Lhasa Kathmandu Flights: Updated Flight Schedule, Flight Price and Airport Travel Guide for Your Tibet Nepal Tour

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Tourists and travelers are increasingly choosing to tour Tibet and Nepal together. Both the regions have unique idiosyncrasies that continue to attract more tourists every year. You can enjoy a perfect mix of spirituality and adventure in both these places. Mt Everest, the highest peak in this world is located in the border of Nepal and Tibet. Nepal and Tibet have a lot of monasteries, temples, small hills, and quaint villages. The most popular way to travel between Nepal and Tibet is by flight. It is the easiest and fastest way to travel compared to travelling by road. Here are some updated information regarding flight travel between Tibet and Kathmandu.

Lhasa Kathmandu Flight Schedule and Flight Price

Kathmandu to Lhasa

Airline	Departure	Arrival	Timings	Duration
Air China	Tribhuvan Airport (Kathmandu)	Lhasa Gonggar Airport (Lhasa)	12:10am to 16:00pm (Kathmandu time to Beijing Time)	1hr 35mins
Sichuan Airlines	Tribhuvan Airport (Kathmandu)	Lhasa Gonggar Airport (Lhasa)	11:30 to 15:10 (Kathmandu time to Beijing Time)	1hr 35mins

Both the flights are available on alternative days, resulting in one flight to Lhasa every day. The prices vary according to the month and season you are booking in, but the average cost for a person is USD 365.

Lhasa to Kathmandu

Airline	Departure	Arrival	Timings	Duration
Air China	Lhasa Gonggar Airport (Lhasa)	Tribhuvan Airport (Kathmandu)	11:10am to 10:30am (Beijing Time to Kathmandu Time)	1hr 35mins
Sichuan Airlines	Lhasa Gonggar Airport (Lhasa)	Tribhuvan Airport (Kathmandu)	11:15 to 10:10 (Beijing Time to Kathmandu Time)	1hr 35mins

Each carrier functions on alternative days, thus making sure there is one flight per day flying from Lhasa to Kathmandu. The air ticket prices fluctuate depending on the time of booking and month of booking. An average price would be USD 480.

Where Is Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Lhasa Airport is one of the highest airports in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3,750m in Gonggar County of Shannon, Lhasa. The airport is roughly 65km south of Lhasa. Covering an area of 25, 000 sq. m., this airport is located in the south of Yarlung Tsangpo River. The airport started servicing for general public in the year 1994. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is gateway to the Lhasa and is the most used and important airport in Tibet. It is a relatively small airport with basic facilities such as VIP rooms and free mobile charging stations. It has an efficient domestic connectivity with many places in China like Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chongqing, Lijiang, Kangding, Zhengzhou etc. The only international flight available is the one to and fro Kathmandu, Nepal.

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

How to Get to Lhasa City from Lhasa Gonggar Airport

There is a Lhasa Airport Expressway that connects the airport to the centre of the city. This four-lane expressway was opened in the year 2011 which has made travel to the airport much faster and much easier. It takes only 45 minutes while going to the airport in this expressway. There is airport shuttle bus service every 30 minutes that takes you to the downtown area. The cost of the ticket is only CNY 30- CNY45. You can also hire a private vehicle or taxi . The cost is usually 3 to 4 times more expensive than the shuttle service. It costs about CNY150- CNY200. However this might be a comfortable way of travelling if you are going with a group and if you can share the cost. You can also arrange a pickup with the travel agency you are booking the Tibet tour with.

Where Is Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport

Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the only international airport in all of Nepal. Located at an altitude of 1,300m, it is a very small airport with one domestic terminal and one international terminal. The airport is only 6kms away from the main city or Thamel (main tourist area). The airport was inaugurated in the year 1955. Since the airport is small, it is always crowded and lines are long. There are very few places to eat and amenities are not always clean. There are lounges for which you can pay and use. It has a decent international connectivity with flights to India, Middle East, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Istanbul and few other countries.

Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport

How to Get to Kathmandu from Kathmandu Tribhuvan Airport

Since the airport is very close to the main city area, transportation is not an issue to be worried about. There are taxis, pre-paid taxis, and local buses to get to the city. The amount of time taken to get to the main city area or Thamel is only 25- 35 minutes. The taxis cost anywhere between NPR 500- NPR 800. Pre- paid taxis are sometimes much cheaper than normal taxis. The local buses are the cheapest way of transport but you need to walk a little bit from the last stop to reach the main city area. You can also arrange a car to pick up arranged by your travel agency or hotel you are staying in. A lot of tourists even walk from the airport to city if they have time. Since it is only 6 kms, it takes about 1 hr- 1 hr30 min by walk.

Can I See the Himalayas on the Plane from Kathmandu to Lhasa/Lhasa to Kathmandu?

YES. You will be able to see and enjoy the breath-taking and majestic views of the Himalayan ranges while flying between Lhasa and Kathmandu. The views of Everest appear just 15 minutes into the flight journey. Then slowly you will be able to see the full view of the Himalayan ranges just spread across the horizon. Just before landing in Lhasa you will also be able to see the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Make sure you book your seat near a window and as far away from the wing section as possible. The views are clearer during summer and before noon.

More Tips for Taking Flight between Lhasa and Kathmandu

To reduce the flying cost check in booking sites to get the best deals. It also helps booking at least two months in advance.

The cost of the Lhasa Kathmandu flight tickets is significantly lower but the chances of flights getting cancelled are high during winter because of the weather. If you are travelling there after October, ask your travel agency if the services will be available.

If you plan to take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, make sure you have your Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) with you. You cannot board the flight without it. You also need to have a Group Tourist Visa issued by Chinese Embassy in Nepal in addition to TTP.

While flying from Nepal to Tibet, you are ascending to a higher altitude quickly. So when you land, you are likely to experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness like head ache, nausea, loss of appetite etc. While this is pretty common for all tourists to experience, it is advisable that you get appropriate medications from your doctor before starting the trip.

Don’t drink alcohol before flying and make sure you don’t catch cold while travelling to Lhasa. Cold makes the flying experience much more worse. Eat plenty fruits and drink plenty water.