Lying on the southwestern border with China and about the same size as Ireland, Tibet is one of the gateways to Mount Everest and many Buddhist temples. Tibet’s positioning on the highest plateau in the world means that acclimatising to the altitude before moving on to the Himalayas proper is a must. The main activities available are trekking and climbing and there are many tour companies offering day-long or extended treks of the immediate region, the Himalayas or Everest. Many Buddhist structures are high up, having fantastic views of the mountain scenery. For temple architecture, Tibet’s second city Shigatse has the 500-year-old Tashilhunpo Monastery with its huge Buddha and old fort. New Tibetan railways link the capital, Lhasa, with the rest of China.
