Kunming Lhasa Flights - Route, Schedule, Fares, Permit, Ticket Booking 2024

Why Take Flight to Lhasa from Kunming

Kunming Lhasa Flights Schedules

If you happen to be in Yunnan and will go on with a Tibet tour, even suppose you are planning a reverse travel, the direct Kunming Lhasa flights help you a lot. Served for the most import tourist city in west China, Kunming Changshui International Airport has 4 daily round-trip flights scheduled from 7:30 am to 20:15 pm.

While the air ticket is hard to get in Beijing, Shanghai, departure from Kunming is another option. Depending on the flying distance, the Kunming Lhasa Flight ticket is cheaper than Beijing and eastern cities, but more expensive than Chengdu and Chongqing. You can start your China Tour from Yunnan after Tibet tour or fly back to your home country once the international routes can reach to.

Kunming to Lhasa Flights Timetable

Every day, there are about 4 flights usually departing from Kunming Changshui International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar Airport. The 2 morning flights will stop in Lijiang or Diqing costing extra 1h. The rest 2 will directly fly to Lhasa from Kunming within 3hrs. You are suggested to book flight ticket in the morning so that you can have enough time to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude in Lhasa. Check out following latest updated Kunming to Lhasa flights schedules:

Important Notice: 1) Above flight schedules and fares are only for reference, please contact us to catch up on the latest information. But we usually will keep them updated; 2) The airlines companies usually will cut down the flight schedules during winter and spring seasons. There may be no daily flight in some months.

Our top Yunnan Tibet tours:

>> 10 Days Yunnan Tibet Highlights Tour

>> 12 Days Lijiang Shangri-la Tibet Essence Tour

About Kunming Changshui International Airport

Located in northeast of Kunming City, Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG-昆明长水国际机场, elevation: 2102m) is the main airport in Yunnan Province and a large portal and hub airport in southwest China. In 2012, the Kunming Wujiaba International Airport was wholly moved to Kunming Changshui International Airport. Now the airport has one terminal and two runways covering 548,000 sq meters in total. The Phase II extension project which includes a second terminal and two new runways will be completed by 2020.

The airport is one of the world’s top 100 airports with 387 flight routes, including 64 international (reginal) routes to Paris, Sydney, San Francisco and many Southeast Asia destinations and many domestic routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xian, etc.

The Kunming Changshui International Airport is 25 kilometers to central Kunming city, about a 45 minutes ride into town. Also you can take Airport Expresses, shuttle buses or taxi to the down town area.

About Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA - 拉萨贡嘎国际机场) is the largest and most important airport in Tibet Autonomous Region. In 2016, the airport has greeted more than 3 million passengers, most of whom are travelers, including thousands of foreigner travelers. The airport is about 62 kilometers (39 mi) southwest of the city in Gonggar County of Shannan. The airport is one of the highest airports in the world with an elevation of 3,570 meters (11,710 ft). Airbus A340 and Boeing 757 aircrafts are allowed to park in the airport.

International Flights to Lhasa

So far, there is only one international air line connecting Lhasa: Kathmandu – Lhasa. During summer days, there are daily direct flights operated, sometimes two flights and sometimes just one flight. Only Air China and Sichuan Airlines are operating the Kathmandu - Lhasa flights. To take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, one will need a Group Visa, Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet Border Pass.

Domestic Flights to Lhasa

Lhasa Gonggar Airport is well connected to many cities in China, including Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Kunming, Chongqing, Xining, Shangri-La, etc. Among all these cities, Chengdu is the most popular hub for taking flights/off Tibet. There are more than 20 flights flying between Chengdu and Lhasa each day. Xian also operates about 4~6 flights to Lhasa each day.

Take Flights to Tibet from other Cities in Yunnan Province

Tibet Travel Permit and Flight Travel

Useful Notes on Tibet Flight Travel

1. Necessary documents required to take a flight to/off Tibet

- Chinese Visa is always needed no matter you are taking a flight or a train to Tibet. The office man in the airport will check your Chinese visa when your go to board the plane.

- The Passport will be needed for many situations: booking flight ticket, checking in flight, checking in hotel, checking in the Border Station in Tibet, etc. Make sure your passport is valid and original.

- Original Tibet Travel Permit will be checked when you board your plane at the airports.

2. How to book flight ticket?

The flight ticket can be booked at online website, such as Booking.com, Expedia, Ctrip, Qunar, etc. You can also buy the ticket from the airports in China or flight resellers. You are also welcomed to let us book your flight. We are always keeping up with the latest flight news and usually can book the ticket at a cheaper price. During summer and autumn, it is usually difficult to book the flights to Lhasa. While using our booking service, we will not only book the ticket, but also arrange a valuable tour package.

3. When is the best time to fly to Tibet?

Generally speaking, months from April to October are recommended for traveling in Tibet. Other months are usually very cold, and possibly have heavy snow, especially in regions like Mount Everest, Mount Kailash, Namtso Lake, etc. The flights schedules are also more frequent during April to October. During December to March, the airline companies will cut down the flight schedules, usually from daily weekly, even to none. But top cities like Chengdu and Xian still operate daily flights during the shoulder season. It is recommended to take the morning flight so that you can get to Lhasa before late afternoon, and have enough time to acclimatize yourself to the altitude and thin air in Lhasa. The morning flights also cut down the risk that your flights would be delayed or canceled.

4. Apart from Kunming, where can I also take a flight to Tibet?

Apart from Kunming, you can also fly to Tibet from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Shangri-La, etc.

5. International flights to Lhasa

So far, there is only one international air line connecting Lhasa: Kathmandu – Lhasa. During summer days, there are daily direct flights operated, sometimes two flights and sometimes just one flight. Only Air China and Sichuan Airlines are operating the Kathmandu - Lhasa flights. To take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, one will need a Group Visa, Tibet Travel Permit and Tibet Border Pass.

6. What else airports I can fly to except for Lhasa Gonggar International Airport?

Tibet has five airports in total. Besides Lhasa Gonggar Airport, you can also take a flight to Shigatse, Nyingchi, Ngari and Qamdo. But only certain cities in China operate flights to these smaller cities.

- Shigatse - there is daily flight flying between Chengdu and Shigatse each day. The airport name is Shigatse Peace Airport, which is about 46km from Shigatse city.

- Nyingchi - Chengdu usually offers 4 morning flights to Nyingchi Mainling Airport. While its neighboring city Chongqing also has 3 morning flights to Nyingchi each day. If you travel from Nyingchi to Lhasa, you are recommended to take a flight to Nyingchi firstly from Chengdu or Chongqing. It is also available to fly out Tibet directly from Nyingchi.

- Qamdo - Both Chongqing and Chengdu operate a daily flight to Qamdo in Tibet. But there are few travelers have chosen this line because Qamdo is not a popular tourist destination in Tibet.

- Ngari - Urumqi (capital of Xinjiang) offers a daily direct flight to Ngari with a stop at Kashgar on every Tuesday and Friday. Taking this flight, passengers need Military Permit and Border Pass as well as Tibet Travel Permit.

7. The regulation on the luggage allowance on the plane