TIBET FAQ

1. What should I pack for this trip?

• Comfortable walking shoes (some traction is required, so avoid boots and shoes with slippery soles)

• Casual clothing only

• Waterproof windbreaker jacket

• Clothes that you can layer:  during the daytime climate is sunny and mild, early morning and evenings  temperatures can drop significantly.  Please refer to temperature and rainfall chart at bottom of page

• SPF 30 or higher sunscreen (please bring hat or visor if your skin burns easily)

• Sunglasses with adequate UV protection

• Chapstick

• Any prescription medication essential to your health

• Any over the counter medication that you might require, such as analgesics, allergy relief medicine, eye drops, etc.  These are very difficult (if impossible) to purchase in Tibet.  Even in modern cities like Beijing and Shanghai, they are not easy to find.

2. What is the altitude and what can I do to help acclimation?

• The altitude in Tsedang (our first stop) is 3,000meters or 9,850 feet.  Lhasa is 3,650meters or 12,000 feet

• Please drink plenty of water, especially on the first day of your arrival

• You may take over the counter analgesics if you develop a headache.  Most hotels and local pharmacies carry herbal teas that help with altitude symptoms (we highly recommend these)

• You may experience some dizziness while climbing or during brisk walks

• Some sleeplessness is common, accompanied by shortness of breath (particularly between the hours of 1am-4am)

• You should assume that you will develop some symptoms of altitude sickness, which generally appear the day after arrival.  Please take precautions: rest upon arrival, avoid alcohol & tobacco, and drink plenty of water. 

• Suggested natural supplements prior to your trip:  30 days prior to arrival in Tibet, we highly recommend that you begin taking daily doses of Iron Citrate (available at most health food stores).  We will also have some herbal teas available in Shanghai/Beijing, which you may begin taking 2-3 days before arrival (these are completely natural and highly effective)

3. Is the food safe in Tibet?

• Yes, we have personally never gotten sick from eating at the hotels and restaurants on the main drags.  Therefore, we suggest that you limit your consumption during free meals to those restaurants on our recommended list (we will hand out this information during the tour)

• NEVER DRINK THE TAP WATER.  Most hotel rooms have an electric tea pot for boiling water, and it is safe to drink tap water if you have boiled it for at least 10 minutes (in high altitude you must boil water longer)

• If you buy fruit off the street, make sure that you peel it before eating

• Please wash your hands as often as possible and consider carrying some anti-diarrhea medication (preferably prescription strength)

4. What about vaccinations and other medications?

• Please visit the www.cdc.gov website for information on vaccination guidelines.  We also suggest that you may want to consult with your doctor about prescribing some broad-spectrum antibiotics in case you develop intestinal and/or respiratory infections

5. Do I need a special visa to enter Tibet?

• Yes, you need a Travel Permit, which Quest Tours will secure on your behalf and is included in the tour price (all we need is your China Visa and Passport #s).  IMPORTANT:  when applying for the China Visa in your country of origin, do not mention on the application that you will visit Tibet (this can cause the embassy/consulate to want to see your Travel Permit).  Instead, once your Chinese Visa is issued, we will proceed to process your Tibet Travel Permit via our agent in Shanghai.

6. How easy is to exchange money in Lhasa?

• You can exchange money at most hotel counters (this is not guaranteed).  On weekdays, you can always exchange US$ or obtain credit card cash advances at the Main Branch of Bank of China in downtown Lhasa (a long waiting line is to be expected).  Therefore, we recommend that you carry enough cash with you to cover your incidentals and shopping requirements during the tour

Yearly Climate Info -- Lhasa --

Detailed information about the Average, Maximun and Minimum Temperatures and the rainfall in Lhasa.

Average Data Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average High (F) 45 48 54 60 68 74 72 70 68 62 53 47 Average High (C) 7 9 12 16 20 23 22 21 20 17 12 8 Average Low (F) 14 20 27 34 42 50 50 50 46 35 23 16 Average Low (C) -10 -7 -3 1 5 10 10 10 8 2 -5 -9 Rain (in) <0.1 <0.1 0.1 0.2 0.9 2.8 5.1 5.0 2.2 0.3 <0.1 <0.1 Rain (mm) <5 <5 <5 7.5 22.5 72.5 132.5 127.5 57.5 7.5 <5 <5