How to Get to Ngari?

Ngari, is a remote region in western Tibet and the southwest Tibetan Plateau. It is bordered by Shigatse to the Southeast, Nagqu to the East, Xinjiang to the North, India and Nepal to the Southwest. Ngari has a total land area of 345,000 square kilometers, spanning 680km from south to north and 700km from east to west. The landscape of Ngari is full of gorges, peaks, lakes, forests, and volcanoes, making it difficult to develop a good transportation system in this region. However, tourists are able to get to Ngari and see Lake Manasarovar, Mount Kailash and Guge Kingdom through the constructed roads and airport. 

Flight to Ngari

Presently, three cities are linked with Ngari by flight. These cities are Lhasa, Kashgar, and Urumqi. There are two to three daily flights between Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) and Ngari Kunsha Airport (NGQ), taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes. While it takes more than 20 hours from Lhasa to Darchen by road. Darchen is the most popular destination in Nagri as it's the starting point of Mt.Kailash Kora.

If you are traveling from mainland China to Ngari, you can also travel via Lhasa by flight because there are flights to Lhasa from Chengdu, Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, etc, and many trains from Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Chongqing to Lhasa. You can also take a flight from Urumqi Diwopu Airport (URC) to Lhasa with a stopover at Kashgar Airport (KHC). It takes about 4 hours and 35 minutes between Urumqi and Ngari by flight.

Ngari Gunsa Airport

Ngari Gunsa Airport is a dual-purpose airport because it is used by the civilians and military. This airport is 4,274 meters above sea level, which makes it the world’s fourth-highest airport. Its runway is 4,500 meters long and its terminal covers 3,900 square meters area of land.  It takes about 3 hours to drive from Gunsa Airport to Mount Kailash, covering a distance of 201km.

Note: Ngari Gunsa Airport is 4,274 meters above sea level, so it is advisable not to fly to Ngari directly if you don’t have any plateau-traveling experience. Most people traveling to Tibet for the first time always have high altitude sickness symptoms so it's better to get to Lhasa first, at 3,650 meters above sea level.

Driving to Ngari

Traveling by road is the most popular way of getting to Ngari. It not only allows travelers to enjoy the amazing views from Lhasa to Ngari such as the gorges, peaks, forests, lakes, desert, etc. but also lowers the risk of altitude sickness greatly.

Classic Driving Route: Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse – Saga – Darchen

It takes about 3 days to travel from Lhasa to Ngari by following National Highway G318. Start your journey on the first day by driving to Shigatse for a distance of 350km – this journey takes about 8 hours. On this day, you won’t miss the natural beauty of Yamdork Lake and Karola Glacier as well as the Buddhist sites of Palcho Monastery and Tashilhunpo Monastery. On the second day, travel 8 hours to Saga where you will enjoy beautiful landscape views such as the high snow peaks, wild plains, and pure Peilkhu Tso Lake on the way. On the third day, you will travel from Saga to Darchen for 7 hours, covering a distance of about 550km. It is a 3-day journey that is tiring and long but it gives you the opportunity to enjoy the views of western Tibet on the way. Also, tourists can adapt to the high altitude gradually and there are fewer chances to occur high altitude sickness.

The highlights are to visit Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash during the tour. There are 8-hour's drive from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp and 6-hour's drive from Mount Base Camp to Saga on the next day. In this way, you need to take one more day to reach Darchen in 7 hours.

√ 14 Days Mt Kailash Kora with Mt Everest Tour

Popular Driving Route: Kathmandu - Gyirong - Zhongba - Darchen

It also takes 3 days to travel from Kathmandu to Ngari by following the National Highway G219 via Gyirong. Start your journey on the first day and drive to Gyirong, which is 168 kilometers and takes 8 hours. There are many mountains and valleys along the way, the terrain on both sides is dangerous, and the road conditions are not very good. On the second day, you will travel through towering mountains, dense forests, waterfalls, and barren, finally get to Zhongba County via Saga, taking 7 hours. On the third day,  you can enjoy the sunrise of Zhongba Sand Dunes, Gemma Yangzong Snow Mountain, Maquan River scenery, etc., and then go to Darchen, taking around 4.5 hours.

During the three days, the altitude rises rapidly, starting from Kathmandu(1,400) to Gyirong (2,600), to Zhongba (4,700) and to Darchen(4,560). If possible, we suggest you stay in Gyirong for one more night to adapt to the altitude better. You can visit Gyirng Valley, a collection of snow-capped mountains and forests, reputed as the backyard garden of the Himalayas.

√  9 Days Kathmandu to Kailash Kathmandu Overland Tour

How to Get around Ngari?

Road transportation is the best way of moving around Ngari. But usually, there's a long driving distance from one spot to another.

Travel to Manasarovar

If you're traveling from Lhasa to Ngari, you will see Lake Manasarovar first. It's about 40km away from Darchen and takes about 50 minutes. You can visit this lake before/after your pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.

Travel to Kailash

Mount Kailash is a top attraction for tourists visiting Ngari. First, you can drive to Darchen, the starting point of doing the Kora. Darchen also offers food and accommodation. If you are doing a Kora or trekking around Mount Kailash, vehicles will not be available to help you save your energy on the way, but yaks can help you carry your luggage. The road contains a lot of gravel and you need to wear comfortable shoes.

Darchen to Guge Kingdom

After driving for about 230km on the G219 National Express for 5 hours, you will arrive in Zanda County. Continue driving for another 20km, you will reach Guge Kingdom. The journey takes about 30 minutes with good road conditions.

Some Tips for Getting to and around Ngari

Besides the transportation methods, there is some additional info about getting to and around.

Road Condition

The majority of the roads to and around Ngari are bituminous national highways. These roads are in good condition and bumps are rarely seen, but some sections might be frozen during winter because of low temperatures.

Permits

In addition to the compulsory Tibet Travel Permit, you also need an Alien’s travel permit and a Military permit. For tourists, only if you book with a local Tibet travel agency then they can help you obtain all the permits. There are many checkpoints along these roads where security personnel will check all your traveling documents.

Food and Accommodation

Cars always have stopovers at restaurants along these roads so that travelers can have their lunch. These restaurants offer Sichuan cuisine and some Chinese food which you may not like, but they will definitely replenish your energy. It is a good idea to go with some snacks and food. Most hotel accommodation in Ngari is very basic.

Conclusion

Although its remote location and high altitude pose challenges, Ngari offers rugged beauty to adventurous travelers. Whether you choose to fly or take a scenic drive, there are pro and cons. Remember to secure the necessary permits to make your trip both smooth and enjoyable.