| Clothing accessories
Warm clothes are required to avoid the frosty cold weather during the month of October, November, December, January, February and March. Whereas months of April, May, June, July, August and September can allow you to wear light clothes to shun the scorching heat. However a jacket and sweater are advised through out the year as the weather may unexpectedly change at any time. Other recommended items are a domestic first aid kit, water purification tablets, toilet and issue paper, flashlight, sleeping bag comfortable walking shoes, dusts masks, utility knife, sun hat, sun glasses, suntan lotion and limited number of clothes.
Costoms: There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorder or radios as long as they are for personal use or if commercial use should be registered with a custom official. Printed matters considered unsuitably by the Chinese government are prohibited. Customs regulations forbid the export of art objects created prior to 1959 or souvenirs in amounts deemed to be excessive.
What to Take?
Food – snacks along the way
Water bottles (use iodinated or boiled water)
Personal medical kit and diamox tablets for high altitude
Sunglasses
Sun screen lotion
Toilet paper
Flash light batteries
Day pack
Camera and film
Bandanna / Scarf or mask – to protect your lungs from dust
A good Guide book on Tibet
Kathmandu-Lhasa route map
High altitude sickness : Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is common at high altitudes, and depends on the elevation, the rate of ascent and individual susceptibility. Most visitors to Tibet will suffer from at least some symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization in several hours to several days.
Symptoms tend to be worse at night and include headache, dizziness, and lethargy, loss of appetite, nausea, breathlessness and irritability. Difficulty sleeping is another common symptom, and many travelers have trouble sleeping for the first few days after arriving in Lhasa.
To prevent high altitude sickness:
• Drink extra fluids. The mountain air is dry and cold and moisture is lost as you breathe. Evaporation of sweat may occur unnoticed and result in dehydration.
• Eat light, high-carbohydrate meals for more energy.
• Avoid alcohol as it may increase the risk of dehydration, and don't smoke.
• Avoid sedatives.
• Don't push yourself when climbing up to passes, rather take plenty of breaks.
• Avoid catching cold before you entering Tibet.
Medicine: Following is a list of items you should consider including in your medical kit - consult your pharmacist for brands available in your country.
Aspirin or paracetamol - for pain or fever
Antihistamine - for allergies, eg hay fever; to ease the itch from insect bites or stings; and to prevent motion sickness.
Antibiotics-consider including these if you're traveling well off the beaten track' see your doctor, as they must be prescribed, and carry the prescription with you.
Loperamides or Diphenoxylate 'blockers' for diarrhea' Prochlorperazine or metaclopramide for nausea and vomiting
Rehydration mixture to prevent dehydration, eg due to severe diarrhea; particularly important when traveling with children
Insect repellent, sunscreen, lip balm and eye drop.
Calamine lotion, sting relief spray or aloe vera-to ease irritation from sunburn and insect bites or stings
Antifungal cream or powder - for fungal skin infections and thrush
Antiseptic, such as povidone-iodine for cuts and grazes
Bandages, band-aids or plasters and other would dressings.
Scissors, tweezers and a thermometer (note that mercury thermometers are prohibited by airlines)
Syringes and needles in case you need injections in a country with medical hygiene problems. Ask your doctor for a note explaining why you have them.
Cold and Flu tablets, throat lozenges and nasal decongestant
Multivitamins - consider for long trips, when dietary vitamin intake may be inadequate.
Cultural Considaration
The Tibetans are among the easiest people to get along with in Asia. But still there are some cultural considerations you should better to pay attention to when you travel in Tibet.
• Do not photo them without permission!
• Always circumambulate gompas and other religious objects clockwise, thus keeping shrines and chortens to your right.
• Don't touch or remove anything on an altar.
• Don't take photos during a prayer meeting. At other times always ask permission to take a photo, especially one using flash. The larger monasteries charge photography fees.
• Don't wear shorts or short skirts in a monastery.
• Take your hat off when you go into a chapel.
• Don't smoke in a monastery.
• Do not eat dog, donkey and horse in Tibet.
• Be aware that Tibetans often gesture with their lips to show a direction, so if a member of the opposite sex pouts at you they are just showing you where to go.
Money & Cradit Card
In Tibet, the only place to change foreign currency and travelers cheques is the Bank of China. The top end hotels in Lhasa have exchange services but they are only available for guests. The sensible thing to do is to change as much money in Lhasa as you think you need. The only other places to change money are in Shigatse, Zhangmu and Purang(or perhaps Ali). If you are traveling upcountry, try and get your cash in small denominations: RMB100 and RMB50 bills are sometimes difficult to get rid of in rural Tibet. If you don't like the idea of turning up at the border with no Chinese currency you can buy cash RMB from banks in Hong Kong and the Bank of China in large cities.
Credit Cards: Credit cards are not recommended as a way of payment in Tibet. Flights and Lhasa can not be paid using a credit card. The Lhasa central branch of the Bank of China is the only place in Tibet which provides credit card advances. A 4% commission is usually deducted and the minimum advance is normally RMB1200.
Traveler’s Cheques: Traveler’s cheques are now acceptable at the Bank of China. It is recommended that you cash them in Lhasa.
Remark: In Tibet, coins are not acceptable even for donations, and sometimes the new version of money are not recognized and accepted as well..
Airport Tax
The airport departure tax on Lhasa / Kathmandu flight is included in the flight fare. The airport tax on Kathmandu / Lhasa flight is approximately US$ 25 which is payable at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Booking & Visa
The clients should have confirmed the tour reservation at least thirty days before departure along with advance of 25% of the cost and the following passport information:
(1) Name (2) Sex (3) Nationality (4) Passport number (5) Date of birth (6) Occupation.
We require three full working days to obtain a TIBET/ CHINA Visa. The client should be available in Kathmandu during that time.
Cancellation Policy
50% of the cost will be charged for confirmed bookings upto 7 days prior to departure to TIBET after that NO REFUND will be made. NO refund for no shows and delay arrivals whatsoever reason.
Tour Operation
Forever Trekking guarantees the departures of all tours with minimum number of persons mentioned in the programs and based on seat-in-coach. However, operations of tours are subject to road condition and flights.
Health & Altitude Problems
Traveling in Tibet involves high altitude and can be strenuous. Clients with heart and lung problems or blood diseases should consult their doctor before booking the trip. Very rare cases of altitude sickness have been report-ed. Simple headache; fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders can happen before the acclimatization. Some advice: drink approx. 03 liters of water per day, do not strain yourself, move slowly, breathe deeply and take regular rests.
Clothing Accessories
From Oct. to March warm clothes are required due to c- old and from April to September only light clothes will be enough. However, a jacket and a sweater are advised through out the year as the weather may unexpectedly change at any time. The recommend items are: A domestic first aid kit, water purification tablets, toilet and tissue papers, flashlight, sleeping bag, comfortable walking shoes, dust masks, utility knife, sun hat, sun glasses, suntan lotion and a limited number of clothes.
Insurance
Full travels insurance coverage, particularly for the trip cancellation and interruption is strongly recommended.
Risk & Liability
Nepal Mountain Trekking will do every effort to make your journey a pleasant one. As Tibet Tourism Authority strictly conducts all the Tibet programs, we will not be responsible for any change/alteration of programs, sightseeing in restricted areas, problems, accidents, loss of personal belongings etc. In such cases, the clients have to bear the extra cost on the spot.
THE CLIENTS TRAVEL TO TIBET AT THEIR OWN RISK. We strongly recommend our clients to be protected by insurance to cover accidents, health, emergency evacuation, loss or damage of person belongings. We can also arrange this coverage upon request at extra cost.
A separate form has to be signed by the clients accepting the mentioned conditions at the time of booking the tour.
CUSTOMS
There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders or radios as long as they are registered with a custom official. Printed matters considered unsuitable by the Chinese Government are prohibited, Customs regulations forbid the ex- port of art objects created prior to 1959 or souvenirs in amounts deemed to be excessive.
Business Hours
Government offices are usually closed on SATURDAY afternoon and all day SUNDAY.
Currency
The unit of currency for foreigners is Yuan. US$ 1= 8 Yuan at present and can be exchanged at the bank of China at Zhangmu, Shigatse and Lhasa.
Airport Tax
The airport departure tax at present is equivalent US$ 12.00 per person.
Tibet Visa
As per recent Chinese Govt. Decision, Chinese Embassy, Kathmandu require a group consisting minimum of five participants.
For obtaining the Tibet Visa in Kathmandu we need a minimum of 3 clear working days. As such clients will have to reach Kathmandu accordingly. For your information, the Chinese Embassy is open on every Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays for one hour only. Normal Visa Fee is US$ 28.00 net per pax and for American US $ 87.00.
However, if visa has to be issued within one to three days, emergency charges will be US$ 17.00 net per pax will applicable which is over & above normal visa fee.
Also we would like to inform you that we require the passport details with photocopy of passport before the arrival of the GIT/FIT or by fax (i.e. Full Name, Sex, Nationality, Date of Birth, Passport number, Occupation) in order to process the Tibet Visa Formalities at our end.
It is advisable to bring two-passport size photographs along with each of them, which may need, while obtaining the Tibet Visa.
** The above regulations and all visa fees are subject to change without prior notice.
"PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY UNUTILISED SERVICES IS NON REFUNDABLE IN TIBET ON TOUR COST AS WELL AS ON AIRFARE."
Kathmandu / Lhasa / Kathmandu flight operates as follows:
JULY TO OCTOBER EVERY TUESDAYS & SATURDAYS AND THURSDAY
APRIL TO JUNE AND NOVEMBER EVERY TUESDAYS AND SATURDAYS
DECEMBER TO MARCH ONLY SATURDAYS (It is not a regular flight) |
