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)