In line with the country’s religious teaching, it’s a good idea to channel your inner Buddha and find patience while travelling in Tibet. The means of travel is straightforward – foreigners may only travel by private bus, so public transport is a no-no and organised tours are the way to go. It’s the travel times that may vary; major roads are paved and smooth with journeys between towns and cities averaging three hours, although you can expect some pretty hair-raising stretches that snake along high valleys, and if you’re heading into rural Tibet, expect some longer travelling days of eight or nine hours including lunch and breaks.