Humans have always been drawn to conquering heights, from scaling mountain peaks to establishing permanent settlements in the clouds. These sky-high communities offer breathtaking views and unique cultural experiences shaped by the challenges of living with thin air and extreme weather.
Many elevated towns have developed accommodations for visitors, allowing travelers to experience life at dizzying altitudes while enjoying surprising comfort. Here is a list of 20 highest-altitude towns around the world where you can book a stay and experience life closer to the stars.
La Rinconada, Peru
Sitting at a breathtaking 16,700 feet above sea level, La Rinconada holds the title of the highest permanent human settlement in the world. This gold-mining town houses roughly 50,000 residents who have adapted to the oxygen-thin air and harsh conditions of the Peruvian Andes.
While accommodations are basic, staying here offers a rare glimpse into the lives of miners and families who call this extreme environment home.
Nagchu, China
At 14,800 feet in the northern Tibetan Plateau, Nagchu is an important trading hub with basic hotels for visitors brave enough to venture this far. The town hosts the annual Nagchu Horse Racing Festival, where nomadic herders gather to showcase their equestrian skills and traditional customs despite harsh winter conditions that can drop to -40°F.
The town’s markets bustle with activity as traders exchange goods across the Tibetan plateau.
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Rongbuk, Tibet
At 16,340 feet near the base of Mount Everest, Rongbuk is home to the world’s highest Buddhist monastery and offers simple guesthouse accommodations for travelers. Visitors can wake to unparalleled views of Everest’s north face, a sight that has drawn pilgrims and adventurers for centuries.
The monastery’s resident monks maintain spiritual practices despite the challenging environment, offering blessings to mountaineers attempting to climb the world’s highest peak.
Korzok, India
At 15,000 feet beside the breathtaking Tso Moriri Lake in Ladakh, Korzok is one of India’s highest permanent settlements. This village offers homestays and seasonal tented camps for visitors seeking to experience the nomadic Changpa culture and witness the spectacular blue waters of the high-altitude lake.
Wildlife enthusiasts can spot rare species like the Tibetan wolf, black-necked crane, and bar-headed geese that migrate to this remote region.
Parinacota, Chile
Sitting 14,400 feet on the altiplano bordering Bolivia, this Chilean village features whitewashed adobe buildings and a striking 17th-century church. Tourists can stay in basic but comfortable lodgings while exploring Lauca National Park’s diverse Andean wildlife and volcanic landscapes.
The centuries-old church, with its original murals and colonial architecture, is a testament to the endurance of faith in one of Earth’s most challenging environments.
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Potosí, Bolivia
This colonial mining city, at 13,400 feet, was once among the world’s richest due to its silver mines. Today, Potosí offers visitors a range of accommodation options, from budget hostels to boutique hotels housed in restored colonial buildings.
The UNESCO World Heritage site features remarkable Spanish Baroque architecture, including ornate churches built with wealth extracted from the infamous Cerro Rico mountain.
Cerro de Pasco, Peru
At 14,200 feet, this Peruvian mining town offers visitors a glimpse into the challenging life of high-altitude mineral extraction. Local guesthouses provide simple but adequate accommodations for the few travelers who venture to this industrial outpost in the central Andes.
Despite its utilitarian appearance, the surrounding landscapes feature stunning highland lakes and mountains that can be explored on day trips from town.
Litang, Tibet
Nestled at 13,100 feet on Sichuan’s western edge, Litang is known as ‘the highest town in the world’ among many Tibetans and offers several basic hotels for visitors. This historically significant town features the impressive Litang Monastery, founded in 1580 and home to hundreds of monks practicing Tibetan Buddhism.
The surrounding high grasslands are home to nomadic herders who bring their livestock and set up temporary camps during the town’s famous horse festival each summer.
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Langza, India
Perched at 14,500 feet in the Spiti Valley, this tiny Himalayan village is known for its 1,000-year-old Buddha statue overlooking the valley. Homestays with local families provide authentic experiences, including traditional Spitian meals cooked on yak-dung stoves.
Remarkably, the area is famous for marine fossils dating back millions of years, to when this Himalayan region was once the seabed of the ancient Tethys Ocean.
Ausangate Communities, Peru
At 14,000 feet in the Cordillera Vilcanota, these traditional Quechua communities offer lodges and homestays for trekkers exploring the rainbow-colored mountains. Visitors can participate in ancient Andean ceremonies and learn about alpaca herding from communities that have maintained their traditional lifestyle for centuries.
The nearby Ausangate peak is considered a holy mountain or ‘Apu’ by locals who make offerings to ensure good harvests and protection.
