| Day 1 (May 20, 2011) | Everyone meets in Kathmandu. Our local staff will meet and transfer you to the hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner with the group. Hotel Vajra. D. |
| Day 2 (May 21, 2011) | Kathmandu! Our first day is meant for relaxing or exploring the city. Nepal’s capital is a delight to the senses, the imagination and the heart. For centuries Kathmandu was forbidden to outsiders. Since it opened to the world in the early 1950’s, it has been one of the most eagerly sought travel destinations. Durbar Square is at the heart of this historic city. Hotel Vajra (B., D.) |
| Day 3-6 (May 22-25, 2011) | Meditation Retreat with Jimi Neal at Kopan. Meet in the lobby at 9 A.M. for the hour long drive to Kopan Monastery and its sister nunnery Khachoe Ghakyil, located on a hilltop outside the town of Boudhanath. Here we begin a meditation retreat with Jimi and the staff of Kopan. Kopan Monastery (B., L., D.) |
| Day 7 (May 26, 2011) | In the morning we visit Boudha Stupa, temples, monasteries and
village. Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the most
powerful in the world, is also the religious center for Tibetans living
in Nepal. In the afternoon we visit Swayambhunath Stupa. Long ago, the Kathmandu Valley was a huge lake. Legend has it that the hill on which the stupa stands, was once an island. There is also evidence that the great Indian Buddhist Emperor, Ashoka, visited the site 2,000 years ago. Kopan Monastery (B.,L, D.) |
| Day 8 (May 27, 2011) | Visit the small village of Pharping, eleven
miles south of Kathmandu. Pharping and its many shrines was once an independent kingdom. On the way to Parping we visit Manjushri’s Gorge. On our return, we stop to see ancient statues of Chenrezig, Tara and Manjushri in the center of Kathmandu. Kopan Monastery (B., Packed L., D.) |
| Day 9 (May 28, 2011) | Kathmandu to Lhasa. Early this morning, our
group flies from Kathmandu to Lhasa (11,830 feet) We’ll see endless spectacular views of Everest and the whole Himalayan chain as we fly to the Gongkar
Airport in the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley. A scenic 56–mile drive to Lhasa takes about two hours. Overnight at Trichang Labrang Hotel, the former residence of of Kyabje Trichang Dorjee Chang, the late Junior Tutor to His Holiness. It is now a comfortable family run hotel with modern bathrooms and a good roof top restaurant. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 10 (May 29, 2011) | Today is an easy day filled with Lhasa sightseeing including the Barkhor Market, the Jokhang Temple and the Ramoche Temple. Overnight at Trichang Labrang Hotel. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 11 (May 30, 2011) | Drive one hour to Chinphu and hike up to the caves found there. Return to Lhasa in the afternoon and to our hotel for a restful evening. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 12 (May 31, 2011) | In the morning we visit Drepung, the largest of all Tibetan monasteries. At its peak, it was the largest monastery of any religion in the world. Our afternoon is free to explore in Lhasa. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 13 (June 1, 2011) | Today we embark on a day trip to nearby Ganden Monastery — one of the three great Gelug religious centers in Lhasa. We return tonight to our Lhasa hotel. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 14 (June 2, 2011) | Day trip to Duilung — Lama Yeshe’s birthplace located 45 miles from Lhasa. Duilung is a small village near Tsurphu Monastery, located at 14,000 feet. Founded by the first Karmapa in 1159, Tsurphu Monastery is the most important monastery for the Karma Kagyu lineage. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 15 (June 3, 2011) | A pleasant morning of sightseeing awaits us around Lhasa including the Potala and the Norbulinka — the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. Free afternoon today. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 16 (June 4, 2011) | A full–day pilgrims walk from Pa Bong Kha to Sera. Pha Bong Kha or a free day. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 17 (June 5, 2011) | Drive about five hours to Shigatse — the second largest city in Tibet. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery and overnight at our Shigatse guest house. (B., L., D.). |
| Day 18 (June 6, 2011) | Today we have a day trip to Sakya. Drive about three hours (80 miles) southwest from Shigatse to Sakya Monastery. Return to our guest house in Shigatse tonight. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 19 (June 7, 2011) | Drive to Gyantse (13,500 feet) in about two hours. Visit Pelkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. Overnight Gyantse Hotel. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 20 (June 8, 2011) | Drive about five hours from Gyantse to Tsedang — via beautiful Yamdroke lake where we can stop for a picnic Lunch. Overnight Tsdang Hotel. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 21 (June 9, 2011) | Excursion to Olka Cholung and Maitreya Temple. We return to Tsedang in the evening. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 22 (June 10, 2011) | Drive an hour to Samye, Tibet’s first monastery. Return to Tsedang to overnight. (B., L., D.) |
| Day 23 (June 11, 2011) | Drive about 60 miles west of Tsedang to Gonkor airport for our return flight to Kathmandu. We’ll return to the comfortable Hotel Vajra.. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B.) |
| Day 24 (June 12, 2011) | Final early morning puja led by pilgrimage leader Jimi Neal at nearby Swyambunath Stupa. Transfer in the afternoon to the airport to depart Kathmandu or continue exploring the region on your own. (B.) |