Tibet Transportation

The Lhasa Airport and airlines

Lhasa airport (Gonga Airport) directly links with 5 cities: Chengdu, Chongqing, xian, Beijing, Kathmandu. Chengdu & KTM are chosen by most of the tourists as their entrance port to Tibet by flight. All the airlines to Tibet are holding by China South West Airlines with the plane of Boen. It is said there was no big air accident happened since the opening in 1956.

Lhasa Gonga Airport is located in Gonga County in South East of Lhasa with 100km to Lhasa city. There is public bus for the passenger at the price of 35 Yuan (Rmb) Gonga Airport.

Travel by Bus

In Tibet, distances are huge, many of the roads are not well-paved, all gasoline must be trucked in, and long trips to remote areas can be expensive. Travelers can travel by bus on local or long-distance routes, hire vehicles for small or large groups, arrange landcruiser trips through travel agents in Lhasa, hire or buy bicycles, or bring their own bikes with them.

There are no air routes within Tibet. There are regular buses from Lhasa to Golmud, Tsedang and Shigatse, using fast, comfortable Japanese vehicles. The main bus station is on the corner of Minzu Lu, south of the Norbulingka. Tickets are put on sale two days before departure and usually sell quickly. Get seats in the front half of the bus for greater comfort on rough roads and better visibility through the dust. Buses go from these stations to a number of other destinations, but do not expect to be able to buy tickets for destinations not normally open to tourist. Watch out for thieves and pickpockets at both stations.

The local bus station is opposite Tibet University, at the southeast corner of town, near the bridge. Dilapidated buses run from here on routes to Maizhokunggar, Yangbajing, Damxung and other places in central Tibet. People planning to visit the Gonggar region can also use the bus service from the CAAC building to the airport and start walking from there. Take food and drink for the journey, as you cannot always count on the bus making stops en route.

Travel By Hired Vehicle

In Tibet, distances are huge, many of the roads are not well-paved, all gasoline must be trucked in, and long trips to remote areas can be expensive. Travelers can travel by bus on local or long-distance routes, hire vehicles for small or large groups, arrange landcruiser trips through travel agents in Lhasa, hire or buy bicycles, or bring their own bikes with them. There are no air routes within Tibet.

A wide range of vehicles suitable for long or short trips and large or small groups can be hired. Toyota Landcruisers and Nissan Troopers are both comfortable and strong four-wheel-drive vehicles taking five passengers and heavy luggage. Modern Japanese buses and coaches seat between ten and 33 people. Beijing Jeeps, like those used by the army, are also commonly used there and there are other Chinese buses used. A hired vehicle will normally come with an English-speaking guide. Vehicles can be hired through any hotel or travel agency in Lhasa, who will make arrangements if they do not have suitable vehicles themselves.

Check hotel notice boards for other people who have already made all the arrangements and are looking for passengers to share the costs. You can also advertise that you are interested in a particular journey and want to meet others to share the organizing of the trip. In addition to the agencies, some hotels have their own fleets of vehicles.

Travel By Bicycle

In Tibet, distances are huge, many of the roads are not well-paved, all gasoline must be trucked in, and long trips to remote areas can be expensive. Travelers can travel by bus on local or long-distance routes, hire vehicles for small or large groups, arrange landcruiser trips through travel agents in Lhasa, hire or buy bicycles, or bring their own bikes with them. There are no air routes within Tibet.

Touring Tibet by bicycle is becoming increasingly popular. Bicycles can be transported as baggage on CAAC flights or brought in from other places. Within Tibet, they can be carried on the luggage racks of local buses. Mountain bikes are ideal for Tibet's rough, stony roads. Good pannier systems are essential for carrying camping and survival gear, food, fuel, spare parts (especially derailleurs, spokes and freewheels) and tools.

