Tibet: The Rooftop of the World

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Mountain roads in Tibet can reach elevations in excess of 5000m Travel in Tibet requires a "Tibet Travel Permit" and you must travel as a group. What this means in practical terms is that when you buy your ticket you pay an extra tax. You probably won't see the actual "permit" and as soon as the "group" arrives in Lhasa everyone goes their own separate way.

It's a fair haul from the airport into Lhasa, the trip takes around 90 minutes. You can spend a bit of time in Lhasa, there is plenty to see; The Potala Palace, Norbulingka, The Jokhang but it's also a good place to just relax and take in the ambience. Certainly increased Chinese immigration has changed Lhasa though it still retains a fairly distinct character. It's also recommended to stop in Lhasa for a few days at least to acclimatise to the altitude before heading to areas of increased elevation. My mate Tenzin whom I visited in Kangding had a sister, Maria, living in Lhasa and she was kind enough to show me around some of the local sights.

Left: Devotion at The Jokhang, Lhasa. Route: Chengdu to Lhasa by air. Bus to and from Tsetang. Bus to Drigung Til Monastery, hitch-hike to Tedrun Nunnery and back to Lhasa. 4WD from Lhasa to Deci (6 days), bus to Lijiang

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