Border Hop Into Forbidden Tibet

Rock steady: Buddhists send wishes off from rocks and prayer flags. (Karl Samson)

Whether you're a devout Buddhist or not, a pilgrimage to Tibet's 22,028-foot (6,714-meter) Mount Kailash is an unforgettable experience. While most people head to this sacred mountain by truck from Lhasa, it is also possible to approach the peak on foot from far-western Nepal. Only a few trekking companies offer this trip, which involves spending long days on the trail, traversing high passes, and going through a border crossing that requires plenty of paper work. Once in Tibet, you'll travel by truck to the foot of Kailash to begin the traditional clockwise circumambulation of the peak. While still in Tibet, you'll pass through remote villages that see only a handful of trekkers each year. Chances are that your guide on this trek will be from this region and will want to take you to his village to introduce you to his family.

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