You can lower the risk a great deal
Altitude illness cannot be removed entirely on a Tibet trip, but the odds of it spoiling your holiday drop sharply with the right pacing. Lhasa sits at about 3,650 m and Namtso climbs to roughly 4,700 m, so the first days are where good planning earns its keep. The mistake we see most often is treating arrival as the beginning of sightseeing.
Our rule is that the arrival day is for nothing at all. You rest, drink water, and let the body begin adapting to the thin air.
The pace we follow
From Lhasa we only move toward higher ground on the third day, after two nights at a steady altitude. Oxygen is carried in the vehicle, and your guide watches how you are doing throughout, not just at the start. If someone is struggling, the plan bends: a shorter day, a slower climb, or a rest instead of a viewpoint.
- Arrival day — no activities, rest and hydrate
- Days two to three — gentle Lhasa sightseeing
- Day three onward — a gradual move to higher ground
- Oxygen on board and a guide monitoring your wellbeing
What to watch out for
Some guests should not travel to Tibet at all. If you have serious cardiovascular, blood-pressure or respiratory conditions, please consult a doctor and be honest with us; we would rather advise against a trip than take a needless risk. In the week before departure, keep to normal sleep, avoid catching a cold, and do not arrive worn out.
Once you are there, drink more water than usual, skip hot baths and heavy exercise on the first days, and take things slowly. Tell your guide immediately about a persistent headache, vomiting or breathlessness.
When to just ask us
Talk to us honestly about your health and we will tell you what is sensible. Reach your consultant on WhatsApp +86 177 0971 7171 or at hello@joyotour.com, with the same person from first enquiry to the last day and 7×24 emergency support.
