I have been to tibet and let me tell you, depending on if you are in a village or on rocky terrain you will in fact need a good and light tripod. I used the Gitzo Basalt 58.3" with a max load of 12.1 lbs. It is extremely light (feels like two pounds) and really sturdy. Then, get a good ball head, don't even bother with a pan head as they are unsuitable for shooting on an incline for the most part. I got the Acra-Swiss Monoball DP and it is a thing of beauty. You will need a quick release plate though so calculate your budget accordingly. Should you get the Velbon, a great tripod brand by the way, make sure you get a good ballhead, because that is ultimately what gives you the stable picture.