How to Travel to Tibet From Russia?

Tibet is truly the roof of the world. It is a sacred place with many famous monasteries such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery, etc. There is the highest mountain - Mount Everest, the most sacred mountain in Asia—Mt. Kailash, the lost civilization — Guge Kingdom and other historical sites. More than 2 million foreign tourists visit Tibet every year. As a country bordering China, Tibet has become one of the popular vacation destinations for Russians.

Required Documents

Russian tourists visiting Tibet should apply for a Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Visa) issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Generally, individuals cannot apply for a Tibet Travel Permit. Only local Tibet travel agencies can apply for the permit on your behalf, along with your China visa and passport. For your China visa, most Tibet travel agencies can help you with it such as Great Tibet Tour by providing some supporting documents. Please note, that your Tibet travel permit should be applied at least 2 weeks before your departure to secure it timely. If you are going to the Kailash area, please advance at least 1 month before departure.

Russian tourists entering Tibet from Nepal need a China Group Visa instead of a China visa. Currently, a China Group Visa requires an invitation from Tibet and 4 applicants to apply together, which is less flexible than a China Visa. If your group has 4 people, you can consider this option. In addition, this option still needs a Tibet travel permit.

Travel to China then Tibet

Currently, there are no direct international flights from Russia to Tibet. Russian tourists can fly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Vladivostok to major cities in mainland China such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, then take a flight or train to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

Moscow - Beijing - Lhasa

There are currently 3-4 direct night flights from Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) every day, with a flight time of about 7 hr 45 min, arriving the next day. After arriving in Beijing, you can take a flight from Beijing International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA), which usually has 1-2 direct flights per day and takes about 4.5 hr. The economy class costs around RUB 46,850 per ticket. You can also take the train Z21 from Beijing to Lhasa, which departs from Beijing West Railway Station at 19:53 every day and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station at 11:21 on the third day along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, taking about 40 hours. The soft-sleeper train ticket costs RUB 17,250 per ticket.

Moscow - Shanghai - Lhasa

There are 2-3 direct night flights from Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) every day, which takes about 9h 20m and arrives the next day. Then, you can transfer to a flight from Shanghai to Lhasa. Currently, there are about two flights from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA), with stopovers in Xián or Chengdu, and takes about 7h 30m. The economy class costs around RUB 47,045 per ticket. You can also take the train Z164 from Shanghai to Lhasa. It departs at 18:33 every evening and takes 44 hours and 33 minutes to arrive in Lhasa at 15:05 on the third day. As the daytime of this train is the longest, you can fully enjoy the plateau scenery. The soft-sleeper train ticket costs RUB 19,014 per ticket.

Moscow - Chengdu - Lhasa

There is one direct night flight from Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), with a flight time of about 8h 45m, arriving the next day. But it's not available during the off-season. Chengdu is the main gateway to Lhasa, with 15-20 direct flights to Lhasa daily, usually taking about 2 hr  30min. The economy class flight ticket costs around RUB 29,893 per ticket. You can also take a train Z322 from Chengdu to Lhasa. It departs every other day and takes 34 hours and 29 minutes. The soft-sleeper train ticket costs RUB14,996 per ticket.

St. Petersburg - Shanghai - Lhasa

There is a direct night flight from St. Petersburg Pulkovo International Airport (LED) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) every Wednesday and Friday. The flights take about 9hr 25min, arriving the next day. There are typically 1-2 connecting flights from Shanghai  to Lhasa Gonggar Airport(LXA) via Xi'an or Chengdu, with a travel time of 7hr 30min. You also can take the train Z164 from Shanghai to Lhasa. It departs at 18:33 every evening and arrives in Lhasa at 15:05 on the third day, with a total journey time of 44 hr 33 min. The soft-sleeper train ticket costs RUB18,999 per ticket.

St. Petersburg - Chengdu - Lhasa

There is one direct night flight from St. Petersburg Pulkovo International Airport (LED) to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) every day from Monday to Friday(except Thursday). The flight takes about 8hr 50min and arrives the next day. From Chengdu, you can easily take a flight to Lhasa Gonggar Airport(LXA) as there are multiple choices. The flight time is about 2.5 hr. Train Z322 is a direct express train from Chengdu to Lhasa, departing every other day. The whole journey takes about 34 hours and 29 minutes.

Vladivostok - Beijing - Lhasa

There are 1-2 direct night flights from Vladivostok International Airport (VVO) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) every day, which takes about 3 hr, arriving the next day. It is the shortest flight from Russia to China. From Beijing to Lhasa Gonggar Airport(LXA), there are usually 2 direct flights, with a travel time of about 4hr 30min. You can also take the train Z21, departs from Beijing West Railway Station at 19:53 every day and arrives at Lhasa Railway Station at 11:21 on the third day. The whole journey takes about 40 hours.

Vladivostok - Shanghai - Lhasa

There is one direct midnight flight from Vladivostok International Airport(VVO) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport(PVG), 3-4 times every week, which takes about 4 hr and arrives the next day. From Shanghai to Lhasa Gonggar Airport(LXA), there are usually 1-2 flights a day via Xi'an or Chengdu. The flight takes about 7hr - 8.5hr. Train Z164 from Shanghai to Lhasa departs at 18:33 every evening and arrives in Lhasa at 15:05 on the third day. The entire journey takes 44 hr and 33 min in total.

Conclusion

Although there are no direct flights to Tibet from Russia, travelers can choose from a variety of convenient routes through major Chinese cities. Planning in advance is essential, especially for securing the necessary travel permits and visas, which can be arranged through a trusted Tibet travel agency. With the right preparations, Russian tourists can embark on an unforgettable journey to experience the wonders of Tibet.