Kunming Changshui Airport (KMG) is the main entry point, with flights from all major Chinese cities and international routes. Lijiang Sanyan Airport (LJG) has direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Kunming. Shangri-La Airport (DIG) has flights from Kunming, Chengdu, and Lhasa. For the Pu'er tea mountains, fly to Kunming and take a bus or flight to Pu'er (SYM airport). For Xishuangbanna, fly to Gasa Airport (JHG) from Kunming (1 hour). For the southern tea mountains, flights are limited; buses or hired cars are the main transport.

High-speed rail connects Kunming to Dali (2 hours) and Lijiang (3.5 hours). A high-speed line to Shangri-La is under construction. For Pu'er and Xishuangbanna, conventional trains are available from Kunming (6-8 hours); flights are faster. For Shaxi (the best-preserved Tea Horse Road town), take a high-speed train to Dali, then a bus to Jianchuan and transfer to Shaxi. Book via 12306.cn. The train from Kunming to Lijiang passes through beautiful countryside and is recommended over flying.

Buses connect all Tea Horse Road towns. Kunming to Dali (4-5 hours), Dali to Lijiang (3 hours), Lijiang to Shangri-La (4 hours), and Lijiang to Qiaotou (for Tiger Leaping Gorge, 2 hours). Buses to Shaxi depart from Lijiang or Dali via Jianchuan (3-4 hours). Buses to the Pu'er tea mountains depart from Kunming or Pu'er city. For the southern route (Xishuangbanna), buses from Kunming take 8-10 hours; flights are recommended. For the northern route (Deqin, Meili Snow Mountain), buses from Shangri-La take 4-5 hours on mountain roads.

In Lijiang, the old town is pedestrian-only; walk or take electric carts. In Dali, e-bike and bicycle rentals are ideal for the Erhai Lake loop. In Shangri-La, taxis are the main transport. For inter-town travel along the Tea Horse Road, a combination of high-speed rail (Kunming-Dali-Lijiang) and buses (Lijiang-Shangri-La, Lijiang-Shaxi) is the best approach. For the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike, take a bus from Lijiang to Qiaotou (2 hours). For the Pu'er tea mountains, hire a car with a driver from Pu'er city or Kunming (500-700 RMB/day). For remote Tea Horse Road villages, a 4WD with driver is essential.