Climate

Despite the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, the daytime temperatures are actually quite mild. Between April and November the average temperature ranges from 15 - 25 degrees Celsius and the skies are generally clear and blue. From July to August, though, a brief shower can be expected during the day. The nights, however, can become very cold with temperatures dropping below 0 degrees Celsius. During the day, a light shirt or jumper and light pants will be suitable, but a warm fleece or down jacket is suggested for night-time wear.

Accommodations

The clients should not have high expectations of these and they will not be disappointed. Camping trek style might be a better alternative but currently it is not a Chinese-offered option, where the accommodation is available. The Chinese-built luxury tourist hotels that are found in Tibet are large, cold (figuratively & literally) cemented buildings set amidst fenced-in compounds. The hotels in Zhangmu and Xegar and most guest houses in Tibet are poorly kept with dirty carpets, broken windows and a feeling of abandonment, that permeates the lobbies & bedrooms. Hotel Lhasa (former Holiday Inn) and few other hotels in Lhasa are comparable to average Western lodging. While all the hotels have rooms with bathrooms, some hotels/guest houses do not routinely have either hot or cold running water. Several hotels (except in Lhasa) have hot water for bathing available during certain hours in the evening only; these hours of availability are announced, when guests arrive in the hotel. All hotel guest rooms are provided with a thermos flask of hot water for tea as well as comfortable beds with lots of warm blankets. While all the hotels are wired for electricity, power in some of the hotels/guest houses are limited to a few evening hours. Taking a flashlight along is a must. All hotels provide toilet paper, but for toilet stops during the day while on the road, it's a good idea to take some toilet paper along. Except the Lhasa Hotel in Lhasa, none of the hotels are heated. People wearing down jackets & hats while eating dinner or breakfast is a common sight. In November, the mean temperature in Lhasa goes from -4°C to 12°C. In August, the mean temperature ranges from +8°C to +22°C.

Food & Snacks

While travelling in Asia, one must be careful about food & drink. Many travellers have problems with diarrhea in Tibet.

Despite the most conscientious efforts, they may still come down with the dreaded ailment. Nevertheless, there are ways they can decrease the probability of getting sick and limit the bad effects of diarrhea once it has started. We recommend to carry iodine solution or tablets to purify drinking water. Normal concentration of chlorine tablets are not strong enough to kill giardia, a common cause of diarrhea in this region. No non-chemical filters eliminate viruses such as hepatitis & therefore should not be used alone to purify water. All boiled or tea water is probably safe. Ice cubes should not be taken unless one can be sure that they are made from boiled water. Many people forget that contaminated tap water used in brushing teeth could be a source of diarrhea. Any water going into the mouth should be purified with iodine or previously boiled. Foods that come hot & recently cooked are best. Foods that are peeled or skinned are also usually safe to eat.

Especially when visitors are not sure under what conditions the food has been prepared, they should avoid cold salads or other not recently cooked food that may have been sitting out for a long period of time. Salads cleaned & soaked in iodine are also safe. However, it is hard to determine whether or not the food has actually been soaked or whether the restaurant personnel just want to please the clients and tell them what they want to hear. Good restaurants are not available on the highways in Tibet. Therefore, we recommend clients to carry lunch boxes. However, realizing that lunch stops during the tour can be a bit unappetizing, bringing own snacks would be a great idea. They should bring foods they like & can eat easily (i.e. crackers, cheese, cookies, chocolate bars, granola bars, soup mix or peanut butter). But it is advisable not to bring too much. Ascending to high altitude many people find their appetites greatly diminished. This is a mild symptom of altitude sickness, so they should not be surprised if they are not very hungry. Also, unlike trekking, they will not have a lot of exercise as they will sit in the bus and watch the passing scenery most of the time.

