Trekking, as an important facet of the tourist industry, is slowly developing in Tibet buy still legs far behind Nepal. Interesting trips suck as a trek with pack-yaks to the Oracle Lake of Lhamo Lhatso can be organized. Some agencies in Kathmandu, Europe and North America that specialize in mountain travel arrange group treks in Tibet.

The best way to get equipped is to buy what you need at home, in Kathmandu or, if it is too late, to check notice boards in hotels for used articles.

Combining thin air and arctic conditions with sub-tropical sunshine, Tibet's unique environment poses many problems, so even experienced trekkers should try a few short climbs and warm-up treks before setting out on anything ambitious. For those new arrivals and suffering from a cold or flu, they should wait until they are used to tolerate the altitude. All should have a plan like ' climb high, sleep low', to minimize the effects of altitude and reduce the risk of waking up snowbound.

Good sunglasses and sunblock cream, a hat and perhaps even an umbrella are necessary for protection from the sun. The desiccated air at most seasons parches the skin and lips and, coupled with dust, irritates the respiratory tract.

In high places, surface water is hard to find. Snow tends to evaporate rather than melt, and even there is sufficient snow or ice, melting it takes eight times more fuel than boiling the some amount of water.

Even those travelers who like butter tea, tsampa, noodles and dried yak meat cannot expect to live off the land while trekking, as the population is too sparse and impoverished to feed passing strangers, especially along the more popular routes. Trekkers should carry all the food they will need. That said, many Tibetans are delighted and honored to offer hospitality to a foreign guest. They will refuse all payment, but ate happy to receive such gifts as photos of the Dalai Lama, cords blessed by lamas, scissors, cloth gloves, hairpins and sewing needles.

The most popular treks are to Everest Base Camp, from Dagze Dzong to Samye Monastery, from Ganden Monastery to Samye, and to Lake Namtso. Oracle Lake ( Lhamo Lhatso) and the Kailash kora are for the hardy, experienced few.

With lots of contact with village people various side valleys to the north and south of Lhasa offer opportunities for easy warm-up treks. You can stay in villages or camp out, making side trips into the mountains and returning at night to sleep low. This approach is good for people without experience or equipment. Some suitable areas are the long valley north of Samye Monastery, up to and around Yamalung, Tsurphu Monastery Drigung ( further to the northeast), and the Yarlong and Chonggye valleys, near Tsedang.