Flights to Tibet from UK

Are you a Brit who longs for a Tibet holiday? Are you planning to search for flights from the UK to Tibet? You are about to get what you want!

As an experienced Tibet tour operator, we arranged thousands of international travelers' dream Tibet tours, many of whom are from the UK. The first question Brits need to figure out is how to fly to Tibet from the UK. Thus, we sorted out the information on flights to Tibet from the United Kingdom for your reference. Hope to help you find a suitable solution to turn your Tibet tour plan into reality.

No Direct Flight to Tibet from the UK

Currently, there's no direct flight to Tibet from the UK. The only direct international flight to Tibet is from Kathmandu to Lhasa. So, as a British, you can take direct flights to some Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, etc., or Nepal's capital Kathmandu. And then continue to fly to Lhasa.

Connecting Flights to Tibet from the UK

In general, we recommend Brits fly to China first, then to Lhasa for more flights and better prices.

From London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) to China.

Here is the list of non-stop flights from London Heathrow International Airport to China. If you are flying to China, then Tibet, please apply for a China visa first.

• London Heathrow Airport --- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), operated by China Eastern Airlines, 11-12 hours, £ 380 ~ £ 880 for economy class.
• London Heathrow Airport --- Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), operated by China Southern Airlines, 11-12 hours, £ 315 ~ £ 810 for economy class.
• London Heathrow Airport --- Chengdu Tianfu International (TFU), operated by Air China, 10.5 hours, £ 353 ~ £ 780 for economy class.
• London Heathrow Airport --- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), China Southern Airlines, 11-12 hours, £ 400 ~ £ 860 for economy class.

After you get to the above cities, you can take a flight or a train to Lhasa.

Tips: Before you take a flight or train to Tibet in mainland China, please make sure you get the original Tibet Travel Permit for boarding the domestic flights or copies of the Tibet Travel Permit for boarding the train to Lhasa. You can secure the Tibet travel permit by booking a Tibet tour with a local Tibet agency.

From London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to China

The cheapest flight from London to China is departing from Gatwick Airport to Chongqing.

• London Gatwick Airport --- Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG), operated by China Eastern Airlines, 11-12 hours, £ 310 ~ £ 640 for economy class.
• Chongqing --- Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA), operated by Air China, 2-3 hours, £ 237~ £ 277 for economy class.

Alternatively, you can also take a train from Chongqing to Lhasa. 

From London Heathrow International Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal.

There are no direct flights to Kathmandu from the UK. Air India or Oman Air offers transit flights from London to Kathmandu via Delhi, Muscat, or Abu Dhabi. It takes about 19-35 hours and costs £ 396 - 475 for economy class. After getting to Kathmandu, you can obtain a Nepali visa on arrival.

Then, flying to Lhasa from Kathmandu only takes one hour and 30 minutes, offered by Himalayan Airlines, costing around £385. There are only three direct flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Please note that to get to Tibet from Nepal, you will be required to obtain a China Group Visa, which takes 3 working days to achieve, along with your tourist invitation letter from the Tibet tourism bureau and your passport. For the invitation letter, please contact a Tibet travel agency to obtain one for you after you book with them.

Conclusion

Planning a trip from the UK to Tibet may involve transit stops, but it’s easier than it seems. With several options for UK to Tibet flights via China or Nepal, you can choose the route that best fits your schedule and budget. Just remember to secure the necessary Tibet Travel Permit before departure. With proper planning, your journey from the UK to the “Roof of the World” will be smooth, unforgettable, and truly worth the effort.