Most Visitors all around the world or even in China mistake that the winter in Tibet is unbearably chilly with heavy snow and violent storms, and its high altitude may make this even worse. So their reluctance of visiting Tibet in winter directly results in the decrease of visitor numbers, making prices of hotels and tourist attraction tickets drop drastically. In fact, these climates do happen in some remote areas in Tibet, but major cities like Lhasa and Shigatse are totally on the contrary.
Winter Tibetan cities are full of vigor and vitality. Migratory birds from high altitude fly down to the lower cities to survive the winter and gather in Lhasa, Shigatse as well as Nyingchi. Eminent monasteries like Jokhang Temple, Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery attract devout pilgrims swarming there to prostrate and worship while locals, busy preparing the necessities for Tibetan New Year (Losar), step out of their houses and crowd the grocery stores. Withered
The temperature in the major city of Lhasa decreased approximately to 3 to 10degree Centigrade (37.4 to 50 degree Fahrenheit) in winter，but the sky is extremely clear with warm sunlight shining from the cloudless sky, and sensible temperature turns to be comfortably warmer. What do visitors all over the world expect for a winter tour in Tibet? Just follow us immediately to find them out since winter is coming.
Enjoy a winter view with fewer visitors and lower travel expenditures
Most Tibetan areas in winter is an ultimate world of ice and snow. Many creatures have fallen into a sound sleep, leaving an extra tranquility in most pieces of the land. The winter Tibet becomes more mysterious with hidden wonders and is wrapped in white. The cold weather crawling out from the ice-covered mountains frozes the sacred lake waters, withers the plants in their way directly down to the lower valleys, making most areas in Tibet the pictures of desolation.
You may easily notice that it’s not that hard to book a comfortable and self-contained hotel or buy the attraction ticket with a price half of its original. This phenomena happening each year may be attributed to the misunderstanding of the winter in Tibet.
Insider tips:
1. Winter in Tibet begins from late October to next March
2. Due to Tibetan travel policies, Tibet is not open for international tourists from mid-February to March, during which Tibet travel permits are suspended to issue. Therefore, best to scheme your winter Tibet travel during the time from November to next early February.
Meeting the rarely-seen Tibetan world with the natural attractions covered with thick ice and white heavy snow.
Major natural attractions like Namtso Lake and Mount Everest are all wrapped with heavy snow and thick ice. The nippy air silently invades Namtso Lake by freezing the flowing water instantaneously and making the ice wave and ripple splendidly formed, presenting the enthralling beauty and magnificence with the distant Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. Horse riding on the frozen surface of Namtso Lake every year is also a stunning highlight worth recommending.
Unlike Namtso Lake, Yamdrok Lake water seldom freeze due to the long sunshine duration, but the winding lake is just like a turquoise illusory silk ribbon drifting between the desolated valleys. Integrated with the silhouette of the distant undulating mountains, you may possibly have the illusion of stumbling into the heaven on earth.
Insider tips:
1. The only way to Namtso through Nargenla Pass can be constantly blocked due to the heavy snow, so you may not appreciate its magnificent view at any time you wish as in peak season. Nevertheless, once you get the chance, we assure the tour will never be made in vain.
2. A little strong wind spiraling at Namtso and Yamdrok Lake in winter. Wear a wind cap and wrap up the scarf in case of catching a cold. A cotton-padded coat may a good option for you.
Tour the eminent Gelug monasteries and temples
You may wonder why we choose winter to visit temples and monasteries in Tibet. With the decline of visitor numbers, these places become not as crowded as in summer. So you can take your time to get an in-depth exploration of the Tibetan Buddhism. Besides, a great number of devout prayers gather in eminent monasteries or prostrate forward to do the kora around the temple, for some of them believe in addition to abiding by the commandment, practice embodies in the most reverent pilgrimage. And the most devout way to do this is to worship the temples or do the pilgrimage kora in winter. Winter visit to temples and monasteries makes you have a deeper and more thorough understanding of Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Go bird-watching in major low altitude Tibetan cities
High altitude migratory birds first sense the cold air coming from the icy mountains and dive directly in flocks to lower places like Lhasa, Shigatse and Nyingchi, invigorating these cities by swarming in the places wheretravelers frequently visit. So if you travel Tibet in winter, don’t miss these high elevation migratory birds.
Insider tips:
1. The recommended places for bird seeing are Zongjiao Lukang Park behind the Potala Palace, Laru Wetland Park in the northwest suburb of Lhasa, Linzhou County (located at the upper reaches of Lhasa River, 65 km away from Lhasa city with approximately 1 hour’s drive), the Dagzê County which is deemed as the paradise of the black neck cranes and located on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse.
2. Laru Wetland Park is not open to visitors, but you can also shoot the birds nearby the wet land.
3. The best time for bird-seeing is from 6:00 to 8:00 in the morning and from 16:00 to 18:00 in the afternoon. So if you are bird lovers, make an early rising and don’t miss the greetings from these rarely seen migratory birds.
Enjoy a splendid hot spring tour in winter Tibet.
If you can’t stand the Tibetan cold at night, then put yourself in someplace where you can get warmed —The hot spring. Hot springs in Tibet have enjoyed a great frame from home and abroad, for they are rich in kinds of mineral substances and more therapeutic. So it’s really a good choice to get yourself perfectly recovered from the day-trip and enjoy the beautiful winter Tibet views without worrying the chilly air. Due to the abundant geothermal resources in Tibet, a great number of hot springs scattered in the lower altitude surrounding areas of the major cities.
Insider tips:
1. Among these Tibetan hot springs, three great ones are worth recommending: Yangpachen Hot Spring. Located in the northwest of the Lhasa city with an altitude of approximately 4,300 m (1.5 hour’s drive from Lhasa), Yanpachen Hot Spring opens all the year roundfor visitors and its magical healing power hidden in the main substance of sulphur do help people alleviate sufferings from Joint and rheumatic diseases. Dezhong Hot Spring, located 4,500 m above the sea level and 2 hours’ drive from the down town Lhasa. Kembs Hot Spring, with its Tibetan name meaning the herb ditch, is found in Shigaste area (300 km from Shigaste City). 12 mouths of spring are developed according to the different spring temperature and therapeutic effects. If you plan a Shigatse tour, why not experience in person and witness the miracles.
2. Do not immense your body in the spring water for more than 20 minutes, but doing it repeatedly may get a surprisingly good effect.
3. It’s firmly recommend that do not wash your body with shower gel after the spring tour, for the mineral substances left on your body surface have an miracle curative effect.
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