Mount Everest’s majestic North Face, Chomolongma, viewed from Tibet. Photos: Supplied.
Looking for an outdoor adventure where you travel demanding paths and trek through forests, mountains and other wild regions to explore nature? If so, walking in Tibet is one option, which is part of the unmistakable charm of being known as the ‘’Roof of the World”.
This metaphoric epithet has been increasingly applied to Tibet and the Tibetan Plateau because its average height is more than 4000 metres above sea level.
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.” So said the first person to climb Mount Everest. Sir Edmund Hillary, scaling with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest — the world’s highest mountain — in May 1953.
Known for its challenges, trekking on the routes of Tibet offers different experiences and flavours, passing from an arid lunar landscape in some parts to dense verdant forests and pristine rivers in others.
Alternatively, as travel consultant Yonten described it: “You also get the chance to study ancestral villages with their remarkable monasteries, enjoy the unique scenery in secret places of Tibet and have a full insight of Tibetan culture.”
Cross the Tibetan Plateau and trek to the Kangshung Face.
On these tours you will experience life on the Tibetan Plateau and discover the ancient palaces and markets of Lhasa, Tibet’s unforgettable capital and the heartland of Tibetan culture.
Tibet is in Asia, north of the Himalayas or Himalaya, a mountain range separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. It has some of the Earth’s tallest peaks, including the highest, named after George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India, in the 19th century.
Himalaya, meaning “abode of snow” in Sanskrit, constitutes an impressive crescent-shaped mountain range extending for more than 2500 kilometres from the south of the Indus Valley, beyond Nanga Parbat in the west to Namcha Barwa in the east, and spanning five countries (India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Bhutan).
More than 100 peaks exceeding 7200 metres above sea level lie in the Himalayas. Mount Everest, at 8849 m, is a peak in the Himalaya mountain range, located between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China.
Tibet is home to two of the Himalaya’s most amazing trekking experiences, and they are finally back.
Tibet has been one of the most anticipated destinations to return for the trekking community and World Expeditions says it is “thrilled to be the first Australian company to help trekkers fulfil their dreams to spend time here”.
Views of Mount Everest and the Kangshung Glacier, Tibet.
The company says it hasn’t been this excited since it pioneered trekking in Tibet in 1981.
Although politically part of China, Tibet couldn’t be more distinct in its unique landscapes, culture and people. It’s rugged, remote, ancient and unforgettable. Get ready for the lonely moonscapes of the vast Tibetan Plateau and the snow-capped peaks of the world’s highest mountains; high passes and winding trails dotted with Buddhist monuments and fluttering prayer flags; and remote villages and ancient cities filled with a vibrant culture and a gentle, deeply spiritual people.
Whichever Tibetan adventure you choose, you’ll be captivated by the striking sceneries, ancient ethos and humble people. For those who love to explore, it is a great challenge to trek at more than 4000 meters above sea level. From April to October is the best season for a Tibet trek tour.
The packages on offer include a 22-day Everest Kangshung Face trip that is moderate to challenging. The nine-day trek in the Kharta Valley will showcase spectacular views of the Kangshung Face on the world’s highest mountain. Join devout pilgrims on an 18-day Journey to Mount Kailash that coincides with a three-day trek around the Himalaya’s most sacred mountain with the Saga Dawa festival.
For some adventure touring, join the 13-day Lhasa to Kathmandu via Tibet’s Everest Base Camp. You don’t need to be a trekker or a mountaineer for the best views of Mount Everest. Combine Tibet’s cultural highlights on the classic overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu with a visit to the Rongbuk Valley for unrivalled views of the mountain’s notorious North Face.
Why not be among the first to trek in Tibet in 2025?
As the spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, said: “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” Perhaps, listening to what he has to say can change the way you see the world, and even make you a more compassionate traveller.
