There are many ways to travel from Australia to Tibet, all of which are very easy. First, you need to fly from Sydney to mainland China or Kathmandu. Second, you could choose to go to Lhasa, Tibet by train or just enjoy the road trip there after getting off the plane. It’s advised to follow the helpful guidelines below to plan your journey.
If you want to reach Tibet for traveling, flying from Sydney to China is your first step. Please check online and book your flight as early as possible to get a cheap ticket, which can help you easily fly to major cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong and so on.
a. Sydney to Beijing (Duration: 11h40m non-stop; up to 14h5m with 1 stop in HGH, FOC, TPE,CAN)
b. Sydney to Shanghai (Duration: 10h30m non-stop; up to 13h55m with 1 stop in FOC, TPE, CAN,KUL)
c. Sydney to Guangzhou (Duration: 9h30m non-stop; up to 15h10m, with 1 stop in PVG,KUL,CKG,SIN)
d. Sydney to Chengdu (Duration: up to 17h15m, with 1 stop in FOC,PVG,HKG)
e. Sydney to HK (Duration: 9h5m non-stop; up to 15h35m with 1 stop in KUL,SIN,TPE)
Once we have obtained your Tibet permit from the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, we will deliver it to your hotel in China by express. So after you get the permit, you can board the train to Tibet or fly to Tibet.
By flight
There are non-stop flight and direct flight from Beijing to Lhasa which are both available and convenient. For non-stop flight, it takes around 4h40m which costs around 507 USD. And non-stop flight takes off at 14:40 and arrives in Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 19:20; While direct flight takes approximately 6 hours and 55 minutes which costs around 530 USD. And the plane will stop in Chengdu or Chongqing during the trip. The flight takes off at 08:20 and lands in Lhasa at 15:15.
By train
The train from Beijing to Lhasa (No.Z21) is the most popular train route in China, which saves you a lot of money compared to airplanes and gives you plenty of time to accommodate to the environment and experience the journey on the world's highest train.The train departs at 20:00 and takes 40hours and 20minutes to reach Lhasa. The soft sleeper ticket costs 1144 CNY while the hard sleeper costs 720 CNY.
By flight
As one of the main aviation hubs connecting Tibet with the outside world, Shanghai is an excellent starting point for Lhasa. However, there is no non-stop flight to Lhasa. The direct flight would make a stopover in Chengdu and Xi’an for one hour and 20 minutes. There are flights which are run by Air China, Tibet Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines. The flight takes off at 16:50, and flies around 7 hours and 25 minutes to reach Lhasa on the next day. And the flight ticket is around 534USD.
By train
The train Z164 (return Z166) from Shanghai to Lhasa travels westward from coastal Shanghai. The train takes passengers to Lhasa via 4373 kilometers and passes through 8 provincial cities. The Shanghai-Lhasa train departs at 20:10 and arrives in Lhasa at 18:25, with a total duration of 46h15m. The soft sleeper ticket is 1262.5 CNY while hard sleeper is 793.5CNY.
By flight
It’s normal that flights from Guangzhou to Lhasa will make a stopover in Chongqing (55m). The flight takes off at 08:25 and you will land in Gonggar Airport of Lhasa at 14:40 after 6h15m’s flight. The price of the flight ticket is around 396USD. There are many choices from flight run by China Southern Airlines, China Express Airlines and China Eastern Airlines and Air China, Sichuan Airlines Tibet Airlines, etc.
By train
The train Z264 (return train Z266) from Guangzhou to Lhasa boasts the longest Tibet train in China. It would be a fantasy for the railfan. The long-distance ride stretches for 4,980 kilometers, allowing you to enjoy the panoramic view of the terrain in mainland China.The train departs at 11:45 and arrives in Lhasa at 16:19 after 52 hours and 34 minutes. And the soft sleeper ticket costs 1468¥ while the hard sleeper is 865¥. It’s a challenge for kids and the elder to spend such a long journey.
