Quick question about an upcoming trip to Lhasa. I'm going to China on vacation. After spending 4 days in PVG, I'll be FLYING to KMG (Kunming), which is 6,900' / 2,103 m. I'm going to spend the night in KMG, then FLY on to LXA (Lhasa) at 13,136' / 4,004m. I'll be spending 4 nights in the Lhasa area and will be staying at the St. Regis. After Lhasa, I'm FLYING on to Beijing. I'm not planning on going any higher in elevation. I've never suffered from mountain sickness in the past, here in the US, but the highest I've been has been Breckenridge, and that was 15 years ago. I've been to the Denver area frequently without problem.

So my question - should I anticipate any issues? If so, any recommendations on what I should do? Should I take Diamox? Anyone have any experience to share?

Everybody reacts differently to high elevation so it is hard to tell how you will react, however you are not getting much of an acclimatization before going to Lhasa. Does not sound overly safe.
Read this for other tips besides Diamox: http://www.echinacities.com/Lhasa/ci...Entering-Tibet

OP, I agree with PDM in that we all react individually to altitude. highest I have been is 13000 ft. In Cuzsco. Was tough. was not shy in making frequent stops, even had a walking stick !

Hope you post a trip report.

I live at around 8k and frequently do day hikes at up to 15.5, but not everyone reacts the same. I usually take some ibuprofen before the hikes.

I live on the 5th floor and sometimes take the stairs if the lifts are busy. Absolutely ruins me.

In all seriousness though there is just no way of telling. Many out of shape tourists do fine at altitude whilst fitness fanatics can become incapacitated.

If you have no lung problems and no cardiovascular problems, you will almost certainly be fine. I suspect you will notice some slightly increased shortness of breath with exercise compared to lower elevations.

The most common symptoms of being at high altitude include slightly restless sleep and occasional headaches. Stay hydrated, take an aspirin or ibuprofen.

Thanks all! no lung or cardiovascular issues. Since I'm arriving in the afternoon, I figure I'll be able to take it easy to relax, eat dinner and go to bed the first night. Hopefully, that, along with the stop in Kunming, will help. As I said, I've been as high as Breck before without issue.

I don't particularly like the tone and responses I have read here so far, so I'll put in my 2 cents.

First let me state what high altitude experience I have.
3 weeks in Tibet with 3 other friends in 2010.
Hiked to top of Mt Kinabalu (~4,000m) with overnight at Laban Rata (~3,300m).
5 day trek in Nepal, including two nights at Ghorenpani (~2,850m).
Drove to top of Mauna Kea (~4,200m) and crossed multiple 10,000ft passes in Colorado in a day.

And we are going to Peru and do the Inca Trail this Sept.

My own experience (personal and observed), and from my parents and uncle/aunt who have visited Tibet, are as follows:

1. It's entirely different staying in 4,000m for extended periods (more than a few hours), then just visiting places for a few hours. Having no problem at Mauna Kea or top of various Colorado ski peaks means absolutely nothing.

2. Everyone is different. Being fit means nothing. You never know and you can't predict until you get there.

Because of 1. + 2. I highly suggest anyone visiting Lhasa for more than a few hours to take it seriously, and don't think "I'll be okay, it won't happen to me". Of my group of 4 visiting Tibet in 2010, we did the same stuff for the entire time. Two of us were asymptomatic, one have just slight headache and loss of appetite the first day, but one have to visit a clinic TWICE during first three days there. And of the tour group that my parents and uncle/aunt were on (around 20 people), only two were asymptomatic, most have mild headaches, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, etc; but two ended up in hospital. And our own observation in Lhasa and surrounding areas suggest plenty of tourists aren't feeling that well either.

For the OP, I suggest the following:
1. Really really stick to your comment of "taking it easy", at least for the first 36 hours or so. Avoid stairs, skip the shower, avoid alcohol. The most dangerous thing is that you won't feel anything during the first 3-4 hours after arrival, so you MAY think you're totally fine, but you may be not.

