World ExpeditionsBig Adventures. Small Footprint.https://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog5 Reasons Why You’ll Love Tibethttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2383/5-reasons-why-youll-love-tibetActivities,Adventure Travel,Trekking/Walking,Destinations,Asia,China,Himalaya,TibetWed, 31 Jan 2024 01:10:00 GMT<p><strong>Tibet has so much to offer travellers seeking the paths less travelled, with vast high altitude landscapes, untouristed trails, colourful festivals and a fascinating ancient culture to discover.</strong></p> <p>There is no denying the profound challenges that Tibet has encountered over the years. Yet despite these struggles, the strength and tenacity of the Tibetan people prevails.</p> <p>Tibet is a deeply religious land with an ancient culture that is still preserved today. Visiting the sacred places where the Tibetan people worship is inspiring. It is an experience that remains with those fortunate enough to visit for many years.</p> <p>Whatever adventure you choose in Tibet, we are sure that you’ll fall in love with this spiritual, dramatic and inspiring autonomous region.</p> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Mt._Kailas-_Tibet-medium.jpg"><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Mt._Kailas-_Tibet-medium-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Mt._Kailas-_Tibet-medium-###width###px.jpg" width="1000" /></a></p> <h2><strong>1. Tibet's Unique Landscape</strong></h2> <p>Tibet’s phenomenal landscape is like no other place on Earth: rugged, remote and unforgettable. The vast Tibetan plateau contrasted against the snowcapped peaks of the world’s highest mountains will leave you in awe.</p> <p>Tibet is often referred to as the ‘roof of the world’. This is because the majority of Tibet sits at an altitude around 4500m above sea level. The Tibetan plateau stretches for some 2000km from west to east, with many peaks on the border of Nepal soaring well above that. With the Himalaya to the south, the Karakoram to the west and the Kunlun to the north, you only have to turn your head to get another magnificent view of the mountains.</p> <p>A highlight of travelling to Tibet is the memorable flight to Lhasa over the Himalayan range. With clear weather, the views of Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu and countless other peaks stretching into the horizon are breathtaking.</p> <p><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/China-Regions/Tibet" target="_blank">Tibet is a superb trekking destination</a>. The remarkable landscapes and Himalaya views are one of the greatest reasons to visit Tibet. As you trek the high passes and winding trails that are strewn with Buddhist prayer flags you’ll feel greatly inspired by this ancient land.</p> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Kathmandu_to_Lhasa_Cycle_Himalaya-medium1.jpg"><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Kathmandu_to_Lhasa_Cycle_Himalaya-medium1-1024x768-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Kathmandu_to_Lhasa_Cycle_Himalaya-medium1-1024x768-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <h2><strong></strong></h2> <h2><strong>2. The Tibetan People and Culture</strong></h2> <p>Experiencing the Tibetan culture is undoubtedly a highlight of visiting Tibet.</p> <p>Tibetans are deeply religious people. Their devotion to Buddhism can be traced back to the earliest days of Buddhism’s introduction into Tibet, more than 1300 years ago. The profound influence of Buddhism for the Tibetan people is a highlight of any <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/China-Regions/Tibet" target="_blank">visit to Tibet</a>.</p> <p>Aside from a wide array of Buddhist gods and goddesses worhsipped by the Tibetan people, they also worship the mountains as living deities. All over Tibet you will spot pilgrims spinning prayer wheels and walking around temples, monasteries and mountains. This is always in a clockwise direction, whereas followers of the indigenous Tibetan religion, the Bon, walk around sacred sites in an anti-clockwise direction.</p> <p>Despite the grandeur of the scenery, the most memorable experiences of Tibet are likely to come from moments you’ve shared with the locals. Whether it’s the yak-butter tea offered to you from a monk in a remote monastery or a spontaneous picnic with a herding family on the shores of a remote lake, you are bound to leave Tibet with a deeper insight and appreciation into their unique cultural identity.</p> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Lhasa_Tibet-medium2.jpg"><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Lhasa_Tibet-medium2-1024x576-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Lhasa_Tibet-medium2-1024x576-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p> </p> <h2><strong>3</strong><strong>. Festivals</strong></h2> <p>There are over 100 festivals in Tibet that occur throughout the year. Experiencing a <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=tibet+festival" target="_blank">festival in Tibet</a> is a unique way to get an insight into Tibetan Buddhism.