Think of Tibet and many people think cold. Yes, it is cold but travel to Tibet can be enjoyed all year long. This magnificent country has so much to offer that the temperature becomes forgotten entirely.
One important thing to consider when thinking of travel to Tibet is that most of the country is a vast desert plain at an elevation of 16,000 feet above sea level. This plain, often called the “rooftop of the world,” is sandwiched between two spectacular mountain ranges – the sprawling Himalayas to the south and the Kunlun on the north.
Sandwiched between mountain ranges as it is, the country averages only 18 inches of rain per year so travel to Tibet brings little worry from rain except in late summer when monsoon rains coming from India can make some regions prone to landslides and roads often become impassable pools of treacherous mud. Springtime and early summer make picture-perfect opportunities to enjoy breathtakingly beautiful travel time and the autumn and winter months are, indeed, quite cold but provide unique and spectacular vacation adventures found nowhere else on earth.
Planning for travel to Tibet, or anywhere else for that matter, is not complete without considering the culinary adventures to be found at your destination location. The growing season is short in Tibet and much of the land doesn't support sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, people have been living – and eating – in Tibet for thousands of years so there's little chance of going hungry.
Barley is the main crop grown so your travel to Tibet will surely include dining on this staple grain in a variety of ways. Food is seasonal here and is even color coordinated with the seasons. Winter food is considered to be red food and it features meats, usually mutton, lamb, beef, and yak. Summer is white food and includes milk, yogurt, and cheeses.
Salt, onion, and garlic are commonly used for their flavor and aromatic qualities and yak butter accompanies most meals.
Tea is the beverage of choice and butter tea is customary. People who travel to Tibet are often introduced to this warm, high-energy blend of tea leaves, yak butter, and salt that is so beloved in this country that some native Tibetans say they drink as many as 100 cups of it a day.
Travel to Tibet is sure to dazzle the senses so don't let the weather keep you home.