Tibet weather & when to go: March

March is the start of spring in Tibet. The ice is melting, with often hazardous results for travel in isolated areas due to flooding and mudslides, and the average temperature across the country rises to 5°C. Spring sees the entrancing Nyingtri Peach Blossom Festival take place in southeast Tibet, the lowest region in the country.

Some of the high altitude lakes are now beginning to thaw, and their turquoise waters are beautiful under the spring sunshine; while in the capital, Lhasa, daytime temperatures reach a balmy 16°C. It’s slightly colder in Shigatse, six hours’ drive to the west, and of course once the sun sets, the temperature drops rapidly.