Tibet 2008: Spiritual Roots and Natural Wonders

    An amazing itinerary! Why just follow the bus-tour masses when you can enjoy an exclusive Jensen Tours adventure with a small group of friends?!

    On this trip, you will experience the surprising diversity of Tibet’s spiritual and natural heritage. We will see Lhasa and Potala Palace, of course but will also explore many of the most ancient and sacred sites in other parts of Tibet. Don’t be satisfied with anything less!

Tentative departure: May 9 to May 24, 2008* (Ask about other dates and specialized itineraries for your private group of family or friends!)

Est. cost: $2985 (including ALL hotels, guides, most meals and ALL air and land travel costs inside China!! – excluding international airfare)

(Cost is based on 11 to 15 participants, double occupancy-for a group of 10 or fewer, the cost may increase. However, SPECIAL GROUP RATES ARE AVAILABLE if you have 5 or more persons for any JENSEN TOURS group!)
(Single supplement: est. $540)

*(Check with us about other dates for your group. See optional travel extensions at the end of the itinerary.)

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 millennium a train to Lhasa at altitudes that seemed impossible in the past in some places above 15,000 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.

Day 1: [May 10]: Arrive in Beijing. Transfer to train for departure to Tibet (D)

Days 1-3: [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 landscapes of the Qinghai/Tibet highlands. We will cross broad, winding rivers and glimpse glacier-capped peaks. As we cross into Tibet we will also pass the world’s highest railway station at an altitude of more than 15,000 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 wide expanses of the sparse desert grasslands where rare, protected Tibetan antelope can sometimes be seen against the background of snowy plains and peaks. Finally, we will descend past small cultivated plots of barley past farmers and their yaks into Lhasa Valley where Potala Palace perches above the city. (B, L, D on train)

Note: Although we do not anticipate any difficulties, the popularity of the new train and the complexities of the reservation system are challenging. In case of unexpected difficulties, we will arrange flights from Beijing through Chengdu to Lhasa.

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.

Day 3: [May 12] Arrive at the Lhasa airport and transfer into the hotel. (Hotel in Lhasa)

Day 4: [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. If you are feeling up to some exertion, you can opt to visit a nearby monastery, such as Sera or Drepung, or you can walk in the park near the base of Potala Palace, or shop at the market stalls and shops in the old city. (B) (Hotel in Lhasa)

Day 5: [May 14] The entire day will be spent getting acquainted with the city of Lhasa. Here we can visit some of the most sacred sites of Tibetan Buddhism and can contrast those traditions with modern Lhasa growing up around them. We will visit the Potala Palace, once home to the Dalai Lamas and one of the centers 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 where you can feel their intense faith, and you will certainly want to walk the kora, the pilgrimage route around the temple, with them. 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) (Hotel in Lhasa)

Kham (Eastern Tibet). The “Land of Four Rivers and Six Ranges” is really a world apart! The landscape, climate, people and the flora and fauna lend this region a sense of uniqueness. We
will spend several days in the Kongpo Region, which is culturally, ecologically and even linguistically quite distinct from other parts of Tibet and which, for many centuries, kept its independence even from the rulers in Central Tibet. The local costumes, the most sacred sites of the native Tibetan Bön religion, the lush forests, deep canyons, alpine lakes and towering peaks will envelope us in a magical atmosphere, not found elsewhere. In the remoteness of these mountains, the Yarlung-Tsangpo River cuts through one of the world’s deepest chasms and turns south towards India, where it is known as the mighty Brahmaputra.

