What to Bring when Trekking in Tibet
There is a great deal to see while trekking and you will be revitalised by the natural surroundings, but you must be prepared for extremes in weather and terrain. The time of year and the places in which you choose to walk will dictate the equipment you need.
What to Bring when Trekking in Tibet
CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR
As a minimum, you will need basic warm clothing, including a hat, scarf, gloves, down jacket, long underwear, warm absorbent socks, all-weather shell and sun hat, as well as comfortable and well-made pants and shirts.
Women may want to add a long skirt to their clothing list. Bring legs and neck, and a wide-brimmed hat like the ones Tibetans wear. If you attempt winter trekkin, you will certainly need more sustantial mountainneering clothing.
Many people opt for synthetic-pile clothing, but also consider wool or sheep fleece, which have proven themselves in the mountains of Tibet for centuries. One of your most important assets will be a pair of strong, well-fitting hiking boots. And remember to break them in before starting the trek!
The clothing for Tibet Trekking
ENQUIPMENT
Three essential items are a tent, sleeping bag and portable stove. There are few restaurants in the remote areas of Tibet and provisions hard to come by, so you or your support staff will end up preparing most of your meals.
Except to camp most nights-except in certain villages on the main trek to sleep. Invest in a good tent that can handle big storms and heavy winds. A warm sleeping bag is a must. Manufactures tend to overrate the effectiveness of their bags, so always buy a warmer one than you think you’ll need. You will also need a strong, comfortable backpack large enough to carry all of your gear and supplies.
To save a lot of misery, test the backpack on day hikes to be certain it fits and is properly adjusted. Other basic items include water containers with at least 2L capcity, a system for water purification, a torch (flashlight), compass, pocketknife, first-aid kit, waterproof matches, sewing kit, shrill whistle and walking stick or ski pole.
This last item not only acts as a walking aid, but also as a defence against dog attacks, Tibetan dogs can be particularly large and brutal, and they roam at will in nearly every village and herders’ camp. Bring your walking stick or pole from home, or purchase Chinese-made trekking poles in Lhasa.
Petrol for camping stoves is widely available in towns and cities but is of fairly poor quality. To prevent your stove from getting gummed up you will have to clean it regularly.
Nowadays, there are scores of shops in Lhasa selling such equipment. For more information about what to bring for trekking in Tibet, just feel free to ask our travel experts for more details.
