 Days Tibet Discovery Tour plus Everest and Namtso Expedition

At Tibet Discovery, we can seamlessly connect your Lhasa experience with a comprehensive Tibet tour, handling all itineraries, permits, and transportation so you can focus on the once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Contact us to customize your journey now!

Must-Visit Attractions in Lhasa Our Guest visited Namtso Lake in Summer Time

Recommended Tibet Tour Packages

Tibet Discovery Tours is specialized in finding unique experience of Tibet, and leading you to explore what interests you most. Our Private Tibet Tours will take you to explore deep into the Holy Land, with loads of options, freedom & flexibility. You can choose from the following hand-picked tour packages which have been successfully operated for many years and created loads of amazing experiences for our customers, or check more Tibet Tours >>

• 

  Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Gyantse / Shigatse / Mount Everest / Lhasa

  8 Days Lhasa to Mount Everest Private Tour with Base Camp Experience

  Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Yamdrok Lake, Palcho Monastery, Everest Base Camp, Sakya Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery

  $1,599 / Details

• 

  Lhasa

  4 Days Holy Lhasa City Highlights Private Tour with Cultural Heritage Treasure

  Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery Monk Debate

  $619 / Details

• 

  Lhasa / Namtso Lake / Lhasa

  5 Days Lhasa Highlights & Holy Lake Namtso Tour

  Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Namtso Lake

  $839 / Details

Prefer to tailor a trip that totally suits your requirements and interests? Our 20+ professional, helpful and friendly travel experts are ready to help! Tell us your needs, and one of our experts will get to you with trip details within 0.5~23.5 hrs. You can also call us at 86-28-85227275 / 86-28-85223672.

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