Thank you for your kind comment about my review. It certainly was a great adventure.

I hope that the two shorter trips that you have just done went well and that your TS China tour goes OK. 

Perhaps I will be on another of your forthcoming tours, it would be nice to have you as TM again.

Best wishes

Di

I’m going on this trip in May. I must say I’m REALLY looking forward to it.  Especially after reading your reviews.  I’m always up for an adventure.  One slight concern I have is with the food.  I eat fish but not meat.  Will this be a problem?  I notice in one of the reviews that Macdolalds, Costa etc were use a lot as a back up.  Whereas I have no problem going to these types of eatery, they don’t tend to be very non meat friendly. 

Any reassurance or advice anyone?

Bridget

This is certainly an interesting holiday, but culture rather than comfort here.

I know that I wrote about back-ups foodwise being the Mcdonalds, Burger King etc but I think that only one person actually had a Burger from Burger King and that was on the last day. We all managed foodwise even me! Although I am not a vegetarian when I am on these sort of holidays I tend to eat just veg. not even fish because of a dietary worry that I have.

Some of the food served, mainly in Tibet, wasn't  good. Can't remember,don't think that there was much fish. Perhaps someone else will comment on this thread.

There were kettles in all the hotel rooms, so perhaps you could take some cup of soups for emergency hunger pangs!! Perhaps take a packet of biscuits or something like brunch bars. I always take coffee sachets.

In Lhasa there is a large supermarket opposite the hotel so you may be able to make use of that, we did.

Weather wise I think it will be colder for you in May than when we went in September. Hils in her review wrote about the weather in May.

Have a super holiday

kind regards

Di

Hi Di,

Excellent review! I'm so glad that JY listened to my suggestions and changed the itinerary which obviously did help you acclimatize. Also, I wish that we had had the opportunity to go "au naturale" as the loos were horrendous!! You missed out on a treat with the yak meat (I've had it before) - yak cheese is nice too! I agree that we all got fed up with Chinese food - and I eat everything and anything!

I would certainly recommend this tour for everyone - it is fascinating.

Cheers,

Hils

Hi Hils,  I am booked on this trip in September 2018 and am looking for your earlier review but being rather inept, cannot find it| I have found a very helpful one by Dina however.  Is yours on this thread?  Any help welcome as although adventurous I am also quite anxious about this one||

Hello Bridget Jane

This is certainly an interesting holiday, but culture rather than comfort here.

I know that I wrote about back-ups foodwise being the Mcdonalds, Burger King etc but I think that only one person actually had a Burger from Burger King and that was on the last day. We all managed foodwise even me! Although I am not a vegetarian when I am on these sort of holidays I tend to eat just veg. not even fish because of a dietary worry that I have.

Some of the food served, mainly in Tibet, wasn't  good. Can't remember,don't think that there was much fish. Perhaps someone else will comment on this thread.

There were kettles in all the hotel rooms, so perhaps you could take some cup of soups for emergency hunger pangs!! Perhaps take a packet of biscuits or something like brunch bars. I always take coffee sachets.

In Lhasa there is a large supermarket opposite the hotel so you may be able to make use of that, we did.

Weather wise I think it will be colder for you in May than when we went in September. Hils in her review wrote about the weather in May.

Have a super holiday

kind regards

Di

Hi Dina, 

I have greatly enjoyed reading your reviews and helpful tips for this trip, thank you:)  

I am booked to go in September this year, greatly excited but also somewhat anxious.  I think I remember reading in one of your posts that you mentioned a suitcase pharmacy?  I will need to take some medications with me, did you have any problems with the authorities?  Any particular preparations that would be sensible? 

I also notice that this is a busy trip, were there lots of 6.0 am starts etc?  Just to get myself into training|||

Many thanks, Sumac.

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

My May review is definitely there! Go to the Search button (with a magnifying glass) at the top right hand of this page. Put in "Roof of the World May 2017" and press Reviews and then Search button, and it is there!

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Hils

Hello Bridget Jane

This is certainly an interesting holiday, but culture rather than comfort here.

