Day 1 All participants arrive in Kathmandu and check into the Hotel Vaishali which is located in the heart of the historic Thamel district. A group welcome dinner will be held on our first night in Nepal.

Day 2 In the morning we have an orientation session on Nepalese and Tibetan culture and religion. We then walk to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, through Asan bazaar, the oldest commercial center of the valley. After sight seeing in the oldest part of the city we lunch in a roof- top restaurant overlooking the shrines and temples of Durbar Square. After lunch we visit the Kumari House where the living Goddess resides. Here we receive a blessing from her from the high window of her palace. In the evening, we participate in a shamanic ceremony of welcome and purification.

Day 3 In the morning we visit Swayambhunath, which is the home of one of the oldest stupas in the valley. Here the group, with other pilgrims, makes a clockwise walk, circumambulating the prayer wheels, and then slowly climb 360 stone steps to the famous stupa. From this location we have an incredible view of the city and the Kathmandu Valley. Be alert, however, for the trickster monkeys that call this sacred hill their home. After lunch in Thamel we visit the Thangka Painting School of Gauri Giri. The details of the preparations of these sacred paintings and their symbolic meanings will be explained. This visit and lecture is very important as we will be seeing many thangkas throughout Tibet and Nepal. Following this we make any preparations that are needed for our trip into Tibet. After dinner we will retire early.

Day 4 After breakfast we leave for the airport. After departure formalities, we catch our flight to Lhasa. It is approximately an hour flight with incredible views of the chain of Himalayas extending from Ganesh Himal to Mt. Kanchanjunga, with Everest and other mountains in between. On our arrival in the Gonggar airport we must pass through immigration.When we exit the airport  our Tibetan guide will be waiting with Tibetan ceremonial scarves, ’khatas,’ that are a symbol of welcome and good luck. We then drive about one hour, through a river valley, to Lhasa and check into the Hotel Tibet Gorkha. (Lhasa is almost 12,000 feet above sea level.)

Day 5 Because of the altitude we will move slowly through this day. The tour will visit the Potala Palace, home of the Dalai Lamas, the Jokhang Temple and the Bharkar Square.  During our stay in Tibet we must remember to drink lots of liquids.

Day 6 Today we visit Dripung Monastery and Nichung Monastery the home of the State Oracle. In the afternoon we watch the debates of the monks in the courtyard of Sera Monastery. Dinner will be at the Crazy Yak restaurant where there will be performances of Tibetan folk dances and songs.

Day 7 In the morning we visit Norbulingkha, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. The afternoon will be free to revisit places or shop in Barkhor Market Square. We will have an early dinner so we can prepare for our departure the next day.

Day 8 Today we leave Lhasa and begin the trip across Tibet, on the Friendship Highway, in four wheel drive jeeps. The highway winds through farm lands and villages and ascends to Khamba La Pass where a stop is made to take in the beauty of the sacred turquoise lake, Yamdruk Tsho and the distant snow clad mountains. After stopping for lunch we drive through high valleys, between icefalls and along a river until we arrive at Karo La (l6, 430 feet above sea level). Here we have an opportunity to have our photos taken with a yak and visit with local merchants who have semi-precious stones and other objects for sale. The days drive ends in Gyantse, the third largest city of Tibet.. (We covered 280 kms. and Gyantse is at 3950 mts)

Day 9 There is much to see in Gyantze for it was at the head of a major trade route and is still an important commercial center. We visit Palkhor Chode Monastery, constructed in 1418 AD, which contains hundreds of original statues and sacred wall paintings. Next to the monastery is the wonderful Khumbum. In the 15th century, Nepalese artists created all the statues and paintings.  As the group climbs a spiral walkway they see over 100,000 relics of wrathful and benevolent Buddhist tantric deities. The climb ends at a dome where the painted benevolent eyes of Buddha look out across the Tibetan countryside.

Day 10 Today the group drives to the second largest city in Tibet, Shigatse, about 90 kms. Here we visit Tashi Lumpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is an incarnation of Buddha Amitava. The monastery contains, chapels, tombs of the Panchen lamas and the famous statue of the Buddha Matreya, the future Buddha. After lunch we proceed to Shakya, approximately 150 kilometers, and check into our hotel. Shakya has an ancient monastery that is surrounded by high walls that provide wonderful views of the area. A river runs through the town and opposite the monastery are the remains of a village and many sacred buildings.

Day 11 We visit Shakya in the morning and then proceed to Shekar/Xegar, approximately 140 KMS. On this stretch of the Friendship Highway we will see high sand dunes, yak and sheepherders. On arriving in Shekar we check into our hotel. (Shekar is approx. 4300 mts.)

Day 12 This is a long day for the group gets up early and starts the journey to the Everest Base Camp. On this drive we see panoramic views of Makalu, Lhotse and Choyu. Before arriving at the base camp we change to vehicles that are provided by the Quomolongma National Park and drive up to Rumbok.  Here we take horse carts and ascend to the Everest Base Camp. (NB: we cannot guarantee that we will see the Everest for it is often covered with clouds). After reaching the camp we rest for a while, take some pictures, drink a cup of Tibetan tea, and offer our prayer flags to the mountain gods and return to Rumbok in our carts. If time permits, we will visit the monastery, the highest in the world.  After returning to our jeeps we travel to the town of Old Tingri. Here we check into our basic accommodation and retire after having dinner. (Total distance covered, 210 Kms, Tingri is at 4300 mts.)

