The Tibetan plateau is a clearly defined geography and as cheesy as the term is, the really does have features that qualify it as a pole and a discernible centre, especially where expeditions are concerned.
The Tibetan plateau has a prominence where rivers run off it, away into the deserts, steppe and lowlands surrounding, fed by both annual snow and glacial melt from the thousands of ice age lakes. Away from the edges the altitude and absence of connecting watercourses creates semi-frozen semi-endorheic lakes that only connect with occasional snow, with significant ice locked away long term on the scattered massifs that rise to about 6000m
Itinerary
This is the minimum itinerary needed for a trek to the geographical Tibetan pole.
Day 1: City of start (Xining, Chengdu)
Days 2-3: Road access
Days 4-10: Approach to objective (lakes, peaks, location)
Days 11-15: Return
Inclusion
Experienced & qualified western leadershipEmission offsets & wildlife conservation contributionAll permits, peak fees & required feesAll administrative costs for bookings, visa support & team oversightAll accommodation detailed in the trip itineraryAll transport (inc airport transfers) detailed in the trip itineraryAll meals for town, transit, approach & basecamp daysAll wages for required staff inc translators, liaison officers, guides, drivers, camp staff & animal driversAll vehicle & animal portage costs detailed in the trip itineraryAll base camp resources detailed in the trip itineraryAll team climbing equipmentAll on-mountain stove fuel Exclusions
Airfares to city of trip start/finishVisa feesAdditional accommodation outside of the trip itineraryAdditional peak & access fees for changes to objectives outside the details of the trip itineraryPersonal equipmentPersonal contributions to team equipment as detailed in the trip itineraryPersonal on-mountain foodPersonal drinks & snacksAccommodation & transport for changes made outside the details of the trip itineraryCosts for early departure or early termination of a tripPersonal travel, medical, rescue & equipment insuranceTransport & entry fees for sightseeing outside the details of the trip itinerary
