Lhasa is the capital city and center of the regional administration for the Tibet Autonomous Region. The city is located on the banks of the Kyi River in the south-central area of the Tibetan plateau. It is one of the largest tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo River, also known as the Brahmaputra.  The city is at an altitude of 3,656 meters above sea level. It is the world’s highest capital city and the center of the Tibetan culture and religion. Every Tibetans in Kham and Amdo visit Lhasa once in a lifetime.

Traveling to Lhasa can be done at any time of the year, from April to February (Tibet is normally closed to international travelers in February and March for Losar, the Tibetan New Year). And when to go largely depends on your own personal tastes and what you want to do while you are there. Different seasons have different attractions in Tibet, even in the coldest month of January, travel to Lhasa is easily possible. It is not as cold as you may think. From April to the end of January, Lhasa is a city that is filled with life and spirituality, with the winter months being one of the best times to experience Tibetan Buddhism at its most devout.

Best Time to Go

Spring and autumn months are the best time to take a Tibet tour. Summer is also an ideal time to go if you don’t mind the occasional mild showers. The temperature is above 10 C during these months. These months are also the busiest time to travel. Though November and December are winter months, you can still travel and the views of Everest are best during these months.

Visit Lhasa in Spring

Spring months in Lhasa are late February to May. Spring is usually known as the windy season or dry season, because of the heavy winds during these months. There is little rain, lot of wind and snow only in mountainous regions. Daytime sees strong sunshine with strong radiation. It is advisable to use sunscreen lotions without fail. In spite of warm daytime temperature, there is quite a high temperature difference between day and night. The nights tend to get extremely cold. The pleasant climate starts to kick in May. This makes May the ideal month for family tours.

What to See

May is also one of the best months for photographers to capture the beauty of Lhasa. The famous Saga Dawa festival happens in the month of May. The months of Aril, May, and June are best for Everest Base Camp tours and uninhibited view of Mt Everest as there will not be rainy or foggy weather. But early spring is still too cold to visit Lake Namtso near Lhasa city for the lake is still frozen until late April.

What to Wear

Down jackets, long- sleeved shirts, cotton trousers and t-shirts, out-door jackets, warm clothing for the night, sunscreen lotions, sunglasses.

Visit Lhasa in Summer

Summer months of Lhasa are June, July, and August. The temperature during summer months range from warm to cool. These months also see mild showers during night times, so it is not really a hindrance for the tourists. Some days it showers in the afternoon but not for more than an hour. The oxygen content in the air is also higher compared to other seasons. The climate is overall mild with strong UV radiation due to the high altitude of the city. Make sure you use sunscreen lotions and caps to protect your skin. The temperature gets the hottest at noon. Although the temperature difference varies greatly between day and night, it is less compared to other seasons. Summer is when you see a lot of locals from China travelling to Tibet because of the holidays.

What to See

Due to the warm temperature, all the tourist spots are ideal to visit. Some of the must-visit spots are Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, and Drepung Monastery. June is an ideal month to take a day-trip to Lake Namtso from Lhasa. You can visit the holy lakes to capture the magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

A lot of sports contests and outdoor market fairs take place in the grasslands in the months of July and August. July and August is also the best time to take the famous Tibet Train to Lhasa through the Qinghai-Tibet railway for the flowers are fully bloomed and the mountains are still covered in snow and all the scenery looks bright and fresh with active wildlife and nomadic activity. Festivals like Shoton Festival, Nagqu Horse Racing Festival, and Ganden Thangka festival fall during the summer months.

What to Wear

Long trousers, full hand cotton t-shirts, and hats to avoid sunburns. Sunscreen lotion or sun block is very important to protect your skin. Carry water proof jackets and pants as it occasionally showers at afternoons and nights. The nights are still cold so carry warm clothes for the night.

Visit Lhasa in Autumn  

September and October are the autumn months in Lhasa and autumn sees the maximum inflow of tourists, locals and foreigners alike. The leaves turn golden brown and the forests give off a golden glow. The weather is clear and cool, no heavy clouds blocking the view of mountain peaks during autumn. The mild sunlight and dry winds characterize most of the day. The nights are not as cold as winter or spring. The weather conditions during autumn are ideal for exploring in Tibet and the scenery is breathtaking. If you are planning to visit Lhasa in autumn, pre-book the tickets, hotel rooms, and everything else at least two-three months in advance. The overall prices of air tickets and hotels rooms are significantly high during autumn.

What to See

Autumn is ideal time to do just about everything and anything in Lhasa. Be it visiting the tourist attractions like Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, holy lakes etc. or hiking tours, climbing tours, cycling tours, overland tours from Lhasa to other places in Tibet all are ideal to do during autumn. You can enjoy the clear views of the mountain peaks. Mid September to Mid October is also the advisable time to visit Everest Base Camp.

What to Wear

Plain t-shirts and jackets will be enough for travelling during day. As nights are still cold, wear thermal wear and warm clothing. If you are planning to the EBC trek or climbing the Everest bring appropriate clothing and other items. You can rent or buy them in Lhasa itself.

Visit Lhasa in Winter

One of the most common misconceptions tourists make about Lhasa is that, it is too cold to travel during winter and that it is inhabitable during winter. That is not the case at all. While winter is cold and there is a lot of snow, it is still warmer than many places in China. November- March is the winter months of Tibet and it is important to note that in February and March many attractions are closed off for tourism.

November is still a good time to travel to Lhasa as there is still some sunshine during the day, pretty warm around noon, but the nights get super cold. One of the advantages of travelling during winter is that it is off-season so the cost of tickets and accommodation is significantly less. You also don’t have to worry about the typical tourist crowd filling up the streets.

What to See

Tibet is at its most tranquil vibe during winter. Visit only nearby tourist attractions like Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Barkhor Street etc. You can enjoy local Tibetan festivals like Tibetan New Year and Tsongkhapa Butter Lamp Festival during this season. You will see Tibetans getting ready for their farming season and festivals, as winter is also the slack farming season. Winter shows a different side of Tibet that tourists don’t get to see during other seasons.

What to Wear

Thermal wear, gloves, socks, sweater, water proof jackets, moisturizer, and other clothing to keep yourself warm. Have both boots to walk on snow and comfortable shoes.