Tibet

There are few places that I really don't enjoy all that much when I first travel there, but when I leave I really want to go back. Tibet isn't one of these places. From the initial flight from Chengdu to Lhasa to the descent into Nepal I loved every moment. The landscape is even more spectacular than I had hoped, the Tibetans even more friendly and the remaining monestaries even more incredible. The 10 days we took to from Lhasa to Nepal and the many places we visited on the way are one of my most cherished travel memories.

I had avoided going to Tibet for years. Having spent months around Tibetan refugee centres in India and Nepal, I, like most Westerners with an interest in the region knew about the Chinese 'liberation' and the effects of the Cultural Revolution. I would strongly suggest you read as much diverse, informed opinion and history as you can before seeing Tibet. Like many countries, you will understand, appreciate and see more if you do some research beforehand.