Travelling conditions

Please be aware that you need to be in good physical conditions.

Travelling in such regions is an adventure involving high altitude and could be strenuous. While most visitors experience only minor effects from the altitude, we advise participants with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before travelling. Mild headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder can take place during the process of acclimatisation. Our advice for better acclimatisation is to drink 4 liter of water minimum, a day and do not exhaust yourself too much. Breathe deep and take more rest than usual.

Ceremony to welcome back Tulku Pema Kalsang Rinpoche after a long trip abroad.

Heath care facilities

There is a new hospital in Dzogchen which should provide good basic heath care. Other hospital are far away.

Tib., Chinese and some Western medicine can be found in cities. Make sure you take all the medicine you will need with you.

There is no obligatory vaccine but it is adviced to have a vaccine against tetanus, hepatitis A and B, and against typhoid.

Travel insurence

You have to take a travel insurence including repatriation.

What is High Altitude?

What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) And How to Avoid It

The high altitude and people's reaction to it is one of the difficulties of this trip. But it is not so serious as you imagined if you know it and get prepared for it.

- High Altitude: 1500 - 3500 m (5000 - 11500 ft)
- Very High Altitude: 3500 - 5500 m (11500 - 18000 ft)
- Extreme Altitude: above 5500 m

Dzogchen is situated at 4000 meter altitude.

When acclimatization lags significantly behind ascent, various symptoms occur. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) represents the body's intolerance of the hypoxic (low oxygen) environment at one's current elevation

What kinds of physiologic reactions will occur?

- Hyperventilation (breathing fast)
- Shortness of breath during exertion
- Increased urination
- Changed breathing pattern at night
- Awakening frequently at night
- Weird dreams

Tips to avoid AMS

- Do exercises to keep you fit before coming to Tibet.
- Avoid catching a cold.
- Make sure you have a good sleep the night before you take the place.
- You'd better not to take any activities for the first day in high altitude.
- After getting off your airplane in the airport, walk slowly, take some deep breath. Do not do anything severely.
- Ascend to higher altitude gradually. DO NOT ASCEND ANY HIGHER if you feel bad.
- Prepare some AMS pills according to your doctor's suggestion.

Before you go to high altitude

1. Seek advice from people who have similar experiences. The most important thing is that you should never be nervous or worried about your trip. Regard this trip like a trip to any other place. You should always be optimistic.
2. If you have respiratory problems, we advise you to postpone your trip till you are fully recovered.
3. A thorough physical examination is necessary. If you have problems like anemia or hypertension, or suffer from heart problems and other illness of lungs, liver or kidney, you should not go to high altitude.
4. You need to bring enough water or drinks and fruits. Snacks with high caloric content, like chocolate, will come in handy.

When you are in high altitude

1. Rest right after your arrival. You should not do anything strenuous on the first day. Brisk walking and running are not advised. We suggest that you do not smoke nor drink alcohol too. Do not eat too much for dinner.
2. It quite often happens that people feel short of breath. If it is not serious, please do not rely on oxygen equipment all the time so that you can acclimate yourself to the high altitude as early as possible.
3. Do not take showers or bathes too frequently especially on your first night in high altitude. This will help you avoid catching severe colds.

In May we will provide you with a list of very necessary and usefull things to bring with you in order for you to be comfortable and remain healthy.