Heart of Tibet
Sustainability and Service ~The Essence of the TibetanVillage Project

Heart of Tibet explores the realities of rural health care from both western and traditional perspectives as you travel from village to village with a small team along a sacred route through Central Tibet. Time will be spent delivering supplies, assessing medical needs, addressing sanitation issues and lending a helping hand when the opportunity arises. The itinerary covers TVP medical clinics and sacred sites within a 300 mile radius of Lhasa, including the Potala Palace, Jokang Temple, Namtso Lake, Drikung and Reting Monasteries, and Tidrum medicinal hot springs. This journey focuses on service and sustaining healthy communities ~ the essence of the Tibetan Village project!

Your service work starts by raising awareness and funds ($650 required minimum with an ultimate goal of raising $1000 by each person) to support the work of the Tibetan Village Project. TVP will be happy to help with fund-raising ideas, materials and support, and will go over where funds will be specifically used. All costs are in US dollars unless noted.

Trip date: May 16th - June 5th, 2009. Click here to print the trip application.

Land Cost:	$2,925 for (11-12 participants)
	$3,275 for (09-10 participants)
	$3,595 for (07-08 participants)

Our trip is budgeted for a full or nearly-full sign-up. To avoid having to cancel the trip with fewer participants, we will charge more for smaller groups to cover the fixed costs of the trip. We make our trip affordable (compared other Tibet programs from Western countries), with the hope that you will raise funds, volunteer in the field, and become an ambassador for TVP and other humanitarian causes as a result from the experiences. 100% of proceeds directly benefit the Tibetan Village Project.

Trip Payment Schedule	Cancellation Fee Schedule
At time of reservation   -        $500	Minimum fee:                         None
120 days prior to departure - $1500	46- 90 days prior to departure: 50% land cost
60 days prior to departure  -  Balance	45 days or less:                     100% land cost

Tax-Deduction: 30% of the land cost is tax-deductible. In the event of a trip cancellation, the cancellation fee simply becomes a donation to Tibetan Village Project and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Note: tax deduction applies only in the United States as it where TVP has 501(c)3 Status.

Sample Itinerary

Days 1-2: Participants fly to Chengdu, alleviate jetlag, enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Tibetan restaurant, participate in a trip briefing including tips on cultural etiquette, visit Chinese cultural sites, and prepare for departure to Lhasa.

Days 3-7: After a short flight over the Himalayan Mountains, we’ll arrive in Lhasa, enjoy a welcome reception, rest and alleviate jetlag. While acclimatizing, we’ll learn basic Tibetan cultural etiquette and basic language skills, participate in meditation, and visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Square. Volunteer opportunities in Lhasa include: teaching English, preparing meals, and working with artisans. Our medical professionals will meet one-on-one with village-based healthcare workers in Lhasa to distribute medical supplies and assess needs and progress of each clinic.

Days 8-17: On route to the villages, we’ll visit many sacred sites such as Namtso Lake, Reting monastery, Drikung Thil monastery, and other monasteries. We’ll take time to enjoy a relaxing soak in a medicinal hot spring and join yaks on the stunning Tibetan hillsides for a few short hikes. While in the villages, we will have opportunities to raise prayer flags, participate in ritual ceremonies and cultural activities, and interact with Tibetan farmers and nomads and learn about their way of life. Our main focus will be assessing medical needs and sanitation issues, providing hands-on help; and identifying future needs.

Days 18-21: Free time to rest; shop, and prepare for your return, or do more volunteer work. The trip concludes with a farewell banquet in Lhasa. You are free to plan your own post-TVP adventure (e.g. Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kailash, or a visit to Kham) and we can assist with your plans. Note: Itinerary details will become available few weeks before leaving for Tibet.

Arrival / Departure: Chengdu, China is the meeting point for the trip. Trip members on the suggested group flight are met at the airport on Day 1. At the end of the trip, you will be transferred to the Chengdu airport for departure as a group. Our Trip Logistics Guideline that you will receive upon reserving your space will include all essential information you’ll need including obtaining a Chinese visa, travel gear, a recommended reading list, day-to-day itinerary, detailed description of volunteer work, and health and safety information, etc.

Trip Style: Lodging will be simple, comfortable guesthouses and scenic camping.

This is not a "tour"; it is an adventure. Be prepared to participate with an open heart, an open mind, and a good sense of humor!