General Info

Climate

Although temperatures vary greatly in a single day, sometimes can drop 15 degree C, the climate is not as harsh as most people imagine it being, especially the central area such as Lhasa, Tsedang and Shigatse, the major cities in Tibet have mild weather all year around, not hot in the summer, and not cold in the winter. It rains quite often during monsoon and reaches 12 inches of rainfall, but it hardly ever shows snows n wintertime because of it’s dry weather. Sunshine is immense.

Health

For most places you travel in Tibet are 3600 m and upwards, so heart pounding and shortness of breath are normal responses they are caused by lack of Oxygen and have nothing to do with age, sex and fitness. Relaxation for acclimatization is requested especially for the first day in Tibet. If the mountain sickness is acute with headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, you should go and see a doctor. You are suggested to drink at least 4 liters of water a day because of the dryness.

What you should take

Down Jacket or warm fleece top, thermal underwear [top and bottom], cotton shirts [short & long sleeved], warm and cotton trousers, sun polarized sunglasses, beanie or warm woolen hat and gloves, scarf [to keep out dust as well as cold], sandals [flip-flops], towel, rain jacket/coat, strong sun’s cream and lip protector, moisturizers water bottle & camera [with plenty of film and spare batteries].

Visa formalities

A valid passport including a Chinese entry visa is essential. For the foreign tourists who come from main land China to Tibet, another “Tibet permit” issued by the Tourism Administration Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region is required. You could only apply the permit through a qualified local travel services. For the tourists who want to enter Tibet from Nepal, you have to contact local travel services for applying entry visa invitations issued by the Regional Tourism Administration Bureau, and obtain your Chinese entry visas from the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Custom

There is no prohibition on still and video cameras, tape recorders as long as they’re registered with a custom official, printed matters considered unsuitable 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. All baggage must be cleared through customs. Tourists my bring in dutiable such as tobacco and liquors (within the allowed quantity) duty free. Narcotics, arm and ammunition are strictly prohibited.

Currency

RENMINBI, the people’s money used by millions of Chinese everyday, circulates in notes of 1,2,5,10 and 50, 100 Yuan, 1,2 and 5 jiao, there are also coins for 1,2 and 5 fen. With the Chinese currency Renminbi, one Yuan is divided into 10 jiao, into 10 fen (US$ 1= 8 Yuan). All hard currencies in any form (Cash / Travelers Checks) can be exchange on the arrival.