Namche Bazaar, Nepal
At 11,300 feet, Namche is the gateway to Everest and offers comfortable teahouses and lodges with surprising amenities. This bustling market town features internet cafes, bakeries, and equipment shops catering to trekkers and climbers preparing for higher altitudes.
The horseshoe-shaped settlement is built into a steep hillside, and terraced buildings offer spectacular views of Kongde Ri and, on clear mornings, Everest.
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Leh, India
At 11,500 feet, the capital of Ladakh offers a range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to traditional homestays, in the trans-Himalayan desert. While acclimating to the altitude, visitors can explore ancient Buddhist monasteries, mud-brick palaces, and bustling bazaars.
The town’s strategic position along ancient trade routes between Tibet, Kashmir, and Central Asia has created a unique cultural blend visible in the local architecture, cuisine, and traditions.
Shigatse, Tibet
At 12,800 feet, Shigatse is Tibet’s second-largest city. It offers comfortable hotels and is close to the impressive Tashilhunpo Monastery. The city is an important cultural and economic hub, with markets selling everything from traditional Tibetan crafts to modern necessities.
Visitors can witness monks debating Buddhist philosophy and creating intricate sand mandalas as part of centuries-old spiritual practices.
Cuzco, Peru
The historic Inca capital, which sits at 11,150 feet, serves as a gateway to Machu Picchu. Its excellent hotels range from backpacker hostels to five-star luxury. Ancient stone walls built by Inca masons still form the foundations for many colonial Spanish buildings throughout this UNESCO World Heritage city.
Visitors often need a few days to acclimatize to the altitude before exploring nearby archaeological sites, and local hotels offer coca tea as a traditional remedy for altitude sickness.
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Huaraz, Peru
Located at 10,000 feet in the spectacular Cordillera Blanca range, Huaraz offers access to some of South America’s most dramatic peaks and glacial lakes. Accommodations range from basic hostels to comfortable hotels catering to the international climbing and trekking community.
The nearby Huascarán National Park contains 27 peaks above 19,000 feet, including Peru’s highest mountain, making this an ideal base for serious and casual mountaineers.
La Paz, Bolivia
Bolivia’s administrative capital is 10,500 to 13,500 feet, making it the world’s highest de facto capital city with modern amenities and luxury hotels. The dramatic setting features buildings clinging to steep hillsides, with snow-capped Mount Illimani providing an impressive backdrop.
Visitors can ride the city’s innovative cable car system for spectacular views while traveling between neighborhoods at different elevations.
Dingboche, Nepal
This Sherpa village, at 14,800 feet, serves as an acclimatization stop for Everest trekkers with basic but comfortable teahouses. The mountain views from Dingboche are unparalleled, with Ama Dablam’s distinctive peak dominating the skyline.
The surrounding stone-walled fields cultivated by local farmers create a patchwork pattern across the hillsides, starkly contrasting the barren, rocky terrain beyond the village.
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Chamoli District Villages, India
Several villages in this Himalayan district sit above 11,000 feet and offer homestays for visitors exploring the Valley of Flowers National Park. Traditional wooden houses with intricate carvings showcase Garhwali architecture, which is adapted to withstand harsh mountain winters.
Locals maintain ancient traditions, including distinctive folk music played on rare instruments and seasonal festivals that mark agricultural cycles.
Murghab, Tajikistan
At 11,900 feet on the Pamir Highway, this remote town offers basic guesthouses for travelers exploring the ‘Roof of the World. Despite challenging conditions, including electricity for only a few hours daily, residents welcome occasional visitors to this former Soviet outpost.
The surrounding landscape resembles a moonscape with wide valleys flanked by snow-capped peaks that remain visible even during summer.
Uyuni Outskirts, Bolivia
Communities around 12,000 feet on the edge of the famous salt flats offer salt hotels, where everything from walls to furniture is constructed from salt blocks. These unique accommodations provide easy access to the surreal landscape of the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat.
Nighttime temperatures often plunge below freezing, but the extraordinary stargazing opportunities and sunrise views over the crystalline salt expanse make the cold worthwhile.
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Life Among the Clouds
Human resilience shines brightest in these communities that have survived and thrived in environments where breathing requires extra effort. These high-altitude towns represent some of humanity’s most impressive adaptations to extreme environments while maintaining rich cultural traditions.
Visiting these remarkable places offers more than just breathtaking views—it provides a profound appreciation for the incredible diversity of human experience and our capacity to make homes in even the most challenging corners of our planet.
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