Best Time to Visit Tibet

The beauty Tibet has to offer is just incomparable. With a plateau climate and a picturesque landscape, the place offers a perfect tourist destination.

Deciding what the best time to visit Tibet is is an important question. Generally speaking, April to October is the best time to visit Tibet. But the specific month depends entirely on your interest, or what you want to see and do. In fact, Tibet can be visited at any time of the year, but at certain times of the year it is better than other times.

Best places to visit in spring:

  • Nyingchi and Bomi
  • Everest Base Camp

Best places to visit in summer:

  • Namtso
  • Mt.Kailash and Lake Manasarovar

Best places to visit in autumn:

  • Everest Base Camp
  • Nyingchi Draksumtso Xintso Hiking

Best places to visit in winter:

  • Lhasa, the City of Sunshine
  • Laigu Glacier

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1. Best Time to Visit Lhasa

Lhasa is suitable to be visited all year round. In spring, everything in Lhasa comes back to life with a landscape full of greenery. Summer is the peak season and the air is humid. You can walk around the unique highland temples and Barkhor Street. Although the air in Lhasa is a little bit drier in autumn, it is suitable for hiking. There are several classic trekking routes around Lhasa, such as Lhasa--Tsurphu Monastery—Yangpachen or Lhasa--Ganden Monastery--Chimpuk--Samye Monastery. Winter in Lhasa is cheap and warm because of the intensive sunshine, making it a good time to see the snow-capped mountains.

Monthly temperature overview of Lhasa,

Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun.
Average High Temp 8 ℃ 11 ℃ 13 ℃ 17 ℃ 21 ℃ 25 ℃
Average Low Temp -8 ℃ -4 ℃ -1 ℃ 3 ℃ 7 ℃ 12 ℃
Month Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Average High Temp 24 ℃ 23 ℃ 22 ℃ 18 ℃ 13 ℃ 10 ℃
Average Low Temp 12 ℃ 12 ℃ 10 ℃ 4 ℃ -3 ℃ -7 ℃

>>See more Lhasa tour

2. Best Time to Visit Everest Base Camp

The golden summit of Mt.Everest.

April -June and September- October are the best time to visit Everest Base Camp. In the spring and autumn seasons, there is less rain and more sunny days, so tourists are more likely to see the summit of Mount Everest clearly.

July- August is the peak tourist season for Everest Base Camp. This season is the rainy season in Tibet, and the air is warm and moist. But it’s the most comfortable season for tourists. Tourists who are worrying about altitude sickness can choose to travel in summer. During this period, they will get the best physical comfort experience in Tibet.

Monthly temperature overview of Everest Base Camp in Tingri,

Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun.
Average High Temp 3℃ 5℃ 7℃ 12℃ 16℃ 21℃
Average Low Temp -17℃ -15℃ -11℃ -5℃ 0℃ 6℃
Month Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Average High Temp 20℃ 19℃ 19℃ 13℃ 9℃ 6℃
Average Low Temp 8℃ 7℃ 4℃ -6℃ -11℃ -15℃

>> See More Everest Base Camp Tour

3. Best Time to Have Kailash Manasarovar Yatra

Trek around Mt. Kailash.

A “yatra” is a pilgrimage with a religious purpose and a circuit around a sacred site. The best time for a Mount Kailash Manasarovar yatra is May to October. This is due to the warmer temperature and higher oxygen content.

From July to August, although it's the rainy season in Tibet, it usually rains at night. So it's still a great time to have a kora around Mt.Kailash due to the warmer temperature and higher oxygen content.

Monthly temperature overview in Ngari,

Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun.
Average High Temp 0℃ 0℃ 4℃ 11℃ 15℃ 19℃
Average Low Temp -15℃ -13℃ -9℃ -3℃ 1℃ 7℃
Month Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Average High Temp 22℃ 21℃ 19℃ 13℃ 9℃ 5℃
Average Low Temp 10℃ 10℃ 6℃ -2℃ -7℃ -11℃

>> See more Kailash Manasarovar Tour

4. Best Time to Visit Namtso

The best time to visit Namtso Lake is from May to September. The weather is pleasant and not hot even in July and August. There is a clear blue sky, green meadows, many nomads, rare birds, wild cattle and sheep. Autumn is a good time to see the starry sky at Namtso. It is not recommended to visit Namtso in winter or early spring as the road might be blocked by heavy snow.

Monthly temperature overview of Namtso,

Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun.
Average High Temp 2℃ 4℃ 7℃ 10℃ 14℃ 19℃
Average Low Temp -16℃ -14℃ -9℃ -4℃ 0℃ 6℃
Month Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Average High Temp 18℃ 18℃ 17℃ 12℃ 7℃ 5℃
Average Low Temp 7℃ 6℃ 6℃ -3℃ -11℃ -15℃

5. Best Time to Experience Tibet Culture

During the Shoton Festival, you will see more about Tibetan Buddhism and culture.

If your primary reason to visit Tibet is to see their nomadic culture, then June through early September would be the best choice. There are several big festivals meanwhile, such as Saga Dawa Festival, Samye Dolde in Jul, Shoton Festival, etc.

These summer months let you see nomads who are on the high grasslands with their sheep and yaks. These months undoubtedly bring some clouds & rain. However, to see their culture, no other month would be as appropriate as June and all the way to September. You can see Tibetan people actively participating in these festivals, such as witnessing the tremendous Thangka upfolding, doing kora around Barkhor Street, having Lingka at Norbulingka, watching Tibetan opera, appreciating Cham dance at a certain Tibetan monastery, etc. It’s a time to experience Tibet folk customs and Buddhist culture.

>> See more Tibet Cultural Tour

6. Best Time to Trek in Tibet

Have a stop and enjoy the scenery on the way!

The trekking season in Tibet is from late April through late October, out of which the most suitable months are:

Tibet enters the rainy season in late June, which lasts until August. However, during this period, areas like Namtso, Yamdrok Lake, and the surrounding meadows have the highest oxygen levels. The forests in Nyingchi are lush, and the grasslands are full of greenery, making it a suitable time for trekking. In autumn, from September to October, Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash are at their best for sightseeing, with golden autumn scenery set against snow-capped mountains, offering the most beautiful trekking views.

>> See more Tibet Trekking Tour

7. Best Time to Be a Part of The Tibetan Horse Festival

A wonderful moment of the Horse Racing Festival.

The Horse Racing Festival is an important part of Tibetan culture, especially the daily life of people in Tibet. Horse Racing Festival is the most distinctive holiday in Tibet, especially in the pastoral areas of Tibet. From July to August, it is the most beautiful season in the grasslands with lush aquatic plants, so a Horse racing festival will be held in these months.

It usually lasts about 10 days. At present, the influential horse racing festivals in Tibet are the Nagqu Horse Festival (around August ) and the Gyantse Horse Race (around July). On the eve of the horse racing festival, thousands of herdsmen wear colorful costumes and ride horses to the horse racing festival. Around the racetrack, a tent village was pulled out in the twinkling of an eye, and the grand horse racing festival suddenly brought a spectacular, fully functional tent city to the prairie. The whole event can be divided into two major categories: traditional sacrificial ceremonies and competitive events. In the evening, the herdsmen will ignite a pile of bonfire in the prairie, staying around the flaming fire, singing and dancing happily.

>> See more Tibet Festival Tour

8. Best Time to Visit Tibet for Budget Travelers

Yamdroktso Lake in winter.

From November to April of the following year, traveling to Tibet is relatively cost-effective, and it is the best season for travelers with a tight budget. Winter is the off-season in Tibet, with relatively lower consumption in scenic spots, transportation, accommodations, etc. Excluding some places like Namtso Lake, Everest Base Camp and some trekking routes, as well as other cities like Lhasa, Shigatse, Lhoka and Nyingchi, can be visited in the winter. By the way, Tibet's winter is not as cold as most people imagine. Instead, it's warm during the daytime.

Note: From February to March, most of the Tibet area is closed to foreign travelers because of the Tibetan New Year. The authorities usually stop issuing Tibet travel permits from the beginning of February. However, Tibet will reopen in early April.

>> See more Tibet Winter Tour

Summary

The most suitable time for your visit to Tibet is based on the reason for your visit.

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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients

Karine

We are interested to travel during Autumn, so are deciding between mid sep or mid oct. which travel period would be more advisable for this itinerary? Also for the 4stars hotel accomodations, what are list of accomodation available?

Dear Kari***,

We can arrange the Tibet Tour for you in Autumn. I will answer your questions one by one

1. If you want to see the golden Tibet, I suggest you visit Tibet in mid-Autumn. October is one of the best months to visit Tibet since the weather this month is cool, dry, and sunny with less rainfall. May I know your preferred itineraries or attractions? I suggest you consider the classic 8-day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour.

2. Hotel list for reference as below:

4-star Hotels:

Lhasa: Xin Ding Hotel / Thangka Hotel or similar class;
Shigstase: Gesar Hotel/Shiga Yangcha Grand Hotel or similar Hotels;
EBC: Nomad tents

By the way, there is a restored hotel at EBC with a private bathroom, we can upgrade it for an extra fee.

Markus Heuberger

Dear staff, We are interested in visiting Tibet in March. However I heard in March Tibet is closed to foreigners. Is that true? If Tibet is open we would be interested in a tour 8-10 days. Thank you for your help.

Dear Markus****,

Tibet is open to foreign tourists except for February this year. We can arrange the Tibet tour for you in March. Please kindly note, that the weather in March is cold and the tour cost will be a little higher than the ordinary season because people in Tibet just finished the New Year and there are still fewer vehicles and guides in business.

