Recently, Lhasa can be reached by flight, train, or overland from almost any major city in the mainland of China. Among these cities, Beijing, Chengdu, and Xining are highly recommended for first-time travelers, each offering a unique travel experience to Lhasa.

Moreover, Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is the best international gateway to Lhasa, as it is the only overseas city that has direct flights and an overland route to Lhasa.

In this guide, we’ll explore the detailed transportation options from these popular entry cities to Lhasa and provide an updated flight and train schedule, which could help you navigate your way to Lhasa more smoothly and effectively.

#1: Get to Lhasa from Beijing: Daily Direct Flight & Most Popular Train Route

Beijing, the capital of China, is always the top gateway for international tourists visiting China. With easy access to major cities around the world, Beijing also offers convenient transfers to any part of China.

There are direct flights from Beijing to Lhasa every day, which takes 4 hours and 15 minutes. When you book a Beijing to Lhasa flight, make sure check which airport you are departing from, as there are two airports in Beijing: Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport.

Check the Transportation Map for Flights and Trains to Lhasa from Beijing.

Besides the non-stop flights to Lhasa, Beijing also provides a train to Tibet. The Beijing to Lhasa Train (Z21) is the most popular railway route to Lhasa. It takes around 40 hours from Beijing West Railway Station to Lhasa Railway Station. You will spend 2 nights on board, traveling from the capital through northern China to Xining, and then join the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway through the Tibetan Plateau and finally reach the holy city of Lhasa.

Both the train and flight to Lhasa are popular among tourists from Beijing. It is important to book your ticket to Lhasa as early as possible, especially if you plan to travel from Beijing to Lhasa during the summer holidays.

Insider Tips:
It is wise to take a backup plan as you travel to Xining first and then take a train to Lhasa from there in case you can’t get a Tibet train ticket from Beijing in peak season. Since all trains to Tibet stop in Xining, you’ll have a better chance of securing a ticket.

#2: Get to Lhasa from Kathmandu: the Only International Flight & Epic Overland Journey via Everest

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is the only city with direct international flights to Lhasa. Recently, only the Himalaya Airlines runs the flight between Kathmandu and Lhasa every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa, during which you will fly over the Himalayas and enjoy stunning views of Mount Everest from the plane. However, with only three flights per week, this once convenient way to get to Lhasa becomes expensive, and difficult to get a ticket from Kathmandu.

Taking a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa to enjoy the stunning views of the Himalayas from above.

Presently, the most popular for travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa is overland via the Gyirong border through the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway. The road distance from Kathmandu to Lhasa is 1,300 kilometers. With sightseeing during the journey, the Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour usually takes 8 days. After crossing the border, you will stay one night in Gyirong town to get used to the high altitude on the Tibetan side. Then, you will drive along the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway and south to Everest Base Camp in Tibet, where you can admire the world’s highest peak up close.

After visiting the Everest Base Camp on the northern side of Mount Everest, you will continue the journey to Lhasa, passing through Shigatse, Gyantse Ancient Town, and the holy Lake Yamdrok. This is the epic Nepal to Tibet overland journey from the southern side of the Himalayas to the northern side, during which you could apprentice the different landscapes and experience types of local culture in both Nepal and Tibet.

8 Days Driving Across Himalaya Overland Adventure from Kathmandu to Lhasa

Tour Route: Kathmandu - Gyirong - Everest Base Camp - Tingri - Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa

Price from USD1019 p.p

Insider Tips:
No matter which way you choose to travel to Lhasa from Nepal, you need to obtain a Group Visa through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Of course, a Tibet Travel Permit is also required for a Nepal Tibet tour. Feel free to contact us to learn more about the necessary travel documents for your Nepal Tibet tour.

#3: Get to Lhasa from Chengdu: 20+ Daily Non-stop Flights & the Most Scenic Overland Trip to Tibet

Located in the central part of Sichuan Province, Chengdu is 1,200 kilometers away from Lhasa by flight and 1,900 kilometers away by land. With two airports, Chengdu offers more than 20 direct flights to Lhasa every day, making it the busiest gateway to Lhasa, Tibet. The flight from Chengdu to Lhasa takes around 2.5 hours, which is one of the most convenient ways to get to Lhasa.

Please double-check which airport is for your flight to Lhasa, as the new Tianfu International Airport is around 65 km away from downtown, while Shuangliu International Airport is just about 18 kilometers from the city center.

Chengdu offers the most frequent flights to Lhasa.

Another popular way to get to Lhasa from Chengdu is to travel through the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, also known as the G318 National Highway to Tibet. Praised as the most beautiful highway to Lhasa, the Sichuan Tibet highway connects Chengdu and Lhasa with various landscapes from the Chengdu Plain, through the western Sichuan Plateau to the Tibet Plateau, offering marvelous landscapes of grassland, snow-capped mountains, high mountain passes, etc. It usually takes around 7 to 10 days to complete a Chengdu to Lhasa overland tour.

7 Days Chengdu to Lhasa World-Class Overland Tour: Travel across the Top Scenic Road to Tibet from Chengdu via G318 National Highway

Tour Route: Chengdu - Xinduqiao - Litang - Batang - Zogang - Ranwu - Nyingchi - Lhasa

Price from USD1780 p.p

Insider Tips:
Chengdu also has the train to Lhasa (Z322), which takes 34 hours and 30 minutes to get to Lhasa. However, the Train Z322 are not daily, which departs every other day from Chengdu. So it is not the first choice for those those who travel from Chengdu to Lhasa. If you want to experience the Chengdu to Lhasa train, please check the train schedule in advance.

#4: Get to Lhasa from Xining: The Shortest Tibet Train Journey within 20 Hours

Taking a train to Lhasa via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a unique way to get to Tibet. As you journey through stunning landscapes - from the serene Qinghai Lake to the rugged beauty of Hoh Xil, and across snow-capped mountains and expansive northern grasslands - you’ll discover a side of Tibet like no other.

Recently, there are seven cities offering trains to Tibet, including Xining, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Lanzhou. Among them, Xining is the real start of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, which offers the shortest train journey to Lhasa around only 20 hours.

It is a unique travel experience to get to Lhasa from Xining by train via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

There are two trains departing from Xining, and other trains to Tibet from different cities also stop at Xining Station, so you'll have more options and better chances to buy Tibet train tickets from Xining.

As an important transportation hub in western China, Xining has developed railways and flights connecting major cities across the country. Therefore, if you cannot buy train tickets to Tibet in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, you might as well try to go to Xining first and then take a train to Tibet from Xining.

Insider Tips:
At 2,275 meters above sea level, Xining is also an ideal spot to acclimate to high altitude before reaching Lhasa. If time permits, spending a day or two exploring Xining and nearby Qinghai Lake while acclimatizing to the altitude of over 2,000 meters could be a great choice.

9 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour with Tibet Train Experience

Tour Route: Train from Xining - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Check All Flights to Lhasa from Major Cities in the Mainland of China

Besides the recommended entry cities, there are more cities in the mainland of China that offer direct flights to Lhasa. Nowadays, you can get to Lhasa by flight from almost any major city in China by connecting flight.

Check the non-stop flights to Lhasa as below to plan your flight journey to Lhasa more smoothly.

Insider Tips:
1. The above flight schedule is for reference only. Please check the current flight schedule when planning your trip to Lhasa.
2. Some southern or eastern cities do not have non-stop flights to Lhasa, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Nanjing. You can only take connecting flights to Lhasa from these major cities.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour: Marvel at Mt.Everest Real Close from 4 Different Viewing Platforms

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD949 p.p

Check All Trains to Lhasa with the Latest Schedule for 2025

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the only railway line that enters Tibet. It starts from Xining and goes directly to Lhasa, covering a distance of 1,956 kilometers. Thanks to the developed railway lines, it is now possible to take a train directly to Tibet from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

Check the latest Tibet train schedule below. If you need assistance with planning your Tibet train tour or booking train tickets, feel free to contact us.

All Trains to Lhasa

More Adventures Way to Get to Lhasa: Overland from Xinjiang

For adventurous travelers, the best way to get to Lhasa is undoubtedly an overland journey through Tibet. Compared to the popular Sichuan Tibet Highway and the Yunnan-Tibet Highway, a more challenging route to Lhasa is the Xinjiang Tibet Highway.

Among the five highways to Lhasa, the Xinjiang Tibet highway from Kashgar to Lhasa is the most challenge route, which is known as the world’s highest highway with an average altitude over 4,500 meters above sea level.

This is a challenge for the courageous. You’ll journey through the westernmost regions of China, traversing the Pamir Plateau, Kunlun Mountains, and the Himalayas. Starting at an elevation of 1,300 meters and rising to 6,000 meters, you’ll experience a dramatic altitude change of nearly 4,700 meters. The reward for this extraordinary adventure is breathtaking natural beauty, where you can marvel at towering snow-capped peaks, expansive grasslands, and crystal-clear lakes. From the arid deserts and Gobi to the majestic Kunlun Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau, every place is captivating and unforgettable.

More Insider Tips for Getting to Lhasa

No matter which way you choose to go, you need to get the Tibet Travel Permit before you go. It is issued by the Tibet Tourist Bureau and can be only applied through a local travel agency. Without the permit, you can not board the train/flight to Lhasa, or enter Tibet by road.

The average altitude of Lhasa is about 3,650 meters above sea level. If you get to Lhasa from lower cities, it might be possible to experience altitude sickness with symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and fatigue. But do not be too nervous. Usually, it takes one or two days to acclimatize to the altitude of Lhasa. So keep relaxed and have a good rest upon your arrival in Lhasa.

The best time to visit Lhasa is actually all year round. Lhasa, known as the City of Sunshine, boasts around 300 days of clear skies each year, with over 8 hours of sunlight daily. So, whenever you travel to Lhasa, you can marvel at the majestic Potala Palace and the shining Jokhang Temple in the sunlight. Even in winter, daytime temperatures of Lhasa range from 5℃ to 10℃, so it’s not as cold as you might think. If you visit Lhasa in winter, you might catch a glimpse of snowfall, offering a unique winter scene of the holy city.

Lhasa is a wonderful destination that can be visited year-round.

Conclusion

Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, is always the first stop for tourists entering Tibet. Knowing how to get to Lhasa is undoubtedly important when planning your trip.

Nowadays, it is convenient to get to Lhasa by flight, train, or overland from almost everywhere in the mainland of China and from Kathmandu, Nepal. For easier access and travel, we highly recommend entering Lhasa from one of the four best entry cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Xining, or Kathmandu. Each offers a convenient and enjoyable way to reach Lhasa.

Based in Lhasa, we, at Tibet Vista, are always here to help you arrange your lifetime trip to Tibet. If you need any assistance or suggestions about visiting Lhasa and other regions of Tibet, feel free to contact us.