Spiritual
Journey
Spiritual Journey awakens your own spirituality and opens your heart through a deep connection with the people and culture from the Rooftop of the World.
Spiritual Journey offers an experience full of inner awakenings. It traces the footsteps of Tibetan pilgrims, who often spend six months to a year on the road as they journey to Tibet’s most sacred places. These include the Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, and Sera monastery in Lhasa; Samye and Yumbu Lhakhang Yarlung Valley where Tibetan civilization began; Palkhor Choide Chorten, in Gyantse, the region’s most sacred and impressive architectural achievement; Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse, which is Tibet’s second largest town; and Namtso Lake, the world’s highest salt lake and Tibet’s most sacred and beautiful place. Throughout the trip, you will meet monks, Lamas, Yogis, and scholars and learn about Buddhist culture. You’ll participate in meditation, observe rituals, mingle with pilgrims, and connect with locals.
Sample Itinerary
Days 1-2: Participants fly to Chengdu, China. Here we will spend a couple of days adjusting to our new surroundings and alleviating jetlag. Participants enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Tibetan restaurant, participate in a trip briefing and learn about cultural etiquette, visit the Panda Breeding Center, 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, 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 Potala Palace, Jokang Temple, and Sera Monastery to learn about Tibetan architecture, history, and culture. Participants will meet Tibetan artisans and scholars to learn more about Tibetan folk arts such as painting, wood curving, and handcrafts.
Days 8-10: After a few hours of drive from Lhasa, we will visit a village and mingle with local Tibetans. We will distribute medical and school supplies, assess the progress of TVP projects, and identify future needs. In afternoon, you will be taken directly to a hotel in Tsedang, a southern Tibetan town located in the heart of the Yarlung valley, the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Here we will explore the 8th century Samye Monastery. It is Tibet’s first Buddhist monastery built in the shape of a mandala. We’ll also visit Yumbu Lhakang, Tibet’s first palace, and Traduk Monastery built in 541 A.D.
Days 11-12: We head further to the historic outpost of Gyantse, crossing two high passes and visiting Yamdrok Lake (“Jade Lake”), one of the three largest lakes in Tibet and a holy site for pilgrims. Gyantse, a small agricultural town at 13, 050 ft above sea level, is famous for its wool carpets and palkhor choide chorten. The Palkhor Monastery, built in 1427, is notable for its superb Kumbum (10,000 images) Stupa, which, according to Buddhist tradition, has 108 chapels to explore. We will then continue onward to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, where we will visit gold-topped Tashilhunpho Monastery, one of Tibet’s most vibrant and breathtaking sites.
Days 13-14: Our trip would not be complete without a stop at Namtso Lake. Namtso is approximately 240km northwest of Lhasa and is 14,720 meters high. Of course, this height can make people nervous and can cause altitude sickness unless proper acclimatization techniques are employed. The lake is stunningly beautiful, and is considered very sacred to Tibetans. It should not be missed by anyone visiting Tibet. Participants can visit Tashi Dhor Monastery, take short hikes, and mediate in sacred coves. Namtso is naturally suited for grazing herds. You’ll see many Tibetan nomadic tents. You can visit them, mingle with the nomads, and learn their traditional way of life.
Days 15-17: Free time to rest, shop, prepare for your return, or do some volunteer work. The trip concludes with a farewell dinner in Lhasa. You are free to plan your 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; we will stay in comfortable hotels and guesthouses. No camping.
Arrival / Departure: Chengdu, China is the meeting point for the trip. Trip members arriving 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. 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.
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!
