A closer look
In 1924, the Tibetan city of Lhasa was strictly forbidden to foreigners, which naturally meant Alexandra David-Néel had to go there. This 55-year-old French anarchist and opera singer smeared her face with soot, wore a necklace of human skulls, and disguised herself as a begging pilgrim. She trekked through the frozen Himalayas for months, surviving off yak butter tea and sheer audacity. She successfully infiltrated the forbidden city, proving that gatekeeping is no match for a truly stubborn tourist.
