Tibet travel advice

Visit your GP or travel clinic at least 6-8 weeks before departure to ensure you are up to date with all necessary vaccinations.

Bring supplies of any prescription medicines with you. If you have very specific medication, you may want to check with the Chinese Embassy to ensure this is not prohibited in China. You may also want to bring medicine to treat a stomach upset or diarrhoea; your holiday company will know the safe places to eat, but Tibetan food and drink can still take some getting used to!

Take out comprehensive travel insurance that includes emergency/medical evacuation as well as any activities you are planning to undertake – such as high altitude trekking.

120 is the emergency number; ask for an ambulance.

Tibet’s high altitude means that it is not prone to diseases such as dengue or bird flu that may exist elsewhere in China. However, the altitude presents health risks in itself. Lhasa is at 3,656m above sea level, so if you’re flying straight in altitude sickness could kick in straight away, with headaches, breathlessness and general exhaustion. Eat light food, avoid alcohol, and keep activity to a minimum for the first couple of days; even walking can be tough.

Tibet is generally very safe, with low crime rates. However, given the tense political situation there may be demonstrations, protests and sporadic outbreaks of violence. These are not targeted at foreigners and your holiday company should be able to keep you well away from such events, but do be careful and leave an area if you notice any demonstrators gathering. Do not get involved in any protests or film or photograph them.

In general, avoid any political discussions or criticising the government. Although autonomous, Tibet is part of China’s one-party state, and visitors should be very sensitive to this. It is even considered ‘illegal’ to bring any book, video or speech made by the Dalai Lama into Tibet and travel guides, such as Lonely Planet, that mention the Dalai Lama, or reference China’s occupation of Tibet will be confiscated too. The topic is deep-rooted and pretty serious as the military presence in towns and cities will attest.

Never trek without an experienced guide. This is remote and treacherous terrain, with extreme weather conditions and temperature variations. In many regions of Tibet, you’ll also be far from help or even a road, should you need it.

Road conditions are poor, as are driving standards. Be very careful when crossing roads.

You need to carry your passport on you at all times, or risk fines or detention.

“Enjoy the Tibetan adventure while it lasts. There are many changes taking places in the Tibetan landscape and in the Tibetan way of life. It is advisable to read up before this trip to experience the visit with an open mind.” – Izabela Spero

“Familarise yourself with the Buddhist faith. In the colder months, a sleeping bag would be a very good idea as some of the rooms are unheated. Also, try the yak butter tea with an open mind - it's not that bad!” – Judith Grubb

“The first week in Lhasa is easy going and paced well to allow gradual acclimatisation. The second week is hard going and not for the faint hearted. Drink plenty of fluids, even in Lhasa, keep a sense of humour, and never forget how privileged you are to be visiting Tibet.” – Victoria Hart

“Do not let the thought of altitude effect you too much - it is normal to be short of breathe and experience a few little headaches etc. Listen to your own body and to your team leader.” – Sharon Oo

“Don't take a Lonely Planet - it will be confiscated. I had my bags checked upon arrival and exit for books.” – Alan Wall

“It is important for westerners to see for themselves conditions inside Tibet and the impact of Chinese rule (some good, some bad, some very very bad). Whilst there visitors can also set an example of keeping the environment clean such as putting waste into bins instead of on the street.” – Victoria Hart

“Be absolutely aware of the restrictions the climate can have on travelling to Tibet during Winter… we thought we could have done some treks… but a lot of treks close down or require permits. I think we were under the impression that we could travel a bit more freely. It didn't affect our trip but that was our only frustration.” – Christina Berthram Poulsen

“Make sure you have plenty of small denomination bills with you. Ask your guide where to shop as a lot of the craft stalls and shops are chinese owned.” – Eleanor May Gilchrist

“Learn about the significance of Mt Kailash for the Hindu, Buddhist and Bon pilgrims you will be sharing your trek with. You are not going to have a quiet or solitary walk in beautiful mountains, you are going to be caught up in a devotional experience enjoyed by many fellow walkers… the overall experience is very rewarding.” – Neil Small