Day 6: [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. We will head east from Lhasa to arrive via the Tibet/Sichuan highway in the Kongpo region. One of our first adventures will take us to Draksum-tsoalso known as Basong-tsoa beautiful alpine lake surrounded by peaks stretching heavenward to above 20,000 feet in height! In addition to the natural beauty of the lake, a highlight is a visit to the charming Tsodzong Monastery and one of its lovely chapels on an island just off shore. We will proceed to the base for our stay in Kongpo near the small village of Nyingtri. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Nyingtri)

Day 7: [May 16] Though Nyingtri is only a small town, it is one of the most important
centers of the native Tibetan religion Bön which antedated the arrival of Buddhism from India. Above the town is Bön’s most sacred mountain, Bönri, where the legendary founder of the religion, Tonpa Shenrab, is believed to have defeated his foes. Nearby Bön monasteries, such as Neche Goshog and Yungdrungling will introduce us the tenets and practice of this ancient faith. We can learn how Bön influenced the development of the Tibetan branch of Buddhism and how these faiths cross-fertilized in developing their beliefs and practices. The Bön faithful come to this region from far and wide, and we can observe how their practices differ from those of Buddhists as we join them on their processions around their sacred sites. -In this area, we can also see some of the wonders of the areas unique and sometimes lush flora, including massive cypress and juniper trees, believed to be about 2,500 years old. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Nyingtri)

Day 8: [May 17] From the Kongpo region, we will return to Lhasa for an overnight stay on our way to the South and Southeast for our further adventures. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Lhasa)

The Yarlung-Tsangpo Valley. This region is the heartland of old Tibetan culture and especially of Tibetan Buddhism. The river nourished the early tribal cultures as it meandered through the valley. In the 6^th century, the Yarlung Valley kings conquered and unified the Tibetan plateau and then settled in Lhasa from where they ruled for the next several centuries. Although there was massive damage to many of the sacred sites here during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, other monasteries and temples survived and many have been lovingly restored by the
Tibetan people.

Day 9: [May 18] From Lhasa we will travel through the mountains and along the Tsangpo River. We will visit the spectacularly located Yumbulagang fortress, high above the Yarlung Valley. It is reputed to be the oldest building in Tibet, and commands a view of the entire region. In Nedong, now part of the town of Tsetang, we will settle into our hotel. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Nedong)

Day 10: [May 19] Today we will visit one of the deservedly most famous monasteries in Tibet: Samye. It has a 1200-year-long history and was the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, founded shortly after the mid-8^th century. The first 7 Tibetan monks were ordained here, and Indian and Chinese scholars were invited here to assist in translating the Buddhist texts into Tibetan. In about the year 790, it was the site of the Great Debate of Samye, which pitted Indian-oriented and Chinese-oriented Buddhist scholars against one another and helped to determine the unique direction of Tibetan Buddhism. The layout of the Samye Monastery is particularly fascinating: it was constructed in the form of a gigantic mandala, a representation of the universe according to Buddhist teaching, and it will envelop us in the history, art, and iconography of Tibetan tradition. -If weather and time permit, we can drive up the Chongye Valley, surrounded by rugged peaks, to the site of the Tombs of the Kings, massive burial mounds of at least 10 of the original Yarlung kings, most of which pre-dated the ascent of Buddhism in Tibet. The most revered is the Tomb of Songtsen Gampo, the great 7^th-century king whose marriage to wives from Nepal and from China paved the way for the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Nedong)

Tsang Province. Over many centuries, political and religious dominance of the Tibetan Plateau shifted back and forth between Lhasa and this region to the west. This area and in particular,
Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse is the traditional home of the Panchen lamas, who competed for influence with the Dalai lamas in Lhasa, and who have been among the most revered Tibetan leaders for many centuries. The dry, high desert mountains and valleys, dotted
with small barley farmers’ fields and nomads with their yaks give this region a powerful and massive feel.

Day 11: [May 20] Today, we will explore Shigatse. This is the second largest city in Tibet, and is filled with activity. Particularly fascinating is the 15^th-century Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas and the site of their burial stupas. It is therefore one of the most important sacred sites in Tibet. Here you will learn more about the history of the great Panchen and Dalai Lamas and their roles in traditional and modern history. You may want to join the pilgrims as they circle the monastery and explore the temple halls and passageways. You can also join pilgrims on the kora path around the monastery and on the hills above it. This will take you to the white tower from which enormous, colorful sacred pictures thangkasare hung during religious festivals. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Shigatse)

