September is a simply glorious month to visit Tibet. The rainy season is coming to an end, and the autumn colours transform the landscape, with golden fields of wheat and barley a delight for photographers. Temperatures are dropping now, averaging around 13°C in the daytime, and the mornings and evenings can be particularly chilly.
The dates vary, but the Ongkor Festival, when Tibetan farmers give thanks for the harvest, usually occurs in September. Both Lhasa and Shigatse are good places to join the celebrations. Outside the cities, the Holy Lakes are especially beguiling at this time, their placid waters framed and enhanced by autumnal foliage.
This month marks the tail-end of peak season, and if you’re planning a holiday to Tibet in late September, you can expect stunning scenery, especially as the clouds begin to clear. A short window suitable for trekking opens up around now too, with lower rainfall to be expected.