The climate of Tibet is a world apart from the rest of the Himalaya. As an arid, high-altitude desert sitting atop the world’s highest plateau, Tibet experiences an extreme continental climate defined by intense solar radiation, thin air, and drastic daily temperature fluctuations. Unlike its southern neighbors, Tibet is largely shielded from the Indian monsoon, meaning it stays remarkably dry throughout the year.
For trekkers, this translates into a much longer trekking season, with the prime months running from May through October. Summer (June to August) offers the warmest temperatures, though afternoon thunderstorms are common and can roll in unexpectedly over the vast plains. The absolute sweet spot for clarity and stability is autumn (September to October), when the skies are a piercing blue and the wind hasn’t yet picked up. The defining rule of Tibetan trekking is preparation for the extremes: you will roast in the midday sun dur to the UV intensity, yet shiver violently as soon as the sun dips behind the mountains at dusk.