The Mystery of Tibet 2007

Tentative departures: May 9 to May 24, 2007 *

Est. cost: $2395

(Including all hotels, land travel costs, guides, most meals and all flights inside China!! – Excluding international airfare)

(Cost is based on a group of 8 to 10 participants, double occupancy-Single supplement: est. $490.)

TENTATIVE ITINERARY:

May 9:: depart USA.

Beijing to Lhasa. In 2006, the world celebrated the advent of one of the most fascinating technological marvels of the new millenniumÖa train to Lhasa at altitudes that seemed impossible in the pastÖin some places above 16,000 feet!! Not only was new mechanical technology necessary for the train itself, but it also required the construction of the world’s highest tracks and tunnels through some of the world’s most beautiful and forbidding landscapes! Visitors from all parts of the globe have come to marvel at this achievement, and now we will experience it ourselves!! We will travel through some of the world’s most spectacular scenery: from the comfort of this state-of-the-art train, we will see astonishing vistas in the mountains and highlands of Tibet and Qinghai Province.

May 10: Arrive in Beijing. Transfer to train for departure to Tibet (D)

May 10-12: Travel from Beijing to Lhasa. In the sleeper berths, you will catch up on your rest as we sail through the night. By morning we will be traveling past Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. During the day we will head west through Gansu Province and fly into the vastness of Qinghai past lakes, plains and deserts toward our destination. By the second morning, we will be turning south, rising toward the “rooftop of the world.” On this day, our fantastic journey will take us through the remote and stunning landscapes of the Qinghai/Tibet highlands. We will cross broad, winding rivers and pass through gorges surrounded by glacier-capped peaks. As we cross into Tibet we will also reach the world’s highest railway station at an altitude of more than 16,600 feet! (For anybody who needs help with adjusting to these altitudes, there will be oxygen available.) Across the permafrost of the high plateau, we will press on through the grasslands where rare, protected Tibetan antelope can sometimes be seen and which are surrounded by the astonishing peaks of the Himalayas. We will cross the final mountains into Lhasa valley where Potala Palace perches above the city.

Lhasa. Lhasa is the exotic and beautiful capital of Tibet, the rooftop of the world. In the vastness of the Tibetan plateau and among many of the highest peaks in the world, it is possible to experience the history and customs of the ethnic Tibetan nomads, the distant monasteries, and the rich beauty of the mountains. Here you can witness the spiritual traditions, the arts and crafts and the gentle humanity of the Tibetan people.

May 12: Arrive at the Lhasa train station and transfer into the hotel.

May 13: Today you will get acclimatized to the altitude here in the Tibetan highlands. It is recommended that you take it easy and let your body adjust. Of course, here in Lhasa and at any place during our stay in Tibet there will be oxygen available if your body needs a boost. (B, L, D)

May 14: The entire day will be spent getting acquainted with the city of Lhasa. We will visit the Potala Palace, once home to the Dalai Lamas and the center of government and religious authority in Tibet for more than 1300 years. Nearby, are the ancient alleyways of the Barkhor neighborhood and market where all manner of traditional goods are for sale and where colorful Tibetan pilgrims converge from all points of the compass to visit one of the most sacred places in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple. You will want to join them on their rounds through the temple and feel their intense faith. Jokang was built in the 7th century to receive a gold statue of Buddha, a dowry of the Chinese Princess Wencheng, who became one of the most storied and beloved women in Tibetan history after she arrived in Lhasa to be married to the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. (B, L, D)

May 15: The previous day will only whet your appetite for Lhasa’s fascinating sights and people. We will depart for other adventures, but we will return again to Lhasa to give us time for personal exploration of the city’s exotic charm. This morning we will leave on our journey heading south and west over Kambala Pass to the glistening magnificence of Yamdrok Lake. Then we will press on past glaciers, snowcapped peaks and over mountain passes to Gyantse. There we will join the faithful circling the great stupa of Kumbum at Pelkor Choede Monastery. From here we will press on to the market town of Shigatse to spend the night. (B, L, D)