Day 13 Today the Friendship Highway gives us a grand view of Mount Everest. After crossing Nylam La we leave the high Tibetan Plateau and descend to Nylam and than to Zangmu.  Between Nylam La and Nylam we will visit the cave of the great Tibetan yogi, Milarepa. This is one of the most beautiful drives for the group travels through lush green forests with many waterfalls. After lunch in Zangmu we complete the Chinese immigration formalities, cross the Friendship Bridge, complete the Nepalese immigration and than find our vehicles that will be waiting for us in Nepal. From here we drive to the Kathmandu Valley and overnight at the Bhadgaon Guest House in the city of Bhaktapur.

Day 14 On this day the group visits the medieval city of Bhaktapur. Our walk will take us to temples, pagodas, old squares, and water fountains. We will see potters, sculptors and paper makers at work.  In the evening we will have a traditional Newari dinner and stay at a local guest house. 

Day 15  The morning is devoted to observing a Newari shaman work with his clients. We will assist him in his healing and divination sessions. Participants may ask him for divinations and healings for themselves. In the afternoon we will visit the Kumari House in Bhaktapur and get a blessing from the Kumari a living virgin goddess.

Day 16 After breakfast we will drive to Kathamndu and check into the Hotel Vaishali. The afternoon will be devoted to a shamanic workshop and group discussion.

Day 17 After breakfast we will drive to the temple Pashupatinath/Lord of the Animals, the holy site for the Hindu God, Shiva. This sacred area with Hindu temples, shrines and cremation ghats lies on the banks of the River Bagmati. Lord Shiva is the patron deity of Nepal and destroys evil and sorrow and bestows peace, happiness and bliss. On the other side of the Bagmati River we visit the female Shakti temple. Here Shiva and his consort Shakti are represented by the lingam and yoni. From Pashupatinath we travel to Boudhanath, home to the famous stupa that is revered by all Buddhists. This place is also called ‘little Tibet’ because of the settlement of Tibetan immigrants. We lunch in a roof top restaurant under the benevolent eyes of the Buddha and visit the sacred monasteries and shrines. In the evening we will prepare for our trip to Pokhara. 

Day 18 In the morning we fly to Pokhara, the lake city at the lap of Annapurna and  the Macchapuchhre range of the Himalayas. We check into the Hotel Trek O Tel and  have lunch at a lakeside restaurant. We then visit the temple of Tal Barahi (Ganesha Temple) in the middle of Fewa Lake. We take small boats across the lake in order to see the lush green forest and the panorama of the mountain ranges. Many of our scenic views will depend upon the weather.

Day 19 In the morning we drive to a Tibetan Refugee Camp to visit with three shamans who will give divinations and healings. If our group is large we may have to return the next day so that everybody has chance to have a healing. These shamans are known for their extraction type of healing. We will have time to talk with the shamans about their lives and work. After a lakeside dinner we will have time to discuss the healing sessions that we have participated in.

Day 20: In the morning we take an excursion to Sarangkot. From here we can see Fewa Lake and the Himalayan ranges of Annapurna and  Machhapuchre. After a lakeside lunch we may return to complete the healing sessions with the three shamans. If we do not have to return to the refugee camp we will visit the Peace Pagoda on the far side of the lake.

Day 21 An early morning flight takes us back to Kathmandu. The afternoon is devoted to teachings and discussion.

Day 22 After breakfast we drive for about an hour to the medieval town of Sankh.  Here we walk up stone stairs for about half an hour in order to reach a temple dedicated to the Hindu-Buddhist Tantric deity, Vajra Yogini. She is an enigma for her face is one of peace and serenity and yet she brandishes a gilt sword and dances on two prostrate figures. This place brings pilgrims peace and satisfaction and also a feeling of power. Vayra Yogini bestows fertility and abundance and destroys obstacles and calamities. Watching carefully for the monkeys that call this home, we will have a lunch in this sacred place. We may have an opportunity to talk with the priest of this temple and have a quiet moment to meditate.

Day 23 Today we drive about half an hour to visit Gauri Devi, a female shaman of the Kathamndu Valley. She is well known for healing children and healing troubled relationships. She will give us a divinations and offer us sacred fire ash for our protection and harmony. The afternoon will be devoted to a shamanic workshop.

Day 24 In the early morning we drive to Chobar Gorge where the water, from the valley, empties into the plains. We visit the temple of Jala Binayaka, which is known to grant wishes pertaining to love, and happy marriage. (We, however, cannot give any guarantees.)  We then depart for Pharping (27 kilometers) a small settlement that has the temple to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom. Close by, we visit the cave of Guru Rimpoche and walk up the hill to offer our individual prayer flags for the well being of the planet and for ourselves.

We will have lunch in Patan the ‘city of beauty’ that has an incredible Durbar Square, an open museum, the Golden temple, and the temple of Kumbeshwar (wisdom teacher of many shamans). We return to Kathmandu for a free evening.

Day 25 In the early hours of the morning we visit Budhanilakantha, that has a 7th century statue of Vishnu reclining in a pond, symbolic of the cosmic ocean.  We observe and participate in the prayers and offerings of young Brahmins and receive blessings before returning to Thamel for last In the afternoon, there will be ‘shamanic initiation’. Initiation means to embark upon the long journey of spiritual wisdom. In the late afternoon there will be time for departure preparations. We conclude the day with a group farewell dinner.

Day 26 Morning departure for the airport will depend upon individual flight schedules. We salute each other with a warm ‘Namaste’ and pray that we see each other again in the near future. (Hotel checkout time is 12:00 noon)