ALTITUDE IN TIBET
Tibet is often called The Roof of The World due to its high elevation. The average altitude on the Tibetan Plateau is 4,500 meters/ 14,750 ft.
TOPOGRAPHY MAP OF TIBET
The lowest elevation is in the Eastern part of Tibet, in the Nyingchi province. The area is famous for its incredibly beautiful landscapes and is often compared to Switzerland.
You can see dense forests, alpine lakes and vast rivers there. Nyingchi becomes very popular in Spring, as the Peach Blossom festival is celebrated there in March and you can see the blooming trees throughout April.
The highest altitude area is in Ngari, the Western part of Tibet. This area is famous for its rigid climate and distinct landscape: muddy mountains with lots of caves that Tibetans used for meditation
One of the main attraction of Ngari is the sacred Mount Kailash 6,638m/ 21,778 ft high. Every year thousands of pilgrims challenge themselves walking the kora or circumlocution route around Kailash, with the highest point of the trek reaching 5,640 meters/ 18,000 ft.
Some of the most important sites in the Western Tibet are the sacred Manasarovar lake and the ruins of the ancient Guge Kingdom with Tholing and Tsaparang monasteries.
WHAT HIGH ALTITUDE MEANS FOR VISITORS
With an altitude gain, the air becomes thinner and the level of oxygen in the air decreases. At the elevation above 3,000 meters, most of the people will need some time to acclimatize to it. The level of oxygen at a sea level is 20.9%, at 3,000 meters it is 14.3% and at 5,000 meters it lowers to 11.2%. If you are spending a night at the Everest Base Camp (5,050 m), the oxygen level there is only 11%.
The good news is that usually visitors fully acclimatize in a couple of days and are ready to ascent higher. The higher you are planning to go, the more time it will take for your body to adjust and the slower you should move higher.
LHASA ALTITUDE
The Lhasa altitude is 3,650 meters/ 11,995 ft. When visitors arrive in Lhasa it is not uncommon to experience some light effects of the high altitude sickness: shortness of breath, light headache, insomnia.
However, it only takes a few days to acclimatize to Lhasa altitude. After that visitors are prepared to go to the higher areas of Tibet. That is one of the reasons why most of the tours in Tibet begin in Lhasa.
If you are planning to visit some areas above 5,000 meters or trek in some high altitude areas of Tibet, you can spend more time in Lhasa. You can go on a day trip or a short hike to areas near Lhasa above 4,000 meters to prepare for high elevation treks.
TIPS FOR SAFE ELEVATION GAIN
High altitude has a different effect on people. There is no way to tell in advance how you will feel in Tibet, unless you’ve already traveled in high altitude areas.
Luckily, there are some ways to speed up acclimatization and prevent altitude sickness. The general rule is to start at approximately 3,000 meters and acclimatize before going further. Below are some tips to help you acclimatize to high altitude:
DIAMOX/ ACETAZOLAMIDE
Diamox is a brand name of the tablet where the active ingredient is Acetazolamide. It is currently the most widely used medicine, and scientifically proven to work for altitude sickness. It can prevent altitude sickness or reduce its symptoms.
You generally need a prescription for Diamox, but rules can vary in different countries. It is essential to discuss the dosage with your doctor. The common side effects (especially with higher dosage) are dizziness and lightheadedness. In addition, you have to drink plenty of water when taking Diamox. It often causes dehydration and dehydration can worsen symptoms of high altitude sickness.
For some groups of people, especially with certain pre-existing conditions (such as asthma, hypertension, certain heart conditions) taking Diamox can be beneficial.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALTITUDE
Altitude sickness: symptoms and prevention
Learn how to recognize altitude sickness, its symptoms and how to cope with high altitude.
7 Tips for Altitude Sickness Prevention
Learn about the seven natural ways to acclimatize to high altitude.
TOURS YOU MIGHT LIKE
10 DAYS EASY ACCLIMATIZING TOUR FROM NYINGCHI TO EVEREST
This tour starts in Nyingchi, at the elevation just below 3,000 meters. We will spend two days there, traveling through one of the most beautiful regions in Tibet. It is often called “Tibetan Switzerland” for its forested mountains, river canyons, and alpine lakes.
After that, we will head to Lhasa, where we will spend another two days acclimatizing. We will visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera and Drepung monastery.
Finally, we will drive to the Everest Base Camp through Gyantse and Shigatse. We make stops at Gyantse monastery and Kumbum stupa, Yamdrok Lake, Karola glaciers and many of the high mountain passes and viewpoints.
8 DAYS LHASA TO EVEREST BASE CAMP TOUR
A beautiful and exciting journey, starting in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and going to the Everest Base Camp. The tour visits Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung and Tashilhunpo monasteries, Kumbum Stupa, Yamdrok Lake and Karola glaciers.
Both group and private tours are available.
10 DAYS EASY ACCLIMATIZING EVEREST TOUR
This slow-paced private tour takes you from Lhasa to Gyantse and Shigatse, where we spend the first few days acclimatizing. We will visit many of the historical and religious places, such as Potala Palace, Jokhang temple, Gyantse monastery, and Kumbum Stupa.
We will make stops by the most beautiful natural spots: Yamdrok Lake, Karola glaciers and many of the high mountain passes and viewpoints. Finally, we will reach Everest Base Camp, where we stay for the night.
6 DAYS TIBETAN CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR
This private tour takes you from Lhasa to Yarlung Valley and Samye Monastery. Yarlung valley is the birthplace of Tibetan civilization. You can see Yumbulakhang, an ancient fort and the first surviving building in Tibet. After that, you will visit Samye, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.
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