With the Chinese visa-free policy for Singaporean guests, more and more Singaporean tourists tend to travel to Tibet. Every year, tens of thousands of Singaporeans come to travel to beautiful Tibet to experience its unique plateau scenery and profound Buddhist culture.
Important Notice: Visitors from Singapore can restart enjoying a 30-day visa-free policy from 9 February 2024.
How to Travel to Tibet from Singapore?
Although there are no direct flights from Singapore to Tibet, you can fly to major cities in China and transmit to Tibet conveniently. You can depart from Singapore Changi Airport(SIN) to Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and many other cities in China then get to Tibet by flight or by train. Or Enter Tibet from Nepal because it is close to Tibet. You can fly directly from Singapore to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport(KTM) and then to Lhasa by flight or by land.
Night view of Singapore Changi Airport
Via Mainland China to Tibet
Once arrive in China, you will have two options to get to Tibet, by plane or by train. Taking a flight is fast and comfortable while taking a train is good for acclimatizing to high altitude. There are daily flights towards Lhasa in major cities such as Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xián, etc., so you can choose one that suits your schedule. While the scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is reputable. You'll see snow-capped mountains, blooming flowers, crystal lakes and tranquil pastures during your train journey.
Singapore - Chengdu - Lhasa (Recommended)
Traveling to Tibet via Chengdu is the most popular route for Singaporeans, and it is convenient and cost-effective. Chengdu is relatively close to both Tibet and Singapore. There are about 3- 4 flights per day from Singapore to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), with a flight time of about 4.5 hours. One-way economy class fare is around SGD265 - SGD848. By the way, transit flights are available via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where fares are even lower, down to around SGD172 in the low tourist season.
Upon arrival in Chengdu, you can take a flight or train to Tibet. Chengdu offers more than a dozen direct flights to Lhasa per day. It takes about 2.5 hours to fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, and the full one-way economy class fare is about SGD550 pp., in the low tourist season, the one-way fare is as low as about SGD66 pp. The direct train from Chengdu to Lhasa, Z322 runs every other day. The soft sleeper fare is SGD203 pp.
Singapore - Beijing - Lhasa
There are many daily flights from Singapore to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) or Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), the flight time is about 6 hours. The fare is about SGD417-530 pp.
On arrival, you can take a flight or train to Tibet. There are 2 direct flights per day from Beijing Capital International Airport to Lhasa and the flight time is about 4 hours. Airfare is about SGD417-623. The direct train Z21 departs from Beijing to Lhasa at 19:52 every day and arrives at Lhasa at 11:36 on the third day, covering a distance of 3,757 kilometers and taking about 40 hours. The soft sleeper fare is SGD233 pp.
Singapore - Shanghai - Lhasa
There are many flights from Singapore to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and you have a variety of choices. The flight time is about 5 hours and the airfare is about SGD189-530.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, you can take a flight or train to Tibet. There are 2 direct flights daily from Shanghai to Lhasa with a stopover in Xi'an, the flight time is about 8.5 hours, or in Chengdu, the flight time is about 7 hours. Airfare is about SGD284-530. The direct train Z164 from Shanghai to Lhasa departs at 18:33 every day and arrives at Lhasa at 15:05 on the third day, covering more than 4,300 kilometers and taking about 45 hours. The soft sleeper fare is SGD257 pp.
Enjoy plateau scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Singapore - Kunming- Lhasa
There is a daily direct flight from Singapore to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG), the flight time is about 4 hours and the one-way economy class fare is about SGD225-947 pp. On arrival, you can only choose to fly from Kunming to Lhasa. There are several direct flights from Kunming to Lhasa every day and the flight time is about three hours. Fares are around SGD376 pp, with airfares as low as SGD113 during the low season.
Singapore - Xi'an - Lhasa
There is only one flight per day from Singapore to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), and the flight time is about 6 hours. The fare is about SGD245-378 pp.
There are many direct flights from Xi'an Xianyang Airport to Lhasa every day and the flight time is about 3-4 hours. One-way economy class full fare is around SGD490 pp, and in low season, the airfare is as low as SGD113. There are 3 direct trains from Xi'an to Lhasa every day and arrive in Lhasa the next day, covering a total distance of 2,900 kilometers in 30 hours. The soft sleeper fare is SGD197 pp.
