Travel on the Tibetan Plateau

Situated in the rain shadow behind the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau is a vast expanse of open landscape, big skies and magnificent light and color. This is the Tibetan Plateau with an average altitude of 4000m. The Roof Of The World! Even road travel in Tibet is not easy. Like other places in the trans-Himalayan region, roads are often bumpy, dusty and journeys can be long and uncomfortable.

Outside of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, hotels are very basic with a limited choice of food. The local Tibetan cousine typically offers Tsampa (ground barley) porridge, yak meat and Tibetan butter tea. However, a travel in Tibet is an adventure you will never forget. The stunning natural scenery, combined with the unique mountain culture that existed in isolation until the 1950s, are bound to make a big impression on any traveler.

Framed Poster: Tibetan Plateau, National Geographic Collection by Gordon Wiltsie, 22x18". Buy this poster now!		Framed Poster: Farmer Going Home Near Tingri, Cho Oyu and Himalayas in the Distance, Tibetan Plateau. by Tony Waltham, 22x18". Buy this poster now!

Overland tours of the Tibetan Plateau are now easily done in jeeps. You can even go on motorbike or bicycle, if your legs are up to the job! But all travels on the Tibetan Plateau have to be arranged through a registered tour agency.

The tour agency will provide a jeep, a driver and a guide. Four passengers usually fit comfortably in the jeep.

The typical drive will take you from Lhasa (Tibet) to Kathmandu (Nepal), usually via Gyantse (3950m), Shigatse (3900m), Rongphu Monastery (5000m), Mt. Everest base camp(!), and over the “Friendship Bridge” to Nepal. Then down the “Friendship Highway” to Kathmandu. You can also do the trip in the opposite direction, from Kathmandu to Lhasa.

Trips to the holy Mt. Kailash can also be arranged.

Poster (unframed): Aerial View of Snow-Capped Peaks and Mountain Lake on the Tibetan Plateau, by Keren Su, 18x24". Buy this poster now!		Poster (unframed): Aerial View of River Flowing Through Mountain Valley in the Tibetan Plateau, by Keren Su, 18x24". Buy this poster now!

Ok, that was a quick round-up of the practicalities of Tibetan Plateau Travel. I didn’t mean to scare you away from traveling to the Tibetan Plateau! In fact, it is probably more easy to make arrangement for this road trip than it is to arrange a mountain hike anywhere else in the Himalayas. It’s certainly easier to complete!

To make things more easy and comfortable, there’s a number of things you can get. Check out my list of recommended gear for Himalayan mountain road trips here.

And when you are ready to book your trip – for now perhaps just get a price quote from an agency - all you need to do is send them an email with your proposed departure date. They will help you to make all the arrangements, including visa to Tibet/China. (Visa to Nepal is more easy, you can just get it at the border when entering Nepal.)

One final little word of caution. There are some stories about people being disappointed with bad tour operators. Many travel agencies subcontract their actual Tibetan Plateau tours out to Chinese operators. That’s what you want to avoid. So when contacting the travel agency, just ask them about the tour crew. A Tibetan, rather than Chinese tour crew, is ok. In fact that’ll usually make it quite enjoyable as most Tibetans are very friendly and hospitable.

Have a great trip on across the Tibetan Plateau – and let me know how your travels went when you come back! Oh, and by the way. I take it that you have already seen the Brad Pitt movie, Seven Years in Tibet. If not, get it! Otherwise, let me suggest some reading material for your trip. Before, during or after: (click to read reviews etc.)