This trip to Tibet will take us to one of the most spiritual and magical places in the world. Although a trip to Tibet may not be as difficult as you might initially believe, we must take into account several factors that will in part condition our trip. The first is the need to travel in an organized manner since today it is impossible to do so on one’s own. Another of the factors that can condition us is the high altitude in which all the places of interest are located and finally, the need to have a higher budget than usual in Asia, mainly due to having to have an agency as a travel companion.
Known as the Land of Snow or the Roof of the World, this piece of land, considered by many to be the lost Shangri-la, was between the 1950s and 1970s dominated by the Chinese government, which took control and sent its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and most of its most influential citizens into exile under the name of the Cultural Revolution.
It was in 1980 that Tibet was reopened to the world, and at that time it was practically in ruins, and gradually it was restored, under a small glimpse of religious freedom, which gradually made the wheels of prayer heard again and the smell of yak butter smell in this incredible land.
trip to Tibet
In general terms, we could determine that the best time to make a trip to Tibet is between the months of May and October, when the climate of Tibet is not too cold, with an average temperature of 10 degrees. Keep in mind that the summer months, July and August are just the rainy seasons in Tibet, so although the weather is warmer, it may not be the best time to travel, especially if you plan to do some trekking.
If you’re going to Everest Base Camp, the best time to travel is in April, May, September, and October, when you’re more likely to see it clearly, as the rest of the year it’s usually hidden behind the clouds.
The high season for a trip to Tibet is from May to September when temperatures are warmer and therefore travel is much easier. At the same time at this time of the year, prices are the most expensive of the year.
To avoid, whenever possible, the dates 1 May and 1 October, national holidays, on which many locals travel.
The average season includes April, October, and November, when the weather is a little colder, although these are months in which you will find less tourism and prices will be much tighter.
It should be borne in mind that in general, access to Tibet is prohibited during the month of March.
The low season runs from December to February, a time when Tibet is virtually free of tourism, so prices fall considerably and many of the establishments close.
One thing to keep in mind in Tibet is the height at which many of the sights are located, which you will probably visit.
We leave you a list with the most touristic places and the altitude at which they are located: Lhasa (3650m), Namtso Lake (4700m), Tsedang (3100m), Gyantse (3977m), Yamdrok Tso (4440m), Kambala Pass (4794m), Shigatse (3840m) and Everest Base Camp (5545m).
Bearing this in mind, you should be prepared for altitude sickness by taking (whenever necessary and advised by a doctor) some medication to alleviate symptoms, knowing and being informed about possible manifestations, precautions and/or advice and, above all, having good travel insurance that includes your services at altitudes above 3000 metres.
It is also worth having a few days of acclimatization upon arrival in Lhasa, to try to avoid altitude sickness and to make the most of your trip to Tibet, one of the most surprising destinations in Asia.
