Tibet travel guide
Arguably the most enticing destination in the Himalaya, Tibet remains a dramatic yet controversial destination for adventurous travellers
Tibet, the mysterious land perched high in the Himalaya, has long had a seductive hold over the Western consciousness, luring traders and travellers alike.
And no wonder. With ice-clean air, some of the world’s tallest peaks and Buddhist monasteries galore, its reputation as a scenic, spiritual Shangri-La is well deserved.
It’s not all a bed of rhododendrons, though; since the 1950 invasion (or ‘liberation’, as described by the Chinese) of Tibet, indigenous traditions have been suppressed, and hundreds of thousands of Tibetans – including the Dalai Lama – have fled. Today the Tibetans are clinging defiantly to their way of life in the face of an influx of Han Chinese settlers, industrialisation and mass tourism.
Sidestep the pockets of hasty modernization, though, and you can stride out into a wilderness of lonely summits, grunting yaks, prayer flags and temples.
Wanderlust recommends
- Reach the heady heights of Everest Base Camp where you can drink in views of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain
- Wander Lhasa’s Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple then gorge yourself on a traditional Tibetan banquet – brace yourself for no fewer than 18 dishes
- Take a ride on the world’s highest railway, which speeds from Golmud in China across the Himalayas to Lhasa
- Peruse some of Tibet’s 1,700 Buddhist monasteries. Go to Tashilhunpo Monastery for blow your socks off splendour, and Samye Monastery, Tibet’s very first
- Hike around Jangtang, an otherworldly landscape and the world’s second biggest nature reserve, flecked with lakes and traversed by nomads
Wanderlust tips
Take a trusty supply of toilet paper and a comprehensive first aid kit. Keep a stash of food to hand (tinned goods, soups, noodles, chocolate) in the event of stomach upsets or being stuck in a remote region. Take layered clothing fit for all weathers.