I know that I wrote about back-ups foodwise being the Mcdonalds, Burger King etc but I think that only one person actually had a Burger from Burger King and that was on the last day. We all managed foodwise even me! Although I am not a vegetarian when I am on these sort of holidays I tend to eat just veg. not even fish because of a dietary worry that I have.

Some of the food served, mainly in Tibet, wasn't  good. Can't remember,don't think that there was much fish. Perhaps someone else will comment on this thread.

There were kettles in all the hotel rooms, so perhaps you could take some cup of soups for emergency hunger pangs!! Perhaps take a packet of biscuits or something like brunch bars. I always take coffee sachets.

In Lhasa there is a large supermarket opposite the hotel so you may be able to make use of that, we did.

Weather wise I think it will be colder for you in May than when we went in September. Hils in her review wrote about the weather in May.

Have a super holiday

kind regards

Di

Hi Dina, 

I have greatly enjoyed reading your reviews and helpful tips for this trip, thank you:)  

I am booked to go in September this year, greatly excited but also somewhat anxious.  I think I remember reading in one of your posts that you mentioned a suitcase pharmacy?  I will need to take some medications with me, did you have any problems with the authorities?  Any particular preparations that would be sensible? 

I also notice that this is a busy trip, were there lots of 6.0 am starts etc?  Just to get myself into training|||

Many thanks, Sumac.

Hi Di,

Just seen your reply.  Thanks for your feed back it’s really helpful.  I’m REALLY looking forward to this adventure!!!!

Hi Sumac

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

Thank you so much for such a full and helpful reply Dina:)  It will help me immensely because I do have a few conditions that I need to be careful about, but which I will not let prevent me living life to the full!  I did not know that altitude can exaggerate illnesses so I will definitely put in some training.  So far I have still not been able to find Hils review, not at all sure what I am doing wrong.  I assumed it was in this thread somewhere but it keeps evading me.  I will go on trawling through.  Very glad you had a good time and thanks again for all the useful info.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

My May review is definitely there! Go to the Search button (with a magnifying glass) at the top right hand of this page. Put in "Roof of the World May 2017" and press Reviews and then Search button, and it is there!

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Hils

Hi Hils, Thank you so much!  I followed your directions to the letter and found it:)  I had been putting in Roof of the World but not the year or month or inverted commas.  Not sure which of those, or if all, made the difference but there you were with your wonderful review.  I will be so helpful to me when planning what to take and in consultations with my GP.  I'm doing a Bucket List at the moment while I can but do not wish to be silly about things, or prove to be a problem for any Tour Guide or group, so all information helps me make sensible choices.  Thanks again, best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

Thank you so much for such a full and helpful reply Dina:)  It will help me immensely because I do have a few conditions that I need to be careful about, but which I will not let prevent me living life to the full!  I did not know that altitude can exaggerate illnesses so I will definitely put in some training.  So far I have still not been able to find Hils review, not at all sure what I am doing wrong.  I assumed it was in this thread somewhere but it keeps evading me.  I will go on trawling through.  Very glad you had a good time and thanks again for all the useful info.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Please find Hils' 'Roof of the World' review here: https://forum.justyou.co.uk/thread-85295.html?highlight=hils 

Kind Regards,

Amy

Before I went on this trip I googled so much about Tibet. It was when I was googling stuff that I read that altitude can exaggerate illnesses. It didn't say at what altitude, neither did it say why. I just assumed, I may be wrong though, it is is because of less oxygen.

My training for this holiday involved going up and down lots of steps (my stairs in  fact). My daughter laughed at me as I have an exercise bike which I don't use,however, I am sure my training DID help.

Our TM Jenny insisted that we had "au natural" loo stops. Not brilliant, but far preferable to the disgusting toilets on our road trip in Tibet.The smell of hay bales far better..Sorry, to be graphic. I recommend you ask your TM to tell the local guide you may prefer "au natural" 

I see Amy has given you the link to Hil's review.

