Lijiang, located at northwest of Yunnan, is geographically closer to Tibetan Plateau than the provincial capital Kunming. Therefore, taking flight to Lhasa from this popular destination is very convenient and also relatively cheaper.
Lijiang Sanyi International Airport is the only airport in Lijiang. At present, Sichuan Airlines runs a daily flight between Lijiang and Lhasa.
The special note is you’ll need a Tibet Travel Permit issued by Tibet Tourism in Lhasa to board the flight from any city in China to Tibet. Please feel free to contact us for more information on the Tibet Travel Permit.
| Flight No. | Airport & Time | Duration & Stopover | Frequency | Plane Model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3U8817 Sichuan Airlines |
LJG(08:35)-LXA(10:50) | 2h15m Nonstop |
Everyday | Airbus A319 |
| Flight No. | Airport & Time | Duration & Stopover | Frequency | Plane Model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3U8818 Sichuan Airlines |
LXA(11:45)-LJG(13:45) | 2h Nonstop |
Everyday | Airbus A319 |
Please note:
1. China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines also share this flight regularly.
2. Due to the seasonal difference, the flight schedules above are for reference only, please contact us for the latest details.
Flight Type: Nonstop flight
Flying Distance: 593 miles (954km)
Altitude Difference: 2416m (Lijiang) - 3650m (Lhasa)
Airport Information: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport (LJG) - Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA)
Although different seasons provide diverse view, the best season for traveling to both Lijiang and Lhasa is April to June and September to October while it is warm and humid. There is too much rain in July and August but also crowded since Chinese summer holiday falls in these two months. Everything is very expensive. In winter, it will be a little cold but it will not be a problem if you like to explore the snow-capped Yulong Snow Mountain or even Mt. Everest Base Camp. The tour price in winter will be much cheaper.
Flying from Lijiang or any other cities in China to Lhasa, you need to show your passport, China visa as well as the original Tibet Permit. We will mail the permit to your hotel in Lijiang. If you travel with friends or family but they fly into Lhasa from different city please do let us know so we can apply for separate permits for you since the entrance city on the permit has to be the same with your flight. After you get through the security check point in the airport, you do not need to show it again. Please keep the permit and give it back to our guide when you arrive in Lhasa. It is needed for the PSB application if you travel out of Lhasa. After you finish your tour, we need to return the permit back to Tibet Tourism Bureau.
Yes, except for flying you can still travel overland from Lijiang to Lhasa. Lijiang is the start point for an overland tour from Yunnan to Tibet. We drive from Lijiang ancient city, pass through Shangri-La, eastern Tibet and then forward to Lhasa. This is a journey including ethnic culture, raging rivers, turquoise lakes, dense forests, stunning snow mountains. This route is one of the Ancient Tea Horse Roads. The other one is the from Sichuan to Tibet. In old times, people in Yunnan and Sichuan traveled by these routes to exchange horses with tea in Tibet. Hence these two pathways were called the Tea Horse Road.
Yes, there are also flights from Kunming Changshui International Airport and Diqing Shangri-La Airport to Lhasa. If you fly from Lijiang or Shangri-La, please inform your Tibet travel consultant early about your hotel information in these cities since the permit delivery from Lhasa to these cities takes longer time than mailing to other cities in China.
Although the altitude in Lijiang ancient city is around 2400m but you might still feel a little uncomfortable because of the ascend of more than 1000 meters in Lhasa. Most tourists traveling to Tibet have some symptoms of altitude sickness such as feeling tired, drowsy, headache etc. But you will feel better after one or two days there. It is suggested that you drink lots of water, rest a lot, walks less before you get accustomed to the altitude. But those who have heart disease, bronchitis, hypertension, diabetes should consult the doctor before visiting Tibet.