Day 12: [May 21] Gyantse is located in the Nyang-chu Valley, one of the most fertile in this stark desert region of Tsang Province. As in many parts of timber-poor highland Tibet, yak and cow dung patties are dried in the sun on the walls of the farmhouse compounds for use as fuel. This is an area in which polyandry (marriage of 1 woman to several husbands) is still widely practiced in the countryside. Gyantse had an important historical role especially in the 14^th and 15^th centuriesÖas a crossroads of the trade routes between Lhasa and Shigatse to the North and West and Bhutan and India to the South. During that period, Pelkor Choede Monastery was built, including its most famous structure, the Kumbum: we will join the faithful circling this, the largest chörten (or stupa) in Tibet. Unlike most stupas, this massive tiered structure contains a maze of chapels inside. You can circle through them as you climb to the roof for a view over the temple complex and the old city, and, here beneath the gold dome at the top of the structure, four sets of painted eyes gaze across the landscape. At this monastery, dogs typically laze in the courtyard, where they are always welcomed, based on the tradition that, after death, bad monks are reincarnated as dogs. -Return to Lhasa. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Lhasa)

NOTE: Anyone who chooses to make an optional 3-day trip to Mount Everest Base Camp, will depart from Shigatse, instead of returning to Lhasa! See details below for “Option 1″ details.

Day 13: [May 22] Free day in Lhasa. 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. If you are fortunate, you may witness the monks at their afternoon “debating” in the courtyards of Sera Monastery or at Drepung. 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)

Day 14: [May 23] Flight from Lhasa to Beijing. (B) (Hotel in Beijing)

Day 15: [May 24] Return to the US.

NOTE-BEIJING OPTION: An extension in Beijing is possible. You may extend your stay in Beijing for 1 or 2 days before returning to the US. We will arrange for an excellent hotel and for guided tours of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and other sights. See below for “Option 2″ details.

“OPTION 1″

4-DAY EXTENSION to Mt. Everest (Chomolongma):

See note on Day 12 of the above itinerary!

Extension day 1: [May 22] Travel from Shigatse to Tingri. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Tingri)

Extension day 2: [May 23] 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. We will pass mountain farms and nomads driving herds of yaks. 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 clear view of Chomolungma. Towering over the Sino-Nepal border with an elevation of nearly 8,850 meters (about 29,035 feet), it is the highest peak in the world. But 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) (Hotel in Tingri)

Extension day 3: [May 24] Long day’s return journey back to Lhasa. (B, L, D) (Hotel in Lhasa)

Extension day 4: [May 25] Flight from Lhasa to Beijing. (B)

PLEASE NOTE:

This trip to the Mount Everest region is long and strenuous! You should only consider it if you are in very good physical health. Even those in good health may react negatively to the high altitudesÖat some places in excess of 17,000 feet! Although the trip will be undertaken by vehicleÖno overland trekking will be involved!…it may still be physically difficult for some people.

The day-trip from Tingri to Everest Base Camp and back is slow travel over largely unimproved dirt roads. Much of the trip is on narrow switchbacks up and down precipitous slopes and over high passes. (The government has announced road improvements; however, as of summer 2007, there were no paved roads beyond Tingri, and many parts of the road were ungraded, bumpy and steep.)

There are no guarantees concerning the weather! Given the condition of the roads, the time at the Base Camp area will be limited. If the weather is clear, of course, the view of Everest and her sister peaks is one of the most spectacular mountainscapes in the world. It is also possible that clouds may come in and obscure the peaks completely. The months of April and May are typically one of the best times for viewing the mountains, but the conditions are always unstable.

“OPTION 2″

1- or 2-day stay in Beijing

See note on Day 15 of the itinerary!

Beijing. The capital city of China is one of the most historicÖand at the same time one of the most modernÖcities 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, Tian’anmen Square and other gems of China’s past and present.

Extension: Transfer flights for departure from Beijing to the USA(B) Or you can extend your China stay for a few days. If you wish, we will arrange for an excellent hotel and for guided tours of the main sights. The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the hutong neighborhoods, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and Tian’anmen Square are just a few of the things Beijing has to offer.