Chinese bicycles with thick 28-inch tyres and rod brakes can be hired in several places in Lhasa and Tsedang, including most hotels. You must leave security you passport or a deposit equal to the current cost of a new bike. Some hotels have some newer, lighter bicycles with 26-inch wheels, or even smaller, including some with ladies' frames, but these are not as strong as the bigger ones. An alternative to renting is to buy a bicycle. There are bicycle shops along Beijing Lu and bikes can also be bought in the second-hand bike market. If you buy a new bike, get a shop receipt and retain it.

You may probably think it should be a land cruiser to go everywhere because of bad condition roads. If so, you are just 50% right. Common vehicles could run on some of the roads, say for instance, Lhasa to the airport, to Tsedang, to Nakchu. Only to those far away from Lhasa land cruisers will be used for the smooth passing. In this way and having this understanding, you may save part of your money to Tibet. Of course, you may use land cruisers for all your trip in Tibet despite of the expensive cost.

As far as land cruisers are concerned, there are a few kinds or classifications in terms of per mile price and comfort. Here below is the lists of variety of land cruisers which you may use while you are ready to tour in Tibet.

Road Condition

1. Type vary from jeep,microbus to middlebus and autobus, most vechiles used for travel are imported from Japan. All the vechiles have no air-condition and arranged according to the route and the number of the group.

2. The road-condition, distance, period of course and vechile arrangement :

Airport - Lhasa : 100Km / 2 hours / bituminous macadam with flat surface / fit for all motor vechile.
Lhasa - Gyantse : 270Km / 5.5 hours / macadam road around the moutain / fit for all motor vechile.
Gyantse - Shigatse : 90Km / 1.5 hours / macadam road around the moutain / fit for all motor vechile.
Shigatse - Lhasa(new road) : 300 Km / 5.5 hours / bituminous macadam / fit for all motor vechile.
Shigatse - Zhangmu : 490Km / 15 hours / macadam road around the moutain / only fit for jeep and middlebus. Tingri - Mt. Everest : 100Km / 3 hours / macadam road around the moutain / only fit for jeep.
Lhasa - Tsedang : 220Km / 3 hours / bituminous macadam / fit for all motor vechile.
Lhasa - Nyingchi : 430Km / 10 hours / bitminous macadam road around the moutain / fit for all motor vechile.
Lhasa - Yanjing : 1500Km / uncertainly / macadam road around the moutain / only fit for jeep.
Lhasa - Golmud : 1900Km / 48 hours / bitminous macadam / fit for all motor vechile.
Lhasa - Shiquanhe : 1800Km / uncertainly / macadam road around the moutain / only fit for jeep.

1. TOYOTA 60 or TOYOTA 62: Safe, four wheel drive, and cheaper but no A/C or a little bit bumpy   

   This kind of land cruiser is commonly used by tourists if you do not mind its a little uncomfortness. It was manufactured by Japan years ago but very popular in Tibet by those who want to save money but challenge themselves.

2. TOYOTA 80: Safe, four wheel drive, medium price (not cheaper or  not expensive), A/C equipped a little bit newer than first kind, and comfort. but expensive than first kind. Not that much popular than first due to its price which is however affordable to common tourists. 

3. TOYOTA 4500 ( desert king): Safe, four wheel drive, expensive, A/C equipped, much more comfortOnly those who could spend money on comforts in touringin Tibet. It is luxury both inside and outside and much more comfort if driving on the rough roads.

Transport by Land

The main highways to Tibet are the Chengdu-Lhasa,2,330 kilometers long; the Xining-Golmud-Lhasa, 1,907 kilometers long. The average elevation of theis highway is above 4,000 meters, running through the mountains of Kunlun and Tanggula;the Yecheng-Burang, 1,455 kilometers. This highway is the highest highway in the world, passing through five mountains above 5,000 meters high. The highest mountain is 6,035 meters above sea level; the Xiaguan- Markam,800 kilmetrs long; Lhasa-Zhamud Friendship Bridge-Kathmandu, 900 kilometers. Every day, two buses shuttle between germu and Lhasa. They start from germu at eight in the morning and arrive in Lhasa the next afternoon. The detailed information is listed as followings :

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