Do you need a sleeping bag in Tibet?

Do I need a sleeping bag in Tibet? This is the most common question travelers to Tibet ask. Most travelers to Tibet will not need to bring a sleeping bag. Unless you plan to trek, you usually have no reason to bring a sleeping bag from across the globe. Most regions of Tibet travelers visit, including Lhasa, are relatively modern and have several modern-style hotels and guesthouses. I have traveled from one end of Tibet to the other, including the most remote, off-the-beaten-path areas few others have heard of, and have never stayed at a hotel or guesthouse without blankets. Now, in some very remote regions, the blankets can be less than clean. A sleeping bag is a good idea in these areas, as explained below.

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Where I suggest taking a sleeping bag in Tibet

If you're cycling, camping, or trekking in Tibet, you must bring a sleeping bag. This includes the Ganden—Samye Trek, Mt. Kailash Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, Nyenchen Tanglha Traverse, Kharta Region, Amdo and Kham treks, and others. The 3-day Kailash Trek has "teahouses" along the route. I still recommend bringing a sleeping bag, as the blankets there are quite dirty. How to get to Mount Kailash?

In Western Tibet towns, including Saga, Lake Manasarovar, Darchen, Zanda/Guge Kingdom, and the overland route to Kashgar. I strongly recommend bringing a sleeping bag. The reason is that the guesthouses in these regions are very poor and cold, and the blankets are not always clean. A sleeping bag is a good idea in these extremely remote areas.

The guesthouses and "tent hotels" at Mt. Everest base camp offer plenty of blankets, but again, they are not always cleaned regularly. A lightweight sleeping bag or even a sleeping bag liner, combined with the blankets supplied at the guesthouses/tent hotels, will keep you warm.

What kind of sleeping bag should I bring to Tibet?

I recommend a lightweight, easily packable backpack that is rated between -12°C (10°F) and -18°C (0°F). If you plan on camping in Tibet at elevations above 5200 meters/17,000 feet, I recommend an even warmer sleeping bag. You can also read a Tibet packing list at this link.

Sleeping bag in Tibet: Summary

If you are doing a standard overland tour in Tibet to Everest Base Camp, the Nepal border, through Central Tibet or through the Yarlung Valley to the east of Lhasa, you don't need to bring a sleeping bag with you. Hotels and guesthouses in these areas provide adequate blankets. However, if you are trekking, cycling, camping, or going through remote Western Tibet, a sleeping bag is recommended.

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