Tibet Winter Travel Tips
Large parts of Tibet is covered by ice and snow in winter, and are inhospitable to travelers. However, there are places which are suitable for travel even in the chilly winter. In addition, winter travelers to Tibet are more likely to see a true Tibet, free from tourist groups, and to appreciate authentic local culture, which is rarely represented during any other time of the year. Winter is the low travel season in China, and this is especially true in Tibet. Tibet sees far fewer tourists during the winter than the peak season from May to October when streets and tourist attractions of Lhasa and the surrounding regions are filled with travelers. >> Read Tibet Travel Tips
Tibet Winter Weather
The average temperature in the Lhasa region ranges from -6oC (21oF) to 10oC ( 50oF). The farther you go away from Lhasa, the colder the weather is. In Tibet, the weather varies more on a daily basis (night versus day) than on a seasonal basis in most of China (except for the regions with a relatively high elevation such as places in Southwest China's Yunnan and Sichuan Province and most provinces in Northwest China).
Tibet Temperature Table
Maximum/minimum winter air temperature table for five Tibetan towns and cities (average temperatures in oC)
| Lhasa | Shigatse | Shannan | Linzhi | Chamdo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 16/-7 | 14/-10 | 16/-6 | 19/-5 | 15/-7 |
| December | 15/-9 | 12/-12 | 15/-9 | 16/-6 | 16/-8 |
| January | 18/-10 | 17/-12 | 18/-9 | 19/-6 | 16/-8 |
| February | 15/-9 | 12/-14 | 16/-8 | 16/-5 | 15/-9 |
| March | 20/-1 | 19/-3 | 21/-1 | 22/1 | 22/-1 |
Warm clothes are needed to ensure a pleasant Tibet tour. You may find that "layered" clothing (sweaters, jackets with removable linings, windbreakers.) is the best solution, as this allows you to adjust your clothing frequently, to match the frequent changes in the daily weather cycle.
Tibet Travel Permit
- There are overall four documents that may be required for foreign tourists who want to travel in Tibet:
- Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in a Chinese embassy in your country.
- Tibet Permit, which you have to obtain it in order to enter Tibet.
- Travel Permit, when you are planning to travel to closed areas (Tsetang, Shigatse, Gyangtse, Nqari, Nyingchi and Chamdo regions), which you can obtain upon your arrival in Tibet.
- Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to military sensitive areas.
Recommended Attractions
Attractions suitable for average winter travelers are concentrated around Lhasa. Sights in downtown Lhasa and Yambajan Hot Springs, 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Lhasa, are undoubtedly the best options. Traveling to other regions such as Shigatse where the Mt.. Everest is located, and Gyantze, is also possible if you want to brave the chilly weather and the inhospitable condition. But be warned, roads to these regions and many others are closed frequently after heavy snow.
Altitude Sickness
Nearly all tourists entering Tibet experience altitude sickness to some extent. For some the effect is strong, while for others it is light. This has nothing to do with age or gender, but it does have to do with physical fitness. Here are some precautions and tips to lessen the effects of altitude sickness, according to previous experiences in Tibet. Read more on altitude sickness.
What to Pack?
- Plenty of warm layers
- Altitude sickness medicine (oxygen canister)
- Sun glasses, lip balm and sun cream
- Warm hat
- Warm walking boots
- Camera (with UV filter)
Tibet is nicknamed "the Roof of the World" because of its high elevation. Most of the terrain of Tibet is located over 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level, and the elevation of Lhasa, the most hospitable place in Tibet, also reaches around 3,600 meters (12,000 feet) high. Most people will feel uncomfortable (altitude sickness) the first one or two days upon their arrival in Tibet. In addition to normal medication for traveling, like Aspirin and Ibuprofen, you should bring some high altitude medication.
Solar radiation is very strong because of Tibet's high altitude and the thin air in winter. You are recommended to bring sunglasses to protect your eyes, sunscreen cream and lip protection. In addition, the increased solar radiation makes it worth considering taking a camera with an ultraviolet filter to ensure the high quality of pictures taken.
