Visit Tsetang, Tibet

A half-day drive from Lhasa along the Brahmaputra River valley brings you to the fabled birthplace of the Tibetan people. The modern town of Tsetang has a fascinating old Tibetan quarter and is a good base for exploring the area.

To the south, lose yourself in the eerie Yumbulagang Fort, its 11-metre tower dark against the sky. Set on a jagged ridge fluttering with prayer flags, it is a great viewpoint overlooking the verdant Yarlung Valley.

Northeast of Tsetang, the road crosses the mighty Brahmaputra River en route to the remarkable Samye Monastery, oldest of all Tibet’s monasteries. Under the protective gaze of the spectacular Utse building, countless stupas and temples still attract many devout Buddhists.