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Distance from Lhasa Airport to Downtown - 62km
When traveling to Tibet, most flights land at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (拉萨贡嘎机场). Located 62 kilometers southwest of Lhasa city center, the airport is situated in a remote area but is easily accessible.
Top Option: Lhasa Airport to City by Free Ride (Recommended)
- Duration: 1 Hour
- Drop-off Location: The hotel you stayed in Lhasa.
- Price: Free
Many travel guides suggest taking a shuttle bus or taxi from Lhasa Airport to downtown. But for first-time visitors, navigating those options can feel overwhelming.
Enter the free ride! As a seasoned Tibet travel expert, Asia Odyssey Travel offers free airport transfers. Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and whisk you away to your hotel in comfortable style. Expect a journey of about an hour, though traffic can sometimes extend the trip to 1.5 hours.
Feel free to ask your guide for valuable Lhasa travel tips. Your guide is happy to share local tips to help you make the most of your Tibet tour.
Secondary Option: Lhasa Airport to City Bus (Affordable but Crowded)
| Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1-1.5 Hours |
| Where to Buy Tickets | Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, T3 Terminal, Gate 5. |
| Drop-off Location | Lasa Railway Station (拉萨站), Liu Wu Bridge (柳梧大桥), 1 Niangre Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa. |
| Price | 30 RMB per person ($4.10) |
| Bus Schedule | Buses are available to coincide with arriving flights. The earliest departure time is 04:30. |
Friendly reminder: Foreign travelers in Tibet are required to have a tour guide for their journeys on public transport.
There's a direct shuttle bus from Lhasa Airport to the city. If you want to take the airport bus, your tour guide can accompany you to the bus.
After exiting the plane, follow the signs to Exit 5. The bus stop is located directly outside the exit. But there's usually a line, so you might have to wait a bit for the bus to fill up.
The bus will stop at Lhasa Railway Station (拉萨火车站) and Liuwu Bridge (柳梧大桥)
along the way. These stopovers lack notable attractions, so you don't need to get off. The last stop is really close to the main sights in Lhasa.
It's just a short walk to the Potala Palace (布达拉宫) - about 13 minutes. Jokhang Temple (大昭寺) and Barkhor Street (八廓街) are also nearby, about a 24-minute walk. It is less than one kilometer from here to Zongjiao Lukang Park, where Tibetan opera is performed during the Tibet Festival.
Alternative Option: Lhasa Airport to City Taxi (Expensive)
| Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 - 1.5 Hours |
| Drop-off Location | It's up to you. |
| Price | The longer the trip, the higher the fare. Make sure you settle on a price before you start your journey. |
Taxis are also available from Lhasa Airport to downtown. A line of taxis is waiting for passengers at the airport exit, but this option is not recommended as it is the most expensive of the three.
What's the approximate taxi fare to the attractions in Lhasa?
- From Lhasa Airport to Potala Palace: It takes about an hour to get from the airport to the Potala Palace downtown. It's around 75 RMB ($10.25) per person, so for a group of four, you'll pay about 239 RMB. During peak seasons, it could cost over 300 RMB ($41.02).
- From Lhasa Airport to Jokhang Temple: A taxi ride from Lhasa Airport to Jokhang Temple will take roughly one hour and is expected to cost around 246 RMB ($33.63).
- From Lhasa Airport to Barkhor Street: Barkhor Street is not far from Jokhang Temple, and the taxi fare from the airport to Barkhor Street is about the same.
- From Lhasa Airport to Sera Monastery: It's a 1-1.5 hour trip, costing 268 RMB.
Plan Your Tibet Itinerary with Asia Odyssey Travel
Tibet is huge and the sights are spread out all over the place. So, you've got lots of choices when planning your trip. We've been doing Tibet tours for ages at Asia Odyssey Travel, and we've put together tons of different itineraries for you to pick from.
For those looking to experience Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, a 5-day group tour that includes a visit to Yamdrok Lake is a great option.
5 Days Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake:
| Itinerary | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Lhasa by plane or train. Check into your hotel and rest to acclimatize to the high altitude. |
| Day 2 | Experience traditional Tibetan crafts at the Lhasa Traditional Handicrafts Art Center. |
| Day 3 | Visit the Potala Palace, the spiritual center of Tibet, and the Jokhang Temple, one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Tibet. Stroll around the Barkhor Street, a pilgrimage circuit. Enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner in the evening. |
| Day 4 | Take a trip to Yamdrok Lake and admire its natural beauty. |
| Day 5 | Depart from Lhasa. |
Want to experience the magic of Mount Everest? Join our 8-day group tour to Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake, Shigatse, and Everest Base Camp. After exploring Lhasa, we'll head to Shigatse and visit Rongbuk Monastery, the star of the movie "2012." Spend a night near Mount Everest and enjoy stunning views.
For the adventurous, our 16 Days Lhasa Mt.Everest Mt.Kailash Guge Kingdom tour is perfect. After touring Lhasa and Shigatse, we'll trek around Mount Kailash in Ngari. This holy mountain is also a pilgrimage site for the Saga Dawa Festival.
After the hike, you can also visit nearby attractions such as the Guge Kingdom and the Zanda Earth Forest.
If you want to visit Tibet, you'll need to get a special permit called a Tibet Travel Permit ahead of time. It's best to reach out to us about a month before your trip so we can plan your itinerary and help you with the paperwork.
Contact Asia Odyssey Travel now!
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