An oxygen cannister may also be necessary, because most of Tibet's thin air. To avoid anoxic symptoms (shortness of breath, headaches, extreme tiredness, etc.), you can buy a small oxygen canister or two from Tibetan hospitals or some hotels.
Take warm clothes because the weather is chilly.
Culture Taboos
Tibetan culture is deeply rooted in ancient religion, and is dramatically different from that of other parts of China. Showing respect to local traditions will make your travel more pleasant for you and those around you. Below are some tips to help you avoid an embarrassment.
- Do not photograph Tibetan people without permission.
- Don't pat babies on the head, or touch them.
- Don't step on a lama's shadow.
- In temples take off your hat, don't point directly (if you want to indicate a statue and have to use your hand, palm up, fingers flat and together)
- Avoid walking between a person praying to the Buddha and the statue.
- Do not talk sensitive issues like politics and religion.
- Do not take photos during a prayer meeting and in some larger monastery, you may need to pay a small fee for the privilege of taking a photo.
- Do not touch or remove anything on an altar.
- Do not wear shorts or short shirts in a monastery and do not smoke in a monastery.
- Always walk around monasteries, piles of Mani stones, pagodas and other religious structures in a clockwise direction.
Accommodation
The facilities and service standard of hotels in Tibet may not be as you would expect from a hotel with the same rating in other parts of the world. Hotels in Lhasa are relatively comfortable with heating systems and hot water in winter. Hotels in small cities and towns outside Lhasa only have very basic facilities, without a heating system and hot water even in the freezing winter. >> Read more on Tibet Travel Tips
Festivals falling in winter time
Winter is a festive season in Tibet. For many Tibet winter travelers, festival celebrations are also an exciting attraction. Here is a list of Tibetan festivals that fall in winter.
Gongbu Festival, Nyingchi
It falls on the first day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar (in October or November according to the Gregorian calendar). This festival is celebrated to commemorate the soldiers who died in wars protecting Tibetans from invaders in the old days. The activities of the festival include dancing, horseracing and markets.
Xiannv Festival (fairy festival)
This festival is also called the Heavenly Mother Festival. The Xiannv Festival falls on the 15th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar (November or December), and is a festival for Tibetan women. Religious celebrations are held throughout Tibet.
Randeng Festival (Lamp Lighting Festival)
Celebrated to commemorate a great Tibetan reformer, Zongkaba, this festival falls on the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar (November or December). The activities of the Randeng Festival celebration include lighting ghee lights and singing religious songs.
Qugui Festival (Ghost Driving Festival)
The Qugui Festival falls on the 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar (January or February), and is celebrated to welcome the New Year. Activities include praying for good fortune the next year and household cleaning rituals are performed.
Tibetan new year (Losar Festival)
Zanglinian falls on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar (January or February), and is the most important festival in Tibet. Tibetans start preparing for New Year at the beginning of to the last month of the Tibetan calendar. They usually prepare something like tsamba, fried kernels and Renshenguo, a kind of tonic fruit in Tibet. On New Year's Eve, people present the prepared food in front of images of Buddha. On the first day of New Year, the first thing to do is to take a barrel of water home from the river. It is believed that the first barrel of water in the new year is lucky water. Relatives and friends begin to visit each other on the second day. Read more on Tibetan New Year.
Suyou Huadenghui (Ghee Lamp Festival)
It falls on the 15th day of the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar, and is celebrated by monasteries in the daytime and in Barkhor Street at night. Shelves of lamps in the form of colorful images such as gods, birds, flowers and trees are put out on display.
Tibetan New year 2010 will take place on March 5. There are a lot of culture activities held in the streets of Lhasa. Take a China Highlights Tibet Tour to experience the local pageantry of Tibet.
- Tibetan Festivals Dates in 2011 and 2012
- Top Things to Do in Tibet
- Sacred Mountains and Lakes in Tibet
Large parts of Tibet is covered by ice and snow in winter, and are inhospitable to travelers. However, there are places which are suitable for travel even in the chilly winter.
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