If Tibet is on your travel bucket list, you'll need to plan ahead.
Tibet Entry Permits are required to enter the country for non-Chinese citizens, and you'll probably want to get into shape, too — at an average altitude of around 4,500 meters (or 14,700 feet), you might suffer from altitude sickness.
However, the views of Mount Everest, the Potala Palace, and Namtso will make your efforts extremely worthwhile.
Ahead, 20 images of the rich culture you'll find across the Tibet Autonomous Region.
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Home to the world's highest plateau, Tibet has been referred to as "the roof of the world."
The Plateau and its 37,000 glaciers provide water for more than half of Asia.
Namtso Lake is considered a sacred place. Both tourists and Tibetan Buddhists come to visit its waters.
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