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Pa Lhakang Monastery houses some of Tibet’s most important statues of Sakymuni Buddha that draw pilgrims from all over Tibet. |
Program Description: If you are looking to explore the vastness of Tibet’s wild frontier and engage intimately with the land, people, and culture, then sign up for our Spirit of Kham trip today. TVP carefully designed this interactive program to offer a blend of experiences that help participants embody the richness of Tibetan life in celebration, landscape, and spirituality.
Enjoy ancient traditions, exhilarating horseracing, rituals, games, and Tibetan song and dance at the Tagong Horseracing festival, one of the best-kept secrets of Eastern Tibet. While in Tagong, we will also visit the Pa Lhagong Monastery, home of Tibet’s second most important statue of Sakymuni Buddha, and a TVP-supported orphanage. Visiting the orphanage provides a great opportunity to play with 48 adorable children, and experience how TVP invests in Tibet's future.
Along with Tagong, we will visit Kandze and Lithang - the birthplace of the 5th Dalai Lama – and have planned numerous activities to waken your heart, body, and mind: take short hikes and horse rides in the Gongga mountain range (Tibet’s second highest range); distribute medical and school supplies at TVP project sites; take part in a home-stay, participate in Buddhist rituals, raise prayer flags, and try hand-milking a Dri (a Dri is a female yak – make sure you don’t try milking a yak!). And while first-time opportunities abound on the Spirit of Kham, there will also be plenty of space for reflection, inner peace, and time to just be.
Days 1-2: Chengdu: Participants will fly to Chengdu, China, and have an opportunity to relax, unwind and alleviate the effects of jetlag. The group will then enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional Tibetan restaurant, participate in a trip briefing and learn about cultural etiquette, visit a Panda Breeding Center, and prepare for the overland drive to Kangding.
Day 3-8: Kangding / Lithang: Rested and ready for an adventure, the group will set out across the rice-growing plains west of Chengdu and ascend picturesque foothills to the small city of Dartsedo (8,580'). Once an important trade center that served as a buffer zone between China and Tibet, Dartsedo, now known as Kangding, still marks the edge of the Tibetan frontier. This bustling crossroad-city will offer us our first glimpse of a traditional Tibetan community and act as a welcome respite after an exciting 5-10 hour journey.
After a stroll through the markets and a good night’s sleep we will arrive in Tagong. Here we will enjoy ancient traditions, exhilarating horseracing, rituals, games, and Tibetan song and dance at the Tagong Horseracing festival, one of the best-kept secrets of Eastern Tibet. While in Tagong, we will also visit the Pa Lhagong Monastery, home of Tibet’s second most important statue of Sakymuni Buddha, and a TVP-supported orphanage. Visiting the orphanage provides a great opportunity to play with 48 adorable children, and experience how TVP invests in Tibet's future.
Day 9-10: Lithang: After few exhilarating days in Tagong, we will ascend further into the mountains, crossing Gye La (14,100') to arrive in Lithang. Situated on the lofty Tibetan Plateau (13,169'), Lithang is one of the highest towns in the world. Here, Khampas from across eastern Tibet come to trade goods ranging from sheepskins to yaks to large pieces of turquoise or amber. We will spend a couple of days mingling with the Khampas in the markets and take time to visit the famous Lithang Monastery, birth place of the 5th Dalai Lama.
Days 11-13: Kandze via Nyarong: Our journey will next take us through forested expanses of Tibet’s “wild west” to Nyarong, a small Tibetan village, home to an ancient Gompa. After exploring the Nyarong Gompa and taking in the local culture we will continue on to the riverside town of Kandze (11,000'). In Kandze’ we will try out our bartering skills at the lively bazaar then climb the hill to the Kandze Gompa. We will then spend the day exploring its many temples and bask in the spectacular views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks before hiking on to the lovely Lamdrak nunnery. As we decend, we will pass through the historic Tibetan trading towns of Draggo (Luhuo) and Tau.
Days 14-17: Temba / Siguniang / Wolong Panda Reserve / Chengdu / Flight: Next we will drive to the small town of Temba and walk to the town of Shol, where dozens of 18th century defensive stone towers rise like massive tree trunks from the mountain slopes. The trail will then lead us up the holy peak of Siguniang before we descend back into the forested valleys below. We will then make our way back to Chengdu via the famous Wolong Panda Reserve.
Optional Trip to Lhasa: The Spirit of Kham program ends here, but you are free to plan your own post-Conscious Journeys adventure. Since many past participants have traveled to Lhasa for 2-3 days, we would be happy to help you arrange this trip, including the acquisition of your Tibet permit.
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.
Trip Style: Lodging will be simple; we will stay in comfortable hotels and guesthouses. No camping unless you absolutely love camping!
Trip Schedule: 17 days from June 23rd to July 10th, 2010. If this date does not work with your schedule, please check with us first as we may have other dates and trips available.
