Visa Arrangements and Entry Procedure:
These are subject to change and depend on whether you join the trip in Kathmandu or China. If you are joining the trip in Kathmandu you will need a multiple entry visa for Nepal which can be obtained either from your nearest Nepalese consulate or on arrival in Nepal. If you are staying only 3 days in Nepal you are entitled to free visa. The special visa for traveling to Tibet will be processed b us. A photocopy of passport along with the following details should reach us at least 18 weeks prior to tour departure date.
- full Name
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Profession
- Nationality
- Passport Number
Cost of a normal visa fee is USD 26 for all nationals except American national. A Normal visa fee is applicable if the visa is processed on 5 full working day basis. An urgent fee of USD 11 additional is applicable for the visa to be processed in 3 days and USD 17 additional fee is charged by the Chinese Embassy for the visa to be processed within a day.

The Embassy of China is open every Monday – Wednesday & Friday from 10 AM to 11 AM for China / Tibet visa. Visa regulation in Tibet keep changing please ask us for latest Tibet visa information

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.
In Lhasa, accommodation will be at tourist standard hotel. It is renowned for its hospitality and warm Tibetan atmosphere and is perfectly situated in the centre of town just a few minutes walk from the Jokhang Temple and Barkor. 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 tea shops along the way which generally serve a variety of noodle and vegetable dishes and meat where available.

The roads in Tibet can at times become quite rough and impassable for many vehicles, It can at times become quite rough and impassable for many vehicles, so for this reason we use best Land cruiser 4WDs (Toyota 4500). These vehicles are extremely reliable and will make the journey as comfortable as possible. As for the trekking and climbing there will be a truck for carrying luggage and trek equipments. We’ll drive for several hours, stopping along the way for photographs or places of special interest, before stopping for lunch at around midday. After lunch we continue our journey, generally arriving at our destination by 3 or 4pm.

Despite the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, the daytime temperatures are actually quite mild. Between April and November the average temperature ranges form 15-25 degrees Celsius and the skies are generally clear and blue. From July to August though there can be the odd shower during the day. The nights, however, can be very cold and temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius. During the day a light shirt or jumper and lightweight pants will be suitable, but a warm fleece or down jacket is recommended for the evenings.
The best time of year for overland tours in Tibet is from April to November and for treks and Mt. Kailash tour from April to the beginning of October.

Our all treks and Mt. Kailash tours are fully catered by our qualified and experienced crew from Nepal and a professional English speaking Tibetan guide. Loads are usually carried by Yaks.
A typical day begins with a hot cup of tea brought to the tent at about 6 am, followed by a bowl of hot water for washing. After packing our bags and having a good breakfast, we set off on the morning's walk. All you need to carry is a small daypack containing a water bottle, camera, sun cream, hat, rain-jacket and a warm jumper, just in case. The porters or yaks will carry everything else for you. After walking for 3-4 hours we stop for lunch at around midday. The afternoon's walk is generally shorter and we arrive at camp in time for a nice cup of tea. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent exploring the nearby villages, doing a bit of washing or simply relaxing with a good book. Dinner is usually served between 6 and 7pm and after dinner, the evening is often spent playing cards or talking with the crew – and sometimes there will even be some singing and dancing before heading off to the tent for a well-earned sleep.

Apart from when you are staying in hotels, your cook will provide 3 tasty, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a variety of local and Western dishes. To start the day, breakfast consists of a choice of porridge, muesli and cereal followed by omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with chapattis or bread.
Lunch is generally a selection of salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta and traditional breads. After a long day on the trail, dinner is a hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetable, meat, rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert.
Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh produce as possible and our cooks and kitchen crew maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness and food preparation hygiene. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for.