Singapore - Guangzhou - Lhasa
There are 7 daily direct flights from Singapore to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), with a flight time of about 4 hours. One-way economy class fares are approximately SGD152-SGD172 pp.
From Guangzhou, there are 1-2 daily direct flights to Lhasa with a stopover in Chongqing or Diqing, with a total duration of about 6 hours. One-way economy class fares are approximately SGD284-SGD567 pp. The direct train to Lhasa, Z264 departs at 09:15 daily(peak season) and arrives in Lhasa at 14:17 on the third day, covering a distance of 4,980 kilometers and taking about 53 hours, making it the longest train route to Lhasa. The soft sleeper fare is SGD302 pp.
Via Nepal to Tibet
There are also direct flights from Singapore to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Nepal, with a flight time of about 5 hours. Flying from Nepal to Tibet is also a very popular option. Trains from Kathmandu to Tibet are not yet available.
Kathmandu is the only country with direct flights to Lhasa. Flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa are available three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the airfare is around SGD397. The flight time is short, about 1.5 hours. During the flight, you may have the opportunity to view the Himalayas from the airplane window.
Or travel overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa instead of flying. You can enjoy breathtaking sights, Himalayan peaks, magnificent Buddhist monasteries and sacred mountains, lakes, etc. along the Friendship Highway.
Scenery of Friendship Highway
Documents to Enter Tibet
For Singaporean travelers, a Tibet Travel Permit is indispensable for you to enter Tibet, which requires the scans of your China visa and passport. What’s more, foreign travelers are not allowed to travel independently in Tibet, and it means that you need to travel on an organized tour arranged by a local Tibet travel agency.
Entering Tibet via Mainland China
According to the latest policy in 2024, Singapore citizens holding ordinary passports can enter China for 30 days without a visa for business travel, sightseeing, and visiting friends and relatives. In this case, you just need a passport scan to entrust your Tibet agency to apply for your Tibet travel permit.
Entering Tibet via Nepal
All foreign visitors including Singaporeans from Nepal coming directly to Tibet need to apply for a Chinese group visa in Kathmandu, even though you are entitled to a 30-day visa waiver. The group visa requires an invitation letter from Tibet and more importantly, 4 participants need to apply together. It takes 3 working days to apply for the group visa and then you can travel to Tibet.
What to See
Finally, you’ll arrive in this remote and mysterious land. Our Tibetan guides and drivers will take you to go sightseeing and explore its religion and cultural traditions. In the 1, 300-year-old Lhasa, you won’t miss the Potala Palace, Drepung Temple, and Barkhor Street. To extend your journey, you can visit YamdrokTso, Mount Everest, Mount Kailash, and many other breathtaking scenic sites. You will witness lofty mountains, countless devoted pilgrims and ancient Tibetan monasteries. >>See more about Tibet attractions
Everest Base Camp is the most popular destination for Singaporeans.
In addition to the regular itinerary, you can also explore Nyingchi, which is an attractive destination for Singapore travelers, with stunning landscapes, lush forests, and mountainous scenery. Attractions in Nyingchi are famous for natural beauty, such as Draksumtso Lake, Bomi Peach Blossom Valley, Midui Glacier, etc.
Notes on Traveling to Tibet from Singapore
Traveling to Tibet from Singapore requires special attention to altitude sickness as there is a huge difference in altitude between the two regions. As Singapore is located at sea level, it is highly recommended that you spend at least one night in a Chinese city as a buffer before traveling to Tibet. For example, you can fly to Chengdu (500 meters above sea level) and rest for 1-2 days. When you arrive in Lhasa (3650 meters above sea level), please refrain from any sightseeing activities on the day of arrival to acclimatize. In addition, drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol will help you acclimatize to the high altitude.
On the other hand, travelers are advised to take out personal travel insurance in Singapore before traveling to Tibet, which can cover trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and flight changes. A reliable travel insurance plan is essential to deal with any unexpected high-altitude issues.
Conclusion
Singaporean travelers can explore Tibet’s unique high-altitude landscapes and vibrant Buddhist culture through China or Nepal, amd each option offers a distinct experience to enjoy the journey and acclimatize. To make your unforgettable tour in Tibet, you can start planning your Tibet trip and contact us now!, we’ll guarantee you a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Hi,
We are a pair of Singaporeans planning to visit China/Tibet.