Regards

Di

Hi Sumac

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

Thank you so much for such a full and helpful reply Dina:)  It will help me immensely because I do have a few conditions that I need to be careful about, but which I will not let prevent me living life to the full!  I did not know that altitude can exaggerate illnesses so I will definitely put in some training.  So far I have still not been able to find Hils review, not at all sure what I am doing wrong.  I assumed it was in this thread somewhere but it keeps evading me.  I will go on trawling through.  Very glad you had a good time and thanks again for all the useful info.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Please find Hils' 'Roof of the World' review here: https://forum.justyou.co.uk/thread-85295.html?highlight=hils 

Kind Regards,

Amy

Hi Amy, that is so kind of you, I appreciate the help:) Sumac

Hi Sumac

Before I went on this trip I googled so much about Tibet. It was when I was googling stuff that I read that altitude can exaggerate illnesses. It didn't say at what altitude, neither did it say why. I just assumed, I may be wrong though, it is is because of less oxygen.

My training for this holiday involved going up and down lots of steps (my stairs in  fact). My daughter laughed at me as I have an exercise bike which I don't use,however, I am sure my training DID help.

Our TM Jenny insisted that we had "au natural" loo stops. Not brilliant, but far preferable to the disgusting toilets on our road trip in Tibet.The smell of hay bales far better..Sorry, to be graphic. I recommend you ask your TM to tell the local guide you may prefer "au natural" 

I see Amy has given you the link to Hil's review.

Regards

Di

Good points Dina, thanks!  I shall make sure that I do some steep hill walking I think and lots of stairs.  I also wondered about one of those lady pee, shewee, things which make loo stops au natural much easier for ladies, in theory at least;)  Oh the lengths we have to go to to indulge our wanderlust.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

Thank you so much for such a full and helpful reply Dina:)  It will help me immensely because I do have a few conditions that I need to be careful about, but which I will not let prevent me living life to the full!  I did not know that altitude can exaggerate illnesses so I will definitely put in some training.  So far I have still not been able to find Hils review, not at all sure what I am doing wrong.  I assumed it was in this thread somewhere but it keeps evading me.  I will go on trawling through.  Very glad you had a good time and thanks again for all the useful info.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Please find Hils' 'Roof of the World' review here: https://forum.justyou.co.uk/thread-85295.html?highlight=hils 

Kind Regards,

Amy

Thanks to Amy, Dina and Hils for all your help to this newbie.  Much appreciated:)

If I may try your patience one last time, any suggestions as to clothes, not so much what to wear, but the laundering of them.  Packing light is all very well as long as it is possible to wash and dry ones clothes during the trip especially when we are moving about quite a lot!  Best wishes to all, Sumac.

Hi Sumac

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

Thank you so much for such a full and helpful reply Dina:)  It will help me immensely because I do have a few conditions that I need to be careful about, but which I will not let prevent me living life to the full!  I did not know that altitude can exaggerate illnesses so I will definitely put in some training.  So far I have still not been able to find Hils review, not at all sure what I am doing wrong.  I assumed it was in this thread somewhere but it keeps evading me.  I will go on trawling through.  Very glad you had a good time and thanks again for all the useful info.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Please find Hils' 'Roof of the World' review here: https://forum.justyou.co.uk/thread-85295.html?highlight=hils 

Kind Regards,

Amy

Thanks to Amy, Dina and Hils for all your help to this newbie.  Much appreciated:)

If I may try your patience one last time, any suggestions as to clothes, not so much what to wear, but the laundering of them.  Packing light is all very well as long as it is possible to wash and dry ones clothes during the trip especially when we are moving about quite a lot!  Best wishes to all, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Having used a laundry service twice on my 20-odd JY tours, I wash my own now! The first time in S. Africa the clothes came back not much better than when they went, and in Thailand they used a biological powder that had me itching in a T-shirt for 11 hours on the flight back! I always pack lightweight clothes that you can wash and they dry overnight (Craghoppers, Rohan etc.), so TravelWash is my best friend! You may well be able to use a laundry service on this trip as you have a few 2 or 3 night stops. I would Google the hotels and they may state if they have a laundry service. Good Luck!

