Tibet

With practical information on visas, route planning and essential words and phrases, this Bradt guide to Greater, or Ethnic, Tibet includes a chapter on routes through the northern and eastern areas of Kham and Amdo. The "Land of Snows" boasts opportunities for the highest trekking in the world, with panoramic landscapes dotted with Buddhist monasteries clinging to sheer hilltops and nomadic Tibetans herding yaks on pasture land. Exploring Tibet independently is a challenge, with some of the wildest and roughest road routes in high Asia. Trekking, motoring and mountain-biking are all covered in this guide, along with the political and cultural issues associated with travelling within this Chinese-occupied country. It is particularly strong on history, local culture and customs, including the holy city of Lhasa in-depth, but it also addresses the issue of travelling with minimum impact on Tibet's environment.