Packing and Travel Information
As a rule of thumb: BE PRACTICAL! Leave room to bring back souvenirs. YOU have to carry ALL your own luggage, and although you are allowed more on the plane, 25-30 pounds is a manageable amount. Also, only one carry-on piece of luggage is permitted on the plane, preferably a daypack with room for a few essentials.
You may wish to carry your belongings in a backpack that can be used for your own excursions; a heavy-duty duffel bag will also work. Your pack should be comfortable and tough . There will be constant loading and unloading, and your pack will be stuffed, dragged, and thrown around, so it makes sense to have one with an internal frame and minimal external attachments. Remember to place all valuable items in your carry-on luggage while travelling. It is wise to carry a money belt to prevent theft or loss of passport, money, and other valuables.
WEATHER
Average Lhasa maximum and minimum temperatures in Fahrenheit:
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May
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June
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July
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35°-70°
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40°-75°
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42°-77°
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The high altitudes of the Tibetan plateau make for climatic extremes.
While the weather in Lhasa is generally mild, temperatures can
fall below freezing, especially in May. Weather during the day
fluctuates widely, ranging from cold and overcast to sunny and
hot. Once out in Central and Eastern Tibet (when we will be camping
much of the time), temperatures can vary between freezing (high
in the mountains) to 80° (lower in the valleys). Contrary
to popular opinion, much of Tibet gets significant rainfall (and
snow at higher elevations) during the summer, so be prepared for
wet weather. It is best to be prepared for COLD weather,
even though much of the time it will be quite comfortable. Because
the sun is quite intense at high altitude, a hat, UV protection
sunglasses, and sunblock (at least SPF 15) are essential.
CLOTHING
It is best to pack as few things as possible, and bring only what you need. While some items are available in Lhasa, quality, size, and style are unpredictable. Pants should be loose and comfortable, and shouldn’t be patched. Both men and women are encouraged to dress with legs and shoulders covered. While Tibetans in general do not mind if you wear western clothing, or if women wear pants, it is important that your clothing be neat and clean.
Because the temperature/weather can change quickly and often, the ‘layering’ system is excellent for travel in Tibet. It is better to have several smaller layers that can be added and removed when necessary than to have one enormous heavy jacket.
Women: Skirts are comfortable to wear, even while trekking. (They are also useful for roadside pit-stops.) Shorts are culturally inappropriate, although pants may be worn.
Men: Clothing should be neat. Blue jeans should not be ragged, faded, or patched. Shorts are culturally inappropriate in most situations.
Shoes: It is very important to have a strong comfortable pair of boots. Lightweight boots are fine, but Tibet can be wet and we will do extensive walking, so make sure your shoes fit well and are suitable for cold and puddles. You should also have a pair of comfortable and tough sandals.
Some trekking supplies (down and fleece jackets, boots, bags, etc.) are available in Lhasa, but it is better to be prepared before departing since supplies are unpredictable.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
While students are not expected to have camping/trekking experience,
due to the nature of travel in Tibet (high altitude, uncertain
road conditions, etc.) they will be expected to be in adequate
physical condition to participate in all program activities, including
short day hikes to monasteries, loading and unloading equipment
from vehicles, setting up camp, and so on. Even minor physical
activities can be challenging at Tibet's high altitude. Participants
are encouraged to be in adequate physical shape prior to departure.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Take an adequate supply of any prescription medication you use regularly, including inhalers for asthma. Most over-the-counter medicines, such as aspirin and anti-diarrheal pills, are available in Lhasa, but are more difficult to obtain outside of urban areas. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to bring enough cleaning solution for the term, since this is hard to find, and expensive. Please refer to your Health Guidelines (which will be sent to you upon admission to the program) regarding specific immunizations for this program.
MONEY
Plan to bring between $200 and $400. This covers expenses
such as film developing, medical and personal expenses, gifts,
and airport and departure taxes. Please note:
- Any medical expenses you incur will need to be paid in advance; most insurance policies will reimburse you later under the terms of their coverage. Since medicine is socialized in China, public clinic visits are free, but there are several private clinics in Lhasa and you should budget extra money for possible emergencies. A credit card can be useful for emergencies, medical or otherwise.
Credit cards can also be useful in Lhasa, Chengdu, and Beijing for cash advances and purchases in high-end hotels. We also recommend that you bring a VISA card, as American Express and other cards aren’t as widely accepted.
It is also a good idea to carry travellers’ checks (American Express travellers’ checks–unlike their card--are most widely accepted) and a small amount ($50-100) in U.S. cash (with some change in $10s and $20s). Don’t plan on exchanging money on the black market, as there have been a flood of counterfeit bank notes in the past few years.
Beijing and Lhasa both have vibrant local markets for gift shopping,
so plan your spending money (and luggage space) wisely.
COMPUTERS, COMMUNICATIONS and PHOTOS
Laptops are not recommended, due to the instability of the electrical
current, the possibility of theft, and general ruggedness of travel.
Commercial e-mail access is now available in Lhasa, though service
can be interrupted at times during the day. Phone calls from Tibet
to the U.S. are now possible from Urban centers with locally available
phone cards. You will not have regular access where you may receive
calls, but fax service is available. Letters and postcards can
be mailed from Lhasa and Shigatse.
You must submit photos with all assignments, so you will need a camera. The type and quality is up to you. Color print film is available in Lhasa, though quality can be questionable so you should buy what you need before leaving the U.S. Generally, slide and black & white film is not available. One-hour and overnight film processing is now available in Lhasa.
SAFETY
The University of Michigan is committed to the highest possible safety standards, even though much of Tibet remains fairly isolated and the standard of available medical care is not necessarily what it is in the United States. Students will receive a pre-departure health orientation conducted by a travel medicine specialist from the University Health Services covering guidelines for basic health precautions, healthy eating, and high-altitude travel.
During the entire semester, the group will be accompanied by a professional Tibetan guide and support staff with many years of experience working with American groups. One Program Director is a trained Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, and the group will travel with full medical supplies including oxygen and a Gamow portable high-altitude pressurization chamber. You will receive information about vaccinations and inoculations prior to program departure.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Mail: Letters will take about 10-14 days to reach the U.S.
from Tibet. It is possible to receive packages in Tibet from the
U.S.; however, service is unreliable. Packages frequently get
lost, and those that do get through can sometimes take as much
as 10 days to 3 months to arrive.
Water: Water purification equipment, such as hand pump
filters, is not necessary, as bottled mineral waqter and thermoses
of boiled water are available everywhere throughout Tibet. Water
purification tablets can be useful during excursions.
Electrical current: The electrical current in Tibet is 220v, AC 50 Hz. There are numerous different plug types used in Tibet, so it might be easier to purchase an adapter once you get there.
Time difference: Time throughout China–including Tibet–is set to Beijing standard time, which is eight hours ahead of GMT, or 13 hours ahead of EST. When it is noon in Beijing, it is also noon in Lhasa (!), which makes for somewhat unusual schedules. When it is Friday at noon in Lhasa it is Thursday at 11 pm EST.
PACKING CHECKLIST
CLOTHING
- 2 pairs of neat, loose pants
- 1 pair sweat pants or fleece pants (optional)
- 1 long, full skirt for women (optional)
- 2 long sleeve shirts
- 2-3 T-shirts
- 1 wool sweater or fleece
- 1 week's supply of socks (“Smartwool” or “Thorlos”
are both excellent)
- underwear (1 week’s supply)
- 1 pair shorts, for the possible hot springs
- bandanna or scarf
- boots, can be lightweight but should be sturdy and comfortable
- rain jacket (rain pants optional)
- warm jacket (fleece or down)
- long underwear (1 set, not cotton)
- vest (optional)
- sandals
- hat(s)—it’s a good idea to bring one warm hat and another for the sun
OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS
- sturdy travel duffel bag or internal frame backpack. Doesn’t
need to he high-tech but should be very sturdy. Best without
too many outside pockets
- day pack
- sleeping bag (good to 20 Fahrenheit, down recommended but
not necessary), and COMFORTABLE sleeping pad
- an adequate supply of any prescription medication
- camera and film
- good UV protection sunglasses (this is very important against
strong high altitude sun)
- Pepto-Bismol tablets
- combination padlock (for storing your belongings)
- extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts and plenty of cleaning
solution, if used
- flashlight and batteries (for our many monastery visits and
camping)
- luggage locks
- small travel alarm clock
- soap/toothbrush/toothpaste
- sunblock (at least SPF 15)
- spiral notebook (small and medium sizes recommended)
- study journal and pens
- tampons and/or sanitary napkins
- towel
- water bottle (at least one liter, and be sure to check for
leaks)
- water purification tablets
OPTIONAL ITEMS
- Ace bandage
- acidophilus tablets (yogurt culture) are good non-chemical treatments for stomach problems
- small first-aid kit (band-aids, ibuprofen, decongestants, tape, etc.)
- brush/comb
- dental floss
- iron supplements (for women)
- moleskin-type blister protection
- novels (bring a few and trade with classmates)
- Swiss Army knife or multi-tool knife
- tape recorder and batteries (can be invaluable for field work,
recording interviews, music, street sounds, etc.).
- umbrella
- vitamin supplements (available in Lhasa but of lower quality and dosage than those found in the US)
- plastic bags in varying sizes (‘zip-lock’ bags are useful for storage in dusty/wet environments, plastic garbage bags are useful to protect sleeping bag, etc. from wet weather)
- supply of “happy food” (favorite chocolate, trail-mix, candy etc.—good after a long day trip)
Sleeping tents, mess-tent, kitchen equipment, and other “group” camping equipment will be provided.
PLEASE NOTE: Because of the increased airline security procedures instituted in September, please remember to pack Swiss Army and multi-purpose knives in your checked baggage, not in carry-on bags.
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