With the end of China's week-long National Holiday in early October, Tibet enters its low tourism season, offering great discounts on Tibet tour costs throughout the year.

From free entrance tickets and discounted hotels to cheaper flight tickets to Tibet, see what you can enjoy on a winter tour and how you can save more by visiting Tibet during the winter months.

1. Get Free Entrance to the Potala Palace, Everest Base Camp, and More!

From November to April, during Tibet’s low tourism season, the local tourist bureau offers winter travel promotions, including free entry to popular attractions like the Potala Palace, Everest Base Camp, Yamdrok Lake, and so on.

Except for monasteries, most of the attractions in Tibet that can be visited in winter offer free tickets or have off-season prices. This can save you a lot of money on your Tibet winter travel.

Free Entry to Some Popular A-Level Scenic Spots in Tibet from Oct. 15, 2024 to Mar. 15, 2025:

6 Days Central Tibet Culture Small Group Tour: Explore Tibet's religion, cultural gems, and captivating landscapes.

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse- Lhasa

Price from USD799 p.p

2. Enjoy Low Season Prices for Hotels and Flights to Tibet in Winter

Winter in Tibet brings the benefit of lower prices for both accommodations and flights, making it an ideal time for budget travelers to visit. With fewer tourists visiting Tibet during this off-peak season, hotels in Tibet often offer their lowest rates of the year. Discounts can be as high as 50%, allowing you to stay in high-quality hotels at a better price. This is a great opportunity to experience the comfort and amenities of top-rated hotels in Lhasa without the peak-season price tag.

Enjoy a luxury hotel in Lhasa at a better discount during the winter.

Similarly, flights to Tibet are significantly cheaper in winter compared to the busy tourist months. Airfares from major cities to Lhasa can drop dramatically in winter. For example, while a Chengdu to Lhasa one-way flight during the high season may cost around 1,800 RMB, the same flight in winter could be as low as 300 RMB, offering substantial savings.

All these make winter travel to Tibet not only more affordable but also a great chance to enjoy the region’s stunning beauty without crowds. With these lower travel costs, you can extend your stay or upgrade your experience, all while enjoying the serene and peaceful atmosphere of Tibet’s winter landscape.

3. Easily Buy Tibet Train Tickets without Extra Fees

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the only railway to Tibet, is destined to be a busy tourist track since its debut. As a result, securing a train ticket to Tibet during the peak tourism season can be a difficult and often costly process.

For popular routes, such as the Beijing to Lhasa train, you may need to pay a considerable service fee to book train tickets to Tibet, making it a challenging and expensive part of the journey. However, the winter months offer a significant advantage for those looking to take the train to Tibet. With fewer tourists visiting Tibet, train tickets to Tibet become much easier to obtain with no extra service fees. In many cases, you can book a Tibet train ticket directly at the official price, without the added hassle or extra costs typically charged during the peak season.

You can easily get a Tibet train ticket in winter.

This makes winter a perfect time for those seeking a smoother, more affordable way to experience the breathtaking train journey along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

4. Don’t Worry: Winter in Tibet Is Warmer Than You Think

After knowing the benefits you can get from a Tibet winter tour, the only thing you may concerned about is whether it is too cold to visit Tibet in winter. Most people would think it must be a silver-white plateau with chilly days, heavy snow, and low oxygen, but it’s totally wrong. In fact, Tibet in winter is not as cold as you imagine.

In Lhasa, the average winter high is around 9.5°C, which is far from freezing. With plenty of sunshine, the daytime can feel much warmer than that. In fact, it's common to end up shedding a layer of clothing because it can get quite warm. The average low temperature in Lhasa over the past 6 years has been about -4°C. Fortunately, most mid- to high-end hotels in Lhasa provide heating, so there’s no need to worry about being too cold at night.

It's not too cold to visit the Potala Palace in winter, as a sunny winter day can be warmer than you think.

Places outside of Lhasa will be colder, but they are still available for travel in winter. Shigatse, for example, has an average winter high temperature of 7.8°C and an average low of -9°C. Tingri, the closest major town to Everest Base Camp, has an average winter high temperature of 4.6°C and an average low temperature of -13°C.

You can even visit Everest Base Camp in winter, which is at an altitude of over 5,000 meters above sea level with a daytime temperature of around -5°C. When the sun is out, its rays are quite strong at high elevations making the temperatures feel warmer than they are.

Insider Tips:
1. Only Mount Kailash is not available for visiting during winter because of the extremely cold temperature at such high altitudes.
2. The road to Lake Namtso may be closed due to heavy snow in winter. If you plan to visit, it's a good idea to have an alternative itinerary ready in case the road is blocked.

5 Days Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake Small Group Tour: Take a 360° Tour and Visit the Loneliest Temple in the World

Tour Route: Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Lhasa

Price from USD689 p.p

5. Recommended Tibet Winter Tour Itineraries

Since most attractions in Tibet can be visited in winter, here are some of the most recommended travel itineraries for your winter tour in Tibet.

Winter unveils Mount Everest's majestic beauty with the clearest views.

