Kathmandu to Lhasa Flight
- by Liffity
- Last Updated: 2023-01-26
The Land of Snows falls under the People's Republic of China. Tibet's nearest neighbor, Nepal is now the only nation with global air links to Tibet. Taking a Flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa is absolutely a good option for you which gives you a chance to see the great aerial views of Mt. Everest as you pass over it and it is advisable to choose your seats on the left side of the plane to enjoy the summit of Mt. Everest.
Overview of Kathmandu to Lhasa Flight
The only terminal that runs flights to and from Lhasa is the Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu. If you are traveling in a group, please book your Kathmandu to Lhasa flight together since you will share a document called China Group Visa.
As of now, there are two airlines offering non-stop flights. Generally, one-way costs USD 400 per individual. It ordinarily takes 90 minutes, for a flight distance of 600km.
And now, there's no train available between Kathmandu and Lhasa. Or you can opt for an overland tour that is a 1300km journey to Lhasa via Gyirong Port. It typically takes 7-8 days. If you want a quicker and more convenient way, go for the flights.
Kathmandu to Lhasa Flight Schedule and Price
If you don't wanna transfer to other cities, taking direct flights is best for you. Flying from Tribhuvan International Airport, the sole international airport in Nepal, to Lhasa Gonggar Airport will take about one and a half hours. Presently, there are 4 direct flights between Lhasa and Kathmandu, run by Air China and Sichuan Airline separately. Besides, there are also some connecting flights between Lhasa and Kathmandu, with a stopover in Chengdu, Kunming or Chongqing. Due to a large number of passengers in the peak tourism season(from July to September), booking flight tickets in advance(at least 20 days) is necessary. As soon as you arrive at the Lhasa airport, your tour guide, private vehicle, and driver will greet you. Then, you can start your Tibet travel according to your pre-arranged itinerary.
Air China is the biggest carrier that offers direct flights every alternate weekday ( Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ) from Kathmandu to Lhasa. From Kathmandu, flights leave at around 12:10 pm NPT and land in Lhasa Gonggar International Airport at about 4:00 pm CST. The above-mentioned is considering the time zone differences.
Sichuan Airline offers direct flights every alternate weekday (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)from Kathmandu to Lhasa. From Kathmandu, direct flight leaves at 12:10 pm NPT and land in Lhasa Gonggar International Airport at about 4:00 pm CST.
The Time Schedule of Flights from Kathmandu to Lhasaá
| Flight No. | Departure---Arrival | Duration | Frequency | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3U8720 Sichuan Airlines |
12:00--15:30 KTM - LXA |
1h 15m | Every alternate weekday (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) |
USD460 Economy Class |
| CA408 Air China |
12:10 - 16:00 KTM - LXA |
1h 35m | Every alternate weekday ( Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ) |
USD460 Economy Class |
The Time Schedule of Flights from Lhasa to Kathmandu
| Flight No. | Departure---Arrival | Duration | Frequency | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3U8719 Sichuan Airlines |
11:35--11:00 LXA - KTM |
1h 40m | Every alternate weekday (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) |
USD460 Economy Class |
| CA407 Air China |
11:50 - 11:10 LXA - KTM |
1h 35m | Every alternate weekday ( Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ) |
USD460 Economy Class |
Discounted Flight Tickets from Kathmandu to Lhasa
In fact, flying to Lhasa from Kathmandu is not very cheap. But how can get a discounted flight ticket from Kathmandu to Lhasa? You’d better know about the following two ways. The first way is to plan a Tibet tour in the slack tourist season, nearly from November to April. During the low season, the price of the air ticket will be lower than the peak tourist season. The second way is to book your air ticket in advance. According to the survey, travelers who book the air ticket tens of days in advance can enjoy a favorable price than those who book the air ticket close to the departure.
Necessary Documents
While the document you required to enter Tibet is different from the mainland of China. Instead of a normal Chinese Tourist Visa, you need to apply for a Group Chinese Tourist Visa which can be applied with the assistant of a Tibet Travel Agency you booked. And the Group Chinese Visa can also be issued to the solo traveler. In addition, all travelers should get Tibet Entry Permits to enter Tibet and check-in hotel. Since you have already signed up with a Travel Agency, they will take care of applying for your Tibet Entry Permit as well.
