Our Tours aim to introduce the main aspects of Tibetan culture in a personal and localized way. Big Buddhist centers of learning, small farming villages, festivals, nomadic regions and local religious practices can all be incorporated in a trip to see as much cultural variation as possible while visiting the Tibetan highlands.
Tibetan culture, though displaying remarkable similarities throughout its vast regions (e.g. ubiquitous Buddhism and a standard literary language), is not homogeneous, but displays quite some variation. A famous scholastic institution is as much representative of local religious life as is a small mountain top shrine dedicated to local deities. Likewise, depending on local environmental circumstances, Tibetans might farm, herd livestock, or subsist on a combination of both. Furthermore, besides Buddhism, we also encounter the old indigenous Bon religion. So there is variation throughout, and to appreciate these differences is to truly better understand Tibetan life and culture.
In order to introduce you to local life in all its color and variation, we organize pre-planned tours, as well as customized ones. Depending on your personal interests, such a trip might focus on festivals, Buddhist monasteries, nomadic areas, Tibetan medicine, folk religion, or any combination thereof.
The Cultural Landmark Tours aim to give a taste of the greatest monuments and landmarks of the entire Tibetan cultural realm. Famous buildings, revered temples, mighty landscapes and historical sites rank high on the itinerary, so as to provide in- and oversight of Tibetan culture, history, and geography. Your specific region and topics of interest will be used to tailor the journey to your specific wishes.
Stops on such a trip may include the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the traditional seat of the Dalai Lama’s government. It now houses a historical museum and, among many other things, the splendid funeral stupa of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Old fortresses of times gone by are a memento to the times of the old Tibetan kings. Holy temples such as the Jo-khang allow a piercing gaze straight into the devout hearts of the pilgrims present. The great monastic seats of learning (Kumbum and Labrang in Amdo; Ganden, Drepung and Sera in the TAR; Serta and Sershu in Kham) are the traditional universities, visited for religion, medicine, grammar, composition, and various other topics, and were of incalculable importance to the region’s history.
Other temples and monastic complexes, such as Rongwo Gonchen, give an elaborate impression of Tibetan Buddhism’s religious pantheon and architecture.
The range of locations that can be visited is as large as the Tibetan Plateau itself, and every nook or cranny in the landscape might conceal a monastery, serene village, historical site, or simply a thing of beauty. It is up to you to decide where to go, how u wana travel, who u wana meet, and which to see. We will help U.