Clothing

We recommend the following clothes to be brought along:

November to April - Down Jacket - Thermal Underwear - Warm Trousers - Warm Sweaters - Woolen shirts - Gloves - Light leather Boots in case of Snow - Warm hat & Scarf

May to October - Raincoat or Windbreakers - Jackets - Sweaters - Sunhat - Shirts (cotton/woolen) - Walking shoes - Thermal Underwear

Health

As most of the places in Tibet lie over 4,500m, clients are likely to experience some of the minor symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness (headache, mild nausea, lethargy and loss of appetite) until their body is adjusted to the elevation. This can take from few hours to a couple of days, depending on the individual. They should take it little easy first couple of days and take in plenty of non-alcoholic liquids. This helps the body to acclimatize faster. Hotels in Lhasa are equipped with oxygen. Doctors will also be available on call basis. A supply of bottled oxygen is carried in the vehicle at all times should it be required.


We also suggest that you consult your doctor at least 2 months prior to your trip. We also recommend that each person carry a basic first aid kit

Overland drives

The road between Lhasa and Kathmandu stretches for 920 km and is known as the Friendship Highway. It can at times become quite rough and impassable for many vehicles, so for this reason we use Landcruiser 4WDs. These vehicles are extremely reliable and will make the journey as comfortable as possible.

Landslides can at times affect overland travel in Tibet. Occasionally the road may become impassable and it will be necessary to find alternative transport.

Unfortunately, we cannot cover the extra cost of this and, in such circumstances, you may be asked to pay some additional amount. However, any such cost will be covered by your travel insurance and we will be more than happy to provide you with any necessary documentation. The section of road between Kathmandu and the Tibetan border can also be affected by landslides and mud during the monsoon, so the transport on this section will also be by Landcruiser 4WD.

Throughout your time in Tibet you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Tibetan guide who will not only act as an interpreter but will also provide a valuable insight into the Tibetan way of life. Accommodation in Lhasa will usually be at the Dhood Gu /Dhoodgu or Nordo Khangsar Hotel which are all renowned for their hospitality and warm Tibetan atmosphere. If you wish to stay at the Lhasa Hotel it can also be provided for an extra supplement. Elsewhere along the route, accommodation will be in the best available hotels. Meals will either be in the hotel or at a restaurant of your choice [where available]. Whilst on the road, lunch will be at one of the many Chinese teashops along the way, which generally serve a variety of noodle and vegetable dishes and meat where available.

Photography

Film is best bought in Kathmandu or from client's own country although print film is available in Tibet. Photography is allowed in most places except in security areas. The monasteries usually charge for photographs, often quite a lot. Video cameras are allowed in China but the filming fees are very expensive. All valuables must be declared at customs including cameras & video cameras. Clients should not lose custom declaration form, which is needed at the time of leaving China.

Visa

To apply for China visa, the passports must be valid for more than 6 months. A Group Visa is normally issued in Kathmandu. For the Tibet Visa procedure, we require following information by fax/email at least 30 days prior to the arrival in Tibet:

1) Name as in Passport.
2) Passport Number.
3) Nationality.
4) Date of issue & expiry of the passport
5) Date of Birth.
6) Occupation.
7) Sex.

We also require the photocopy of the passport by fax or email (as an attachment).

Our tours are based on entry and exit from Kathmandu. However, you can also enter from parts of Mainland China, i.e. Beijing, Chengdu etc. A separate visa shall be applied for incase change of entry/exit points.

Money matters

The Chinese currency is known as Renminbi [RMB] or 'The People's Money'. The exchange rate for RMB is approximately 8 RMB to 1 US$. You can change money at the hotels in Lhasa and in the Bank of China in Lhasa, Shigatse and Zhangmu. American Express and VISA cards are accepted in the same places. When we are travelling upcountry, try to get your money in small donominations: RMB 100 and RMB 50 bills are sometimes hard to get rid of in rural Tibet.

Time

Tibet is 8 hours ahead of GMT. Note Tibet is linked to Beijing time so when you cross the border to or from Nepal the time change is considerable. Nepal is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT.