This is a unique territory covering an area of about 2.5 million km², mostly taken by the highlands, which is why Tibet is often called the Roof of the World. It is the highest and the biggest plateau in the world, located at an altitude of 4400m on average. The Tibetan Plateau borders the Himalayas to the south and the Kunlun Mountains to the north, while Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collided, forming natural boundaries with mountainous relief for Tibet.
Within Tibet lies the greatest concentration of peaks over 8,000 m on the planet. Mount Everest (known locally as Chomolungma) shares its southern flank with Nepal, while numerous sub-ranges, including the Nyenchen Tanglha and Gangdise, boast countless summits exceeding 6,000 m. Yet Tibet’s geography is not solely defined by its mountains. The plateau is home to the largest freshwater lake complex in the world, with over a thousand lakes dorring its stark terrain. Among them, Nam Tso, Serling Tso, and Yamdrok Tso stand out not only for their size but for their profound religious significance to Tibetan Buddhists.
Tibet also serves as the water tower of Asia. The mightiest rivers of the continent, all trace their headwaters to the glaciers and snowfields of this high-altitude desert. Contrasting with the batten northern expanses, southeastern Tibet reveals rolling meadows & grasslands, sustaining a unique ecosystem of wild yaks, Tibetan antelopes, and nomadic herders. For trekkers, Tibetan geography offers a landscape that feels old, high, and vast, more than anywhere in the world.