The Lhasa to Everest Base Camp tour is one of Tibet’s most popular routes, no matter the season. The Everest Base Camp is open year-round, but winter offers a unique experience. With stable, dry weather, winter provides some of the clearest views of Mount Everest, often with dramatic flag clouds hanging over its summit. The crisp, clear skies of winter make it an ideal time for photography, as you can enjoy stunning vistas without the haze or crowds of peak season. Plus, the quieter winter months allow for a more peaceful and intimate visit, letting you truly take in the beauty and majesty of Everest. Whether you’re there for the adventure or simply to marvel at the scenery, a winter trip to Everest Base Camp is a memorable experience.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour: Marvel at Mt.Everest Real Close from 4 Different Viewing Platforms

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD949 p.p

The overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu is also available in winter, offering a serene drive along the Friendship Highway through snow-capped peaks, vast Tibetan plateaus, and Tibetan villages. The road connects the spiritual heart of Tibet with the bustling capital of Nepal, offering travelers a unique glimpse into two distinct cultures. With fewer tourists in winter, you’ll pass Yamdrok Lake and Shigatse, and enjoy views of Everest and the Himalayas, all under a blanket of snow. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure through awe-inspiring landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Small Group Tour: Traverse from the North Side to the South Side of Mt.Everest for the Best of the Himalayas

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD989 p.p

Enjoying a Lhasa city tour is also a good choice for a short trip to Tibet in winter. In winter, Lhasa is quieter with fewer tourists, but is filled with pilgrims from across Tibet. Barkhor Street, the holy kora route around the Jokhang Temple, comes alive with Tibetan pilgrims on their spiritual journey. You can relax in a local teahouse, bask in the warm winter sun, sip Tibetan butter tea as locals, and watch the steady flow of local pilgrims as they kora around the holy Jokhang Temple, the heart of the city. It’s a serene and authentic way to experience Lhasa’s rich spiritual and cultural life.

4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour: Explore the Heart of Tibet and Mingle with the Locals

Tour Route: Lhasa

Price from USD509 p.p

6. More Things to Experience on a Tibet Winter Tour

Besides the general sightseeing trips in Tibet, winter is also the best time to experience authentic Tibetan culture with more pilgrims and fewer tourists.

In winter, Lhasa becomes a gathering place for pilgrims from across Tibet, as many are occupied with farming or business during the summer months. This is the season when you’ll see large numbers of Tibetan pilgrims doing prostrations around the sacred Jokhang Temple or the iconic Potala Palace, adding to the city’s spiritual atmosphere.

Visiting the Jokhang Temple in winter offers a deeper insight into the cultural and religious life of local Tibetans.

Besides, a grand Tibetan festival, Tibetan New Year, is held each year either in late January or February. Tibetans from all regions of Tibet arrive in Lhasa beginning in December for pilgrimage. Tibetans often will spend the winter months in Lhasa and the surrounding area visiting all of the major monasteries and temples. Literally, tens of thousands of Tibetans are in the region during this time. Lhasa looks and feels far more "Tibetan" during this time than during the summer high season.

It could be a lifetime experience to celebrate Tibetan New Year with the locals.

Winter season is also an ideal time for birdwatching in Tibet. When chilly days come, tens of thousands of migratory birds move down from northern Asia and spend warm winter in Tibet. For the vast nesting area and abundant grains, most migratory birds would mainly gather in and around Lhasa, like Lhasa River and Lalu Wetlands National Nature Preserve. Large groups of migratory birds can also be seen along the route from Lhasa to Shigatse. Especially at turquoise Lake Yamdrok, you can see waterfowl roaming freely on the lake and hunting food by the lakeshore.

You can see large groups of migratory birds while visiting Lhasa in winter.

7. What to Pack for Tibet Winter Tours

When packing for a winter tour in Tibet, it is important to prepare for the cold weather and high altitudes. You can start with warm base layers like thermal underwear and a fleece or down jacket to keep you warm. For the outer layer, pack a waterproof, windproof jacket and pants to protect against snow and wind. Moreover, a warm hat, scarf, and insulated gloves are must-haves to keep your head, face, and hands warm.

Since the sun can be strong at such high altitudes, bring sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, and lip balm to protect your skin. It’s also essential to stay hydrated in Tibet, so bring an insulated water bottle to prevent it from freezing.

Don’t forget your passport and Tibet Travel Permit, as well as some cash (since credit card use and mobile payment may be limited in remote areas).

Make proper preparations and enjoy your winter trip to Tibet with us!

Conclusion

It is a great idea to travel to Tibet in winter. Traveling to Tibet during the low tourism season, you can get good prices on everything, like air tickets, hotels, admission fees, and so on. For example, airlines always provide discounts from 20% to 50% for flights to Tibet, while Tibet hotels may offer discounts as high as 50%.

With fewer tourists and more Tibetan pilgrims gathering in Lhasa, winter is the best time to experience authentic Tibetan culture and the serene atmosphere of this holy city. If you're interested in a Tibet winter tour, you can find inspiration in our hand-picked itineraries or share your travel ideas with us to customize a private trip tailored to your interests and budget.