May 16: Today we will hope for clear weather as we approach the most highest, and in many ways most revered, mountain in the world…Everest (Chomolungma to the Tibetans). We will over the Gyamtso La Pass to the town of Tingri, where we will change our mode of transportation. In small vehicles we will drive into the nature reserve set up to protect the most spectacular mountain environment in the world here at the heart of the Himalayas. Our goals are the small Rongbu MonasteryÖthe world’s highestÖand the Everest Base Camp at the foot of Rongbu Glacier. From here we will hope for a bird’s eye view of Chomolungma. Towering over the Sino-Nepal border with an elevation of 8,848.13 meters, it is the highest peak in the world. And it is not alone. Within a 20 km radius, five of the 14 highest peaks in the world (each with an elevation of over 8,000 meters) reach into the heavens. After our exploration, we will return to Tingri to spend the night. (B, L, D)

May 17: We will return to Shigatse, where we will have more time to enjoy the town and its history. This is the second largest city in Tibet, and is filled with activity. Particularly fascinating is the 15th-century Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas and therefore one of the most important sacred sites in Tibet. You may want to join the pilgrims as they circle the monastery and explore the temple halls and passageways

May 18: Return from Shigatse to Lhasa. (B, L, D)

May 19: Drive to Namtso the world’s highest salt lake where sapphire water is surrounded by vistas of peaks. The 5 small islands in the lake are believed to be incarnations of the Buddha of Five Directions, and Buddhist pilgrims come from all parts of Tibet to walk the circuit around the lake. On the return to Lhasa, we will visit the Yangbajing hot springs, surrounded by a surprising oasis in the barren plateau. A thermal plant now generates much of Lhasa’s power needs here but the bubbling springs, spouts and geysers are also a favorite stop for bathers. (B, L, D)

May 20: Free day. Take the time to wander and shop and sightsee around Lhasa. You may want to explore Drepung Monastery where for centuries successive Dalai Lamas were trained. The gardens and historic rooms of Norbu Lingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace may entice you. Or you may want to simply wander the streets and markets with the pilgrims and visitors. (B)

Chengdu. The capital of Sichuan province is one of the most vibrant cities in western China. We can enjoy some of the city bustle and also get away to scenic spots away from the urban area. From here we will visit the Great Buddha at Leshan, an astonishing 8th-century sculptural and engineering feat, some 230 feet tall and other scenic and historic sights. We can also visit the panda research center to see where scientists are trying to protect and breed both greater and lesser pandas which are at home in the regions mountains.

May 21: Arrive in Chengdu. Spicy Sichuan cuisine is world-famous, and we won’t miss teasing our palates with the rich flavors that are so unique here we will enjoy dinner and an evening introduction to the city. (B, L, D)

May 22: Drive to Leshan where the Great Buddha and other shrines are carved into the native stone above the confluence of three rivers. From a boat below or from the hills above, he inspires awe. To experience local life away from the big city, we will also take in the ancient charms of Lingyin Temple and Huanglongxi Old Town; here the well-preserved old Sichuan architecture has attracted many Chinese filmmakers to use the town as the backdrop for their movies. (B, L, D)

May 23: We will drive out beyond the city to spend the morning at the Panda Research Center. Here you can see more pandas in one area than at any other place in the world, and you can learn about the efforts to breed and preserve these magnificent animals. As time allows in the afternoon and evening, we will visit the marvelous Wuhou Temple which commemorates Zhuge Liang, a hero of the Three Kingdoms period some 1,800 years ago, and will amble through Old Jinli Street, which was already a famous craft and merchant center in the same era or we can visit Wenshu Monastery where worshippers pray in the beautiful halls and gardens or stop for tea and vegetarian cuisine. (B, L, D)

May 24: Morning flight from Chengdu to Beijing.

Beijing. The capital city of China is one of the most historic and at the same time one of the most modern cities in China. We will only have time to unwind from the international flight and enjoy a meal and a night’s rest…but you may choose to extend your stay here at the end of the trip to visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Tien’anmen Square and other gems of China’s past and present

May 24: Transfer flights for departure from Beijing to the USA (B) Or you can extend your China stay for a few days. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the hutong neighborhoods, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and Tien’anmen Square are just a few of the things Beijing has to offer.