Steven

My partner only wants a group tour. Period china and Tibet Dates flexible want to ve in China for moon festival

Dear Steven,

Good morning! This is Jennie at your service.

We can arrange the Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour for you in September. I suggest you first arrive in China's other cities to celebrate the moon festival on 17 September 2024 then go to Tibet, and we will arrange for you to Kathmandu after your Tibet tour. You can also arrive in Lhasa on 10 September, and you can fly from Lhasa to other cities in China to celebrate the moon festival on 17 September. 

Here below are my suggested itineraries according to your schedule & preference. If you agree, I will quote you. If not, I will tweak it until your satisfaction.

OptionⅠ: 7-day Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour

OptionⅡ: 8-day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour

Nicolle wallentin

I want to celebrate my birthday in Tibet (February) and would like tot ravel for 15 days to main monasteries and places of interest. I’m also interested in staying in monasteries and experiencing Buddhism. I hope I can travel with you!

Dear Nico****,

Thank you for sending us an inquiry!

We can arrange a 15-day Tibet tour for you to visit the main Monasteries and places of interest.

Please kindly note, Tibet may not be open to foreign tourists in February and March. And the weather is very cold. I suggest you consider the tour after late April. Please let me know your idea.

Mrs. Surasri

We plan to visit Tibet in 2024, please select best route for us. We can stay 10 days in Tibet.

Dear Mrs. Sur****, 

As per your request, I recommend 8 days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp tour. For the 8 days tour, we can open a group tour(other guests can join) in June 2024 for you or arrange a private one for you(only 6 members of you).

Serene

3 adults from Singapore interested to travel to Tibet (2 singaporean and 1 Malaysian) plan to travel to tibet, please recommend which month best to travel and 2 rooms please, preferably 4 stars hotel. Thanks!

Dear Sere***, The best months to travel to Tibet are from May to October when the weather is moderate, and oxygen content is high and the air is not too dry as it is in winter and spring. Actually the best time is also depending on the destination you are going to visit. If you are going to Mt.Everest, May to June and September to October is the best time. If you are going to Mt.Kailash, September to October is recommended. If you just want to visit Lhasa and its around, all year round is applicable.

Amanda Wong

Hi, I am thinking of visiting Tibet and Nepal in Nov or Dec 2022 during the low season. 10-14days. Are the palaces and monasteries open to tourists in the winter ? Are the handicraft shops and well-known cafes open too ? If I do not take a liking to the local food, are there other food choices available for tourists? I would like to include some short hiking in the trip if possible. Appreciate to have your advice and suggestions on a Travel Plan with bugdet. Thank you so much.

Dear Amanda, Thank you for sending us an inquiry! This is Catherine from Great Tibet Tour at your service.  Great Tibet Tour is a local tour operator based in Lhasa, Tibet. It was founded in 2005 and recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best reputed local Tibet travel agencies. We specialize in arranging Tibet travel for foreigners, as well as other parts of China & Nepal.  In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to visit Tibet and Nepal. To have a travel plan with budget, you'd better join a small group tour in Tibet to lower the cost. Here is the recommended itinerary, and you can have a small hike around Rongbuk Monastery. 

At present, Nepal has opened, whereas Tibet remains closed. It is expected to open next year. I think we can plan this trip for 2023. For food, there are Nepali, Tibetan, Indian and vegetarian food for choices.

sheila ashby

Hi.We are looking at your tours, travelling from England, as we would love to visit Tibet.However, I am really worried about altitude sickness and therefore missing out on the 1st couple of days and wonder how this would impact on our tour.We went to Peru 2 years ago and I had altitude sickness, requiring bed rest and oxygen for 2 days.I would be grateful if you could let me know what would happen if I had altitude sickness on the 1st couple of days.

To prevent the occurrence of altitude sickness, you need to have a proper rest and avoid strenuous activities days before you go to Tibet. After getting off the plane, you should try not to carry heavy things or run and avoid outdoor activities. Nifedipinum, Nuodikang Capsules, and Suoluomabao Capsules may help you prevent the occurrence of altitude sickness when you are taken three days before arrival to a highland. Most visitors to Tibet will suffer from at least some symptoms which will generally disappear through acclimatization in several hours to several days. After 1 or 2 days acclimation, almost all of them can adapt to the local environment and these symptoms will disappear. And, we have equipped oxygen tank and medical kit for emergency use. Please don't worry on this point as there're hundreds of thousands of travelers coming to Tibet every year of all ranges of conditions. According to your request, I recommend you join our 6 days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Group Tour, This is a lower elevation travel in Tibet. After sightseeing in Lhasa head straight to the coiling scorpion-lake of Yamdrotso before heading and the glacier-draped Karola pass to Gyantse with its must-see Pelkor Chode Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum. A 90mins drive away is Shigatse, with its impressive Tashilump Monastery, one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet.