Some friends/teachers of mine will maybe do 2-4 weeks solitary each year, but sangha is still important.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukkuripa
The majority of monastic ascetic traditions include a small number of hermits, and Tibetian buddhists are no exception.
Those hermits do, occasionally, see other people, and it is important.
Some friends/teachers of mine will maybe do 2-4 weeks solitary each year, but sangha is still important.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukkuripa