How to Travel to Tibet from Xiamen?

Xiamen, known for its coastal beauty, historical sites, and lush landscapes, offers a perfect starting point for a Tibet adventure. While there are no direct flights from Xiamen to Tibet, you can easily transit through major hubs like Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, or Guiyang. If you prefer taking a train, Chengdu or Chongqing is a better choice. The combination of Xiamen's charm and Tibet's unique culture and landscapes makes this journey a memorable experience. Here's the guide about how to travel from Xiamen to Lhasa.

Xiamen to Lhasa by Plane

The fastest way to reach Tibet from Xiamen is by plane. If you choose to board a plane, you have several options to reach Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA), Tibet, from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN), Fujian Province. These routes entail a one-stop flight to Lhasa and you can choose according to your schedule.

1. Xiamen to Lhasa via Chengdu/Chongqing

There are several options to fly to Tibet via Chengdu/Chongqing. And going this route, it takes the least time, around 7 hours including 1.5 hours layout at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) or Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG).

2. Xiamen to Lhasa via Kunming/Guiyang

There are several connecting flights from Xiamen to Lhasa via Kunming/Guiyang, with a transit duration of 2 hours. Going this route, it takes 7 - 8 hours including the transit time of around 2 hours at Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) or Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KME).

3. Xiamen to Lhasa via Zhenzhou

Your third option is to fly to Tibet from Xiamen via Zhenzhou. with a tranist duration of 2 hours. Going this route, it takes around 8 hours including the transit time of 2 hours at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).

Xiamen to Lhasa by Flight+ Train

Taking a train is a adaptive way to accolimatize the high altitude of Tibetan plateau. In addition, you can enjoy the scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Generally speaking, if you prefer taking a train to Lhasa from Xiamen, Guangzhou is the closest station. Considering it's long distance of 4,980km and long duration of 53 hours on the train, we would recommend you consider a combination of flight and train.

1. Xiamen to Tibet via Xining

Xining is the start point of Qinghai Tibet Railway. So, if you want the quickest and most comfortable journey possible, starting your train trip from Xining is a great choice. There's no direct flight from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN) to Xining Caojiapu International Airport (XNN), but you can take a connecting flight with a layover in Zhenzhou. It takes 5.5 hours to reach Xining from Xiamen including 1 hour layover in Zhenzhou.

After getting to Xining, you can get to Xining Railway Station to take the train to Lhasa, which takes around 21 hours. >> See more Xining to Lhasa train

2. Xiamen to Tibet via Chengdu

You also can take a flight to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) or Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) directly. It takes around 3 to 3.5 hours to reach Chengdu.

After getting to Chengdu, you can get to Chengdu West Railway Station to take a train to Lhasa, which takes around 34.5 hours. >> See more Chengdu to Lhasa train

3. Xiamen to Tibet via Xian

Taking a flight to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XYI) is also a feasible option. It takes around 3 hours to reach Xi'an.

After getting to Xi'an, you can get to Xi'an Railway Station to take a train to Lhasa, which takes around 31 hours. >> See more Xi'an to Lhasa train

Conclusion

Whether you prefer the speed of flying or the scenic experience of combining air and train travel, Xiamen offers multiple routes to Tibet, each with its unique advantages. The flight options via major hubs like Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, and Guiyang offer a relatively quick and efficient journey, while the combination of flight and train allows for gradual acclimatization to Tibet's high altitude, all while enjoying breathtaking landscapes along the way.