How to Travel to Tibet from United Kingdom: The Ultimate Guide in 2025

Traveling to Tibet from the United Kingdom is becoming easier, despite the lack of direct flights at present. The UK offers many convenient direct flights to popular cities in mainland China, from where you can easily continue your journey to Tibet by train or flight.

In this guide, we will provide the ultimate tips on how to travel to Tibet from the UK and offer expert advice for a smooth journey. Read on to get inspired for your next adventure!

How Far is the UK from Tibet? Are There Direct Flights?

Getting to Tibet from the United Kingdom requires traveling almost halfway around the world. Reaching Lhasa, the provincial capital of Tibet is a trip of more than 7,600 kilometers. There are no direct flights to Lhasa, so you’ll need to transfer through another city.

You can choose from either Nepal or another city in mainland China as your initial destination. From Nepal, you can fly to Lhasa or travel overland across the border at Gyirong Port. Reaching Kathmandu takes 12-16 hours, with one stop along the way.

Direct flights are available to many cities in mainland China from destinations in the UK. These include major gateway cities to Tibet, such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Xian, and Beijing. You can then choose to enter Tibet by flight or on the famous Tibet train from these cities.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport

Travel from the UK to Tibet via Beijing: The Most Popular Choice

Beijing is the most popular choice for UK tourists traveling to Tibet. The ancient city and current capital is full of cultural and historic wonders like the Great Wall and Forbidden City. It’s worth spending a few days in Beijing to see the sites before continuing to Tibet.

Direct flights from the UK to Beijing are available from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Flying times are around 11 hours through Air China, China Southern Airlines, or Hainan Airlines. Tickets for direct flights start around 398 GPB.

On the other hand, non-stop flights to Lhasa from Beijing are offered daily by Air China and Tibet Airlines. The flight takes a little over 4 hours, costing between 185 and 217 GBP, depending on the time of year.

The Tibet train from Beijing is also an excellent to get to Tibet, travelling across the breathtaking scenery along the way. Train Z21 leaves at 19:53 and arrives 39h 43m later in Lhasa at 11:36. We recommend you book soft sleeper tickets for the added comfort and privacy.

Traveling from the UK to Tibet via Beijing is a popular choice.

Travel from the UK to Tibet via Shanghai: Another Great Option

Direct flights are also available from London and Manchester to Shanghai. The sprawling, ultra-modern megacity is an incredible destination with the amazing skyline of the Bund, and classic Yu Gardens.

Air China and China Eastern operate daily non-stop flights taking 11-11.5 hours to reach Shanghai. Tickets start from 338 GPB. China Southern Airlines has a cheaper option for 305 GPB. The flight takes 16h 15m with one stop.

Flights from Shanghai to Lhasa take around seven to eight hours. Flights are operated daily by China Eastern and Tibetan Airlines, starting around 127 GBP. These flights will have a stopover at Xi’an or Chengdu on the way, for 2 or 1 hours.

The train route from Shanghai to Lhasa takes 44.5 hours. Train Z164 departs daily to make the 4,373 km journey through changing scenery as you ascend to the Tibetan Plateau. Hard sleeper tickets cost 89 GBP, and more private soft sleeper berths cost 142 GBP.

Traveling from the UK to Tibet via Shanghai is also a good option.

Travel from the UK to Tibet via Guangzhou: Gateway to Southern China

Guangzhou is the vibrant southern hub along the Pearl River and gateway to the south of China. From the iconic Canton Towers to the unique and subtle flavors of southern cuisine, Guangzhou will introduce you to a world of Chinese culture distinct from Beijing and Shanghai.

China Southern Airlines has the fastest and cheapest flights to Guangzhou from London. A non-stop flight is available daily, taking 12 hours to arrive for 373 GBP. The cheaper option takes 19h and 10m with one stop and costs 267 GBP.

There are direct flights from Guangzhou to Lhasa every day. One flight is operated by China Southern Airlines and takes 6h via Chongqing. Tickets cost 187 GBP. The other option is a 5h 50m flight through Diqing that costs 85 GBP.