Couple of questions:-
1) Our friend from Qingdao holds a China HK home return permit (港澳通行证）under Hongkong Citizenship and has a valid Chinese driving license issued by Shanghai ministry of transportation. Does he also require the Tibet Travel Permit and be part of the pre-arranged tour?
2) Is it compulsory to have your guide follow us for the entire duration of our stay in Tibet? If yes, how do we coordinate on his schedule?
3) While we had identified a number of places (Potara Palace, Shigatse, Gawu la Pass, Yamdrok, Everest Base Camp) to visit over the span of 8 days, we would prefer the itinerary to be kept flexible since we do anticipate impromptu changes along the way (due to weather conditions, unexpected delays, etc).. How do you think we can best coordinate to have that flexibility?
4) One of our destination is the Rongbuk Monastery, passing through Shigatse and we have plans to have our friend (with the Chinese driving license) rent a car for that estimated 4 days to-and-return drive. Is he able to do so using his Chinese driving license? And do we have to cater for the guide's lodgings since we have to do overnight stays at Shigatse?
Dear Goh****,
We can arrange a Lhasa Shigatse EBC tour for you on 26 April. I will answer your questions one by one.
1. We can help you apply for the Tibet Travel permit. Your friend doesn't need the Tibet Travel Permit but needs the Border Defense Certificate and we can help your friend apply for it.
2. Yes, your guide will accompany you for the entire duration of your tour in Tibet.
3. I suggest we keep a fixed itinerary because we need to attach the places to the Tibet Travel Permit. If some places won't attach to the Permit, you can't go. Usually, the impact of weather changes on the itinerary is relatively small.
4. According to the authority, all foreign tourists in Tibet need to take the tourist vehicle in Tibet. I'm afraid you can't take your friend's car in Tibet.
weson
Hi,
I am from Singapore and planning to do the EBC (7-8 days).
We are a party of 2pax, can fly off on 21/3/2024 after 9pm and return by 31st March.
If you can assist to arrange flights and visas to/fro tibet and the ground trip to EBC. Accommodation: 3 stars.
Looking forward to your proposal. Thank you.
Dear Weso****,
I'm afraid there's not enough time for the Tibet Permit application. Usually, it takes about 2 weeks to obtain the Tibet Permit. I suggest you consider postponing the tour. We have a confirmed 8 days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour departure on 4 April. Is it avaible for you?
Zhengyu Liau
Hello, I would like to know if a 6 day itinerary could be arranged. My group is tentatively around 3 or 4 persons and we are looking at reaching Lhasa on 23rd May 2024. Could you provide a quote and advice on any visa requirements?
Dear Zhen****,
We can arrange the 6-day Tibet tour for you on 23 May. We will help you apply for the Tibet Travel permit. For Singapore citizens, you can stay in China within 30 days without a China Visa.
6 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Group Tour is my suggested itinerary according to your schedule & preference. If you agree, I will quote you. If not, I will tweak it until your satisfaction.
Meishan Wu
Hi, planning a trip for a group of 4. We are interested in the 8-day tibet itinerary but would like to get a quote for a private tour. Also, we would like to travel to tibet by train but back by plane. Could the agency help to book the train tickets and also recommend the best place to take the train from?
Dear Meish****,
We can arrange your 8 Days Tibet trip starting on 27 October. If you are traveling from Singapore to Tibet, I suggest you take a Tibet train from Chengdu. And we can help book the related soft sleepers.
Angelaine Lim
Hi. I'm from Singapore and planning a trip 22 or 23 Dec 2023 (depending on flight timing) departure from Singapore and return to Singapore on 30 Dec. With such short time frame, what would be your recommendation on the itinerary if I want to go to Tibet (I would like to have an easy and not too tiring trip and able to view the best scenaries in Tibet) and which city in China should I go first from Singapore to travel to Tibet? I'm also concerned about the weather and the altitude in Tibet especially during winter. Can pls advise? Is it going to be a tour group or is it a private tour? How much is the cost per pax? There's 3 of us, myself and my 2 children (21yo and 17yo). Pardon me for asking so many question as I have no idea how to plan for this trip. :p Thanks!
Dear Ange****,
1. We can arrange the Tibet tour for you. I suggest you consider the 8-day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour, and you can see the beautiful scenery.
2. We can arrange both group and private tours for you. Currently, we have a group departure on 22 December. Would you consider departing Singapore on 21 December so you can join our group? If you can't adjust your date, we also can arrange a private tour for you.
