Lhasa Airport, Lhasa Gonggar Airport

Plan your Lhasa tour? Lhasa Airport (or Lhasa Gonggar Airpoort) is located at the southern bank of Yalu Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River, about 60km southwest of Potala Palace ( Lhasa city center). It lies within Gonggar County of Shannan Prefecture, hence the name of Lhasa Gonggar Airport. Lhasa Airport has an altitude of 3700m.

Lhasa Airport located about 60km southwest of Potala Palace (Google Map)

The main terminal complex of Lhasa airport has two connnected buildings – a two-storey building and a one-storey building. The two-storey building is designed for departure flights and the one storey building is set for arrival flights.

If you arrive at Lhasa airport, you will first claim your luggage at the one storey building. After taking your luggage from the luggage claiming area, you walk outside from the one storey building. The first thing you will see once you are out of the building is the airport shuttle bus parking just in front the arrival building. If you are going to to take the airport shuttle bus, you just get on and pay the bus fare on the bus (RMB 25 per person).

If you are going to take a taxi (about RMB 140) or you have prebooked a private transfer, then you have to walk through the square in front of the arrival building and find your taxi or your private car or van parking outside the fenced square. Please note that your taxi driver or your escort are not allowed to be at the exit gate.

If you are going to take a flight starting from Lhasa Gonggar Airport, you may take an airport shuttle bus to the airport, or take a taxi or prebooked a private airport transfer. If you are going to take a shuttle bus (RMB25), then go to the CAAC Building early to guarantee the seats. The airport shuttle buses take about one hour.

The two-storey building of the terminal at the airport is for departure. You will check in at the counters on the first floor. After you check in, then you go up to the second floor via elevators. The departure lounge is on the second floor with shopping malls, kiosks and restaurants.

There is a 67km expressway linking Lhasa Gonggar Airport and Lhasa City with stunning view of Lhasa River, Barley fields and mountains on the way.

Lhasa Airport Layout ( Google )

Lhasa airport is well connected to the major cities includes Beijing, Xian, Xining, Lanzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kunming, Diqing and Chamdo Region with an international route connecting Kathmandu, Nepal.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport Travel Tips:
1. Lhasa Airport Phone Enquiry: 0891 – 6216455
2. Airport Shuttle Bus: RMB 25
   Airport Shuttle Bus Enquiry: 0891 – 6827727
3. Airport – Lhasa City taxi fare: around RMb 140

The one storey arrival building with a shuttle bus parking outside.

The one storey arrival building with a shuttle bus parking outside.
The taxis and private vehicles are parking outside the fenced square in front of the arrival building.
Checking in on the first floor of the two-storey building for departure
Shopping on the first floor of the two-storey building for departure
Post Office on the first floor of the two-storey building for departure
Phones and ATM on the first floor of the two-storey building for departure
Going through the security check on the second floor
Taking off over Yalu Tsangpo River
Flying over the snow mountains.

Hassle-free Lhasa Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Lhasa:

Lhasa Tour
Lhasa Tibet Group Tour
Lhasa Tibet Private Tour
Beijing Lhasa Tour
Lhasa China Tour

Further Readings

Best Time to Visit Lhasa
Top 10 Attractions in Lhasa
Lhasa Tourist Traps, Tourist Scams Lhasa
Where to stay in Lhasa
Makye Ame Lhasa Restaurant – Your Kitchen in Lhasa
Lhasa Airport, Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Xian Lhasa Flight Experience, Xian Lhasa Flight
Lhasa Railway Station Transportation, Taxi, Public Bus
Get around in Lhasa with Pedicab or Trishaw
lhasa Taxi
Best Places to Take Picture of Potala Palace Lhasa

4-Wheel Drive Trip from Lhasa to Ranwu
Drak Yerpa, My trip to Drak Yerpa Monastery
The Pilgrim Kora in Lhasa, Lhasa Pilgrim circuits
Monks at Sera Je College at Sera Monastery in Lhasa
Beijing Road in Lhasa
A Fun to Walk along Lhasa River in the City of Lhasa
Lhasa Great Mosque, the Mosques in Lhasa
Lhasa Yamdrok-Tso Lake Road Trip

Any questions, just drop a line.

4 thoughts on “Lhasa Airport, Lhasa Gonggar Airport

  1. How much it will cost a shuttle bus from the Airport to Lhasa Downtown?

    Thank you,

    Juan

  2. Are you allowed to take the shuttle into the Lhasa Downtown (or from downtown back to the Airport) without a tour guide?

    Thank you
    Dima

  3. Hi Dima,

    As for Chinese, we are allowed to take the shuttle into the Lhasa Downtown (or from downtown back to the Airport) without a tour guide; As for foreigners, if you have a travel permit to Tibet, you are also able to take the shuttle bus freely without tour guides.

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