Traveling from Lhasa to Shigatse will be a scenic trip for tourists since the journey will show you the most special part of Tibet’s natural scenery. And many tourists will consider Lhasa to Shigatse tour as a must when they are traveling in Tibet.

As the capital of Tibet, Lhasa can offer so many amazing tourist spots that can amaze you no matter how many times you step onto this magical land. The famous Potala Place, the awestruck Jokhang Temple, bustling Barkhor Street, the astonishing Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, and the Ganden Monastery in Lhasa will make your time in Lhasa full of surprises.

The name of Shigatse or Xigatse displays a meaning of fertile land. Lying about 276 kilometers from Lhasa, Shigatse is the second largest area and the second culture center in Tibet. In Tibetan history, Shigatse always wins a place as an important part that makes the area the most attractive place. So, people who get the chance to travel to Tibet all want to take a look at these two cities to enjoy the rich cultures and the amazing scenery along the road. For tourists who plan to travel to Mount Everest will also make a midway stop at Shigatse because it is the perfect start for the adventure to the highest mountain in this world and also the sacred Ngari area.

From Lhasa to Shigatse, tourists can choose to take a train, travel by road, or take a bicycle. You can consider any of these ways to start your journey from Lhasa to Shigatse according to your own condition. Just remember that your health is the priority of the whole trip. Don’t try to ignore your health condition and make a wrong choice.

Lhasa to Shigatse Train

Lhasa to Shigatse by Train

The safest and fastest way to travel from Lhasa to Shigatse is by taking a train. The train is the extension of Qinghai-Tibet Railway Station. With a total length of 248 kilometers, it connects these two cities directly. Train Z8801 and Train Z8803 run from Lhasa to Shigatse. Z8801 departs Lhasa Railway Station at 08:25 and arrives at Shigatse at 11:20. Z8803 departs at 15:15 from Lhasa and arrives at 18:02 at Shigatse. You can arrange your Tibet tour according to the timetable and choose the best time to take the train to Shigatse from Lhasa.

If you want to take the train back to Lhasa from Shigatse, here is the timetable of Train Z8802 and Z8804. Z8802 starts the journey at 12:00 at Shigatse and ends at Lhasa at 14:37. Z8804 departs at 18:40 at Shigatse and arrives at Lhasa at 21:32. Each train line will not take you more than 3 hours, which makes your trip on the train comfortable and safe enough. The railway line will take you to the picturesque views of Tibet. However, the timetable may vary due to some unpredictable reasons. You can contact us first to make sure your trip will be a perfect one.

Lhasa to Shigatse Train

Lhasa to Shigatse by Land

There are two lines from Lhasa to Shigatse - the South line and the North line. The South line covers about 360 kilometers and it will last more than 8 hours due to the poor condition of the road. But the scenery on the road will be the draw that attracting more tourists to have a try. However, if you are experiencing serious altitude sickness, it is not a choice for you to take since the turns and high altitude will worsen your symptoms all the time. The road will give you the chance to have a look at Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Palcho Monastery, and lots of unique Tibetan villages. You will find that words cannot perfectly describe the beautiful views that you see along the road.

The North line will take you from Shigatse to Lhasa directly with a distance of about 280 kilometers. It is a new line built for convenience for tourists who want to have a short road trip from Lhasa to Shigatse. The north line will only take about 6 hours since it is made up of Lhasa Airport Expressway and G318 National Highway. The road condition will be better than the South line. Even if there are no famous tourist destinations along the road, the scenery can also awaken you since Tibet is a magic place.

Foreign tourists may find it is difficult to ride on Chinese roads because the rules may be different. And it is not recommended that tourists who are not familiar with the road conditions on plateau road. With Tibet Tourism, everything can be easy since we can provide services that you need and give you full support for your trip in Tibet. Just contact us and we will arrange your Tibet tour well.

Lhasa to Shigatse by Bicycle

Cyclists will consider the road from Lhasa to Shigatse as the most challenging trip in Tibet since there are no things that can exceed the excitement of riding on the Tibetan Plateau in this world. Those tourists who choose to ride a bicycle to Shigatse from Lhasa will be free on the road since they can stop wherever they want and enjoy the scenery longer than others. They will be accompanied by the capricious clouds, the endless blue sky, and vast mountain ranges. Tourists will ride on G318 and S307 and pass Gyantse to get to Shigatse. Usually, the whole trip will take about 5 days, which is a challenging but rewarding journey for tourists who are experienced in cycling.