What Does Tibet Have to Offer Older Travellers?

Tibet has just about everything you can think of in terms of history, culture, and natural beauty. This is a land where the Tibetan people have held on very strongly to their cultural traditions for centuries. And maybe this is why it is so popular with older travellers looking for something different from the traditional destinations they are accustomed to visiting.

People travel to Tibet for many reasons – be it spiritual, adventurous, or a combination of both. And for older travellers who may have already trekked at high-altitude or visited Everest Base Camp, there are a ton of ways to immerse yourself in Tibetan culture.

*Monks at prayer in a monastery in Kham, in Eastern Tibet.*

In Tibet, you can find cultural sites from over 1000 years ago, plus some great modern attractions as well. During your visit, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore monasteries, view breathtaking mountains, take in the stunning Tibetan Buddhist art and architecture, and engage with the friendly Tibetan people.

Why Should You Travel to Tibet?

Tibet is most famous for its majestic snow-capped mountains, but the Himalayan mountain range is only a part of what this country has to offer.

The Tibetan Plateau is one of the most beautiful places on earth with its green pastures and crystal blue lakes.

Although it is rapidly changing, there are still areas in Tibet with nomads leading their lives just as they have for centuries — living in white tents, herding yaks, or farming with horses.

*Prayer flags at lovely Lha-tso lake on the road to Western Tibet.*

You’ll find prayer flags, in Tibetan called lungta, or “wind horses,” which are printed with Buddhist mantras and hung with the intention of spreading blessings on the wind.

There are few places in the world where you will find as deep a spiritual culture as in Tibet, where Tibetan Buddhism is deeply embedded in every aspect of what it means to be Tibetan. If you're a spiritual person or simply interested in learning about this ancient culture, you'll find plenty to soak up here.

What About the High Altitude?

The Tibetan Plateau is located at an average 13,000 feet/4000 metres above sea level, so you need to be prepared for the high altitude if you're travelling here. This can be a turn-off especially for older travellers, but there are a few ways you can still experience this majestic land without any problems.

In fact, age is not a risk factor for altitude sickness, so an older traveller is no more or less likely than a young person to get altitude sickness. However, ALL travellers will want to take precautions.

*A friendly local monk displaying an ancient scripture outside the town of Xining.*

To do that, consider acclimatising at an intermediate elevation, such as Xining for a couple of nights, then traveling from Xining to Lhasa via train to lessen your risk of getting sick. You can also ask your doctor if you're a good candidate for Diamox, which can be used to help you adjust to the higher altitude and prevent any illness.

Tibet welcomes many older travellers who enjoy their holiday without any problems. Here's what some of them love most about Tibet:

Tibetan Food

Tibet is known for its unusual cuisine. Tibetan people eat lots of yak meat and dairy products such as butter and cheese. One of the big favourites in Tibet is salty butter tea!

Vegetables are difficult to grow on the Tibetan plateau, therefore Tibetan cuisine has traditionally focused on barley, dairy products, and meat if the household can afford it.

Yak jerky is a popular treat in Tibet, where it's also common to offer chunks of meat on the table. This is cut with knives and dunked in hot sauce, which Tibetans enjoy liberally.

*Yak meat served the traditional way at a Tibetan meal.*

You'll may or may not enjoy the most common drink in Tibet, butter tea — po cha — which is black tea churned with milk, salt, and butter. The milk and butter come from cows or dri, which is the female to the yak.

You'll also want to try the beloved momos. These are vegetarian or meat dumplings that are fried, steamed, or served in soup, and the similar shabalep dish — savoury, hot meat or vegetable pies.

If you're into noodles, so are the Tibetans. Thukpa — noodle soups of all types — are popular, probably because they are so warming. They are usually made with meat and radish and greens if available.

Where to Go in Tibet

Though Mount Everest is the most popular attraction in Tibet, its elevation can be a turnoff for older travellers, or you may have already been there!

Instead, a relaxing way to experience Tibetan culture is to stroll the koras around holy sites as the locals do. This is by far one of the best ways to interact with Tibetan people, and you’ll find people of all ages circumambulating temples, monasteries and holy sites, all over Tibet.

Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is an architectural marvel, rising from the heart of Lhasa and begun by the great fifth Dalai Lama. It was the winter residence of all Dalai Lamas until the present 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959.

There is much to see as you ascend its thirteen levels (not advised on your first day at altitude), but it's the absence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his monastery, and Sho — the village at the foot of the hill that leaves the most impact.

It is an amazing opportunity to hang with the locals on the Potang Shakor, the prayer circuit around the grounds of the Potala.

Jokhang Temple (Tsuglakhang)

If you visit Lhasa and don't see anything else, go to the Jokhang Temple, which is Tibet's spiritual centre.

The Jokhang houses the oldest and most sacred structure in Lhasa. The temple was built during the rule of King Songsten Gampo in the late 7th century, and it has been the centre of numerous key events in Tibetan history.

*Tibetans prostrating in front of the holy Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.*

The Barkhor Square and prayer route, a prayer path and circuit around the Jokhang, is always teeming with Tibetans and tourists from many different countries and is a fascinating place to experience.

Draksum-tso Lake

Draksum-tso (also called Basum-tso or Basong-tso) is a magnificent highland lake in Kongpo surrounded by even higher mountains rising like walls out of the water.

The island in the center of the lake, which is home to several Nyingma nuns and their 14th-century monastery known as Tsodzong, is particularly lovely and an attraction worth seeing.

*The spectacular main prayer hall shrine at Sakya Monastery.*

The lake also has important spiritual and historical connections, both to Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) and King Gesar.

Tibet is beautiful and definitely worth a visit. It's also surprisingly easy to travel as an older traveller — and your time there will be filled with much joy and wonder.