Getting to the Kathmandu Airport
Tribhuvan International Airport is about six kilometers away from Kathmandu. With normal traffic, it takes 15-20 min. by road. It is advisable to leave with a margin of at least an hour to reach the airport in case of unexpected incidents. There are two means of transportation that you can utilize. One is to take the shuttle bus. You can find it about 300 meters from the terminal outside of the airport. But it's not recommended unless you have very little luggage.
Then there are local taxis, which are barely managed, can be hailed from the street. They’re less comfortable, run without a meter and you should probably settle on a price beforehand. You can always bargain with them. As there are no adequately regulated prices or meters calculating the price, you might get charged hefty amounts. Usually, a taxi from the airport to Kathmandu city center costs about 200 rupees. At night, the cost of a taxi is more expensive than that during the day, and it is generally one-third or two-thirds more expensive. However, local taxi drivers are extremely cheerful and outgoing. Though not many of them speak English, they try their best to be chatty and interactive during the trip.
Conclusion
To sum up, you must be arranged in advance, either traveling from Kathmandu to Tibet or Mainland China to Tibet. As is known to us that traveling by air is the most convenient and comfortable way of getting from Kathmandu to Tibet while the procedure of booking air tickets is not always straightforward. Choosing a reliable local travel agency definitely a good idea by which you can ensure booking the tickets easily and fast. Great Tibet Tour, one of the leading local travel agencies in Tibet may meet your demand. We can provide you excellent touring service and ticket booking as well as all supporting documents.
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Sohe***
2022-05-22
Hello We are 2 person We want visiting lhasa between 8 to 11 of July Katmandu to lhasa and return
Dear Soheil, Currently, Tibet has not yet opened to international tourists living outside of China. So I'm afraid the visit this July is not applicable. When Tibet opens, we can arrange your flights, as well as your trip if you want.
Asked by Y k ***
2022-04-18
I am planning Lhasa and base camp tour , is lot of trekking involved as I am 62 years, and how much it costs. And request itinerary for this tour
Dear Y k Chandra, Thank you for sending us an inquiry! This is Catherine from Great Tibet Tour at your service. Great Tibet Tour is a local tour operator based in Lhasa, Tibet. It was founded in 2005 and recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best reputed local Tibet travel agencies. We specialize in arranging Tibet travel for foreigners, as well as other parts of China & Nepal. In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to have Lhasa and Base Camp Tour. I would suggest 8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour for you. All attractions can be reached by car, thus, you don't have to do trekking. Here is the itinerary. If you like this itinerary, I will provide a quotation in my next email. By the way, when do you prefer to have this tour? Because the tour price varies over time.
Asked by Renu***
2021-10-14
Hi, When will direct to and fro flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa likely to resume. Thank you RB Thapa
Dear RB Thapa, The flights might resume next spring, as China-Nepal border will open to tourists at that time. By the way, due to Tibet's unique background, apart from your Passports, all foreign tourists allowed to enter Tibet from Kathmandu must have a China Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit, which means every group, even a one-participant one, must be accompanied by a travel-licensed guide & vehicle touring along with the prearranged time & route. As a local Tibet travel agency, we can help you handle both of the documents.
Asked by Migl***
2021-10-12
Dear Great TIbet Tour Team, I'm planning to travel to TIbet in June 2022 for around 10 days with my boyfriend. However I can't find any flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa. I don't mind which airline to choose - would you able to guide me how to find these flights? Best wishes, Migle
Dear Migle, Usually there's one flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa operated by Sichuan Airline or Air China. But the China border has not yet opened, so this flight route is not applicable for the time being. When it gets back to normal, you can choose the daily flight. By the way, due to Tibet's unique background, apart from your Passports, all foreign tourists allowed to enter Tibet from Kathmandu must have a China Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit, which means every group, even a one-participant one, must be accompanied by a travel-licensed guide & vehicle touring along with the prearranged time & route. As a local Tibet travel agency, we can help you handle both of the documents.
Asked by Aust***
2021-04-15
I'm looking for a round trip flight from kathmandu to lhasa in june. Please let me know
In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to have a round trip flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa in June. I recommend the 8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour for you, which is the most popular tour. You can take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa and then join the tour. The flights are easy to book at booking.com, so you can book them by yourself, or we can book them for you. However, Tibet is still temporarily closed to foreign travelers due to the current health crisis. The flight is also halted. It would probably open in the second half of the year. Yet, the Tibet tour booking is open. Travelers can pre-plan their Tibet tour for a later date, and enjoy a price reduction of early booking.
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