2. Plan your stay at Lhasa carefully. Nothing on day of arrival, except walking around the old town area. Next day should be easy, going to various monasteries by car. DON'T HURRY to visit Potala Palace - just the steps heading up may ruin your entire trip if you go the very next morning. And trust me, many Han Chinese (non-Tibetan) tour guides and companies care less about your well-being than you may think. If you plan to visit one of the sacred lakes (around 4,500m) out of Lhasa, also plan it at end of trip. The higher elevation makes a difference, and the roads go through passes closer to 5,000m.

3. Get diamox. I brought but didn't use it for Tibet. But we took it prior to the trek at Mt Kinabalu and Nepal. Try it before trip and see if there's side-effect. If none, then I suggest you consider taking it.

rkkwan Excellent post. At Cuzsco, know of a tourist who looked very fit being evacuated. supposedly a Brit SAS.
Do leave modesty home, you don't feel good, STOP &REST.

It depends on the person.

While I know I would tire easily in Lhasa given your itinerary I would not personally worry about altitude sickness. I have known people for which this trip would be a bad idea, though.

One important factor: Do you smoke? Smoking makes altitude hit much harder.

^ rkkwan

This is my personal experience.

Kathmandu, Cusco and Lake Tahoe didn't give me any issues. I thought Tibet would be no different. I spent 5 miserable days in Tibet. I suffered for migraine headache, shortness of breath and felt ill the whole time. Though, I didn't need hospitalization, but I couldn't wait to get out of there.

I had no problem in Lhasa. I even climbed up the steps to Portolo Palace faster than anyone else. I'm 68, female and and not in particularly great shape. (Not bad shape either.) And I lived at 500 feet in the US.

I had problems once at Toulumne Meadows long long ago and once I remembered to breathe I was OK. (I was unloading backpacking gear from the trunk of the car and realized I was holding my breath as I lifted the gear.)

Everyone is different and even the same person can have a different experience in the same place. Take it easy, breathe if you start getting a headache. Take ibuprofen if you have a problem. I'd hydrate a lot and avoid a lot of alcohol.

It really does depend on the person. I was in Cuzco as a teenager many moons ago, sat quietly sipping my cocoa tea and doing nothing for the first few hours. I got up to take a short walk with my dad, fainted, was taken to the hospital and on oxygen for the next 12 hour. I has some pretty bad bruises on my face from the fall which healed I n credibly fast in the altitude. My sister a year younger had no issues and continued smoking cigarette in the thin air where matches barely stayed lit.

Tibet many years later..I was very careful and did nothing the first half day. That night we went to a restaurant with tradititonal folk dancing and for some unknown rea s on or calling, I joined in the Dancing. I was fine. Climbed the Potala the next day.

A little insomnia, feeling full on very little food were the only effects in Lhasa or on the trip to Lake Namtso where we crossed a path even higher than LH as a.

I know some like to take preventative meds but I like my body to react first so I know what I'm dealing with. Listen to your body.

PS my family were skiers and every time we went to Colorado I fainted several times, in the ski lift line, lunch line, carrying my skis up to our condo. Maybe I grew out of it as I got older. Don't know, but it didn't stop me from exploring

Thanks everyone for all the responses. a pretty mixed bag. While I've never had issues when I've been to high (but lower) altitudes, I'm going to bring Diamox with me. Given that I'll have limited time in Lhasa, I'd hate to spend it sick.

Oh, and no, I don't smoke.

A few years ago I stayed several days in Sichuan (including Yadiing) and Yunnan at the 4000m level (one car trip to near 5000m). I echo what some have said, that everyone is different and preparation matters. What concerned me was one blogger reported a tour companion died during the night in a tent at 4200m.

My preparation (as a 70yo at the time):
lots of tread mill in advance,
two nights at Estes Park, CO, a week in advance, with hikes at higher altitude,
supply of Diamox,
gradual ascent from Chengdu (four days),
our car had oxygen bottles, but they were not needed.

Such altitude has often gives one nausea and lack of appetite, but you can still enjoy the time. In the worst case, a good hotel should have oxygen available for serious headaches, and you should use it for relief.