Our tours and treks are based on entry and exit from Kathmandu. However, you can also enter from parts of Mainland China, i.e. Beijing, Chengdu etc.
Air China flies between Kathmandu and Lhasa (Tue, Thu & Sat in 2005) across the mighty Himalayas. This flight offers spectacular views of Mt. Everest, Makalu and many other Himalayan giants. All our trips, which begin by flying into Lhasa, can be joined from Kathmandu, Beijing, Hong Kong, Chengdu or Bangkok (via Chengdu). In the cities above you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You will then have the chance to see the sights before being transferred to the airport the next day for your flight to Lhasa. Additional accommodation in Kathmandu, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok or Chengdu can be arranged, please ask us for more detail.

When planning your clothing needs for a trek, think in terms of layers. Layers of clothing will keep you warm, but ca be removed gradually to prevent you from overheating. During spring and autumn the night temperatures in the mountains often dip below freezing, making warm gear essential. In summer the days can be hot, requiring light cotton clothing. Good wet-weather gear is recommended during the rainy summer months. The mountainous regions of Tibet can receive snow any month of the year; be prepared for cold weather if you plan to trek at elevations above 16000 feet (4880 m). Below is a list of suggested equipment, clothing, and accessories for Tibet

Equipment:
Footwear: hiking boots should have thick soles and be high enough to provide adequate ankle support. The newer ligh5weight boots are more comfortable but less durable than all-leather hiking boots. Consider gore-Tex-lined boots for treks during the rainy summer months. Optional: a pair of thongs or sneakers to wear in camp.

Packs: if you plan to backpack, use a pack with a wide, cushioned waist belt and thick shoulder straps that will comfortably support weight. On commercial treks you only need a day pack to carry your daily essentials. This pack should have padded shoulders straps, a wide waist belt, and a volume of about 1500 to 2000 cubic inches.

Duffel bag: long (36 inches or so), heavy-duty canvas or nylon bag that can be secured with a padlock. Waterproof by lining it with one or two thick plastic bags.
Sleeping bag: a three-season (spring-summer-autumn), mummy-style down or fiber-filled bag rated to about 5 to -10o C.

Inner Sheet: A silk or cotton inner sheet minimizes the need to wash our sleeping bag.

Sleeping pad: choose a full-length, self-inflating, or standard closed-cell foam pad.

Rain gear: Your raincoat should be roomy, mid-thigh in length, and have a water proof hood. Rain pants can double as wind pants. Gore-Tex, Japara, or high-quality coated nylon materials are best.

Water bottle: Take along one or two plastic or metal leak proof quart or liter bottles.

Clothing:
Thermal underwear: Bring one or two Paris of long-sleeved tops and bottoms and from wool, silk, polypropylene, or a similar synthetic fiber. Short-sleeved thermal tops are good on cool days while trekking. Avoid cotton long underwear.

Cotton underpants: Bring four or five pairs.

Socks: Have at least three pairs of wool / wool-mix socks, and several pairs of cotton socks. Hand-knit wool socks are available in Kathmandu.

Shirts: Bring a long-sleeved shirt made of wool, flannel, or chamois; a long-sleeved stay-press cotton shirt; and two or three cotton t-shirts.

Pants: Men should plan on taking one pair of loose-fitting wool or fiberpile pants and one pair of lighter-weight cotton pants. Women should bring several changes of mid-calf-length dresses or skirts, though loose-fitting pants are also acceptable. Shorts are not appropriate at any time in Tibet for mean or women.

Sweater: Choose wool or wool mix with a high neck for extra warmth.

Jacket: A fiberpile jacket is ideal for trekking and evenings in camp.

Headgear: Bring along a wool or fiberpile ski-style cap or balaclava for warmth. A lightweight brimmed hat is good for sun protection. Inexpensive broad-brimmed straw and flet hats are sold in Kathmandu’s city markets.

Scarf: Wool or silk is best, or use a fiberpile neck gaiter

Mittens or gloves: Wool, pile, or polypropylene is best

Bandanna or handkerchief: Bring several

Many of the following items are optional. Don’t try to bring everything-you would need a heard of yak to carry it all! On commercial treks the weight limit for personal duffel bags is approximately 42 pounds (20 kg).