</p> <p>One of Tibet’s most significant festivals is the Saga Dawa festival held at Mount Kailash - one of the most sacred places in the Buddhist and Hindu religions.</p> <p>At the Saga Dawa Festival many thousands of pilgrims throughout Tibet pay homage to Mount Kailash. The sacred mountain has long been regarded by Hindus and Buddhists as the Mythical Mount Meru, the cosmic centre of the universe from which all life flows.</p> <p>Thousands of pilgrims will gather and pay homage to the mountain by performing a kora, or clockwise circumambulation of the base of the mountain. The trek lasts several days and crosses a 5800m pass.</p> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Mt_Kailash-_Tibet-_China-medium2.jpg"><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Mt_Kailash-_Tibet-_China-medium2-1024x734-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Mt_Kailash-_Tibet-_China-medium2-1024x734-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <h2><strong></strong></h2> <h2><strong></strong><strong>4. The Remarkable Monasteries</strong></h2> <p>Ancient monasteries are scattered throughout Tibet and were the most significant social institutions of historical Tibet. With religion being extremely important to Tibetans, monasteries are centers of learning were monks and nuns are responsible for preserving and spreading Buddhist teachings.</p> <p>Sadly over 6000 monasteries were destroyed during China’s Cultural Revolution. Since the 1980s some monasteries have rebuilt, with greater religious freedom being granted. Today, monks have returned to monasteries across Tibet and monastic education has continued.</p> <p>Most monasteries and temples in Tibet extend a warm welcome to visitors and even in remote areas they will often offer places to stay the night. Some of the monasteries visited on our trips include Samye, Ganden and Jorkhang. Visiting a monastery in Tibet is a fascinating way to get an insight into the religion that has profoundly shaped Tibet today.</p> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Rongphu_Monastery_Tibet-medium.jpg"><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Rongphu_Monastery_Tibet-medium-1024x683-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Rongphu_Monastery_Tibet-medium-1024x683-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <h2><strong></strong></h2> <h2><strong>5. Travelling on the Friendship Highway</strong></h2> <p>The journey on the Friendship Highway is an epic drive over 850km between Kathmandu and Lhasa. It is without doubt one of the most spectacular journeys in the world.</p> <p>The border crossing between Nepal and Tibet was closed after it was damaged in the 2015 earthquake. However, no other section of the highway is damaged so it is still possible to drive through Tibet right up to Rongphu Monastery and Everest base camp.</p> <p>The drive along the highway will take 2-3 days but is well worth it with spectacular scenery along the way. You’ll see special cultural monuments, as well as vast grasslands, the upper valley of Yarlung Tsangpo River and breathtaking Himalayan views.</p> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/North_Face_Everest_Tibet-medium1.jpg"><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/North_Face_Everest_Tibet-medium1-1024x681-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/North_Face_Everest_Tibet-medium1-1024x681-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>Want to see it for yourself? Explore our range of <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/China-Regions/Tibet">active adventures in Tibet</a>.</strong></p> <div> </div> 2383Top 5 Springtime Cultural Festivalshttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2397/cultural-festivals-in-worldActivities,Cultural Journeys,Laos,Mongolia,Bhutan,Tibet,India,Peru,NewsFri, 13 May 2022 06:29:00 GMT<p>The spring season sees a lot of cultural festivals being celebrated around the world. We collected the most colourful ones that are a privilege to take part in at least once in your life. </p> <p>Travel to Paro in Bhutan for the Paro Tshechu festival or reach higher spheres during the Hemis festival in Ladakh. Then there are the Buddhist Pi Mai (New Year) in Laos; Mongolia’s annual sporting event, Naadam Festival; and Cusco’s vibrant Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun), all of which are colourful celebrations that are attended by locals and visitors alike.</p> <h3>Inti Raymi in Peru</h3> <p><strong>What is it?