By
plane:
Most foreign travelers arrive in Tibet by plane.
From China, Chengdu is the easiest and most popular
starting point. Daily flights carry tourists to
Lhasa in about 2 hours and cost RMB1200. Chongqing,
a neighboring city, also has flights to Tibet.
However, there are only two flights every week.
It is also possible to go from Beijing and Xi'an
(only one flight every week).Luckily, Flights
from Shanghai are new, operating on Wednesdays
and Sundays. Travelers in Nepal may also fly from
Kathmandu.
Gonggar
Airport is 98 km south of Lhasa city. Airport
buses take tourists to the city soon after they
arrive. The drive costs foreigners RMB40 and takes
about two hours. Taking a taxi costs RMB250 to
RMB300. Minibuses from Shigatse to Lhasa also
stop outside the airport to make extra money.
Flights to and from Lhasa
| Flights
to Lhasa |
Availability
(days of the week ie.1=Monday) |
Flying
Time |
| Chengdu |
1,2,4,6,7
two flights a day
35 one flight a day |
2
hours |
| Shanghai |
3,7 |
5
hours |
| Beijing |
1,4 |
5
hours |
| Chongqing |
2,6 |
2.5
hours |
| Xi'an |
3,7 |
2
hours |
| Guangzhou |
2,6 |
5
hours |
| Xining |
1,5,
2 flights a day |
2
hours |
| Kathmandu |
2,6 |
3
hours |
| Flights
From Lhasa |
Availability
(days of week ie. 1=Monday) |
Flying
Time |
| Chengdu |
1,3,4,7
two flights a day
2,5,6 one flight a day |
2
hours |
| Shanghai |
2,6 |
5
hours |
| Beijing |
4 |
5
hours |
| Chongqing |
2,6 |
2.5
hours |
| Xi'an |
2,6 |
2
hours |
| Guangzhou |
2,6 |
5
hours |
| Xining |
1,5
two flights a day |
2
hours |
| Kathmandu |
2,6 |
3
hours |
|
