Monastery town on a hillside in Chamdo, eastern Tibet, at golden hour

Tibet travel guide

Chamdo Travel Advice

Chamdo (Qamdo) lies in eastern Tibet, where Tibet meets Sichuan and Yunnan. It is the heart of Kham, a region of deep river gorges, forests, high passes and proud Khampa culture.

1. Best Travel Time to Chamdo

Chamdo has warm, rainy summers and dry, windy winters and springs. The best time is June to September, when it is mild and the passes are open. Rain falls mostly at night, so days are often clear.

From November to March it is cold, and snow can close the high passes. April and May are dry and windy, with clear skies.

Season	What to expect
Spring (April–May)	Dry, windy, clear skies
Summer (June–September)	The best time: mild and green
Autumn (October)	Cooler, autumn colours
Winter (November–March)	Cold; passes may close

2. Dining in Chamdo

Sichuan food is everywhere in Chamdo, thanks to its long trade links with Sichuan: hotpot, noodle shops and simple rice dishes. Tibetan food is easy to find too: tsampa, butter tea, yak meat and momos.

3. Shopping in Chamdo

Chamdo is part of Kham, known for its bold jewellery and craft. Popular things to buy:

Khampa jewellery in turquoise, coral and silver
thangka paintings
yak wool weaving and leather goods
caterpillar fungus (yartsa gunbu), a prized local product
Khampa knives and decorative items (see our shopping tips about knives and flights)

Bargaining is normal, especially for jewellery and textiles.

4. Transportation

By air	Chamdo Bamda Airport, with flights from Lhasa and Chengdu
By road from Lhasa	about 1,100 km, several days through high passes and gorges
Altitude	Chamdo town about 3,200 m; Bamda Airport about 4,330 m

Bamda Airport is one of the highest airports in the world and is about two to three hours’ drive from Chamdo town.

5. Health & Altitude Advice

Chamdo town is lower than Lhasa, but altitude sickness is still possible, especially if you fly in to Bamda at 4,330 m. Rest on your first day, avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water. Ask your doctor whether acetazolamide (Diamox) is right for you.

6. Must-See Attractions

Jampaling Monastery — one of the largest monasteries in Kham, overlooking Chamdo town
Rawok Lake — a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by snow peaks, on the road between Chamdo and Nyingchi
The Nujiang (Salween) gorges — the dramatic “72 bends” on the Sichuan–Tibet road
Kham villages — traditional wooden and stone houses in green valleys