How to Travel to Tibet From Australia?

Many Australian tourists visit Tibet every year to experience its unique religious and cultural heritage. There are no direct flights from Australia to Tibet, however, and from down under, you only have two viable routes to reach Tibet: the first one is via mainland China and the second one is via Kathmandu, Nepal.

Before you fly to China from Australia, you have to get a China visa. Usually, the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in Australia don’t accept the application directly. You need to submit the visa application online first then go to the relevant CVAS (Chinese Visa Application Service Center) in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Brisbane. It's easy to get a China entry visa if you are not a journalist or a government official. You can use your return flight tickets and hotel reservations in China to get the visa. By the way, do not mention your trip to Tibet; otherwise, your application may get rejected by the Chinese Embassy.

Important Notice: Visitors from Australia can enjoy a 30-day China visa-free policy till 31 December 2025.

Foreigners can't visit Tibet without a Tibet entry permit. So you should find a reputable Lhasa-based travel agency on the internet, and they will help you to get your Tibet permit after you book your Tibet tour with them.

Flights from Australia to China

If you're planning to travel from Australia to Tibet, your journey will begin with a flight from one of Australia's major cities—such as Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane—to a gateway city in China. These gateway cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong, etc. Once you arrive in China and check into your hotel where you can take your Tibet Travel Permit. You'll need to present this permit before boarding trains or flights heading to Tibet.

• From Sydney (SYD) or Melbourne (MEL) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), non-stop flights typically take around 11 hours and 40 minutes, with 3 to 4 flights operating each week. Prices usually range from AUD 570 to 800.
• Flying from Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane(BNE) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) usually takes about 10 to 11 hours on direct flights, with fares ranging from AUD 630 to 750.
• Direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) take around 9 hours and 30 minutes, and typically cost between AUD 960 and 1000.
• For travelers heading to Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN), non-stop flights from Sydney or Melbourne take around 9 hours and 25 minutes. These flights are less frequent but offer reasonable pricing, ranging between AUD 550 and 770.
• You can also fly directly from Sydney or Melbourne to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (CTU) in about 11 hours. These direct flights run around five times a week, with fares typically ranging from AUD 490 to 700.
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) remains one of the most accessible and well-connected entry points to China. Direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane take about 9 hours and 40 minutes, with multiple departures available every day. Ticket prices generally range from AUD 510 to 730.
• For travelers departing from Perth (PER), one convenient option is to fly via Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (CTU). The total travel time is around 15 to 17 hours, with flight prices ranging from AUD 385 to 750, depending on the airline and route.

Get to Tibet by Plane in China

After your arrival in China, taking a plane to Tibet is the fastest way, as it only takes travelers a few hours. Meanwhile, there are many cities that have direct flights to Lhasa, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Many airlines could offer discounts in winter, especially flights from Chengdu to Lhasa.

Most Australians prefer to take a plane from Melbourne or Sydney to Chengdu and then fly to Lhasa. It's commonly known that Chengdu is the economic and cultural center in the southwest of China and also the city closest to Lhasa. Moreover, there are more than ten flights a day from Chengdu to Lhasa therefore it's relatively cheap. >> See more about Chengdu to Lhasa flights

No matter which city you choose to fly to Tibet, you will be arriving within 7 hours. It takes about 4.5 hours from Beijing to Lhasa, 6.5 hours from Shanghai to Lhasa, 6 hours from Guangzhou to Lhasa, and 2.5 hours from Chengdu to Lhasa.

Get to Tibet by Train in China

Taking a train is the cheapest way to Tibet. If your travel budget is tight and your time is flexible, it would be the best choice for you to take a train to Tibet. Many cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xining, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, have trains to Lhasa. It usually takes two or four days to get to Tibet, depending on the place of departure.

And there are several types of seats you can choose from - hard seat, hard berth, and soft berth. Hard seats are the cheapest class of seating on the China Railway, but they are not suitable for long-distance travel. The hard berth is more comfortable than the hard seat cos you can lie down rather than relying on the back chair when you want to sleep. The soft sleeper is the most comfortable class of Chinese railway seats. Although the soft berth is the most expensive, there are lots of people who choose it.

For many Australians who want to enjoy the scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the flights from Melbourne or Sydney to Xining are also popular, as it's the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Tibet trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, etc., all pass by Xining. It takes 21 hours from Xining to Lhasa. At the same time, you will be accustomed to the climate here, reducing the risk of altitude sickness after arriving.

Timetable and Schedule of Trains to Tibet

Get to Tibet by Land in China

It's the most expensive way to go to Tibet by driving, and it would cost travelers a lot of time on the road, but you can enjoy the most spectacular view, so if your time and money are sufficient, this is also a good choice.

There are four highways in China to get to Tibet, namely Qinghai-Tibet Highway (not available), Xingjiang-Tibet Highway, Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and Yunnan-Tibet Highway. Whatever highway you choose to go to Tibet, it usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.

Sydney To Tibet via Kathmandu

From Australia, the second viable way to Tibet is via Kathmandu, Nepal. From Kathmandu, you can either board a flight to Tibet or take an overland trip to Lhasa.

If you are coming from Sydney, your other viable option to reach Tibet, aside from that of mainland China is via Kathmandu, Nepal. Since Tibet is under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Government, flights coming from mainland China are considered domestic flights to Tibet. Hence, the only direct international flights to Tibet come from Nepal. Flights from Sydney to Kathmandu usually take around 21 hours and 8 minutes, with stopovers either in KUL, DOH, AUH, or BKK.

Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you need to set about applying for your China Group Visa with the help of your tour agent. With your China Group Visa, you can board a flight to Lhasa, Tibet, or cross the Sino-Nepalese Border. For your Tibet Travel Permit, your agent will hand it over to you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport after your arrival or at the border before you get through.

Due to the China visa-free policy, right now Australians can be exempted from the China Group Visa till 31 December 2025.

• The best option to reach Lhasa from Kathmandu is by plane. Plane travel usually takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes. Flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa and vice versa are currently provided by Himalayan Airlines on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The costs of these flights generally vary from season to season, depending upon your time of travel. From April to October, plane tickets generally cost around AUD599.
• You will be required to get a Group Tourist Visa and Tibet Travel Permit before you can travel to Tibet. The upsides of traveling by plane to Lhasa include getting the chance to get a bird’s eye view of the peak of Mount Everest. Moreover, it is the fastest way from Kathmandu to Lhasa.
• The second viable option to reach Tibet from Kathmandu is via an overland trip to Lhasa. This overland trip usually takes longer. The travel time usually takes several days and covers around 943km of road travel. The upsides concomitant with the overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa include the chance to explore the real beauty of Nepal and Tibet up close and personal. Despite being a very exhilarating journey, it is worth taking because it allows you to personally experience the religious and cultural heritage of both Nepal and Tibet simultaneously. Once you have secured your Group Tourist Visa, you can then take a jeep to the Gyirong Port at the Sino-Nepal Border. There, your Tibetan guide will be waiting for you to accompany and guide you through your overland trip to Tibet.

Conclusion

Traveling to Tibet from Australia is a remarkable journey that blends natural beauty with spiritual depth. Whether you go via China or Nepal, each route has its own advantages and requires proper preparation, especially with permits and visas. With the right planning and support from a reliable Tibetan travel agency, your adventure to the Roof of the World can be smooth, safe, and truly unforgettable.