With more than 30 airports in China, as well as the Tribhuvan International airport in Nepal, supplying flights to and from Lhasa, travelers have a wealth of choice when it comes to flying to the Tibetan capital to tour the region. Of those many airports, some are on the far side of China, such as Beijing and Shanghai, while others are in areas that are too far out of the way to provide flights for tourists, such as Urumqi.
There are, however, six airports within a short flying distance of Lhasa, from which majority of people traveling to Tibet by flight usually start their epic journeys, including the Nepali airport in Kathmandu. The five closest airports in China to Lhasa are: Diqing Shangri-La Airport, Xining Caojiabao International Airport, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, Kunming Changshui International Airport, and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
The Closest Cities to Get to Lhasa by flight
Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa (only international flight to Tibet, very popular)
Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport is the only airport in the world that has direct international flights to Lhasa. Located around six kilometers from the center of Kathmandu, the airport has just one single runway, but still manages to cater to more than three million passengers year passing through its gates.
Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport
Currently, there is only one daily flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, operated jointly by Sichuan Airlines and Air China. A one-way economy flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu costs from around US$ 266, including all the taxes, fees, and surcharges. The standard flight takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes, and the flight path takes you directly over the summit of Mount Everest, giving you a beautiful aerial view of the mountain on clear days.
In order to get the flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you will need to have booked a tour with a registered Tibetan tour operator, such as our travel agency. You will also need to have your Group Tourist Visa, Tibet Travel Permit before being able to board the flight. These can be applied for by us on your behalf.
The Tibet Travel Permit can only be applied for on your behalf once you have booked your tour, and it requires at least 20 days to process the application. You need to arrive in Kathmandu earlier and set aside at least 3 days to process Group Tourist Visa. Our local representative will collect your passport from you and the completed application form, and make the application on your behalf.
As the only international airport providing flights to Lhasa, Kathmandu is in a prime position for tourists to get to Tibet. Kathmandu caters to inbound flights from as far away as Istanbul in Turkey, which is a major connecting hub for flights out of Europe. There are also direct flights from Hong Kong, connecting with flights from the United States and Australia. The ease of getting the visa for Nepal on your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport means that it is ideal to travel from Nepal to Tibet.
Fly from Diqing Shangri-La to Lhasa (closest airport in mainland China to Lhasa)
Serving the area around Shangri-La, Diqing Shangri-La Airport is the second closest airport to Lhasa, and lies just outside the city of Shangri-La in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Region of Yunnan Province. The airport has one runway, and planes have to turn around after landing to taxi to the terminal building, as there is only one taxiway. Located just 5.5 kilometers outside the city, the airport serves more than half a million passengers a year. With no shuttle buses to the airport, travelers will need to get a taxi from the city to the airport, which costs around 30 CNY.
Diqing Shangri-La Airport
Currently, there are only two flights from Shangri-La to Lhasa per day, and these are provided by China Eastern Airlines and Tibet Airlines. Flights take an average of around 2 hours 5 minutes to get to the Tibetan capital, and cost from around US$ 230 per person for a one-way economy flight.
The Tibet Travel Permit is required in order to board the plane to Lhasa, which can be obtained by us once you have booked your tour. Processing of the Tibet Travel Permit takes around 20 days, and requires photocopies of your passport and Chinese Visa, and the photos of yourself and the completed permit will be delivered to your hotel ready for your flight.
The Second Closest Cities to Lhasa by Flight
Fly from Xining to Lhasa
Xining Caojiabao International Airport is the major airport in Qinghai Province that serves flights to Lhasa. Located in Huzhu County, around 30 kilometers to the east of Xining, the airport caters to around 5.5 million passengers a year.
Xining Caojiabao International Airport
There are currently six direct flights from Xining to Lhasa every day, run by Sichuan Airlines and Tibet Airlines, which cost from around US$ 283 per person for a one-way economy flight. The flight takes around 2 hours 20 minutes to cover the distance, which is 20 hours less than the train. Xining is also the start of the Qinghai Tibet Railway, which was opened in 2006, and which takes around 22 hours to get the train to Tibet from Xining.
One of the main benefits of traveling from Xining to Lhasa by flight is the altitude of Xining. At 2,275 meters above sea level, this intermediate elevation is ideal for acclimatizing to higher altitudes before traveling to Lhasa, which can help to reduce the risk of altitude sickness once you arrive in the Tibetan capital. As with all flights to Lhasa from mainland China, your Tibet Travel Permit must be obtained by us before you can board the flight.
Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa
Located 16 kilometers to the southwest of downtown Chengdu, the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of the main flight hubs for southwest China, as well as being one of the two main hubs for Air China, the national airline. Catering to over 46 million passengers a year, Chengdu is an important gateway to Lhasa for the trains as well as the flights.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
International flights from Hong Kong, London, Paris, Los Angeles, New york, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Moscow, Prague, and San Francisco all land at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, making it an important airport for tourists to mainland China and Tibet. However, you will still need to have us obtain your Tibet Travel Permit before you can board the flight.
There are 17 daily direct flights from Chengdu to Lhasa, operated by Air China, Tibet Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and China Eastern, and the average one-way economy flight costs from around US$ 265 per person. With an average flight time of around 2 hours 20 minutes, it is much quicker than the train to Tibet.
Fly from Kunming to Lhasa
Kunming Changshui International Airport is the main airport serving Yunnan Province in Southwest China, and is located 24 kilometers northeast of the city center. The airport is a minor hub for Sichuan Airlines and several other small airlines, and operates inbound international flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Paris, and Vancouver. For a relatively small airport, this makes it a major center for tourists to southwest China and travelers to Tibet, as it means many travelers do not have to transfer to the airport from elsewhere in China to get to Lhasa.
Kunming Changshui International Airport
There are currently five daily direct flights from Kunming to Lhasa, operated by Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Tibet Airlines. Flights take around 2 hours 50 minutes and cost from US$ 355 per person for a one-way economy ticket. We can provide your Tibet Travel Permit, required for boarding the flight, once you have booked your Tibet tour with us.
Fly from Chongqing to Lhasa
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the main airport for Chongqing, and is located in the Yubei District of the city, around 19 kilometers from the city center. One of the major hubs for airlines to western China, it is one of the focus sites for Air China, the national carrier.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is an international airline hub for flights from Hong Kong, San Francisco, Helsinki, New York, Sydney, Tokyo, Moscow, London, Melbourne, Irkutsk, and Singapore, making it one of the major airports in western China for international tourism. And with more than ten direct flights from Chongqing to Lhasa per day, it is one of the best airports from which to fly to the Tibetan capital without needing to transfer within China.
Flights take 2 hours 50 minutes to get to Lhasa from Chongqing, and cost from around US$ 297 for a one-way economy ticket. You will need your Tibet Travel Permit before you can board the flight, which can be applied for on your behalf by us, once you have booked your tour.
Acclimatization to Tibetan Plateau for Taking Flight to Tibet
Acclimatizing to the height of the Tibetan plateau is something that can take the body a couple of days to manage, and the risk of altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) when you get to Lhasa is higher when flying, as the aircraft are all pressurized to the pressure at sea level. To avoid this, or reduce the risk, you can take just a few simple steps.
Do not indulge in too much rich food once in Lhasa, and eat small meals of vegetables and high protein meats. Plenty of fruit can also help. Avoid any strenuous exercise until you have acclimatized, as this can increase the risk of altitude sickness. And avoiding alcohol and smoking also reduces the risk of AMS, and getting plenty of rest allows the body to acclimatize better and faster.
