Necessary Permits for Tibet Flight

As you may know that Tibet Travel Permit is a must to visit Tibet for foreign visitors. With your passport and Chinese Visa are not enough, you have to obtain Tibet Travel Permit. Without the Tibet Travel Permit, foreign travelers are not allowed to board the flights to any airports in Tibet.

Tibet Travel Permit Is Required for Tibet Flight

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)'s regulation, foreign travelers must provide a valid passport and Tibet Travel Permit when taking a flight to Tibet. Thus, foreign travelers have to make sure that the original Tibet Travel Permit will be brought and provided when checking in the domestic flights to Tibet. However, if you need to take a flight to Tibet from Kathmandu, you have to bring your passport and Tibet Group Visa at the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. After arriving at Lhasa Gonngar International Airport, the local tour guide will bring the original Tibet Travel Permit to the airport to pick you up.

• Note: Usually, booking a flight to Tibet online may require a Tibet Travel Permit on some websites. However, if you book a ticket from the ticket counter or a flight ticket agent, you have to show the Tibet Travel Permit. Having problems with booking a flight ticket to Tibet online? Please do not hesitate to contact us!

What Is Tibet Travel Permit

Tibet Travel Permit, also known as Tibet Travel Permit is the official document that allows a foreign traveler to enter and travel in Tibet. Issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, the permit is given to certain qualified travel agents in China to operate a granted Tibet Tour for foreign visitors. Without a Tibet tour itinerary, the Permit will not be approved and released to your agent. With the permit, you can enter Tibet. It usually takes at least 15~20 working days to obtain the permit (submitting requests, confirming your itinerary, applying, waiting for approval). If you need to receive the original file, it takes at least 5 days for delivery. It can be checked multiple times, used in Tibet region for taking a flight/train to Tibet, hotel check-in, etc.

Who Has to Hold Tibet Travel Permit

Except for Chinese Passport/ID card holders and Mainland Travel Permit Holders of Hong Kong & Macau Citizens, any other travelers shall travel Tibet with a Tibet Travel Permit.

• Foreign Passport Holders (such as US & UK citizens, Australians, Canadians, Malaysians, Indians, Nepalese, etc) require a Tibet Travel Permit.
• Taiwan Citizens, who do not have a Chinese ID card need a Tibet Travel Permit.

How to Obtain the Tibet Travel Permit

Here is a detailed procedure guide on obtaining a Tibet Travel Permit step by step.

▪ Step 1: Contact us to discuss your needs and work out a most suitable itinerary for you in Tibet.

▪ Step 2: Confirm and reserve your preferred Tibet Tour.

▪ Step 3: Send us the required valid documents (copies of your passport and Chinese Visa for general cases) at least 15 working days before your tour starts. If you need the permit quite urgently, please do not hesitate to contact us.

▪ Step 4: Provide your designated address (your hotel, travel agent, friend's home, etc) in China to receive your permit after it is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB for short).

▪ Step 5: The permit will be delivered to your preferred address or handed to you at the airport/train station before your trip.

▶ Learn more detail about Tibet Travel Permit Application

Important to Know

1. The Tibet Travel Permit is issued for a group, such as you and your family, you and your friends. Members in the group will have to share a same permit. So make sure that all members in your group would board the same flight at same airport on the same day. If some members in your group have to take flight to Tibet from different airport, or depart at different hours in a same airport, they have to apply for an extra Tibet Travel Permit. Please also note that you must go to Tibet from the gateway city on the permit (you decide), whether by flight or train.

2. Please remember to get your original Tibet Travel Permit before your flight departure. The airport will check the original permit.

3. If you take a flight departing from Lhasa to Kathmandu. You will also have to show Tibet Travel Permit in the airport; If you leave Tibet for other cities in China, Tibet Travel Permit is not necessary.

Useful Notes on Tibet Flight Travel

1. Settling on a Tour before Booking a Flight

Booking Tibet flights early can usually ensure a great discount but we advise settling on a tour before booking a flight just in case that you may want to change your plan, such as changing date, changing destination, extending the trip length, etc. Besides, you need to check from your travel agency that whether your Tibet Travel Permit is obtainable. The best way is to confirm the tour early, and let your travel agency apply for the permit, then book flight as quickly as possible before the airfares discount out of date.

2. How to book flight ticket?

The flight ticket can be booked at online websites, such as Booking.com, Expedia, Ctrip, Qunar, etc. You can also buy the ticket from the airports in China or flight re-sellers. 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 usually gets 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. International flights to Lhasa

So far, Kathmandu is the only international city which operates flights to Lhasa. It is only about 375 miles (1.5 hours)’s flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa. During months from May to October, there are usually one or two daily direct flights operated. In the low seasons, there might be less or no daily flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa. To take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, one will need a Group Visa, Tibet Travel Permit.

5. Where can I take a flight in Tibet?

Tibet has five airports in total. Besides Lhasa Gonggar Airport, you can also take a flight to Shigatse, Nyingchi, Ngari and Qamdo. But only Chengdu and Chongqing 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 Milin 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 as well as Tibet Travel Permit.

6. The regulation on the luggage allowance on the plane

7. Will my kids get a discounted flight ticket?

Kids aging 2 to 12 years old (including 12) will get a discount of 50% of the full price of the flight fare. If an adult take a flight to Lhasa from Chengdu with a child aging at 10 and the full price for the economy class is 1680 CNY, the ticket fare for the child is 840 CNY. The child also doesn’t have to pay for Airport Construction Fee while the adult has to. Infant under 2 years old only has to pay 10% of the full price, but the separate seat is not provided.

8. How do I collect (receive) the flight ticket?

Since most flight tickets are booked online, so firstly you will receive an e-ticket. You will change a paper ticket when you checking in your flight at a counter in the airport.

How to Plan A Tibet Tour

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