Weather & Seasons
Weather/Seasonal Travel
In fact, the Tibetan climate is not as harsh as many people imagine it to be. It is suitable for travel to the central Tibet of Lhasa, Shigartse, Tsetang, Gyantse almost all year around, the other destinations of North, West, East are good to be visited from March to December, and the best time is August and September, October, November.
From mid-July through to the end of September the monsoon starts to affect parts of Tibet. The months of July and August bring half of Tibet’s annual rainfall. Travel to western Tibet becomes slightly more difficult, the roads to the east are temporarily washed out and the Friendship Highway sometimes becomes impassable on the Nepal side or on the border itself.
Winter Travel:
Tibet is not a frozen wasteland during winter, it actually has surprisingly mild climate. The daily average temperature is around 8 degrees in Lhasa, it snows once a while, and most of the days in central Tibet are sunshine all the time. However, the temperature of winter in Tibet still varies sharply between daytime and night.
Winter is also a good timing for witnessing different festivals, the colors of plateau’s vegetation changes. The weather is characterized with dry air, small puffy white clouds, unbelievably blue skies, the gorgeous sunshine lights Tibet’s ancient streets filled with Tibetans wearing traditional costume.
Below is more specific information on different areas:
Lhasa /Shigatse /Lhatse /Tingri /Zhangmu: Along the Friendship highway is basically in good conditions year around. Especially aftter the new highway being rebuilt in 2010, this route is good to be visited all year around;
Mt. Everest Area: it is particularly clear during April, May & October. April & Early May and early October are the best time to visit Mt. Everest.the chance for see Mt. Everest’s true face is big.
West Tibet of Mt.Kailash: Trips to Mt Kailash can be undertaken from April to October, although September and October are considered the best months.
Northern Tibet: With the average altitude of 4,500m, this area offers very limited time for tourists. Summer of July, August, and Autumn of Septmber are the wonderful time to enjoy the great earth of northern Tibet.
Eastern Tibet of Kham: for most of the culture site, such lik Derge, Kanze…etc can only be visited during the Spring, Summer and autumn, as the roads wll be blocked by snow in winter, the best time for traveling through this area is from March to November; summer time is also the time for local people to have their traditional festivals.
Eastern Tibet of Amdo: 2 of the Six great gelukpa monasteries are located in the central and southeast of Amdo; winter of January and Feburary is the best time to witness the holy religious festivals that being hold in this two moasnteries, in summer time, when most of the people be attracted by the central tibet, this area is just at its best to travel through.
