One of the several Tibetan villages where homestay is often arranged in Tibet
Program Description: Conscious Journeys Student Trips are customizable to the needs and skill sets of high school and university students. Programs can be created within the areas of health, education, sanitation, community development, environmental preservation and ecotourism. While we are in villages, students have option of staying with families or in local guesthouses.
What will students do? Depending on your interests, activities can be tailored to a variety of different areas of study (environment, health, ethnographic studies on culture, food, farming, etc.) and projects. These projects include composting toilets, solar shower, solar light, greenhouse and developing community based tourism, such as training local hosts, guesthouse owners, homestay families, cooks and drivers and developing unique itineraries. Students will have the opportunity to work with other like minded individuals as well as local villagers and community leaders. By the end of your Journey, every student will have made lasting friendships and gained a better understanding of the region and the problems threatening the livelihood and culture of Tibetan people.
One of our past student participants with Tibetan monks in Kham
Sample Itinerary
Week 1: Orientation and traveling to Shangri-la, Yunnan
Week 2: Cultural and educational program in Shangri-la
Week 3: Home stay, ethnographic study and discussions
Week 4: Service project in local communities
Week 5: Study tour in Lhasa and surrounding villages
When and where do we travel? Student Trips can be organized for 2, 3, or 5 weeks (not including travel time) from May to October. All trips will be organized in provinces of Kham. Students embarking on shorter trips of 2 to 3 weeks will most likely stay at campgrounds in Kham while students in country for longer durations (5 weeks or longer) will stay with host families in Yunnan. . Given the rugged terrain and high altitude, participants must be physically fit, able to handle altitudes up to 12,000 ft, and afford to cover their own expenses.
Arrival / Departure: Lhasa, Beijing, Kunming and Chengdu in China are some of the meeting points depending where you travel. Most trip members take the same flight or meet on Day 1. At the end of the trip, you will be transferred to the 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. Click here to contact us.