3. I suggest you take a flight from Singapore to Lhasa via Chengdu. We will express the Tibet Travel Permit to your hotel in Chengdu in advance.
4. For high altitude sickness, we suggest that visitors with a severe cold, a high fever, acute or chronic pulmonary diseases, or severe cardiovascular diseases should avoid traveling to regions with a high altitude. Most visitors to Tibet will suffer from at least some symptoms which will generally disappear through acclimatization in several hours to several days. After 1 or 2 days of acclimation, almost all of them can adapt to the local environment and these symptoms will disappear. And, we have equipped oxygen tanks for emergency use. Please don't worry on this point as there are hundreds of thousands of travelers coming to Tibet every year of all ranges of conditions.
Regarding altitude sickness, don't worry about it too much. We usually stay in Lhasa for 2-3 days first to adapt to the altitude. Most of the travelers will get used to it before heading to other places with a higher elevation. A good rest can help you stand up to the altitude sickness as long as you have no cardiovascular or respiratory disease.
5. Usually at night, the weather is cold but we have heating in the hotel room.
6. Here's the recommended itinerary. If you agree, I can quote you in the next email.
I'd like a short tour of Tibet.
I am arriving from Singapore.
Flying out Nov 22 and must be back in Singapore Nov 26
For 1 person
US passport
Dear Nata****,
Thank you for sending us an inquiry!
We can arrange a 3-day Tibet tour. If you are departing from Singapore on 22 Nov, you will get to Lhasa on 23 Nov. And we can send you off to the airport in the evening of 25 Nov and you can take the flight from Chengdu to Singapore on 26 Nov. Here's the itinerary. If you agree, I will quote you in my next email. Please let me know your hotel preference.
Day
Route
Attractions & Activities
1
Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)
Pick up and transfer to the hotel
2
Lhasa Sightseeing
Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
3
Lhasa Sightseeing + Send off to the airport
Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
You Yoong
Hi, We have 4-6 ppls interesting in joining a group tour to Tibet in Nov. We are looing for 10-12 days tour. Pls help to advise options, prices, availability, date and etc.
Thanks.
In your inquiry, you mentioned you're interested in joining a group tour in Tibet. And your preferred tour duration is 10-12 days. We can arrange a semi-group tour for you. For travelers come to Tibet for the 1st time, we usually recommend 8 days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest Group Tour as it includes most of the major monasteries, one of the top 3 holy lakes - Yamdroktso, Everest Base Camp and you can view the plateau scenery along the way from Lhasa to Mt.Everest. After that, we can arrange 5 days private tour for you to see some highlights that most group tours don't go but show you more about Tibet Buddhism and civilization.
Please let me know your idea. If you don't like trekking, we can remove it. Or if you have any other desired destination, I can design the itinerary for you. We can make the adjustment together until it meets your satisfaction then I can quote according to the itinerary. By the way, may I know which hotel class you would like to stay in? The comfortable (4-star) or economy class (3-star) hotel?
About the group tour departure date, as it's still early, we can open any date as the departure date right now.
If you have any further questions or doubts, please let me know without hesitation. It is my pleasure to work with you at any time.
Robert Newton
I am interested in joining a group tour to Tibet. I live in Singapore and am looking for c.8-11 days. Please advise options, prices, availability, dates etc etc
According to your request, how about having our 8 days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest Group Tour?
For this 8 days group tour, we have confirmed departure dates on April 1st/ 4th/18th. Which departure date do you prefer?
Shann Sok
Hi I would like to visit Tibet with my husband mid may 2019 for approx 12 to 14 days .
Can you propose and advise?
Looking at sacred sites, sacred mountains, lakes and must go monasteries..
In your inquiry, you mentioned that you and your husband would like to visit Tibet for 12-14 days in Mid-May 2019. For travelers less than five, we usually suggest them join our small group tours to keep the cost down. We have a 14-day Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest Group Tour which I think perfectly matches your needs. Please check if you like the following itinerary.
Elena
Hi I’m planning a estimate 6th Aug 2019 arrival to Tibet, I was wondering whether it a good time for travel as it supposed to be a festival season, please advise.
Thank you
Yes, there are some festivals in August, such as horse-racing, Shoton Festival, etc.
You could experience the Tibetan culture more deeply although there will be a little bit crowded.