Tibet: We will obtain your visa for Tibet. In order to do so we will require the following information when making your application:

• Full name as it appears in your passport
• Passport number
• Date of expiry
• Place of issue
• Nationality
• Date of Birth
• Occupation
• 3 passport size recent photographs

China

You will have to obtain your Mainland China Visa. In order you need 3 photocopies of pages of your passport which contain personal and country information, your picture and signature, together with 3 passport size recent photographs.

Nepal

Normally Indians passport holders do not require a visa for Nepal. Pilgrims with passports other than India, must apply for Double Entry Visa to enter Nepal in the country issuing their passport.

Documents

Keep your documents updated for travel.

• Passport - original passport will be given in Nepal on arrival.
• Identity Card, Visiting card
• Diary, Addresses, Telephone numbers, contacts.
• Travelers checks, credit cards and currency
• Maps, Charts, Books of Area - if interested.
• Airline, Railways tickets, vouchers.
• Any documentation for personal use.
• 6 photocopies of your passport
• 6 copies of your recent passport size photographs.

Clothing

As temperatures vary greatly between day and night ( 25 degrees to 0 degrees), it is best to wear layers of warm clothing. Please note that the trip will be very rugged. Clothing will get wet and soiled. Pack in a light weight, water resistant suitcase of duffel bag. Following items are also suggested for a comfortable journey.

• Warm jacket
• Light windbreaker with hood
• Woolen sweater
• Woolen and cotton pullovers
• Warm shirts
• Woolen trousers
• Thermal underwear, 2 pairs
• Cotton undergarments
• Walking shoes/slippers for indoors
• Hiking boots: light, skid proof, water resistant
• Woolen and cotton socks
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Shawl
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Raincoat

Please note there will be no laundry service for the entire journey, and the temperature is frequently too cold to line-dry clothing. Therefore, please be sure to pack adequately to last for the full trip. Please Do Not Pack More Than 2 Bags Per Person.

Equipments

• Camera - rolls of film as required
• Flashlight - water proof and powerful
• Batteries
• Video Camera - if required
• Walkman with earphones to listen to music, prayers etc. During travel
• Binoculars
• Eyeglasses - contact lenses not advisable
• Plastic mug
• Swiss army knife
• Leak proof plastics water bottle for water from Mansarovar and Gauri Kund
• Whistle
• Plastic String, thick
• Small back-pack to carry snacks
• Waterproof duffel bag - 36 inch; heavy duty in canvas or nylon to be secured with lock, or sturdy suitcase
• Water bottles for drinking water
• Thermos to keep warm water
• Sleeping bag - 10C
• Different sized plastic bags - ziplock type
• Money pouch
• Lighters
• Compass

Accessories

• Toilet paper
• Notebook, pens, pencils
• Water purification tablets
• Ear plugs
• Mouth mask - to protect from dust
• Napkins
• Facial tissues
• Bed sheets
• Towels
• Baby wipes to clean hands in the absence of water
• Body lotion, as the weather is very dry
• Items for Puja

Medical Certificate, Medicine and Health

At present, no inoculations are required for entry into Tibet. However, because of the rugged mountain terrain, high altitude, and non-availability of good medical facility, we request you to get certified to be medically fit for high altitude travel (20,000 feet). The medical certificate must state that in the doctors professional opinion, you are fit for high altitude (20,000 feet) travel and it should be signed by the doctor with the doctor's full name, city and license number printed on the form.

There will be a medical team accompanying the yatra who will be able to take care of minor first aids and medicine dispensing.

In addition to the medicines, we recommend that your First Aid Kit must contain:

• Band Aids
• Bandage rolls
• Q-tips
• Nose inhalers
• Vicks
• Cough drops
• Rubber Bands
• Neosporin or other topical anti-disinfectant
• Tylenol or other pain reliever/fever reducer
• Cotton
• Vaseline
• Glucose tablets
• Surgeon's mask - to protect from dust
• Chap stick
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Ginger (sweet and spicy balls). The weather is very cold, and also people may feel slightly nauseous on the long drives. Ginger is very good for providing heat to the body as well as for reducing nauseous.

Food and Beverage

We will be providing breakfast and dinner cooked by our Sherpa at campsite, who will be taken from Kathmandu. However, you will be required to bring sufficient supplementary food like biscuits, nuts, dried fruits, snacks and your favorite tinned products to add variety to the meals. Lunch will consist of light snacks. Additionally, items like powered beverages (Tang, Gatorade etc.) are very nice alternatives to water and provide extra nutrients and energy

Transportation

Throughout the journey you will be traveling in Japanese 4 wheel Driven Land Cruisers. A truck/trucks will be required for all of the luggages and for camping gear, except while doing the Parikarma (Circumambulation). During that time, yaks will be provided to carry bags.

Custom Formalities

Valuable goods taken for personal use (camera, radio, watch, video, jewelry) should be declared as customs office by completing a Customs Declaration Form and brought back on return journey. According to the information we received, you are allowed to bring 3000 ft of movie film of 8 mm and 72 rolls of still film.

Photography

Still cameras, home video cameras, and 8 mm movie cameras are allowed into China but special permission is needed for 16 mm and 35 mm movie cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions

(Q) How many people per land cruiser?
Ans.: There are typically four people + one driver per land cruiser.

(Q) What are the staying arrangements along the way?
Ans.: We are staying in hotels/guesthouses where available and otherwise camping. Basically from day 07 to day 17 it is camping, except for a few who will stay in the Mansarovar Ashram.

(Q) Is there any age limit?
Ans.: We don't recommend bringing children under 18 or adult over 65 unless they are in excellent shape. There is no available emergency medical care, and frequently children and elderly people require emergency medical treatment or they are unable to handle the arduousness of the journey.

(Q) What about people with asthma/ blood pressure etc.?
Ans.: This is at your doctor's discretion. The land is very dusty, no paved roads at all, and very cold. Some people with asthma have difficulties. Please be sure to get a doctor's permission.

(Q) How much trekking is involved other than Parikrama?
Ans.: There should not be any trekking involved at all other than the Parikrama. Evereything else is by car or bus.

Note: We would be happy to organize a specialized, tailor-made tour for you to suit your requirements.

For details, please contact sandhyapande@nettoursindia.com