What to expect on your yoga adventure to Tibet

Rebecca Anderson
Sep 23
4 min read

Updated: Nov 26

When is the best time for my pilgrimage?

April to June and September to October are the best times to explore Tibet. We get clear skies, comfortable daytime temperatures, and fewer weather disruptions.

Monthly weather guide

Months	Weather & Crowds	Festival Notes*	Why It Suits Yoga	Watch-Outs
Jan–Feb	Cold, crisp, very quiet	Losar often falls Feb or Mar	Deep introspection, uncrowded sites	Sub-zero nights, limited rural access
Mar	Transitional, sometimes restricted to foreign visitors	–	Potential shoulder window	Rules can change, always check permit status
Apr–Jun	Mild to warm days, clear views	Saga Dawa usually May or Jun	Great for outdoor practise and gentle acclimatisation walks	UV is strong at altitude, hydrate and pace yourself
Jul–Aug	Warmest period, occasional rain, busier	Shoton (Yogurt) Festival often Aug	Lush scenery, longer daylight	Possible showers, higher visitor numbers
Sep–Oct	Cool, bright, very clear skies	–	Peak visibility for sunrise meditations and photography	Nights get chilly, pack layers
Nov–Dec	Cold, dry, very quiet	–	Peaceful monasteries and calm energy	Shorter days, limited options outside cities

*Festival timings vary by lunar calendar each year.

How it feels in Tibet in spring & summer

Spring (April to June)

Fresh air, wildflowers, and increasingly warm days. Mornings are invigorating and perfect for practice. Travel is smooth and views can be crystal clear. UV is strong at altitude though, so sun protection is essential.

Summer (July to August)

Warmest temperatures and long daylight hours. Lovely for relaxed walking meditations and restorative evening sessions. Expect some afternoon showers and more visitors at popular sites.

Permits & visas and other bits and bobs

Permits & visas: At the moment Australians do not need a visa to enter China for a period of 30 days or less. We need to have Tibet permit though, and this is organised through our travel partners in Nepal. No body can enter or explore Tibet without this permit ad without being part of an organised travel group - much like Bhutan. This is why we start our journey in Kathmandu so that we can all arrive together :). Don't worry we take care of all your legal entry requirements.
Acclimatisation: Lhasa sits around 3,650 metres. Tibet is called "the rooftop of the world' for a reason!! Anything over 3000m and you can expect to feel some altitude effects, and these vary greatly person to person. Some common feelings are feeling short of breath, shallow breathing, dizziness, headache, nausea, & giddyness (a drunk feeling). In my experience these all subside within a day or too. In severe cases avisit to a hospital for acclimatisation meds can help. We always plan a few slow days at the beginning of any adventure that takes us into an altitude area, this allows everyone to adjust, and while we may still feel a shortness of breath as we journey, the other side-effects fade away. Drinking lots of water and resting when you need is important when acclimatising.

Keeping in touch: As Tibet is now part of China it falls under the same social media and wifi conditions as China known as the Great Firewall! This means you can not use your instagram, facebook, or whatsapp or get wifi access easily. To overcome this, if you want to, I suggest you download 2 VPNs to your phone and a few esims. The VPNs can dodge the firewall and in combo with esims you can sneak through cracks in the firewall, if you are lucky, most of the time. I definitely suggest you downlaod the WeChat app onto your phone and ask significant others back home to also do so. WeChat is permitted in Tibet and can be accessed via the local wifi system when we are in our hotels. You need to organise your VPNs and esims while at home and have them ready to go. I can help you decide which ones are best at the time :)

And what do I need for yoga in Tibet?

Hydration and nutrition: Because we are practicing at altitude you may, at first, feel tired, or out of breath unusually fast. So keep your practice slow and simple to begin with and drink plenty of water. Electrolytes can help at altitude also.
Layers: The sun can be very intense but the air can feel cool. Bring comfy, move with your body layers, bring a beanie, shawl, and snuggly footwear too.
Yoga Mat: Because we will practice outside sometimes you may not want to bring your favourite yoga mat. For yoga adventures I usually advise buying a cheap mat that you are happy to donate while away. This not only gifts someone in need your mat (not necessarily for yoga but maybe for sleeping on or sitting on), but also gives you a little bit of last minute sneaky space in your bag for that gorgeous ethical plant dyed shawl you just found in the local community initiative store!!