The best time to travel to Tibet is one of the most frequent questions asked by travellers planning to travel to Tibet. Though it is a bit tricky to answer, I will answer it based on each season of the year, as each season has its pro and cons.
Here I will explain the pros and cons of each season, which will help make your own decision of the Best Time to travel to Tibet.
Spring
Usually, spring is the time when there will be snowfall. So it is not a good idea to plan for a tour to Mount Kailash region and any trekking tours in Tibet. Besides this, the temperature in the springs months are fresh, and there is less tourist in spring.
We need to keep this in mind, Tibet tourism usually doesn’t issue a Tibet permit for March. So you can only enter Tibet from 1st April onwards. This is not the case if you plan to visit the Tibetan Inhabitat regions in other provinces of China.
Summer
Though summer is the warmest time in Tibet, yet you might find snowfall in the high pass in the mountains. Most areas around the altitude of 4000m are mild and comfortable for travellers.
For this mild temperature, summer is the most popular time for travellers to travel to Tibet. Due to the more significant number of travellers coming to Tibet, the price for the hotel and tours are higher.
Flight tickets and train tickets are harder to obtain in summer, especially during the summer holidays for schools and universities in China.
Summers does bring rain and clouds to Tibet. The rainy season usually starts in July to September. But rain here in Tibet is minimal as compared to the southern side of the Himalayas.
Summer is the best time for trekking in Tibet. Yet, it is recommended to avoid trekking during the rainy season. If you plan for trekking during the rainy season, please consider writing us an email proper packing list and guide.
Getting a clear view of Everest and the Himalayas is less common in the rainy season than the rest of the year. If seeing Everest is the primary purpose of your visit to Tibet, then the rainy season might not be a good idea to visiting Tibet.
Summer is an excellent time to see Tibetan Nomadic Culture. We can arrange your stay at the Tibetan nomad camp as a part of your itinerary.
Autumn
Autumn is an excellent time for visiting Tibet. There will be no issue of seeing mount Everest in this season.
But all the business around mount Kailash usually closes around mid-October. It is not recommended to visit Kailash after October. Autumn brings the second window period for people visiting Mount Kailash between the end of the monsoon and the business’s closure.
Autumn marks the beginning of reducing the number of tourists in Tibet and increasing the number of pilgrims visiting central Tibet from other regions of Tibet.
Winter
Most people might think it will be crazy cold in Tibet during winter. Yet winter in Tibet is not that cold as cities like Beijing and New York in the northern hemisphere. The average temperature of Lhasa in winter is between 9.5°C to -4°C
I feel winter is the most excellent time to visit Tibet. There will be less tourist, all the tours and hotel price would drastically reduce and finally, you will find locals from a different area of Tibet gathering in the Lhasa area for pilgrimage. This makes the Lhasa area a cosmopolitan of different Tibetan costume for the winter.
Conclusion on the Best time to travel to Tibet
Though each season of the year has a difference in its temperature and climatic condition, the best time to travel to Tibet is your holiday. Tibet has such a diverse and rich culture to make your journey memorable no matter your travel time.
To the full extent of the possibility of optimal Tibet experience, I believe it is best to contact a local Tibetan travel agency to travel. You can write to us at info@lamamanitours.com.