</strong> The Festival of the Sun</p> <p><img alt="Inti Raymi celebrations | <i>Nigel Leadbitter</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241343" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/South-America/Peru/Celebrations-Inti-Raymi-Festival-1241343-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/South-America/Peru/Celebrations-Inti-Raymi-Festival-1241343-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>The event traditionally involved the sacrifice of an animal to ensure healthy crops. The sacrifice was banned by the Spaniards, and today the festival involves a procession through the streets with music, prayers, dancing, and scattered flowers. </p> <p>The Inti Raymi Festival or "sun festival" is a religious ceremony that dates back 500 years to the Incan Empire’s heyday. The festival honours one of the most venerated gods in the Inca Empire: Inti. </p> <p>Women with brooms sweep away the evil spirits plus you will see priests and participants dressed as snakes, condors and pumas. It’s the second largest festival in South America with hundreds of thousands of people travelling to Cusco to celebrate the weeklong event.</p> <p><img alt="Local enjoying Inti Raymi Festival in the streets of Cusco | <i>Heike Krumm</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241344" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/South-America/Peru/Cusco_-Peru-1241344-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/South-America/Peru/Cusco_-Peru-1241344-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>When is it? </strong>It is celebrated on the shortest day of the year, also known as the Winter Solstice, which is generally around June. </p> <p><strong>Want to join?</strong> Time your <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Peru" target="_blank">visit to Peru</a> around June when the festival is set to occur. It's a great way to add more cultural elements while incorporating the magnificent sights of places like <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Machu-Picchu-Inca-Trail" target="_blank">Machu Picchu</a>.</p> <h3>Hemis Festival in India</h3> <p><strong>What is it?</strong> Celebrating the Birth of Guru Rinpoche (or Lord Padmasambhava)</p> <p><img alt="Gathered men at the festival at Hemis, Ladakh | <i>Adam Mussolum</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241336" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Gathered-men-1241336-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Gathered-men-1241336-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>Observed at the Hemis Monastery, the festival is situated in a gorge in the north-Indian province of Ladakh and is a colourful celebration in honour of Lord Padmasambhava. </p> <p>The festival is famous for the masked dances that represent the good prevailing over evil and is performed by <em>gompas</em> that follow tantric traditions. </p> <p>The festival is said to originate in the 8<sup>th</sup> Century and other activities include the offering of food, playing traditional music (think cymbals, trumpets and drums), and performing spiritual ceremonies. Joining the festival is believed to give spiritual strength and good health.</p> <div class="dynamicImageWrapper" switchsource="image1"><carouselsource aspectratio="4x3" data-plugin-options="{'items': 3, 'margin': 10, 'nav': true, 'dots': false}"><img alt="Colourful costumes at the Hemis Festival | <i>Brad Atwal</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241337" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/IMG_3620-1241337-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/IMG_3620-1241337-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Several hundred Ladakhi villagers from throughout the Indus Valley attend the Hemis festival. | <i>Adam Mussolum</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241338" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Gathering-at-Hemis-Festival-1241338-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Gathering-at-Hemis-Festival-1241338-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Hemis Festival | <i>Adam Mussolum</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241339" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Hemis-Festival-1241339-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Hemis-Festival-1241339-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="The traditions of the two-day festival at Hemis, Ladakh | <i>Adam Mussolum</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241340" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Festival-at-Hemis-1241340-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Festival-at-Hemis-1241340-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Traditional and elaborate masked dancer at the Hemis Festival | <i>Adam Mussolum</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241341" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Indian-Himalaya-Ladakh-Markha-Valley-1241341-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Indian-Himalaya/Indian-Himalaya-Ladakh-Markha-Valley-1241341-###width###px.jpg" /> </carouselsource></div>   <p><strong>When is it?</strong> The Hemis Festival is celebrated annually in the month of June or July.</p> <p><strong>Want to join?</strong> You can visit the beautiful <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Indian-Regions/Ladakh" target="_blank">Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh</a> in June or July. We often offer special itineraries centred around the festival.