Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRIVING TO EVEREST
The road to Everest Base Camp from Chay was being upgraded in 2014. Until it reopens
in 2016 all road access to Everest is along the dirt road from Tingri over the Lamna-la. The
impact of this is that hotels in Baber are currently much quieter than those in Tingri. You'll
have to check with your agency to see if the road from Baber has reopened. If it has, it will
be possible to drive into the Everest region from Chay and then drive out via Tingri, saving
you some kilometres if you are headed to the Nepali border.
Permits
Apart from the normal Tibet travel permits, you need to buy an entry ticket for Qo-
molangma Nature Reserve, either in Baber or in the
Snow Leopard Guesthouse
in Tingri.
The permit costs ¥400 per vehicle plus ¥180 per passenger. Your guide will also need a
ticket. Make sure you are clear with your agency about whether this cost is included in
your trip (it usually isn't).
Your passport and PSB permit will be scrutinised at the major checkpoint 6km west of
Shegar, where you'll have to personally walk through the passport check. The park permit
is checked at the Chay checkpoint 3km after the turn-off from the Friendship Hwy, and
then again just before Rongphu Monastery. If you are driving in from Tingri, you'll go to
the checkpoint at Lungchang.
Dangers & Annoyances
At this elevation of around 5000m it's important that you keep a close eye out for symp-
toms of acute mountain sickness (AMS, also known as altitude sickness). People coming
from the low altitudes of the Kathmandu Valley are particularly susceptible. Whatever you
do, don't attempt to walk to Everest Base Camp directly after arriving in Tingri from Ne-
pal. The altitude gain of over 2600m leaves most people reeling. Even those coming from
Lhasa often have trouble.
It's also important to realise just how high and remote you are, and to carry warm cloth-
ing and some kind of rain gear no matter what time of year you visit and no matter how
short your walk. Unlike on the Nepali side, there is no rescue service up here in the shad-
