Je suis en train d'essayer de comprendre quels sont le bons et les mauvais moment de l'année pour passer le Tibet (Yecheng-Kathmandu, la route classique). J'ai l'impression de voir des infos contradictoires... est-ce que quelqu'un est bien informé sur les conditions climatique dans cette région au cours de l'année ?
Certains y sont passé en mai, d'autres en septembre... quelqu'un m'a dit "plutôt après octobre", etc... si j'ai bien compris, entre les deux, il y a soit la mousson, soit des températures glaciales... est-ce qu'il faut prendre garde à atteindre cette portion de la route à un moment bien précis, ou n'est-ce pas si grave ? Est-ce qu'il y a des périodes à éviter absolument ?
L'été, c'est la mousson, mais le Tibet, du moins dans sa partie occidentale, est à peu près à l'abri (je ne dirais pas la même chose si tu voulais prendre la route Chengdu - Lhasa avec plein de glissements de terrain). Cela dit, c'est plus couvert l'été et il y a davantage de chances d'averses et d'orages qu'à d'autres saisons. La partie nord (avant Ali) ne reçoit pas beaucoup de précipitations (c'est le désert !) et il peut faire bien chaud en juillet-août. Tu auras davantage de pluie si tu passes du côté de Zangla. L'Everest et le Mont Kailash sont en général sous les nuages (3 semaines de trek au camp de base de l'Everest côté Népal en juillet-août, pas aperçu le sommet un seul quart de seconde !!!) mais pas toujours. Là où tu sentiras vraiment la mousson, c'est surtout après Saga, en arrivant sur le Népal. Mais ça dépend des années. L'été dernier à Kathmandu, il a plu non stop plusieurs jours, puis plusieurs jours de grand beau temps...
En plein hiver (décembre à mars), c'est sous la neige, alors c'est la seule saison à éviter (ok pour la partie Lhasa-Kathmandu, mais pas la route entre Ali et Saga, fermée une bonne partie de l'hiver). Cela dit, j'ai rencontré la semaine dernière un couple d'allemand qui a fait la route Kashgar-Lhasa cet automne et est arrivé à Lhasa mi-décembre (ils ont eu TRES froid). Avril-Mai : vents de sable (parfois mais pas toujours) qui altèrent la visibilité, et saison pas top si vous continuez ensuite sur l'Inde (il fait super chaud en mai-juin en Inde).
Septembre-octobre : la mousson est passée, il ne fait pas encore trop trop froid (enfin, moins glacial qu'en plein hiver, mais les nuits restent glaciales, et avec le vent, il peut faire très froid aux cols !).
Si tu comptes 2 mois, mi-août à mi-octobre me semble l'idéal pour faire la route, c'est d'ailleurs à ce moment-là qu'il y a le plus de cyclistes. Mais Peter Quaife (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Occupiedterritories) l'a fait l'été dernier (jusqu'à Lhasa, pas Kathmandu) apparemment sans gros pb côté météo (qqs journée de pluis + qqs orages).
Anyway, quelle que soit la saison, il faut prévoir un sac de couchage vraiment sérieux et une tente qui résiste au vent !
Malheusement, je doute que mon timing ne me permettra pas d'y être pour septembre-octobre... même avec un départ de suisse au printemps, ça va faire short... je pensais essayer d'y être pour peu après mars 2009... resterais à trouver un itinéraire qui permette de passer le gros de l'hivers dans une région pas trop glaciale...
Nous avons fait lhassa-kathmandou l'an dernier au mois d'avril. Grand beau temps, avec beau soleil dans la journée (température agréable), mais bien frais la nuit. Difficile de sortir de la tente avant les premiers rayons du soleil... On a eu un peu de neige aussi, mais l'Everest et toute sa chaîne souvent dégagés !
++ et bonne route
Afrique Australe avec les 2 mômes (7 et 2 ans)
Amérique du Sud sur 10 mois (10 000 km), avec notre fiston (3ans)
Asie et du Moyen-Orient sur un an (16500 km).
🙂 Bonjour Gorsky,
ma réponse est tardive, mais je me demande comment tu es passé entre Yecheng et l'Aksai Chin, Domar, Rutok. En effet, le trajet est bourré de militaires. Cet été 2009, j'ai fait le trajet en sens inverse, le contrôle à la frontière intérieure aux alentours de Akmeqit était draconien et je n'ai croisé comme touristes que des chinois chinois en vélo.
Si tu n'es pas encore parti, j'ai subi une tempête de sable entre Yecheng et le pied des KunLun, une tempête de neige entre le pied des KunLun et Mazar, en revanche c'était plein soleil sur les hauts plateaux du Tibet sauf à Kailash où le ciel était plombé. En été, les effets de la mousson ne paraissent pas se faire sentir sur l'ouest du Tibet mais bien au centre et à l'Est. La route passe quand même par des cols de 5200m, venteux et pas très chauds. Le long des lacs sur la route de Rutok, épouvantables petits moustiques. Tu verras successivement des chameaux de Bactriane, des antiloppes et quelques yaks jusqu'à Rutok. N'oublie pas ta réserve d'eau car c'est particulièrement désertique.Si tu n'es pas encore parti, je te souhaite un merveilleux voyage. Chabyer
Hi,
We're leaving on June 19th for an 8-day road trip in South Iceland. I've heard that even in summer, it's cold and the weather can change several times a day. Should we mainly pack winter gear, like a K-Way, fleece, down jacket, beanie, etc.?
We’d love to visit Georgetown and the beautiful beaches of Langkawi from mid-September to early October, but we’re worried it’ll be a real steam bath 🥵
Thanks to anyone who can share their experience!
Mitisi
For those who’ve experienced it, what’s the weather like in Shanghai at the end of December?
I’ve heard it’s cold, but coming from France, is the winter milder than in Lyon, for example?
I’m tempted to spend the Christmas holidays in Shanghai and the surrounding areas (Nanjing, Suzhou) with my family—kids are 11 and 2. It’d be a bummer if the little one catches a cold over there.
Generally, is this a good time for simple family visits to the main spots, restaurants in the city, indoor heating, and outdoor walks?
Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Mauritius—anyone have advice on when to go? I’m thinking April, May, or June for my stay. Which month would you recommend for the best beach weather, sunbathing, and exploring the island? Thanks!
Hi,
we’re planning to travel through Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) in February and March 2027.
From a seasonal and weather perspective, at that time of year and with hiking as our main activity, is it better to explore Patagonia from south to north or the other way around?
Thanks in advance.
Anne Marie
I’ve planned a three-week itinerary for this summer, from August 9 to 27, in Sri Lanka:
Negombo – 1 night
Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle – 4 nights
Kandy – 2 nights
Ella – 3 nights
Tangalle – 6 nights
Colombo Airport – 1 night
I know this isn’t the ideal time for the south since the beach conditions aren’t great, but we’ve booked a hotel with a pool and won’t be swimming in the sea. We want to relax after all the travel since we’re bringing our two kids, aged 6 and 8.
I know the east would be better, but (i) I’m struggling to find suitable accommodation, and (ii) it adds a lot of travel time, and my kids can only handle about 3 hours at a stretch.
I looked into Arugam Bay, but it’s a 7-hour trip back to Colombo from there.
I’ve checked every weather site imaginable, but they don’t all agree. Do you think we’ll spend our whole trip in the rain, or is the monsoon in the south mostly limited to the sea, as I’ve read?
I’m worried about ending up in the middle of a natural disaster with my two young kids, given recent events.
hi
After reading quite a few posts and buying a guidebook, I’m still struggling to finalize my suitcase.
Given that we’ll be visiting both islands during our road trip and suitcases aren’t exactly expandable,
I’ve noted that temperatures can be changeable—but should I pack more winter clothes than summer ones?
Thanks for your help
We’ve decided to go to Skopelos for 2 weeks at the end of April. What kind of weather should we expect? Any special things to know about this remote island?
Thanks for your tips
Hi there. On my itinerary from São Luís to Jericoacoara, I’ll be passing through the Lençóis. Is there any point stopping there this time of year? Apparently, the lagoons are dry, but aside from the lagoons, is the surrounding landscape still interesting enough to warrant a 1- or 2-day stop? Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi,
We’ve booked our flight tickets and we’re leaving from October 29th to November 13th for Mauritius.
I just reserved our accommodation in Cap Malheureux.
We’re used to hot and especially very sunny destinations like Oman, Jordan, Uzbekistan...
If you can reassure me about the period—can we expect sunny weather? I’m really dreaming of discovering Le Morne Brabant under beautiful sunshine...
Thanks
Hi everyone,
I need to go to Sri Lanka at the end of January.
I’ve seen that many roads, hotels, and parks were closed after the cyclone, which unfortunately caused a lot of damage.
Does anyone have more information?
Would it be wiser to postpone our trip?
Thanks, Alain.
Hi,
I’m planning a trip to Oman, probably the first half of February to avoid the extreme heat and Ramadan.
But after checking various weather sites and reading accounts, I’m a bit worried about rain, which can apparently be frequent and heavy in February. I’d love to hear from travelers or locals who’ve been there recently.
What would be the ideal month to explore Oman without extreme heat or rain? November?
Also, it’s best to avoid visiting the wadis on weekends—does that mean Saturday and Sunday?
This year, 2026, I can only get away in April and May. I never travel during these months usually, and from what I know, they aren’t the best for India. But in such a big country, there are always spots that are better than others weather-wise.
Which region would you recommend?
Given that I’ve already traveled quite a bit in this country, and in any case, I’ll be discovering places I don’t know yet. No need for a major tourist hotspot or luxury comfort.
Hi everyone,
We’d love to return to India next year for 3 weeks (we visited Rajasthan about fifteen years ago). Unfortunately, we’re tied to traveling in September, and our initial plan was to explore Himachal Pradesh. However, it seems like that might not be the best month for this region.
Could you share your experiences from that time of year in Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, or even the Spiti Valley—in short, anywhere in Himachal Pradesh? Otherwise, which region of India would you recommend for a September trip?
Thanks so much!
Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip from mid-January to the end of February but I just can’t make up my mind 😕
I’ve looked into a few different options: Brazil, Cambodia, and Ecuador. The last one really appeals to me, but what’s making me hesitate is the risk of our trip being a bit too rainy (literally ),
We’re more drawn to the Andes, exploring colonial cities, typical villages, markets, and a bit of the coast. We’ve already gotten a taste of this in Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile. Plus, we’d love to do part of it by car since we’re used to driving at our own pace and stopping whenever we feel like it. Anyway, time’s running out, and I need to decide so I can finalize a route and book the tickets!!
Can anyone help me make up my mind or decide to postpone it for later? But for this year, I don’t have any other time slot to travel. Thanks for reading this far! !
I’ve planned a trip to Asia for the first half of November.
I’ll arrive in Singapore at the start of November for about 3 days, and I’ll leave from Bangkok in mid-November.
In between, I’d like to gradually head north to visit some less touristy islands on the Thai coast.
Since the weather is a big risk during this period, I’d love to hear your recommendations.
I’m looking for: sunshine, snorkeling, beaches, nature / jungle in places that are easily accessible without too much transport to make the most of my trip.
Hi there,
We’re planning a trip to Chile this coming August and would love to head down to Chiloé. We’ve heard that as we go further south at this time of year, the weather gets pretty rough.
What’s the weather like in Chiloé in late August/early September? What activities can we do? And which ones become really tricky because of the weather?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Marie
So great to be back on this forum after being away for—I don’t even know what!
I’m planning a trip to Malaysia in July with my 5-year-old son. The thing is, I’m not sure which coast to choose. AI keeps telling me east one minute and west the next. Which spot is least affected by rain during this time?
Hey everyone! 🙂
Just giving you the quick context: A group of friends and I are planning a trip to South Korea (Seoul/Busan) at the end of June/July next year. It falls right in the middle of the monsoon season, but we don’t really have other availability options.😕
I’d love to hear from people who’ve visited the country and these cities during this period—basically, is it not as bad as it sounds, or should we just cancel our tickets (we don’t mind the heat, it’s mostly the rain that scares us).
I know there are plenty of indoor activities, but do you think we’ll still manage to get a few sunny days, or will it be torrential rain for our entire 2-week trip?
The only other country we’ve visited during the rainy season is Brazil (in the northeast) around the same time, and honestly, aside from a few really annoying downpours, we had sunshine most of the time and it was awesome. That said, the climate is totally different, so I’m not sure how relevant the comparison is.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read or reply to this post! 🙂
Hi everyone.
Not sure if guidebooks, agencies, and other tour operators are keeping up by changing their visiting hours and offerings.
Personally, I see a promising opportunity here—jumping on this adaptation to extreme climates before others do, since they’re inevitably coming.
From my own travel experience, I’ve met a few guides so far who are starting to adjust, like in Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, and elsewhere.
They avoid crowds and the hottest hours by starting their tours around 6–7 AM, when it’s cooler.
Yeah, you’ve gotta wake up early, but the payoff is so worth it. 😴
If you’ve got any great tips like this, why not discuss them in this thread and share addresses or websites where the people in charge have realized climate change is real and are adapting? 😊
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Namibia in 2026.
I’m torn between visiting the Fish River Canyon and the Caprivi Strip / Victoria Falls.
I’d also love your advice on the best time to travel for wildlife viewing and pleasant weather.
I haven’t chosen a tour operator yet... since I’m traveling solo, I’d prefer a small-group escorted trip. Has anyone traveled with a local agency and what’s your feedback or advice?
Thanks so much!
I’m taking a month-long trip to northern Argentina throughout September. Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Salta, Humahuaca, Cafayate, and if time allows, La Rioja. I’m unsure about what clothes to pack. What are the temperatures like in September?
Thanks for your great tips!
Dominerja
hi
It seems that in recent years, January and February in Bohol have seen an increase in rainy periods. Have any of you noticed this?
Thanks in advance for your replies
Hello, We’re heading to Finnish Lapland near Rovaniemi as a family at the end of February with two kids (8 and 14 years old). We’ve got direct flights with Luxairstours. The itinerary is already set, but I’m wondering if anyone has traveled with Luxair before and knows exactly what kind of clothes they provide on the second day? The agency just told me it’s a heavy-duty cold-weather suit. I’m thinking we should get Sorel Caribou boots, maybe second-hand. Here’s what I’ve already planned:
- Thermolactyl leggings and tights from Damart for the whole family as a base layer.
- A first layer of Damart socks + Nordic Stocks socks in 70% merino wool for all four of us.
- Loose fleece layers, including some Polartec.
- Ski pants for hikes.
- For my son and me, a The North Face Himalayan down parka with a hood.
- A ski parka for my husband and my 14-year-old daughter (she *really* wants a Roxy one—I hope it’ll be warm enough).
- For myself, for the flight and the first day at Santa’s village, I’ve packed The North Face winter hiking pants, a long-sleeve merino wool top from Decathlon (thin), a fleece, and my big parka.
I’m wondering if I should just pack fleece joggers or sweatpants for the kids and my husband, at least for the first and last days, to be comfortable on the plane?
I’m also planning to buy balaclavas and neck warmers in addition to our beanies, as well as mittens for all of us. I really need advice because I have no idea—I’ve never been skiing! Also, for a 4-night, 5-day trip, should I pack a second set of base layers, like from Odlo?
Of course, I’ll be leaving cotton clothes out of the suitcase.
As you can tell, I’m someone who gets cold easily—especially my feet, hands, and ears—so that’s my biggest worry. I *don’t* want to be cold, even at -20°C during dog sledding, snowmobiling, or aurora hunting when we might be standing still. We won’t be in the city, and the kids will likely spend most of their time outside, as they usually do.
Hi there!
I’m planning a 10-day trip to Greenland in early August.
Could anyone tell me what kind of weather and temperatures to expect?
I’ve heard there are mosquitoes—is that true?
Thanks!😊
Sunny destinations in October???
Not too much rain.
Martinique, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Mauritius, Cape Verde, or somewhere else?????
Any tips? Thanks for your help
