Who Should Avoid Visiting Tibet in Summer Months

Summer months from June to August have long been the peak season in Tibetan Tourism all the time. I have to admit the summer months do appeal a steady flow of tourists from home and abroad. But is a good opportunity that most people pursue necessarily good? Of course not. Summer months are the warmest months throughout the whole year, thus attracting a considerable flock of tourists who are intimidated by the cold months in Tibet. Besides, cold makes people more likely to associate it with altitude sickness. That's fairly reasonable, and we always discourage people who catch a cold to visit Tibet. However, it's a common misunderstanding that Tibet in winter months are too cold to visit in. The highest-altitude region of Tibet such as Ngari Prefecture and northern Tibet plateau are indeed not advisable for most tourists to visit in winter.

In contrast, in Lhasa, the average daily temperature is around ten degrees Celsius. Although the large temperature difference can cause the temperature to reach minus ten degrees Celsius at night at some times, you can stay in a warm hotel and have a good rest at night, getting ready for the next day. Regarding the weather and temperatures, this problem can be solved with the sufficient preparation for insulation layers.

Let's get back to the point. Summer months have some hidden shortcomings that you should know before you make the final choice. The first and most important point is whether you are ready to accept the highest travel expenses or not. During the peak season, you can expect a price increase of around 30% to 50% compared to the off-season, and this is no exaggeration. Especially if you only have a travel plan in the urban areas of Tibet, such as Lhasa and Shigatse, whether you choose winter or summer, these scenic spots are open all year round and do not reduce the quality of your travel in any way. Nonetheless, if you travel in summer, you will have to bear a considerable additional expense and face a long queue. It can be totally avoidable when visiting in winter months from November to February. Plus, the reason why the price of traveling to Tibet in summer is high is that it is the summer vacation for Chinese students. The demand leads to the price increase. If you happen to have some other spare time, you don't need to follow the majority of domestic tourists.

For the tourists who come to Tibet for the purpose of taking photos, it will be even more difficult in summer. The vast majority of popular scenic spots are crowded with people, and you may be disappointed that you haven't found a suitable pure scenic photo with no one disturbing in a short time. This also applies to tourists who want to find a peaceful atmosphere for meditation by the lake or in a monastery.

Tourists who come to Tibet with the strong desire to trek should think twice after knowing the fact that summer months are also the rainy season. The rainfall in Tibet during the rainy season is not very heavy and it usually doesn't rain all day long. For trekking enthusiasts, however, encountering mud can still be a bit disappointing. It's better to choose the two most suitable seasons for trekking, spring and autumn.

Additionally, if you happen to be a tourist who is obsessed with train travel in Tibet. Summer months' high demand might keep you away from getting a soft sleeper or a hard sleeper, which are stress-free in other months. I need to emphasize this is not absolute. I just want to tell you all the possibilities as much as possible, and be prepared for the possibility that if you can't get a train ticket, you can only choose to fly to and out of Tibet.

It is quite common for many tourists to opt for combining their trips to Nepal and Tibet, as the transportation between them are so convenient. What some tourists don't know is that June to September is also the rainy season in Nepal, and the rainfall is much greater than that in Tibet. In fact, it still varies from person to person as long as you think this won't ruin your trip to Nepal.

Conclusion

All these viewpoints are based on my opinions, and they are only for references instead of being regarded as established facts. I hope it will help you avoid some troubles sincerely. Our team is glad to offer some one-one-one advice for free.