The distinctive profile of Gyantse’s Kumbum is almost as recognizable as that of the Potala. Capped with a gilded dome and finial, the nine-storey chorten is a red-and-white wedding cake confection of 77 interlocking chapels, connected by a…

View more

Covering an area twice the size of Germany, the west of Tibet is rugged, sparsely populated and breathtakingly beautiful. With a mean elevation of around 4,500m (14,763ft), it is also high and very dry, requiring several days of altitude ac…

View more

Dubbed the ‘Forbidden City’ during the 19th century, Lhasa has been the spiritual and political capital of Tibet since the Fifth Dalai Lama moved here in 1642. Protracted isolation from the rest of the world meant the arcane way of life led…

View more

Namtso, “Heavenly Lake”, lies half a day’s drive north of Lhasa. Once you’ve set eyes on its crystalline, turquoise water, framed by a backdrop of rolling grasslands and snow-covered mountains, all travel fatigue is instantly banished. The…

View more

The first Buddhist monastery ever founded in Tibet, Samye occupies a suitably epic spot on the north side of the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) Valley. Tapering golden finials crown the top of the complex, whose walls are painted a deep russet colou…

View more

Shigatse, Tibet’s second city, is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the highest ranking lama after the Dalai Lama. Pilgrims pour through the town to worship at the stately Tashilunpo Monastery at its western end, which holds some of…

View more

The seat of Tibet’s ancient emperors, Tsetang, on the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River 113 miles (183km) southeast of Lhasa, is the region’s fourth city and most convenient base for exploring the spectacular valleys to its south, where a number…

View more