Himalayan Footsteps

What’s the weather like?
Due to high altitudes temperatures in Tibet are usually quite chilly. From Autumn to Spring you should always be prepared for the possibility of snowfall (as well as occasional warmer days!). In summer the days are usually warm and with strong sunshine, the nights are cool. At above 4000 metres even summer days can be chilly. Especially eastern Tibet is affected by the monsoon from July to September.

What money should I bring?
It is recommended to bring a mix of Travellers’ Cheques and US$, and a credit card as backup. British Pound will be accepted for exchange at the Bank of China as well.

Are there ATMs?
Yes, there are. But many of them can only be used by domestic account holders. In Lhasa and Shigatse, however, you will be able to find a number of ATMs that take foreign cards. Do only use them during bank hours though, in case your card gets eaten.

What’s the exchange rate?
£1 is approximately 10.7 Chinese Yuan. A Yuan is made up of ten Jiao. China has a huge problem with counterfeit notes, so often old and tattered notes or coins won’t be accepted. Whenever you get large notes check the watermark.

Where can I exchange money?
You can exchange money upon arrival at the airport and at the Bank of China in Lhasa, Shigatse, Zhangmu, Purang (cash only) and Ali. Hotels sometimes offer exchange services, but only for their guests. Try to get small cash, as in more rural areas it is hard to get rid of 50 or 100 Yuan bills (in exchange for goods, that is). The exchange rate usually is the same in all places, standard commission is 0.75%. Exchanging Yuan back to foreign currency is only possible in Lhasa and with original receipt or at the Nepali border (change into Nepali rupees only).

What immunisations are recommended?

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis A & B
• Polio
• Rabies
• Typhoid
• MMR

To be considered:

• Tuberculosis
• Yellow Fever
• Chickenpox
• Influenza
• Pneumonia

Anything I need to know about the food?
The usual: Cook it, boil it, peel it, or forget it!

Can I pet stray animals?
Definite no. Rabies is wide spread in Tibet and can be carried by many animals like dogs, cats, monkeys and bats. Even their lick can be infectious as the virus is carried in their saliva. Without treatment, which is usually not available in time, the disease is always fatal. You might want to carry a stick or pepper spray to deter dogs on the streets, as they are quite an annoyance in many places.

How about crime in Tibet?
Tibet is relatively safe. There is not much theft, most reported cases were petty theft in the Everest region and pickpockets in Lhasa. Tibet is much safer than other areas of China.

Is there internet available?
Internet cafes can be found in almost all towns, a great number of them are open 24 hours. Some websites are blacklisted by the Chinese government and cannot be accessed, such as news from the BBC.

What’s the time in Tibet?
All of China is set to Beijing time, eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+8 GMT), even though the sun may say differently.