Tibet Weather in April
April is considered a particular month of Tibetan tourism. Generally speaking, tourism in Tibet begins in April as Tibet is temporarily inaccessible from late February to March owing to the celebration of the Tibetan New Year Festival. Moreover, April is the approach of spring. The weather is getting warmer, and snow begins to melt into streams. The lives in Tibet start to grow vibrantly. Therefore, it is believed that April is a great time to have a wonderful Tibet tour.
The Climate of Tibet in April
Although Tibet starts to warm up in April, the temperature is still not as high as in Summer. The average lowest temperature is 2 °C, while the medial highest temperature reaches 16 °C. The sunny, windy and dry climates often occur during this month, and in the nighttime, a little bit of coldness remains like the winter’s tail left in Tibet. Regarding the precipitation, there are around five rainy days a month with 5mm of rainfall. The sunlight is strong in Tibet’s April, which is usually 8 hours a day.
Clothing Required
As we all can see the temperature varies widely between day and night in April. Hence, dressing in layers is necessary to keep tourists from having a cold caused by the rapid change in temperature. Moreover, there are many restaurants and hotels in Tibet that do not offer central heating, which means tourists have to wear a coat or more at night. We suggest travelers bring clothing such as coats, thin sweaters, jackets, and long-sleeve shirts. Apart from the coldness, UV radiation is another factor that should be paid attention to by tourists. It is beneficial for them to take along sunglasses, sun hats, and sun cream to prevent sunburn.
Where to Travel in April
Some of the most recommended tourist attractions/spots in Tibet in April are Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Everest Base Camp, Nyingchi, Pabonka, Namtso Lake, etc. with beautiful scenery and pleasant weather.
Potala Palace
Potala Palace is a renowned ancient palace in Lhasa, with the largest and the most well-preserved groups of palaces. And it also is the world’s highest palace. The majestic architecture colored red and white is located on the hill known as the Red Hill in Lhasa.
In the past, it is the private palace of the Dalai Lama. The magnificent Potala Palace now works as a museum, as well as a sacred place for worship. Every year, millions of pilgrims and local Tibetans arrive there to join in the worship.
Barkhor Street
Barkhor Street is a well-known shopping street located in Lhasa and built around the Jokhang temple, which is called the "Temple of the Lord"— derived from Jowo Shakyamuni Buddha, its primary image. Barkhor Street is referred to as the sacred road, for pilgrims and tourists come to this street from all over the world and take part in traditional Buddhist worship and pilgrimage.
Most travelers prefer Barkhor Street because it is where tourists can buy a variety of souvenirs and local specialties. In Tibet's April, it is still in a slack season with fewer crowds of sightseers, so it is an excellent time to go shopping on Barkhor Street and enjoy the local Buddhist culture.
Nyingchi
Spring in Tibet begins in Nyingchi. Nyingchi has the largest existing wild peach forest in Tibet, which is distributed in the Brahmaputra river valley with an altitude of 2,600 meters to 3,200 meters. In April, peach blossoms are already in full bloom all over the mountains and fields of Nyingchi. Gala Village is famous for its Peach Blossoms Valley. There are century-old wild peach trees in front and behind the houses of the villagers.
Everest Base Camp
In April, the temperature at Everest Base Camp is still low, around 0 °C during the day and 5 °C to 10 °C at night, and snowflakes often come. The wind at the mountain pass is very strong. Although it is cold, the magnificent scenery of Mount Everest and the cloudless snow-capped mountains will make you very shocked and excited. Tourists who like the starry sky can stay at Everest Base Camp. There are higher possibilities of seeing the starry sky at night.
Pabonka
In April, Lhasa is full of spring. The ancient temple Pabonka is located in the mountains in the north of Lhasa. Surrounded by peach blossoms, it is particularly quiet. If you don’t want to go to Nyingchi, going to Pabonka to see the peach blossoms is also a good choice. Here you can see snow-capped mountains, ancient temples, and peach blossoms. There are few tourists, and you can also overlook the panoramic view of Lhasa and the Potala Palace in the distance.
Namtso Lake
Namtso Lake is one of the most attractive traveling spots that are accessible in April after the long winter season passed. It is the third-largest salt lake in China at an altitude of 4718m. In late April, the breathtaking scenery can be viewed as the frozen Namtso lake changes into dark blue or turquoise, which appeals to numerous tourists to come to Tibet every year.