» TIBET, CULTURAL SAMPLER

Tibet: Mysterious places are rare to be found in the world, but Tibet is an exception. With an average elevation of 14,000 feet, Tibet is literally the highest nation on earth. Nearly half the world’s population lives downstream from Tibet with five of Asia's great rivers including the Indus, Mekong and Brahmaputra having their headwaters in the “Roof of the World”.
Combine snow-capped Himalayan Peaks touching cobalt blue skies, and majestic turquoise colored lakes with the spiritual energy of country that embraced Buddhism in the 8th century AD. Since then, a paramount objective of Tibetan culture has been the cultivation of a good heart and a calm, clear mind. Embrace life in the same way Tibetans view Mount Everest, “From the other side”.

Day 01: KTM Arrival 1330 meters. Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel, day free to relax and get over your jet lag. BB

Day 02: KATHMANDU 1330 meters. Today is a day free in Kathmandu to explore the temples, monasteries and markets. There will be a late afternoon briefing on final trip details. Kathmandu, BB

DAY 03: Fly Kathmandu/Lhasa, you will be met by Tibetan guide and transferred to Lhasa “your hotel”. When you are unpacked and more accustomed to the thin air, you can take the rest of the afternoon to explore the fabulous market or Barkhor that surrounds the Jokhang. Hotel BLD

DAY 04: Around 7:30am you head back to the Barkhor and the Jokhang, spiritual center of Tibet and destination of millions of Tibetan Pilgrims. The Jokhang, built in 767AD by Tibet's first Buddhist King, Songtsen Gampo, is the heart of this Buddhist world. You walk the kora or pilgrim route, around the Barkhor with the early morning pilgrims. After the outside kora you enter the temple and walk the nangkhor, or inside of the temple. On the roof of the Jokhang, you can take beautiful pictures of the market and pilgrims below, and the Potala on the hill across the square. From the Jokhang, you will head to the Potala, the former winter palace of the Dalai Lama, built on the escarpments of Red Hill and rising more than 1000' above the valley floor. You must be sure to enter through the pilgrim entrance, up the long path, rather than through the tourist entrance. Your visit to the Potala, complete, you can have lunch in one of the momo restaurants outside. After lunch, you will visit the Norbulinka, once named Jewel Park and now People's Park. The Norbulinka was the former summer palace of successive Dalai Lamas from 1755, and suffered extensive damage during the Cultural Revolution. Much has been rebuilt, and it is fascinating to see how the Dalai Lama actually lived. Painted on one of the walls is a picture of the 14th Dalai Lama and his family - the only one still prominent in Tibet. Later in the day, if you are not exhausted, you can visit the Lukhang, set in the middle of a lake. At one time, one would take a boat across the lake. Now the area is a Chinese theme park, and it is fun to see how the people use the area. The temple is one of the gems of Lhasa, and contains artwork related to Tibetan medical practices. Hotel BLD

DAY 05: Today you travel to the suburbs of Lhasa to visit two of the most interesting of the Buddhist monasteries. The first, Phabonkha, served as a meditation site during the time of Songtsen Gampo, and contains a plaque commemorating the first Tibetan script. The monastery also serves as a sky burial site, and if we are early enough, we can still see the great Himalayan Vultures circling overhead, waiting for their dinner. In the last part of the 8th century, the very first seven Tibetan monks stayed here, after receiving their ordination from the India GURU Shankarakshita. From here, you will have a simple lunch in a local restaurant, and then head to Sera, in time for the 3 pm debates. Sera, is a 15th century Gelugpa monastery, founded by one of Tsong Khapa's disciples, and is famous for its Tantric teachings. The name Sera means "Merciful Hail." Years ago, a rivalry existed between Sera and Drepung (means "Rice Heap"). The monks from Sera though their hail would destroy Drepung's rice, while Sera boasted the "dob-dobs," an elite corps of warrior monks, much feared by other Buddhist leaders. Hotel BLD

DAY 06: After a 3-4 hour morning drive, you arrive in the valley of Drigung Monastery, founded by the Kagyupas, descendants of Milarepa. Cut by the Kyichu, this spectacular valley boasts not only the monastery, but also a nunnery and some wonderful hot springs in this cold land. Drigung Til was rebuilt in 1983, and boasts a large Assembly Hall with Drigung Kyapgon's footprint, his personal conch and trumpet. On the right side of the altar are images of Apchi, the protectress of the temple. Drigung, and the nunnery are primarily meditation monasteries. Drigung Dundro, up the hill along the monastery kora, is a power place for sky burials, and is considered identical to Sitavana, one of the most famous of the Eight Indian Charnel Grounds near Bodhgaya. Legend has it a rainbow connects Sitavana and Drigung Dundro. Early in the morning, watch for people climbing ups the hill with a body to be devoured by Himalayan vultures in a traditional Tibetan burial. Camping BLD

DAY 07: A short drive to Terdrum takes you to the nunnery or "ani" gompa with its hot springs attended by residences of the goddess Apchi. According to legend, below the lakes is a limestone ridge that once contained a poisonous lake with fumes so strong they killed the birds in the sky. Guru Rimpoche, the teacher who brought Buddhism to Tibet, threw his dorje, or thunderbolt, at the ridge and drained the lake. The nuns see the shape of his dorje protruding from the rocks below the opening of the tunnel. After bathing in the hot springs, you can visit the nunnery or climb to the Guru Rimpoche cave on the hill. Camping BLD

DAY 08: Leaving Drigung, you travel to Reteng, a Kadampa gompa founded in the 11th century by Dromton, the chief disciple of Atisha. The juniper trees around the monastery were said to have grown from the hairs of Dromton. Despite reconstruction, the monastery, with its extraordinary view of the Rong Chu valley, will ever be the small city it once was. Inside the lhakhang (God House) are important relics, such as the statue of Jowa Jampa Dorje or the Talking Drolma. Camping BLD

DAY 09: Today, you head east and return to Lhasa with the rest of the day free to wander Lhasa with your guide and a car available. Hotel BLD

DAY 10: Flight to Kathmandu.
 
Rates are in Euro per person basis
2 - 5 pax          6 - 9 pax          10 - 14 pax      15+ pax
1,314                973                 829                              746
Single supplement: US$ 320
Half board/S: US$ 94 / Full board/S: 189
  
Service Including:
1. All transfer as per the itinerary including one support truck.
2. All necessary permits, one English-speaking Tibetan guide through the entire trip with all sightseeing as per the itinerary, all monastery entrance fee.
3. Hotel accommodation  & Camping on full board basis.