Things to Do in Lhasa in December

December Weather in Lhasa

-1°C (30°F) High Temp

-16°C (3°F) Low Temp

2mm (0.1 inches) Rainfall

35% Humidity

Is December Right for You?

Advantages

Crystal clear skies - December has the best visibility of the year with 28-29 cloudless days, perfect for Everest views from Rongbuk and stunning photography
Dramatically fewer tourists - only 15-20% of peak season crowds, meaning peaceful temple visits and no queues at Potala Palace (advance booking still required)
Traditional Tibetan winter festivals - Ganden Ngamchoe butter lamp festival creates magical evening ceremonies with thousands of flickering lights across monasteries
Cheapest accommodation rates - hotels drop prices 40-60% from summer rates, and you can negotiate better deals on guesthouses and homestays

Considerations

Extreme altitude cold - nights drop to -16°C (3°F) at 3,650m (11,975 ft), requiring serious winter gear and increasing altitude sickness risk for unprepared visitors
Limited daylight hours - sun sets by 7:15pm and rises after 8:30am, giving you only 10.5 hours of daylight for sightseeing
Some remote monastery access blocked - roads to Samye and Mindroling may be impassable due to snow, limiting day trip options to mainly city-area attractions

Best Activities in December

Potala Palace Winter Photography Tours

December offers the clearest skies and best natural lighting for photographing Tibet's most iconic structure. Snow-dusted rooftops against deep blue skies create postcard-perfect shots. Crowds are minimal, allowing unhurried exploration of the 1,000+ rooms. The winter light at 3,650m (11,975 ft) altitude creates incredibly sharp, vivid images impossible to capture during cloudy summer months.

Booking Tip: Palace tickets must be reserved exactly 7 days in advance through official channels. Photography tours typically cost ¥400-600 and include proper acclimatization guidance. Book through certified operators who include oxygen bottles and altitude medication in packages.

Monastery Winter Ceremony Experiences

December is peak season for Tibetan Buddhist winter ceremonies, especially the spectacular Ganden Ngamchoe butter lamp festival. Monasteries like Drepung and Sera hold daily winter prayer sessions with fewer tourists but full local participation. The cold enhances the mystical atmosphere of incense and chanting, while monks welcome visitors to warm yak butter tea ceremonies.

Booking Tip: Cultural monastery experiences range from ¥200-500 per day. Look for operators who provide warm clothing and understand ceremony protocols. Many include traditional Tibetan lunch and yak butter tea sessions. Book 5-7 days ahead for festival periods.

Everest Base Camp Clear Weather Expeditions

December offers the year's best weather window for Everest views with 90%+ clear visibility days. The 5,200m (17,056 ft) base camp experience is transformative in winter - crystal air, zero clouds, and spectacular star-gazing opportunities. Hardy travelers who can handle extreme cold witness Everest's north face in perfect clarity impossible during warmer, cloudier months.

Booking Tip: Multi-day Everest expeditions cost ¥3,000-5,000 including permits, accommodation, and cold-weather gear rental. Essential to book with operators providing proper altitude acclimatization schedules and emergency oxygen. Reserve 2-3 weeks ahead through licensed Tibet travel agencies.

Traditional Tibetan Winter Craft Workshops

December is traditional craft season when Tibetan families create items for New Year celebrations. Join authentic thangka painting, yak wool weaving, and butter sculpture workshops in heated studios. Local artisans have more time for teaching during slow tourist season, offering genuine cultural immersion while staying warm indoors during coldest parts of day.

Booking Tip: Craft workshops cost ¥300-800 per session depending on complexity. Half-day experiences include materials and warm traditional lunch. Look for workshops in heated traditional buildings with experienced local artisans. Many hotels can arrange through cultural centers.

Yamdrok Lake Winter Ice Formation Tours

Sacred Yamdrok Lake partially freezes in December, creating stunning turquoise ice formations against snow-capped mountains. The 4,441m (14,570 ft) altitude lake offers otherworldly winter landscapes impossible to see in warmer months. Clear December weather provides perfect conditions for dramatic photography of ice patterns and surrounding peaks.

Booking Tip: Day trips to Yamdrok typically cost ¥600-900 including transport and lunch. Essential to travel with operators providing warm vehicles and emergency equipment due to high altitude and cold. Weather can change rapidly, so flexible itineraries work best.

Traditional Tibetan Hot Springs Therapy

Natural hot springs around Lhasa become especially valuable in December's extreme cold. Yangpachen hot springs at 4,300m (14,107 ft) offer therapeutic bathing in 40°C (104°F) mineral water while surrounded by snow-covered peaks. Locals use winter hot springs for traditional medicine and relaxation during harsh weather months.

Booking Tip: Hot springs day trips cost ¥400-700 including transport and entry fees. Look for packages including traditional Tibetan lunch and private changing facilities. Some operators provide swimwear rental and towels. Best visited midday when temperatures are warmest.

December Events & Festivals

December 25th (fixed date following Tibetan calendar)

Ganden Ngamchoe (Butter Lamp Festival)

Tibet's most atmospheric winter festival where thousands of yak butter lamps illuminate monasteries and homes. Families climb to rooftops lighting traditional lamps while monks perform special ceremonies. The spiritual significance celebrates Tsongkhapa's enlightenment with magical evening scenes impossible to experience any other time of year.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Expedition-grade down jacket rated to -20°C (-4°F) - local shops don't stock adequate cold-weather gear for non-locals

Thermal underwear layers (merino wool preferred) - indoor heating is minimal even in hotels, you'll wear these constantly

SPF 50+ sunscreen and glacier glasses - UV index 9 at altitude with snow reflection causes severe burns in minutes

Altitude sickness medication (Diamox) - cold weather increases altitude sickness risk at Lhasa's 3,650m (11,975 ft)

Insulated waterproof boots rated for -15°C (5°F) - streets ice over daily and temple floors are freezing stone

Multiple pairs of warm gloves - one pair will freeze, having backups essential for photography and daily activities

Portable oxygen canisters - available in Lhasa but better to arrive prepared, especially for day trips above 4,000m (13,123 ft)

Power bank and charging cables - phone batteries drain rapidly in extreme cold, essential for navigation and permits

Lip balm with SPF and moisturizer - 35% humidity plus altitude causes immediate cracking and bleeding

Headlamp with extra batteries - 13+ hours of darkness daily, plus batteries lose charge quickly in cold

Insider Knowledge

Tibetans drink hot yak butter tea constantly in December - accept every offer, it's essential for staying warm and shows cultural respect while providing calories and salt for altitude adjustment

Book heated hotel rooms specifically - many guesthouses don't heat rooms adequately for non-acclimatized visitors, and 'standard' rooms can be colder inside than outside

Plan activities between 10am-4pm when temperatures peak at -1°C (30°F) - morning and evening activities become dangerously cold for unprepared visitors at altitude

Carry cash in inside jacket pockets - ATMs frequently freeze and malfunction in December, credit card readers fail in cold, and you'll need money for constant hot tea purchases

Avoid These Mistakes

Underestimating clothing needs - tourists arrive with 'normal' winter gear adequate for sea level, not realizing -16°C (3°F) at altitude requires expedition equipment

Scheduling too many outdoor activities - first-time visitors plan full sightseeing days not realizing cold limits outdoor time to 2-3 hours maximum before warming breaks needed

Not acclimatizing properly before day trips - jumping from 3,650m (11,975 ft) Lhasa to 4,400m+ (14,436 ft+) day destinations causes severe altitude sickness in December's harsh conditions