Embark on a Conscious Journey to rooftop of the world. Experience the resilience of the Tibetan people and feel the power of compassion.
Program Description: The Heart of Tibet trip offers a journey to Central Tibet that reveals historical and cultural places. It includes short hikes to stunning nomadic hillsides, connects the traveler with the hearts and minds of rural Tibetans (away from the popular tourist paths), and offers experiential volunteer opportunities. The itinerary features sites within a 300-mile radius of Lhasa, including, the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Namtso Lake, Reting Monastery, Tidrum Hot Spring, Drikung Thill, Ganden Monastery, and a few rural villages untouched by mass tourism.
Sample Itinerary
Days 1-2: Participants fly to Chengdu, then spend some time adjusting to their new surroundings and alleviating jetlag. We enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Tibetan restaurant and join in a trip briefing that includes tips on cultural etiquette. We then visit Chinese cultural sites and the Panda Breeding Center, and prepare for departure to Lhasa.
Days 3-7: After a short flight over the Himalayan Mountains, we arrive in Lhasa, enjoy a welcome reception, and rest. While acclimatizing in Lhasa, we’ll explore the city by walking around the Barkhor Square and mingling with Tibetan pilgrims. We will visit Patala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Sera Monastery to learn about Tibetan architecture, history, and culture. You’ll meet Tibetan artisans and scholars to learn more about Tibetan folk arts such as painting, wood curving, and handcrafts.
Days 8-17: On route to the villages, we’ll visit many sacred sites such as Namtso Lake, Reting monastery, Drikung Thil monastery, and Ganden Monastery. We’ll take time to enjoy a relaxing soak in a 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 to learn about their way of life. We will visit schools and clinics to distribute supplies, assess the progress of TVP projects, and identify future needs. At such a high elevation, participants work prudently in the thin air and let local villagers tackle the labor intensive tasks.
Days 18-21: We will return to Lhasa and you’ll have free time to rest, shop, prepare for their return trip, or make plans to stay longer. The trip concludes with a farewell dinner in Lhasa. Participants are free to plan their own post-Conscious Journeys adventure (e.g. Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kailash, or a visit to Kham), and we can assist all continuing travelers with these plans.
Trip Style: Lodging will be simple, comfortable guesthouses and scenic camping.
Arrival / Departure: Chengdu, China is the meeting point for the trip. Most trip members take the same flight or meet in Chengdu on Day 1. At the end of the trip, you will be transferred to the Chengdu airport for departure as a group. You’ll receive our Trip Logistics Guide when you reserve your space. It will include all the essential information you’ll need to obtain a Chinese visa and make other necessary preparations for the trip. The guide includes suggested travel gear, a recommended reading list, a day-to-day itinerary, health and safety information, and other key information to make your trip successful and safe.
Doesn't work with your schedule or budget? Checkout our alternative cultural trips.
Please remember 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! Itinerary could change due to feasibility issues – concerning trip coordination and safety of everyone involved.
