How to Get to Tibet from UK: Best Routes and Required Permits
Getting from the UK to Tibet is more convenient than you might expect, despite the long distance. There are frequent daily flights from London to popular gateway cities to Tibet, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Kathmandu. From these cities, you can easily reach Lhasa by direct flight, train or overland travel.
In this guide, we will walk you through the best routes to get to Tibet from the UK, as well as the required travel documents. Read on to prepare yourself a smooth and pleasant trip to the Roof of the World!
How Far is Tibet from the UK? Are There Direct Flights?
Located in Asia on the vast Tibetan Plateau, Tibet is about 7300 kilometers away from the UK, which is in northwestern Europe. At present, there are no direct flights from any UK cities to Tibet. Therefore, you need to first travel from the UK to mainland China or Nepal, and then continue on to Tibet.
There are many direct flights from the UK to major cities in mainland China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. From there, you can easily take either a train or a flight to Lhasa. Alternatively, if you fly to Kathmandu from the UK, you can continue with the world-class overland trip to Lhasa via the majestic Himalayas.
Tourists from the UK arrived at Lhasa Gonggar Airport.
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UK to Tibet via Beijing: The Most Popular Route
Beijing is the most popular gateway city for UK travelers heading to Tibet. There are three non-stop flights from London to Beijing every day, taking about 10 hours. Operated by Air China and China Southern, these flights start from around $500 per person.
Once in Beijing, you can choose either to take a train or a flight to Lhasa. Flights from Beijing to Lhasa depart two to three times daily, and take about 4 hours and 15 minutes. On the other hand, the train from Beijing to Lhasa operates daily, leaving at 19:53 pm and taking about 40 hours to cross the scenic Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Beijing not only offers convenient transportation but is also a charming city worth your exploration. Before continuing your trip to Tibet, you can spend a couple of days visiting the city’s famous landmarks, like the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, etc. This will make your overall trip even more memorable and give you more flexibility before taking a train or flight to Lhasa.
You can visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
UK to Tibet via Shanghai: A Good Alternative via Eastern China
As one of China’s largest and most vibrant cities, Shanghai is also a great option for transferring from the UK to Tibet. Here, you can take the opportunity to explore this modern international metropolis, discovering attractions like the Bund and Yu Garden before moving on to Tibet.
At present, there are three to four non-stop flights from London to Shanghai each day. Operated by British Airways, China Eastern, and Air China, these flights take about 11 to 12.5 hours. An economy class ticket can be as low as $548 per person.
From Shanghai, it is also quite convenient to reach Lhasa, either by train or by flight. Flights from Shanghai to Lhasa depart once or twice daily and take about 7 hours and 40 minutes, usually with a short stopover en route.
If you have enough time and are interested in experiencing the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you can take the train from Shanghai to Lhasa, which departs at 18:33 daily and takes about 47 hours to reach the plateau.
Shanghai is also a good choice to transfer from the UK to Tibet.
Our small group tour promises a seamless travel experience.
UK to Tibet via Guangzhou: Smooth Transfer via Southern China
With both trains and flights connecting to Tibet, Guangzhou is another good option for transferring from the UK. You can find direct daily flights from London to Guangzhou. These flights take about 11 hours and 40 minutes, and cost from about $551 per person.
From Guangzhou, direct flights to Lhasa depart twice per day, and take about 5 hours and 45 minutes. You can expect a stopover in either Chongqing or Diqing along the way. If you choose to take the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa, you will spend about 53 hours onboard, passing through the vast landscapes of mainland China and the Tibetan Plateau.
If you have time, you can also explore a bit of Guangzhou city. Here, you can taste delicious Cantonese cuisine and visit historic sites like Shamian Island, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and more.
The scenery along the train route from Guangzhou to Lhasa is beautiful.
UK to Tibet via Hong Kong: Flexible Choice with Frequent Flights
Hong Kong is one of the cities in Asia with the closest ties to the UK, making it an excellent gateway for transferring to Tibet. In addition, for British passport holders, you can enjoy visa-free stays in Hong Kong for short visits, allowing for easy and hassle-free entry.
Every day, there are one to two nonstop flights from London to Hong Kong, operated by Cathay Pacific and British Airways. Starting from $705 per person, these flights take about 12 hours and 30 minutes to reach Hong Kong International Airport.
From Hong Kong, there are both direct and connecting flights to Lhasa. The direct flight from Hong Kong to Lhasa departs twice a week, on every Wednesday and Sunday, and takes about 7.5 hours. For more flexibility, you can first fly to cities like Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi’an, and then transfer to Lhasa by train or flight.
Besides flights, there are also high-speed trains from Hong Kong to over 50 cities in mainland China. You can first take a fast train to popular cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing or Shanghai. From there, you are free to choose either a flight or train to continue your journey to Lhasa.
Hong Kong has close relation to the UK with frequent flights.
UK to Tibet via Kathmandu: Combining both Nepal and Tibet in One Trip
Traveling to Tibet via Nepal is also a convenient and popular option among British tourists. This route allows you to combine Nepal and Tibet into one trip, and experience two distinct and fascinating regions of the Himalayas.
Currently, there are frequent flights from London to Kathmandu, usually with one or two stopovers in the Middle East or South Asia. These flights can take longer, ranging from 12 to 20 hours, but they are often much cheaper, with prices starting from around $266 per person.
Once in Kathmandu, you have two options for getting to Lhasa: by direct flight or by overland travel. Flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa operate four times a week, departing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The flight takes only about 90 minutes to reach Lhasa Gonggar International Airport and offers breathtaking aerial views of Mount Everest along the way.
For a more scenic and immersive journey, you can also choose to travel overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa via the Gyirong border. This road trip usually spans about 8 days and takes you across the vast Tibetan Plateau, with visits to many iconic sights, including Everest Base Camp, Tashilhunpo Monastery, and Yamdrok Lake, before finally reaching Lhasa.
Kathmandu to Lhasa flight passes over the mighty Himalayan ranges.
Traveling overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa is an epic journey across Tibetan Plateau.
What Documents are Required for Visiting Tibet from the UK?
For tourists from the UK, you will first need to obtain both a Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit before entering Tibet. You can apply for the Chinese Visa on your own at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh.
As for the Tibet Travel Permit, individual applications are not allowed. But no worries - we can help you obtain it in a smooth and easy way. Simply send us copies of your Chinese Visa and valid passport, and we will take care of the rest on your behalf.
Besides, if you plan to visit Tibet’s restricted or remote areas such as Mount Everest Base Camp or Mount Kailash, you will need additional permits like the Alien’s Travel Permit and Military Permit. We will help you handle all these permits as long as you book your Tibet tour with us.
Tibet Travel Permit can be obtained smoothly through us.
Conclusion
Getting to Tibet from the United Kingdom is not difficult, even though there are no direct flights currently. You can fly directly from London to major cities in mainland China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and then transfer to Lhasa by train or flight. There is also a convenient route from the UK to Tibet via Kathmandu, Nepal.
To make your travel even smoother, we can help you obtain all the required Tibet travel documents in advance. We can also assist in arranging your entire tour, from planning the itinerary to providing local guide and driver. Feel free to contact us and book your tour with us today!
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