The scenic train option from Guangzhou to Lhasa is a 4,980 km journey that travels in a grand arc across the country. It crosses through seven provinces, taking 53 hours to arrive. Trains depart every day with hard sleeper tickets available for 865 CNY (95 GBP) and soft sleeper tickets for 1468 CNY (161 GBP).

You can also travel from the UK to Tibet via Guangzhou.

Travel from the UK to Tibet via Hong Kong: Convenient Access to Asia

Hong Kong is well connected to the UK with six daily non-stop flights from London operated by British Airways and Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific also flies non-stop from Manchester six times a week.

Non-stop flights take 12.5-13 hours with tickets starting from 553 GBP. China Eastern flies from London to Hong Kong for 283 GBP with one-stop, taking 17 hours to arrive.

Traveling from Hong Kong to Tibet requires transferring through another city in mainland China. In addition to the convenient Tibet transfer options in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, Chengdu is a good option when traveling from Hong Kong. Six daily, non-stop flights fly to Chengdu Tianfu Airport, taking only 2h and 55m to arrive.

Chengdu is one of the best Tibet gateway cities with over 20 non-stop flights to Lhasa each day. The flight from Chengdu to Lhasa takes a little over two hours and tickets start from 42 GBP.

Chengdu also has one of the shortest train routes to Lhasa. The 3,070 km journey takes 34.5 hours, with tickets costing 627.5 (69 GBP) and 997.5 CNY (110 GBP) for hard and soft sleepers, respectively.

Traveling from the UK to Tibet via Hong Kong is convenient.

Travel from the UK to Tibet via Kathmandu, Nepal: Traveling Through the Himalayas

Entering Tibet from Kathmandu is a unique opportunity to traverse the towering Himalayas. Reaching Nepal from London requires at least one stop. Flying with Qatar Airways and British Airways is one of the faster routes. The journey takes 13.5 hours, including stopover, and costs 697 GBP.

The fastest way to reach Lhasa from Kathmandu is the flight operated by Himalaya Airlines. It is the only international direct flight to Lhasa and takes around 90 minutes. The flight is available three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It flies directly over Mount Everest for an amazing birds-eye view of the world’s highest mountain.

Traveling overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa is the most popular way to go. The journey is usually done as part of a 7-day tour. You’ll cross into Tibet at the Gyirong Border and then ascend the Himalayas to visit Everest Base Camp. Then, travel to Shigatse and Gyanste, where you can visit the famed Tashilhunpo Monastery. The final stretch to Lhasa passes the holy Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier.

Traveling from the UK to Tibet via Kathmandu offers a great experience.

What Documents to Obtain for Traveling from the UK to Tibet?

Getting to Tibet requires several documents, including a Chinese Tourist Visa, a Tibet Travel Permit, and other permits depending on the tour itinerary.

1. Chinese Tourist Visa

Chinese tourist visas can be applied for at the nearest Chinese Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Service Center. A 30-day, single-entry visa valid for three months costs 130 GBP. They are usually issued within three working days.

If you enter Tibet through Nepal, you will need a Chinese Group Visa, instead of the Chinese Visa. This visa should be applied through the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, and we can help you obtain it. Just contact us in advance and arrive in Kathmandu at least 4 days before your departure.

2. Tibet Travel Permit

All international travelers need to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) before entering the region. This is obtained by your tour operator before you enter Tibet and requires your scanned passport and two photos to apply. Our tour service includes arranging the TTP on your behalf, and we’ll deliver it to you at your hotel or before boarding the plane or train to Tibet.

3. Other Permits

There are some other required travel documents for travel to areas of Tibet outside Lhasa city, such as the Alien’s Travel Permit for Everest Base Camp tours, Military Permit for Mount Kailash tours, etc. Please feel free to contact us. Just tell us your travel plan and our professional travel expert will help you arrange all the required travel documents for Tibet.

Chinese Visa is needed to visit Tibet.

Conclusion

Distance is no barrier to enjoying a Tibet tour from the UK. With convenient flight connections available to Tibet's gateway cities in mainland China or Nepal, getting there is easy. After arriving, you can choose from flights, the scenic train route, or epic overland journeys to reach Lhasa and begin exploring the ‘roof of the world.’

Take advantage of our years of experience in creating unforgettable Tibet tours. Contact us anytime for more information, and start planning the trip of a lifetime.