How Much Does it Cost to Travel Tibet

If you travel Tibet, what is the budget? How much should you prepare? In fact, the cost of a trip to Tibet varies greatly according to your travel route, travel time, and other expenses (such as connecting flights, accommodation, etc.).

Please take a moment to read the article below, which may help manage your travel expenses.

Cost on Traffic

1. Get to Tibet from Kathmandu by plane: costs around $300-$400 for the one-way. 

2. Non-stop flights from China Mainland to Lhasa: Chengdu, Chongqing, Shangri-La, and Xi’an costs around $270-$350.

3. Take a train to Tibet (Qinghai-Tibet Railway): Prices range from $32 to $205, depending on the city where you take the train and choose the hard seat, hard sleeper, or soft sleeper.

4. A large portion of Tibet's tourism budget will be spent on shuttle services from one attraction to another. The fee will be charged per kilometer during the daily trip and depends on the travel season and the vehicle types to the tourist attractions in Tibet.

Cost on Food in Tibet

If you’re looking for affordable food and drinks, you can try a Tibetan restaurant, where a meal costs only $2 to $5. They offer a variety of dishes, such as Tibetan noodles, Tibetan buns, dried yak, sweet tea, butter tea, and refreshing Lhasa beer (except for scenic spots). If you prefer a more upscale dining experience, you can visit a sophisticated restaurant where you can expect to pay around $6-10 for your meal. Lhasa has all kinds of cuisines available, including Tibetan, Nepalese, Indian, Western, and Chinese. Outside Lhasa, there are many simple dishes, such as fried rice with eggs, Tibetan noodles, yak meat rice, stir-fried dishes, etc. 

Cost on Accommodation in Tibet

The cost of your hotel depends on your preferences, whether you want an affordable or luxurious stay. Due to the tourist season, accommodation prices in Tibet vary greatly. We recommend that you choose a four-star hotel with a western-style breakfast buffet. Besides, the service and facilities are acceptable to you.

Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, has a variety of hotels ranging from $30 to $200 per night. For most tourists, we recommend you choose a four-star hotel near Barkhor, because its price is generally around $60/night, with a better location, relatively comfortable accommodation, and reasonable price. However, outside of Lhasa, especially in Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, the accommodations are generally more basic, and there may be fewer hotels. In remote areas, there are no private restrooms, breakfasts, or shower facilities. Therefore, when traveling in some places in Tibet, you may need to lower your expectations for the hotel environment.

If you don't have much budget, you can also choose youth hostels or family inns besides hotels. The youth hostel price is moderate and high-quality, gathering a lot of tourists from all over the world. Family inns are cheap, feel warm and at home, and can feel the most local culture in Tibet.