Pocket knife: Swiss Army-style is best

Sewing kit: One small kit. Leather sewing awl is ideal for big repairs

Duct tape: One small roll for repairs

Compass: For use with trail descriptions and orientation with map

Altimeter: Measures altitude as a function of the barometric pressure

Maps: I wouldn’t go trekking without them.

Gaiters: Good for winter treks or wet trails during rainy summer months.

Insulated booties: Down or fiber-fill, for the colder months.

Umbrella: The lightweight collapsible kind for rain and hot sunshine.

Waterproof ground sheet or poncho: Can double as a tarp when it rains.

Cooking: Necessary only if you are trekking as an individual

Utensils: Supplied on commercial treks. Carry your won chopsticks

Drinking cup: For the ubiquitous butter tea offered when visiting a monastery or a Tibetan home. Carry it in our daypack.

Nylon cord: Fifteen to twenty feet for a clothesline.

Toilet paper: Stock up before the trek. Burn after using or pack it out.

Tampons or sanitary napkins: Only sanitary napkins are available in Tibet.

Toiletries: Use a small stuff sack to hold our toothbrush, toot paste, comb, soap dish, dental floss, skin moisturizer, and perhaps a mirror.

Towel: Two small, thin towels are preferable to one thick towel.

Flashlight: A headlamp is ideal for trekking with pair of extra batteries.

Plastic bags: A few of each size, from sandwich-sized to strong trash bags

Sunglasses: For high-altitude sunlight. Dark glacier glasses with side hoods are necessary in the mountains and after fresh snowfalls.

Sun creams and lip balms: Sun block rate 15 SPF or higher is best. Use zinc oxide for a total blackout lip balms prevent burning and chapping.

Journal, reading book, writing materials: For quiet moments

Camera: You’ll regret not bringing one.

Binoculars: Good for observing birds, wildlife, and distant scenery.

Shortwave radio: Bring earphones so you don’t disturb others

Portable tape recorder: To bring home the music and sounds of Nepal and Tibet.

It is difficult to find medication shops on the way. Therefore, it is better to carry our own first aid kit and be aware of the possible problems before starting your trip. While on tour/trekking, the following problems can occur:
- Upset stomach, often caused by change in diet or contaminated food and water is a common ailment to avoid it, one should pay particular attention to the quality of food and drinks taken on own initiative along the traveling route.
- Cough, cold, sore throats, common in the dry mountain area, can lead to chest infection. Sore throats can best be avoided by attempting not to breathe cold air directly through the mouth. Smoking should also be avoided.
- Joint muscle strains, food problems and blisters are other hindrances for travelers. Wearing good footwear will help avoiding these problems. A good walking training is obviously the best prevention.
- Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a fatal sickness caused by random altitude ascension. Therefore, climbers ascending 3000 meters or above should acquire knowledge of proper acclimatization processes. Symptoms of AMS include headache, loss of appetite, swelling of Limbs, dizziness, and difficulty in sleeping, irregular breathing, nausea and unusual weariness. Maintaining good fluid intake helps combat altitude sickness. In very acute cases a hurried descent or evacuation to lower altitude is the only effective cave.

Personal travel insurance should be made by the client prior to arrival in Nepal or Tibet. Full travel insurance coverage, particularly for trip cancellation and interruption is strongly recommended.
Prevention of Altitude Sickness:
1. Having a sensible itinerary is the most important way to avoid altitude sickness. It is recommended to climb not more than 1000ft (300m) a day above an altitude of 10,000 ft (3000m). If the terrain is such that this is not possible, one needs to have a rest day. Having flexibility for 1-2 extra days built into your schedule will allow you to be flexible when you are not feeling well and help avoid altitude sickness. It helps to "climb high" and "sleep low"
2. Use of Diamox- Diamos blocks an enzyme in the kidney and makes blood acidic, which is interpreted by the brain as a signal to breathe more. Diamox therefore, enhances the physiological response to altitude by increasing the rate and depth of breathing. Side effects of the drug are tingling of fingers and toes and tingling around mouth. Sulfa allergic individuals should not take this drug. The does of Diamox to prevent AMS is 1/2 tablet of a 250mg tablet twice a daily. Use of Diamox will not mask the symptoms of altitude sickness if it is to occur. Start taking Diamox the daily before you start the trip, continue it through your altitude and stop when you start descending.
Altitude & Health Tips:
Traveling in Kailash Mansarovar is an adventure involving high altitude and could be strenuous. Physical condition to a certain degree is essential for you to enjoy your trip. You should begin a regimen of exercises and walking habit of at least 3 to 4 km a day, a month prior to your departure date. Since you would be spending a lot of time in high altitudes, you must not have any altitude symptoms that might become severe if you are exposed to an altitude of 12,000 to 19,000 ft above sea level. While most visitors have only minor effect from the altitude, we advise the guests having heart or lungs or blood pressure problem to consult their doctor before traveling. Mild headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder can take place in a process of acclimatization. Our advice for better acclimatization: Drink 4 liters of water minimum a day do not exhaust your self so much & breathe deep and take rest more rest than usual. We strongly recommend all pilgrims to consult their physicians before joining the trip.

Loss of appetite Fatigue, Headache, Nausea, Dizziness, Palpitations sleeplessness - Short of breath is the main altitude problem. Once is on such high altitude should avoid rapid movement and minimize talking so as to conserve energy as much as possible. Drinking a lot of water helps to minimize the high altitude sickness. Acclimatization training in Nyalam and Darchen helps a lot to build up confidence for circumambulation of Mount Kailash.

Altitude Sickness:
As you are traveling over high terrain, you are likely to experience symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness (headache, loss of appetite, nausea, exhaustion, sleeplessness, breathlessness etc.) until your body adjusts to the elevation. This can take a couple of days or more depending on an individual. For this reason alone, we have made it mandatory to stay at Nyalam (12000ft) for 2 nights before moving on to the higher altitudes. Drink plenty of water (3-4 liters a day), be calm, do not exercise. Do not drink alcohol or smoke prior to and during the tour. We also recommend you carry a strip of diamox tablets (not recommended for pregnant ladies and people allergic to sulpha drugs). Do consult your physician on the dosage. An alternative medicine is the homeopath variant called COCA-6X, which has been used satisfactorily by some of our yatris but is to be taken after due consultation with your physician. This is ideal for those allergic to sulpha drugs.

Medical support:
In Tibet medical facilities are in basic conditions. Therefore, the tour has to be fully supported by medical backup. We provide medical system like oxygen cylinder, Gamow bag, medicine along with their high altitude expert medical personnel.

Gamow Bag:
Gamow Bag is an innovative rescue product for high altitude trekkers and climbers which is used for the treatment of moderate to extreme altitude sickness. The Bag simulates descents as much as 7,000 feet by increasing air pressure around the patient which relieves Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) symptoms. It is also used for treatment of life threatening High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). Typical treatment protocols are to put the patient into the Bag and pressurize it with ambient air to 2 pounds per square inch by use of a foot pump until the pop off valves hiss, and keep the patient at pressure for one hour. AMS treatment usually take around 2 hours in the pressurized bag, HAPE takes around 4 hours to relieve symptoms, and HACE treatment usually takes around 6 hours time to give patients relief. Gamow Bag is only meant for temporary relief which will give the patient enough time to descend lower on a mountain. Gamow Bag is made of durable nylon and reinforced with circular nylon straps. A lengthwise zipper allows patients access in the Bag, and the four clear windows allow visual contact during the treatment. Remember to put a sleeping bag in with the patient- it can get very cold lying motionless for an hour at high altitude! Conversely, if you are outside in the sun, remember to shade the hypebaric bag, as the sun is intense at altitude and will suffocate the patient.