</p> <h3>Naadam Festival in Mongolia</h3> <p><strong>What is it?</strong> It is locally known as the 'Three Games of Men Festival'</p> <p><img alt="Spectators looking on during the Naadam festivities" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241345" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/outdoor-competition-arrow-sports-jockey-bow-363391-pxhere.com-1241345-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/outdoor-competition-arrow-sports-jockey-bow-363391-pxhere.com-1241345-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>The festival is an ancient cultural spectacle that combines colourful costumes and performances with an exciting tournament of three traditional sports: archery, wrestling and bareback horse riding. </p> <p>Travel to Chandman village to experience the festival in a setting of nomadic life. In the capital of Ulaanbaatar, visitors are presented with an incredible opportunity to experience the culture and people of this amazing land.</p> <div class="dynamicImageWrapper" switchsource="image1"><carouselsource aspectratio="4x3" data-plugin-options="{'items': 3, 'margin': 10, 'nav': true, 'dots': false}"><img alt="Locals in the Naadam Festival opening ceremony | <i>Fiona Windon</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241350" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Trans-Siberian-Railway-1241350-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Trans-Siberian-Railway-1241350-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Wrestling, archery and horse riding are the three competitions of Naadam Festival" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241348" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/outdoor-running-soccer-mountain-bike-race-competition-443270-pxhere.com-1241348-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/outdoor-running-soccer-mountain-bike-race-competition-443270-pxhere.com-1241348-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Spectators looking on during a provincial Naadam archery competition" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241349" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/outdoor-sport-camel-arrow-sports-mongolia-239727-pxhere.com-1241349-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/outdoor-sport-camel-arrow-sports-mongolia-239727-pxhere.com-1241349-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Naadam Festival opening ceremony | <i>Fiona Windon</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241351" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Trans-Siberian-Railway-1241351-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Trans-Siberian-Railway-1241351-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Wrestlers at the Naadam Festival in Mongolia | <i>Caroline Mongrain</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241352" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Naadam-Festival-Mongolia-1241352-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Naadam-Festival-Mongolia-1241352-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Locals at Naadam Festival | <i>Caroline Mongrain</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241353" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Naadam-Festival-Mongolia-1241353-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Naadam-Festival-Mongolia-1241353-###width###px.jpg" /> <img alt="Naadam Festival in the Mongolian steppe | <i>Caroline Mongrain</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241354" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Naadam-Festival-Mongolia-1241354-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Mongolia/Naadam-Festival-Mongolia-1241354-###width###px.jpg" /> </carouselsource></div>   <p><strong>When is it?</strong> This is the biggest festival of the year in Mongolia and is held throughout the country in midsummer from July 11-15. </p> <p><strong>Want to join?</strong> You have several opportunities to visit the Naadam Festival when travelling on our <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Mongolia" target="_blank">Mongolia trips</a> in early July. <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Contact-Us" target="_blank">Get in touch with our team</a> for ideas on the best trips that include the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=naadam" target="_blank">Naadam Festival.</a> </p> <h3>Pi Mai in Laos</h3> <p><strong>What is it?</strong> Buddhist New Year</p> <p><img alt="Photographer capturing the History and art at a temple in Luang Prabang | <i>Peter Walton</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241347" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Asia/Laos/Photographer-Luang-Prabang-1241347-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Asia/Laos/Photographer-Luang-Prabang-1241347-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>Like its neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, celebrations for the new Buddhist year are important for locals. </p> <p>Expect to be celebrating alongside them towards the last days of the festival. Usually, days at the start of the festival are set aside to clean homes and temples and to spend with family. A traditional ceremony is for women to pour on men a cup of perfumed water with flowers. </p> <p>Today, this transformed into a carnivalesque water festival in places like Luang Prabang.