The best time of year to be in Tibet is from May to the beginning of November, after which temperatures start to plummet. However, in May and June there is a wind factor to consider and dust storms are not unusual. Lhasa and Shigatse generally have very mild weather from May to November, although July and August can be rainy - these two months usually see around half of Tibet's annual rainfall.

October and November often bring some dazzlingly clear weather, and daytime temperatures, can be quite comfortable at the lower altitudes of Tibet. However, travellers will need suitably warm clothing through these two months. The coldest months are from December to February, although the low-altitude valleys (around Lhasa, Shigatse and Tsetang) see very little snow.