There are 8 ways to get from Almaty to Shangri-La by plane, train, car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Diqing Shangri-La Airport
best- Fly from Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG)plane ALA - DIG
12h 11m¥1,655–4,707Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqibus
- Take the train from Ürümqi to Zhengzhoutrain
- Take the train from Zhengzhou to Kunmingtrain
- Take the train from Kunming to Lijiangtrain
- Take the train from Lijiang to Shangri-Latrain
3d 16h¥761–1,906Train, drive, bus
- Take the train from Almaty 1 to Kerimagashtrain
- Drive from Kerimagash to Yiningcar
- Take the train from Yining to Ürümqitrain
- Take the train from Ürümqi to Lanzhoutrain
- Take the train from Lanzhou to Lhasatrain
- Take the bus from Lasa North Suburb Coach Station to Shangri-La Countybus
3d 9h¥1,297–2,063Bus
- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqibus
- Take the bus from Urumqi to Pingliang Eastbus
- Take the bus from Pingliang West to Lanzhoubus
- Take the bus from Lanzhou to Lasa Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Lasa North Suburb Coach Station to Shangri-La Countybus
4d 20h¥1,837–2,202Drive 3,639.2 km
- Drive from Almaty to Shangri-Lacar 3,639.2 km
2d¥3,093–4,467Fly to Lijiang Sanyi Airport, train
- Fly from Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Lijiang Sanyi Airport (LJG)plane ALA - LJG
- Take the train from Lijiang to Shangri-Latrain
14h 26m¥2,116–4,237Bus, train via Yunlong
- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqibus
- Take the train from Ürümqi to Xuzhoutrain
- Take the train from Xuzhou to Kunmingtrain
- Take the train from Kunming to Lijiangtrain
- Take the train from Lijiang to Shangri-Latrain
4d 5h¥831–2,106Bus, train #2
- Take the bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqibus
- Take the train from Ürümqi Station to Turpantrain
- Take the train from Turfan to Chengdu Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chengdu to Lhasa Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Lasa North Suburb Coach Station to Shangri-La Countybus
4d 21h¥1,379–2,289
Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Almaty to Shangri-La is to bus and train which costs ¥750 - ¥2000 and takes 3 days 16h.
The fastest way to get from Almaty to Shangri-La is to fly which takes 12h 11m and costs ¥1600 - ¥4800.
No, there is no direct bus from Almaty station to Shangri-La. However, there are services departing from Almaty Sayran Bus Station and arriving at Shangri-La County via Urumqi, Pingliang West, Lanzhou and Lasa North Suburb Coach Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 20h.
The distance between Almaty and Shangri-La is 2687 km. The road distance is 3639.2 km.
The best way to get from Almaty to Shangri-La without a car is to bus which takes 4 days 20h and costs ¥1800 - ¥2200.
It takes approximately 12h 11m to get from Almaty to Shangri-La, including transfers.
Almaty to Shangri-La bus services, operated by Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal, depart from Almaty Sayran Bus Station.
The best way to get from Almaty to Shangri-La is to fly which takes 12h 11m and costs ¥1600 - ¥4800. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs ¥1800 - ¥2200 and takes 4 days 20h.
Almaty to Shangri-La bus services, operated by Almaty Sayran Bus Terminal, arrive at Ürümqi station.
Shangri-La is 3h ahead of Almaty. It is currently 4:13 AM in Almaty and 7:13 AM in Shangri-La.
What companies run services between Almaty, Kazakhstan and Shangri-La, China?
Air Astana, China Eastern Airlines, and four other airlines fly from Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG) 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Shangri-La County via Ürümqi, Ürümqi, Ürümqi South, Urumqi, Pingliang West, Lanzhou, Lanzhou, Lasa Bus Station, and Lasa North Suburb Coach Station in around 4d 20h.
- Website
- en.ceair.com
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Guangzhou Baiyun
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 40m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥3,200–8,500
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Urumqi, Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥1,700–5,500
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Tianfu International, Kunming
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥1,700–5,000
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Xi An, Kunming
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 55m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- ¥2,700–6,500
- Website
- airchina.com
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Beijing Capital
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥2,000–7,500
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥2,000–2,800
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Xi An
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- ¥2,200–5,500
- Website
- ch.com
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥1,600–4,700
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Urumqi, Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ¥1,700–6,500
- Website
- csair.com
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥1,600–4,700
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Diqing Shangri-La Airport via Urumqi, Tianfu International
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥1,800–6,500
- Website
- intl.jdair.net
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Xi An
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ¥1,600–5,500
- Website
- tibetairlines.com
Flights from Almaty International Airport to Lijiang Sanyi Airport via Xi An
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Tuesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- ¥2,200–5,500
- Phone
- 1433
- [email protected]
- Website
- railways.kz
Train from Almaty 1 to Kerimagash
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 14m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- ¥32
- Website
- https://railways.kz/en/
- Schedules at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/post/schedule?_locale=us
- Book at
- https://bilet.railways.kz/?_locale=us
Train from Yining to Ürümqi
- Adult - second class
- ¥190–270
Train from Lijiang to Shangri-La
- Adult - second class
- ¥45–65
Train from Kunming to Lijiang
- Adult - second class
- ¥140–200
Train from Lijiang to Shangri-La
- Adult - second class
- ¥45–65
Train from Kunming to Lijiang
- Adult - second class
- ¥140–200
Train from Lijiang to Shangri-La
- Adult - second class
- ¥45–65
Train from Ürümqi to Lanzhou
- Hard Seat
- ¥170–260
- Hard Sleeper
- ¥380–450
- Soft Sleeper
- ¥500–800
Train from Lanzhou to Lhasa
- Ave. Duration
- 22h 27m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ¥190–500
- Schedules at
- 12306.cn
- Book at
- 12306.cn
- Hard Seat
- ¥190–280
- Hard Sleeper
- ¥420–500
- Soft Sleeper
- ¥550–850
Train from Ürümqi to Zhengzhou
- Hard Seat
- ¥260–370
- Hard Sleeper
- ¥550–700
- Soft Sleeper
- ¥800–1,200
Train from Zhengzhou to Kunming
- Hard Seat
- ¥200–290
- Hard Sleeper
- ¥430–550
- Soft Sleeper
- ¥600–850
Train from Ürümqi to Xuzhou
- Hard Seat
- ¥280–410
- Hard Sleeper
- ¥600–800
- Soft Sleeper
- ¥850–1,300
Train from Xuzhou to Kunming
- Hard Seat
- ¥250–340
- Hard sleeper
- ¥450–650
- Soft sleeper
- ¥700–950
Train from Ürümqi Station to Turpan
- Hard Seat
- ¥24–35
- Hard sleeper
- ¥50–75
- Soft sleeper
- ¥85–120
- Phone
- +86 010-12306
- Website
- china-railway.com.cn
Train from Ürümqi Station to Turpan
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥26–65
- Schedules at
- chinahighlights.com
Train from Turfan to Chengdu Station
- Ave. Duration
- 34h 22m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥230–627
- Schedules at
- chinahighlights.com
- Hard/Soft Seat
- ¥230–330
- Hard Sleeper
- ¥470–600
- Soft Sleeper
- ¥700–900
- Website
- qichezhan.net
Bus from Lasa North Suburb Coach Station to Shangri-La County
- Ave. Duration
- 24h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- ¥551
- Schedules at
- qichezhan.net
Bus from Lanzhou to Lasa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 33h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥380
- Schedules at
- qichezhan.net
Bus from Lasa North Suburb Coach Station to Shangri-La County
- Ave. Duration
- 24h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- ¥551
- Schedules at
- qichezhan.net
Bus from Lasa North Suburb Coach Station to Shangri-La County
- Ave. Duration
- 24h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- ¥551
- Schedules at
- qichezhan.net
- Phone
- +7 727 396-70-63
- Website
- ma-sairan.kz
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqi
- Ave. Duration
- 19h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥110–400
- Website
- https://ma-sairan.kz/
- Schedules at
- https://ma-sairan.kz/расписание-автобусов
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqi
- Ave. Duration
- 19h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥110–400
- Website
- https://ma-sairan.kz/
- Schedules at
- https://ma-sairan.kz/расписание-автобусов
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqi
- Ave. Duration
- 19h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥110–400
- Website
- https://ma-sairan.kz/
- Schedules at
- https://ma-sairan.kz/расписание-автобусов
Bus from Almaty Sayran Bus Station to Ürümqi
- Ave. Duration
- 19h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ¥110–400
- Website
- https://ma-sairan.kz/
- Schedules at
- https://ma-sairan.kz/расписание-автобусов
- Phone
- 400-830-6666
- Website
- ctrip.com
Bus from Urumqi to Pingliang East
- Ave. Duration
- 30h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ¥637
- Schedules at
- bus.ctrip.com
- Website
- chinabusguide.com
Bus from Pingliang West to Lanzhou
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ¥116
- Schedules at
- chinabusguide.com
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Almaty to Shangri-La is 3639 km. It takes approximately 2 days 0h to drive from Almaty to Shangri-La.
There are 76+ hotels available in Shangri-La.















