Tibet General Information

Tibet the very name evokes feelings of awe and mystery in extremely remote and isolated by the most formidable Himalayan ranges. A land of ancient Buddhist culture, awesome landscapes, artistic monasteries and centuries-old caravan trails; Tibet is a destination out of the ordinary.

Famed as the roof of the world, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China lies on a plateau at an average elevation of 4000m. It is bounded by the Kunlun Mountains to the north and the Himalaya to the south. Tibet covers an area of 1.2 million sq. km, and has a population of 2.8 millions.
Geography of Tibet
Area : 1.2 million sq.km
Capital : Lhasa
Temperatures : 23C/73F in summer -15C/5F in winter
Population : 2.8 million

An average elevation of over 4,000 m, Tibet is considered to be the highest region in the world and is often called the "Roof of the World." This comes as no surprise, especially since southern Tibet is located in the Himalayas, which contains many of the world's highest summits. In addition to its incredible heights, Tibet is also one of the most isolated areas on earth, with most of the people living in elevations ranging from 1200 m to 5100 m. One of the most famous peaks found in Tibet is Mount Everest (8848 m), the highest mountain in the world.
The road is at elevation above 3600 meter (12000 ft.) above sea level most of the time and goes as high as 5300 meter if you go to base camp of Everest or Kailash in a short period.

Tibet with it's mountains is the source and dividing line of the Asian continent's major rivers, with the Brahmaputra being the most important. Many of the rivers in Tibet can be used for hydroelectricity, but this potential hasn't been developed as of yet.

Pilgrims have been traveling over the high passes from India and other parts of Asia to Mount Kailas for probably over 5,000 years. It is claimed to be the apex of the Hindu religious axis. It is also one of the highest Mountains in Tibet at over 22,022 ft and Lake Manasarovar, at 14,950 ft is said to be the highest freshwater lake in the world. Certainly this is a difficult region to reach with the variable and extreme weather conditions. The distance from Lhasa for example is approx 2,000 km.

Travel to Tibet
Lhasa is connected by road and air with Kathmandu. You can also fly from Hongkong or Chengdu to Lhasa. From the north you can travel overland from Golmud. There are twice a week – Tuesday and Saturday direct flight between Kathmandu and Lhasa.