Best Time to Visit Tibet

Climate in the Tibetan Highlands

The climate in Tibet highlands is diverse depending on the geographical location and may vary greatly from hour to hour on any day. It is not strange to see that local people wear thin long-sleeved in the daytime and thick overcoat at night.

Climate in Southeastern and Western Tibet

The climate is mild with an average temperature of 8 ℃ in southeastern Tibetan areas like Nyingchi. In western Tibet (e.g. Nagqu), the average temperature is below 0 ℃.

The climate in Lhasa and the central part of Tibet is mild. However, though the temperature is not high the sun is strong due to the high altitude. Summer is the best time to travel there in terms of the temperature.

The rainy season is from May to September. Ninety percents of rainfall focus in this period. In Chamdo, Shigatse and Lhasa areas, it usually rains at night. The precipitations decrease from 5,000 millimeters in the lower parts of southeastern Tibet to just 50 in the northwestern Tibet.

The Best Time to Visit Tibet

Most people prefer the period from April to October and it is probably the best time. However for those in good health, winter is not so bad and they will have the chance to see the other side of Tibet.

Traditionally, most say the best time to travel to Tibet is between April and October. The peak season is from May to September and the best of best months are May, June, September and October. Rainy season comes in July and August.

Tourists going hiking or traveling by car should try to avoid the rainy season, particularly when entering Tibet from Sichuan-Tibet Highway and sections between Lhasa and Nyingchi, Lhasa and Ngari. Mudslides, cave-ins and extremely muddy areas on certain sections often block the passage of vehicles.

Visitors traveling by train or plane and traveling in and around Lhasa should have no problem in traveling at any time from April to October.

For tourists in good condition desiring adventure and seeing the different side of Tibet, winter time there should be no problem to visit Lhasa, Shigatse city and Nyingchi area. The other areas are not recommended in winter. People with heart diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, severe colds, and high-risk pregnant women should avoid this period.

The Best Time to Visit the Different Regions of Tibet

Travel Tips for Visiting Tibet in Summer

It is suggested to book your Tibet tour in summer as early as possible, especially if you plan to take a train to Tibet, because the influx of tourists from both home and abroad and the limited reception capacity in Tibet makes it difficult to buy a train ticket to Tibet in peak season.

Although summer is the hottest time of the year, you still need to bring a jacket if you will visit the mountain areas, such as EBC, Mount Kailash, or Lake Namtso, because the temperature gets lower at higher altitudes.

Rainfall in Tibet increases in summer, but is mostly occurs at night and will not have much impact on daytime excursions. However, if you plan to take an overland trip to Tibet from Sichuan or Nepal, please be aware of the collapse, mudslides, or other geological disasters that may occur due to the heavy rainfall in mountain regions.

Winter is Worth a Visit for the Cheaper Price and Fewer Tourists in Tibet

The winter in Tibet is quite long, usually from November to late March or early April in the next year.

Many tourists will not choose to go to Tibet in winter, because they think that the winter in Tibet is too cold.

In fact, the average daytime temperature in places like Lhasa and Shigatse is around 14°C, which is even warmer than in Beijing. So it is still suitable to visit Lhasa, Shigatse, as well as Everest Base Camp in winter. Only Lake Namtso and Mount Kailash are likely to be inaccessible due to low temperatures and snow-blocking roads.

Due to fewer tourists, winter becomes the low season for Tibet travel, which allows you to enjoy fewer tourists and more discounts as to hotels, dining, train and flight tickets, etc. Also, it is easy to get a Tibet train ticket for Tibet train tours in winter.

It is quite pleasant to enjoy a Tibet winter tour including sightseeing in holy sites, like Potala Palace, on a warm sunny day in winter. However, it should be noted that the temperature of the winter night in Tibet is very low, usually around -10°C, so be sure to keep warm at night when you visit Tibet in winter.

Temperature of Tibet Top Destinations in Winter

Recommended Things to Do in a Tibet Winter Tour

Visiting Lhasa in winter can be a different experience than visiting at other times. Since there are fewer tourists in Lhasa in winter, the low season for Tibetan tourism, you can immerse yourself in a more peaceful environment to feel the real Tibet. If you visit Lhasa on a snowy day, you can appreciate a very stunning and beautiful sight of the Potala Palace in the snow.

Winter is also the best time for Tibet bird watching tours. Areas around Lhasa and Shigatse are the best places for winter bird watching in Tibet. The vast rivers and wetlands with abundant food here make them ideal wintering places for birds.

Tibetan New Year, also known as the Losar Festival, is the most important festival for Tibetans. Usually, the celebration will last for 15 days. Since the Tibetan calendar is different from the solar calendar, if you want to experience Tibet New Year, please contact us in advance to confirm the date and availability of your trip.

Find More Best Time for Popular Activities in Tibet

If your goal of visiting Tibet is clear, like view the summit of Mount Everest, do a holy Kailash Kora, or experience a Tibet train tour, you can directly find the best time for these activities as below.

Once you have a general idea about Tibet weather, you can then find the best time for best experiences in Tibet.

Best Time to Visit Tibet for Everest Summit

April to early June and September to October is the best time for a clear view of the Everest summit. If you want to climb Everest, the best season is shortened to April to early June and mid-September to mid-October.

Although summer is the peak season for Tibet travel, it may not be a good time to see Mount Everest due to the rainy and foggy weather. No one can say you can’t see Everest at all in summer, but it all depends on your good luck.

Best Time to Visit Tibet for Mount Kailash Kora

The best time to do Mt.Kailash kora starts from April to mid-June and September to mid-October. You can avoid the extreme snowfall and the bad impact of monsoon rain.

Religiously, another best time to visit Mt. Kailash is Saga Dawa Festival on the 15th day of April in the Tibetan calendar. To celebrate the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha Sakyamuni, numerous Tibetan pilgrims will join the group of pilgrimages around Mt. Kailash. You can experience many rarely-seen religious ceremonies at this particular time.

• 15 Days Tour Kailash in Saga Dawa Festival

Best Time to Visit Tibet for Tibet Train Experience

The best time to take a Tibet train is from July to late October, during which you can enjoy the marvelous landscapes through the Tibet plateau from Xining to Lhasa. From the train window, you can see the picturesque Qinghai Lake, snow-capped Yuzhu Peak, glittering Tuotuo River, and vast Qiangtang prairie at their most beautiful time.

Best Time to Visit Tibet for Trekking

Particularly, the best time to trek in Tibet is from April to May and September to October. It is a bit too cold for mountain hiking since the roads may be closed due to snowfall. But if you just trek around Lhasa city or Shigatse, such as Ganden Monastery Trekking, then winter is fine.

Best Time to visit Tibet for Cycling

May to October are all good months for a cycle tour within Tibet, especially in Lhasa and surrounding areas. Please remember to take a rain jacket with you for a Tibet cycling tour in July and August.

If you plan to take a long-distance cycling tour to Tibet, such as a Chengdu to Lhasa cycling tour or a Kathmandu to Lhasa cycling tour, the best time to go would be May, June, late September, and early October.

Best Time to Visit Tibet for Photography

For Tibet photography tours of all kinds, the best time to go is from April to October. Among these months, July and August is the best time for both nature photography and humanities photography.

If you want to take the best photos of the Himalayas, it is suggested to go from April to early June or from mid-September to mid-October.

Conclusion

Only when you travel to the right place at the right time can you experience the best of Tibet.

For ordinary sightseeing tours in Tibet, the best time is from April to May and from September to October for the warm weather with less rainfall.

Regardless of the rainfall at night, summer is the peak season for Tibet tours as the summer holiday comes. Also, it is the best time to experience Tibetan festivals and appreciate the vibrant Tibet Plateau with green grassland, blue sky, and white clouds in the daytime.

Winter is not too cold to visit Lhasa and Shigatse. You can avoid the crowds and enjoy cheaper prices in the winter season.

After getting the basic ideas on when to visit Tibet, you can contact us for more pro advice on how to plan a Tibet tour according to your interests. With over 10-year experience running customized Tibet tours, we are ready to work with you and customize your perfect Tibet tour.