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Tibet Overview: Introduction
Why visit Tibet | Why travel overland | A word of caution | Travel Books
Hundreds of books written in contemporary times wax lyrical about the lure of Tibet. Nonetheless, no matter how many people visit Tibet, it remains an extraordinary destination.
The magic and mystery of Tibet have lured travellers for years. Until the turn of the 20th century, Tibet was one of the few destinations in the world that was so unattainable that it would tantalize adventure travellers from all corners of the globe. Its geographic isolation on the highest plateau in the world and unique culture and religious beliefs have for centuries moulded the lives of a very special people. For years, hearsay and Pundit rumour were all that the outside world could learn about this secret land and its inhabitants.
Tibetans call their home 'Land of the Snows'. It is often referred to as the 'Roof of the World'. Both names capture the extreme nature of the land. Covering an area of about 2.5 million sq km, the average altitude on the plateau is more than 4000m. The extreme climate renders 75% of the land uninhabitable, making Tibet one of the world's least populated regions.
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The magnificent north face
of Mt Everest, seen from
Rongphu monastery
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