Cheers,

Hils

Hi Sumac

I hope that you have also seen Hil's review by now.

From what I can remember a couple of hotels had oxygen canisters but it didn't bother us because none of us needed oxygen. I certainly took Diamox (acetazolamide) with me but only took a tablet on the first two days in Tibet as did a few others. I think most of us got a little breathless but nothing untoward. Apparently there is more oxygen in the air in September. It was warmer, too, than in may when Hils went.

I was quite anxious about this holiday as I had a serious problem at Macchu Picchu. 

Try to make sure that you are as well as you can be, because illnesses are exaggerated at altitude.

If there are problems the JY tour managers are excellent and always sort out problems.

Apart from Diamox,I took immodium, paracetamols, lemsips, plasters, savlon, insect bite cream, anti histamine tablets (didn't take mozzie spray, but perhaps should have done). This is without all my prescription meds. I packed them all apart from some of my prescription meds in my suitcase. Kept some presciption meds and a change of clothes in my handluggage in case my suitcase went astray. No problems with check in (think you are supposed to take your doctors prescription it self with you though, I didn't). Wet wipes and handgels really important. I also took anti-biotics, got a private prescription from the GP, who gave it willingly after I explained why I needed them.

As for long days, apart from 3 days all our departures were in between 8 and 9 am.Our longest day was when we travelled from Zhendang back to Lhasa for our flight to Guilin via Xian. We left the hotel at 7.am and had a boxed breakfast on the coach. I enjoyed seeing the sunrise over the Himalayas on this 2 hour journey to Lhasa. By the time we landed at Guilin it was 23.15 (flight delay). Gone midnight when we got to bed. Guilin and the Li River well worth the long journey!!

I went on this trip with an open mind and was so glad that I didn't cancel for whatever reason!!

Enjoy the Roof of the world.

Kind Regards

Di

Thank you so much for such a full and helpful reply Dina:)  It will help me immensely because I do have a few conditions that I need to be careful about, but which I will not let prevent me living life to the full!  I did not know that altitude can exaggerate illnesses so I will definitely put in some training.  So far I have still not been able to find Hils review, not at all sure what I am doing wrong.  I assumed it was in this thread somewhere but it keeps evading me.  I will go on trawling through.  Very glad you had a good time and thanks again for all the useful info.  Best wishes, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Please find Hils' 'Roof of the World' review here: https://forum.justyou.co.uk/thread-85295.html?highlight=hils 

Kind Regards,

Amy

Thanks to Amy, Dina and Hils for all your help to this newbie.  Much appreciated:)

If I may try your patience one last time, any suggestions as to clothes, not so much what to wear, but the laundering of them.  Packing light is all very well as long as it is possible to wash and dry ones clothes during the trip especially when we are moving about quite a lot!  Best wishes to all, Sumac.

Hi Sumac,

Having used a laundry service twice on my 20-odd JY tours, I wash my own now! The first time in S. Africa the clothes came back not much better than when they went, and in Thailand they used a biological powder that had me itching in a T-shirt for 11 hours on the flight back! I always pack lightweight clothes that you can wash and they dry overnight (Craghoppers, Rohan etc.), so TravelWash is my best friend! You may well be able to use a laundry service on this trip as you have a few 2 or 3 night stops. I would Google the hotels and they may state if they have a laundry service. Good Luck!

Cheers,

Hils

Hils, How sensible, and how helpful, thank you.  Travelwash it is:)  Cheers, Sumac.

In terms of innoculations - you really do have to go and see your Practice Nurse at your GP's surgery. I am always fit to go anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat as I keep all my innoculations up to date. You might also want to ask them about getting a prescription for Diamox which is for altitude sickness.

I did the walk around the lake not the rice fields - only 2 of us did it - we had our own guide (and I think it was free if I remember!), and very pleasant it was too. I also didn't do the bike ride - it was boiling hot and in the middle of the day I think. Those who did do it seemed to enjoy it.

I hope you have a fantastic time - I certainly did!

Cheers,

Hils