Yes. According to the regulations, February and March are off-limits to international visitors to Tibet. Tibet will be closed for the Tibetan New Year over those two months.
Aside from that, low temperatures and a lot of snow cause several locations to be closed to tourists. Avoid specific mountainous and high-altitude locations, such as Ngari and Namtso Lake. Furthermore, extreme cold and snowfall make specific locations inaccessible to tourists throughout the winter. You are not advised to visit specific mountainous and high-altitude locations, such as Namtso Lake and Ngari.
Generally, snowfall begins in late October and occasionally in April in mountainous regions like Mt. Kailash and Mt. Everest. But snow starts falling between December and March in the cities like Shigatse and Lhasa.
Being at a higher altitude, there will be sudden changes in the temperature during the morning, day, and night, so you should wear warm clothes but make sure it’s easy to take off your outer jacket during the day. For warm clothes, pack the following items: a down jacket, thermal wear, winter socks, gloves, full-sleeved t-shirts, a scarf, and a hat.
Also, you need to pack extra care items to protect you from direct sunlight and dry air, like sunscreen cream, moisturizing cream, lip balm, and sunglasses.
Lhasa is not as cold as many people think because it is located at a low latitude. The air is dry here that makes the cold tolerable. Lhasa, also known as the city of sunlight, so the temperature feels strong during sunny day, even in the winter.
Average Winter Temperatures in Lhasa
|
Nov. |
Dec. |
Jan. |
Feb. |
Lhasa |
-4℃~12℃ |
-7℃~9℃ |
-8℃~8℃ |
-5℃~10℃ |
Yes, it is. During the winter period, there are fewer visitors, and because of this, accommodation charges are low. Also, you may find discounts or free entry fees at certain attractions. Flight fares are also on discount.
The ideal time to travel for you should always depend on your availability. Because of Tibet’s milder monsoon than Nepal’s, spring through autumn (March to November) is the best time to visit.
Anybody with an average fitness level may actually be able to physically complete the Mount Kailash Manasarovar Lake trip; prior experience is unnecessary. However, we usually suggest you begin training two to three months before your departure date. Walking, hiking, jogging, or—better yet—running on an incline treadmill are some exercises you may do to get in shape.
The Central Tibet and Everest Base Camp trek routes can be physically challenging because of the high altitude and varied terrain. You should hire an experienced and certified local guide and keep doing physicals for 1 month before joining the trek.