It’s advised to fly from HK to Chengdu and then change flight or take Chengdu-Lhasa train to reach Lhasa since there is no non-stop flight or Tibet train connecting HK with Lhasa. And it takes 2 hours and 55 minutes to take the flight from HK to Chengdu. There are non-stop flights from HK to Chengdu operated by HongKong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Air China, etc., the price of which is around 421USD. Things will become much easier after your arrival in Chengdu. It takes 2 hours and 35 minutes to take Chengdu-Lhasa flight, and the price of the ticket is around 221USD. The train Z322 from Chengdu to Lhasa departs at 21:37 and arrives in Lhasa at 09:55 after 36h18m’s ride. The soft sleeper ticket is 997.5 CNY while the hard sleeper is 627.5 CNY. If you want more information, you can visit your travel consultant in Chengdu office at your convenience.
Tips: It’s advised to check the exact amount of flight or the prices of the train according to the airline or Tibet train you book.
The only international flight that flies to Lhasa is from Kathmandu, largely due to the closeness of Nepal and Tibet. You may fly from Sydney to Kathmandu first and later keep flying to Lhasa or you could choose to reach Lhasa from other cities in mainland Chinese, which all depends on your personal preference and at your convenience.
Sydney to Kathmandu (Duration: up to 21h8m, with 1 stop in KUL, DOH, BKK, AUH)
At present, there are non-stop flights traveling from Kathmandu to Lhasa which only exist in Sichuan Airline and Air China and vice versa. It takes one hour and 25 minutes to reach Lhasa from Kathmandu. Flights are available on a daily basis, either by taking Sichuan Airline or Air China. The exact ticket prices are different in different travelling seasons. You’d better bargain during the winter season from November to March while the price is much higher at around 418 USD from April to October. It’s necessary to get Group Tourist Visa (3-day processing) and Tibet Permit if you want to enter Tibet from Kathmandu. But don’t worry, your travel consultant will help you get them. Do prepare for it as early as possible. In addition, it’s better to sit on the seat against the window on the left side of the plane which will give you the best vantage for Himalayan view, especially Mount Everest while flying to Lhasa.
It’s advised to take the overland road trip if you want to fully explore the true beauty of Nepal and Tibet and experience the exotic culture, which is definitely better than flights. Our staff in Kathmandu will help you get Group Tourist Visa while staff in Lhasa will get your Tibet Permit. Once you have obtained the Group Tourist Visa, you can take a bus from Kathmandu to Gyirong Port(Beijing time 10:00), which is the current border of Sino-Nepal and our Tibetan guide will prepare your Tibet permit and look forward to your arrival on the other side of the customs, and then gradually lead you to Lhasa. Besides the information mentioned above, if you have more questions about the actual travel from Australia to Tibet, or your specific preferences for upcoming Tibet travel, you are welcomed to send us your inquiry and contact our professional travel consultants for free consultancy.
Australian tourists like to visit local markets for souvenirs and street foods. The Barkhor Street in Lhasa, featured with plenty of handicrafts and local desserts, is their favorite place to visit. They also like to celebrate local festivals with local people. So many of them will take a Mount Kailash Tour during the Saga Dawa Festival (around every June), the birthday of Sakyamuni – the founder of Buddhism. Besides, the Shoton Festival (every August or September), aka Yoghourt Festival, is also a happy event for Australian tourists.
The Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are very popular tourist attractions in Tibet. For most tourists from Australia, April, May, June, September and October are the best five months for attending a Kailash Manasarovar tour. During this time, you could enjoy the continuous good weather and comfortable climates, and admire the most beautiful sceneries. Beside Mount Kailash, these five months are also the best time to see sunrise in the Mount Everest Base Camp.
If Australian tourists don’t have time to visit the Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar during these five months, July and August can be their second options. Although these two months are rainy season, the temperature is good for taking a tour and the sceneries are beautiful.
Data in submission...