Tibet Packing List

Posted in Tibet Travel Info on January 28, 2019

What to Pack for Tibet?

Tibet, though nicknamed “The Land of Snows“, is actually not as cold as you might think. Knowing what to pack (and what NOT to pack) for any journey is important. In this post, we will outline What to Pack for Tibet. If you have any questions, email for more details: info@himalayajourney.com

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What clothing to pack for Tibet?

The temperatures fluctuate considerably during the day in Tibet. The mornings and evenings can be cool, but if the sun is out, it can be quite warm during the afternoons. It is best to dress in layers that can easily be taken off and added as the day goes on. Mountain passes can have wind, so having your coat accessible is recommended. For info on what temperatures and weather to expect in Tibet, go to the following link: Weather in Tibet

• comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes or walking shoes (hiking boots not required on non-trekking journeys)
• 3 or 4  pairs of pants (hiking-type pants are best)
• 2 pairs of cotton socks
• 3 or 4 pairs of wool socks
• 4 to 6 pairs of underwear
• 1 set of thermal underwear (tops and bottoms)
• 1 set of warm pajamas for overnight
• mid to heavy weight winter coat (heavy weight recommended for travel in the months from Nov—Apr)
• lightweight hooded rain jacket for any travel done from May thru September
• warm hat
• warm gloves
• bandana or scarf (optional)
• baseball or sun hat with wide brim
• 2 fleece tops
• Sports bra for women
• 4 or 5 T-shirts (Mixture of short and long sleeved)

Recommended Accessories

• sunglasses with UV protection
• small thermos for tea/hot water (optional)
• 1 small bag for dirty clothes, etc (optional)

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

• sun block/sun screen that is SPF 35 or higher
• lip balm that contains sunscreen
• skin moisturizer (optional; Tibet is very dry)
• anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
• deodorant
• feminine products
• shaving products
• travel size soap and shampoo
• toothbrush and tooth paste
• wet wipes
• 1 or 2 rolls of toilet paper (toilet paper not provided in many public toilets)
• nail clippers
• band-aids and moleskin for blisters
• ear plugs
• eye drops (if you are prone to dry eyes)
• cotton buds/Q-tips

Recommended Medicines (contact your doctor for more info)

• medicine to treat travelers diarrhea
• anti-biotic ointment for minor cuts or blisters
• personal Tylenol, ibuprofen, cold medicine, antihistamine, etc
• Diamox / Acetazolamide (Optional….contact your doctor for details)
• medicine if you are prone to motion sickness
• prescription drugs (consult your doctor)

Extra Optional Items

• iPad/Kindle
• Quick dry towel (optional if going to Everest, Nam Tso or Kailash Regions)
• small flashlight (torch) or headlamp with extra batteries (for Everest, Kailash, Nam Tso areas)
• batteries for personal items
• plenty of memory cards for your camera
• passport/money holder
• protein bars, chocolate, dried fruit or other snacks of your choice
• electric outlet adapters for Tibet (China)
• small notebook with pen
• digital version of Lonely Planet Tibet guidebook (avoid paper book edition)
• small hand-held mirror (optional if going to Everest, Nam Tso or Kailash Regions)

Luggage to bring

Unless you are trekking or climbing, a backpack is NOT recommended. A better option is suitcase with wheels or a wheeled duffle bag. For inside the vehicle while you are traveling, you can bring a small bag or backpack to carry your camera, snack, personal items, passport, etc, but NOT a big backpack.

Documents Needed

If you are arriving to Tibet from Mainland China, you will already have a valid China visa in your passport. If you arrive to Tibet from Nepal, you will have a PAPER version of your China visa that is NOT in your passport (you will need to safeguard this and carry it with you, along with your passport). Here are other items you should have:

• Photocopy of your passport (picture/info page)
• Photocopy of your China visa (only if you go from Mainland China to Tibet)
• Chinese currency (recommend at least Y2000 Chinese Yuan for personal items/tips)
• Bank ATM card (you can withdraw Chinese currency using this)

If you have any questions on our Tibet Packing List or What to Pack for Tibet, let us know! We have spent decades exploring Tibet and know exactly what you should bring.