Eastern Tibet Logistics

[BillA]

Does anyone have information they can share on climbing in Eastern Tibet? I have Nakaruma's book "East of the Himalayas", which has maps and good info and stuff, but I can't find anything online about logistics regarding permits, liason officer requirements, any travel restrictions on Tibet, etc. Thanks for any info you might have!

 

 

[Puma]

Check your *private* mailbox messages for info I've sent.

[Hugh Conway]

Short answer: it changes all the time.

[Tokogirl]

What HC says. Though the last time I was there was 15 years ago, I have recently spoke to several different individuals and all seem to have a common thread. Be prepared for anything.

[Hugh Conway]

To expand: I was in Chengdu in September, looking to get into Tibet. As of then all travel in Tibet for foreign nationals required a permit. To get a permit required you be in a tourgroup (which could be just you) but had to be guided all of the time. This included "trekking" (didn't bother with climbing). Unlike in the past these rules were rather inflexible and few people had successfully skirted them. The only person I met who had was Chinese-American and spoke Mandarin fluently. Based on 2nd hand reports little has changed in the last 6 months so I'd suggest "fuck China"

 

Check out Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan instead

[stevetimetravlr]

You generally want a interpreter with you anyway. They are to be had for fairly cheap in china but you do want a sharp one. and if you are climbing or in base camp, I doubt they will want to go along with you, and will probably hang in town. It helps if you have a business visa and are a businessman, and dress like a businessman as the Chinese generally give busines people a pass. The climbing and climbing gear are incidental and in your luggage, so do't make a issue out of what you are going to do.