I'm giving serious thought to booking the Roof of the World trip for September 2017 as the itinerary looks amazing and very little overlap with the Inspirational China tour which I'd also love to do at some point in the future.

The only thing that makes me nervous is the prospect of altitude sickness as I've never been anywhere close to 12,000ft, except on a plane which doesn't exactly count!

Any advice from travellers who've been to Tibet or similar altitudes before would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance  :rolleyes:

Luckily I was fine but you just don't know until you get there.

GGood luck and my advice is go for it. Whatever happens it will be a great experience.

Pete ...

I've only spent a short period of time at higher altitudes - at Yellowstone NP (which is at 10,000ft) and when we went over the Andes (around 9,000ft when we got off the bus).  I was a bit breathless and some of the group had headaches, but nothing too severe.  I've researched the Peru tour as I want to do it over the next few years and spoke to my GP about altitude in general.  Apart from Pete's advice, I would also suggest you talk to your doctor about Diamox - it is a medicine you can take which helps to prevent altitude sickness and I would plan to take it before I go to Peru.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Bob

PS This sounds like an amazing tour and one I'd love to do some day - so if you go, please do write a review on your return!

Hi everyone,

I'm giving serious thought to booking the Roof of the World trip for September 2017 as the itinerary looks amazing and very little overlap with the Inspirational China tour which I'd also love to do at some point in the future.

The only thing that makes me nervous is the prospect of altitude sickness as I've never been anywhere close to 12,000ft, except on a plane which doesn't exactly count!

Any advice from travellers who've been to Tibet or similar altitudes before would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance  :rolleyes:

Hello AMG

I am hoping to do this tour in September or October of next year, so I have the same concern, not having been anywhere really high except a glacier high in the Swiss Alps - but I was much younger then . . .

I have asked around, and received the same information as the other responders to your query.

Last year whilst on holiday I met a couple: small, frail looking woman and big man glowing with health: contrary to their expectations, he had problems while she had none. My GP has also suggested taking Diamox,  which apparently helps but does not wholly prevent. A travel rep for one of the Chinese tour companies whom I met at the Destinations show at Olympia in February didn't think it mattered whether one flew directly to Lhasa from Chengdu  or wherever, or approached in stages through Yunnan (Lijiang, Dali, Zhongdian), as one still has to acclimatise - but she did strongly recommend being as healthy as possible (no colds!) as the high altitude exacerbates the symptoms (common sense really).

http://medex.org.uk/medex_book/Book%20update%20June%202011/English/TravelSafeHighv27.pdf 

Jim

PS - I am also thinking of doing the TS tour "Tibet & the Search for Shangri-La" this October, as there is very little overlap between the two tours and they are both very attractive: if I do, I'll post a health-related review here . . .

I did the Tibet tour last May and was also worried about the altitude so I spoke to a friend who climbs mountains for fun!  he advised that there is a drug used to help acclimatise quicker - acetazolamide (Diamox) which can be taken once a day.  I  had some prescribed by my doctor which i started the day before we arrived in Tibet and also for the duration of our stay - i didn't succumb to altitude sickness but did have some odd side effects from the Diamox - I had pins and needles feeling in my hands, feet and around my mouth for about an hour after taking each tablet, other than that I was fine - of our group of 7 only two felt ill on one day and were advised to stay at the hotel and rest and besides that we had no problems.   Unfortunately its not easy to tell who's going to be affected by altitude sickness and when you first land in Tibet you don't feel any different until you start to climb your first set of stairs, its only then that you realise just how thin the air actually is!  However, don't let this put you off - the Tibet tour was definitely one of my favourites and I wouldn't hesitate to go back.   If you have any other questions about the Tibet tour please ask and I'll do my best to answer them.

I hope you decide to do this trip as I know you will have a fantastic time.

Jacqueline

I did the TS tour of Peru last year which briefly reached heights of 16,000ft. The first thing to say about altitude sickness is that it affects different people in different ways, and as Pete has already stated, it can be pot luck as to whether you get it or not. Coca tea is supposed to help although I'm not sure if that is available in Tibet; it's certainly widely available in Peru for those thinking of doing that trip.

My other recommendation would be to drink plenty of water (lots of small sips is best), stay off alcohol for your time at the higher attitudes and take your time to view the sights. My own experience was a slight shortness of breath and a headache (easily resolved) at Lake Titicaca (12,000ft). If you have any further concerns it's best to consult your GP.

Hope this helps

Mike

I too am looking at this amazing trip for next year. I unfortunately have had Altitude Sickness before - when I did the Machu Picchu trek in 2001. We went from sea level in Lima to Cuzco at 11,000 ft(?). It's a luck of the draw whether you get it or not - it doesn't matter what age you are/how fit you are/whether you have had it or not before. You really need enough time to acclimatise. Drinking lots of water and resting is the best thing - however, if you do get it really badly (mine lasted 2 days, and it's like the worse hangover you have ever had - not that any of you have had one of those of course!) you sometimes have to descend to a lower level. As the saying goes "Climb high, sleep low". If I do this trip, I will certainly be taking Diamox with me.

Cheers,

Hils

I agree with all the above plus drink little alcohol, don't eat big meals and try taking a digestion aid as altitude can affect your ability to digest. You'll probably find the guides and tour company are extremely helpful and will remind you as you go along the do's and dont's. Drinking lots of water I would say is a must.

Angie

You do get used to it. 

I found it helpful to sleep sitting up - propped up on as many pillows as you can find.

The provisional flight times are avaiaibile from Heathrow, but as this is so far in advance they are likely to change.

So for the 3rd September 2017 departure, you will depart from Heathrow at 1730 and arrive at Chengdu Airport at 1045. For your return journey, you will depart Chengdu Airport at 1215 and arrive back in Heathrow at 1625.

In terms of flight upgrades, you will be better off speaking to one of our Holiday Advisors for the most accurate information.

Kindest regards,

Monty