For typical tourists, the quickest way to get to Tibet is by plane. There are flights to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Chengdu (daily departures!), Chongqing, Xining, Chamdo, Xi'an, Zhongdian, and Kathmandu. Gonggar Airport is 98 km south of Lhasa City. Airport buses travel frequently between the airport and the city. The bus fare for visitors is 40 yuan (US$5) and the journey takes approximately two hours. Taking a taxi will cost between 250-300 yuan (US$31 to US$37). Minibuses from Xigaze to Lhasa also stop outside the airport to pick up passengers.
Chengdu is an important airport for flights to Tibet from the Chinese mainland. There are at least two flights from Chengdu to Lhasa everyday. If you wish to go there from Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou you have to make a stop at Chengdu.
But this provides travelers with an ideal opportunity for some additional sightseeing. Chengdu is the best place to see Giant Pandas and the ancient Sanxingdui Ruins.
So an overnight stay in Chengdu is recommended. The flights to Lhasa from Chengdu all depart very early and the planes on the service are the very comfortable Airbus A340s. The flight itself is a once in a lifetime experience. Looking out of the window about 20 minutes before landing you’ll be given a heart-stopping view of those beautiful snow capped mountains.
Flight Information
Departure |
Arrival |
Schedule |
Depart.
Time |
Arriv.
Time |
Flight No. |
Flight
Type |
Fare Info (full price RMB) |
F |
C |
Y |
Beijing |
Lhasa |
1234567 |
09:30 |
14:40 |
CA4112 |
757 |
3650
(US$
456.3) |
3160
(US$
395.1) |
2430
(US$
303.8) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
157 |
07:20 |
09:10 |
CA4417 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
246 |
07:20 |
09:10 |
CA4417 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
37 |
07:30 |
09:20 |
CA4423 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
1 |
07:30 |
09:20 |
CA4473 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
5 |
07:30 |
09:20 |
CA4405 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
26 |
07:30 |
09:20 |
CA407 |
JET |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
1234567 |
07:40 |
09:30 |
CA4401 |
JET |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
1234567 |
08:00 |
09:50 |
CA4403 |
JET |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
146 |
08:20 |
10:10 |
CA4421 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
1357 |
08:20 |
10:10 |
CA4421 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
1234567 |
12:50 |
14:40 |
CA4112 |
757 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
1234567 |
13:30 |
15:20 |
CA4447 |
330 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
3 |
13:50 |
15:40 |
CA426 |
319 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chengdu |
Lhasa |
7 |
14:00 |
15:50 |
CA4447 |
330 |
2250
(US$
281.3) |
1950
(US$
243.8) |
1500
(US$
187.5) |
Chongqing |
Lhasa |
246 |
14:10 |
16:30 |
CA4420 |
319 |
2450
(US$
306.3) |
2120
(US$
265.1) |
1630
(US$
203.8) |
Chonqing |
Lhasa |
1357 |
14:10 |
16:30 |
CA4420 |
319 |
2450
(US$
306.3) |
2120
(US$
265.1) |
1630
(US$
203.8) |
Xining |
Lhasa |
37 |
13:20 |
15:50 |
CA4218 |
319 |
2420
(US$
302.6) |
2090
(US$
261.3) |
1610
(US$
201.3) |
Xi'an |
Lhasa |
157 |
13:20 |
16:00 |
CA4214 |
319 |
2480
(US$
310.1) |
2150
(US$
268.8) |
1650
(US$
206.3) |
Xi'an |
Lhasa |
246 |
13:20 |
16:00 |
CA4214 |
319 |
2480
(US$
310.1) |
2150
(US$
268.8) |
1650
(US$
206.3) |
Xi'an |
Lhasa |
1357 |
08:30 |
11:20 |
HU7857 |
319 |
1650
(US$
206.3) |
1490
(US$
186.3) |
1400
(US$
175) |
Guangzhou |
Lhasa |
1234567 |
07:10 |
12:20 |
CZ3417 |
757 |
3750
(US$
468.9) |
3250
(US$
406.3) |
2500
(US$
312.6) |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
Via Lhasa to Chengdu |
246 |
10:25 |
16:40 |
CA408 |
319 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Pudong, Shanghai |
Via |
1234567 |
08:05 |
10:55 |
CA4520 |
319 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Chengdu to Lhasa |
1234567 |
12:50 |
14:40 |
CA4112 |
757 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Pudong, Shanghai |
Via |
4 |
19:45 |
22:25 |
CZ3614 |
JET |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Guangzhou to Lhasa |
1234567 |
07:10 |
12:20 |
CZ3417 |
757 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Hongqiao, Shanghai |
Via |
4 |
21:00 |
23:00 |
CZ3548 |
330 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Guangzhou to Lhasa |
1234567 |
07:10 |
12:20 |
CZ3417 |
757 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Hongqiao, Shanghai |
Via |
13567 |
21:10 |
23:05 |
CA1550 |
JET |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Beijing to Lhasa |
1234567 |
09:30 |
14:45 |
CA4112 |
757 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Hongqiao, Shanghai |
Via |
247 |
21:10 |
23:05 |
CA1550 |
JET |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Beijing to Lhasa |
1234567 |
09:30 |
14:45 |
CA4112 |
757 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
(More flights to be added)
(China.org.cn June 28, 2006)