</p> <p><strong>When is it?</strong> Celebrations are from 13 or 14 April to 15 or 16 April.</p> <p><strong>Want to join?</strong> Book an April departure to join in on the festivities in <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=Luang+Prabang" target="_blank">Luang Prabang</a>.</p> <h3>Paro Tshechu in Bhutan</h3> <p><strong>What is it?</strong> The Festival of Paro</p> <p><img alt="The magnificent colours of Tatksang Monastery in Bhutan | <i>Liz Light</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1241342" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Bhutan/Bhutan-Paro-Culture-Religion-Monastery-Buddhism-1241342-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Bhutan/Bhutan-Paro-Culture-Religion-Monastery-Buddhism-1241342-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>A tshechu is a religious and cultural festival in Bhutan and, according to the Lunar Tibetan calendar, throughout the year many are held. </p> <p>One of the most popular ones is in Paro valley: Paro Tshechu. Experience the living Bhutanese culture when the local people celebrate Guru Rimpoche who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. </p> <p>Festivities include masked dances, drums, trumpets, ceremonies and people wearing their beautiful, colourful costumes. One of the highlights of the festival is the unfolding of the thangka, named ‘thnongdroel’ in Bhutan.</p> <p><strong>When is it? </strong>The Paro Tshechu Festival is generally held in March or April.</p> <p><strong>Want to join?</strong> Tie in an exploration of Bhutan with a <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=paro" target="_blank">Paro Valley</a> visit. We incorporate various <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?categories=BTN%2CadventureTouring" target="_blank">cultural journeys into our Bhutan itineraries</a>.</p> 2397A Tibetan Trek of Faith: Lhasa to Kathmanduhttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/5005/a-tibetan-trek-of-faithActivities,Trekking/Walking,Community,Book Club,Traveller Stories,Destinations,Himalaya,TibetThu, 17 Mar 2022 02:48:50 GMT<p><em><strong>In 1992, Brandon Wilson and his wife Cheryl were the first Western couple to complete the 1100-kilometre pilgrim trail from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu. Here is how it began.</strong></em></p> <p>Maybe we approached the journey all wrong from the very start, gulping in its challenge in one gigantic breath, like diving headfirst off a cliff into some mirrored pool of unknown depth.</p> <p>It was bound to be a great adventure, we argued, a chance to prove something to ourselves—especially to those who vowed it couldn’t be done. But any Western sense of toughing things out, of muscling our way across a land as complex as utter darkness, soon fell by the wayside like exhausted matchsticks.</p> <p>Survival has somehow become mysteriously linked with the uneasy idea of letting go. Perhaps it always has been. But leaps of faith have never given me much personal comfort. Still, this is Tibet; it’s unsettling, yet reassuring.</p> <p>When life is bleakest, magic appears, tenuous at first. It’s a strange, exhilarating force, a peace. Obstacles vanish and hurdles disappear. We find water where there is none. Someone arrives out of nowhere offering shelter. Another shares his meagre food. Another, his love.</p> <p>At those moments we have a gnawing suspicion that there is something more to our thousand-kilometre trek, something more than just two weary travellers tracing an ancient pilgrim’s path from Lhasa to Kathmandu across the Himalayas.</p> <p>And that sense of greater purpose, more than any personal tenacity or courage, ultimately keeps us moving.  </p> <h2>Never Say "Impossible"</h2> <p>It all started innocently enough. Sure, my wife Cheryl and I had heard about “Shangri-La,” that legendary Himalayan paradise. Who hadn’t grown up with the fable? Then, one snowy morning, snuggled deep in a cozy leather armchair beside a library’s crackling fire, I became intrigued while reading about an ancient trail once walked by pilgrims from Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet, home of the Dalai Lamas.</p> <p>According to this account, no foreigners had seen the “forbidden” city until 1903. Borders were sealed after the 1950 Chinese invasion until 1979, only opening for brief periods since.</p> <p>At that time, only 1200 foreigners had ever seen Lhasa, let alone the rest of Tibet, and half of those were with an English army campaign. Most of the others were on more recent, tightly controlled Chinese propaganda tours. Considering all that, I thought that maybe no Westerner had ever trekked this unexplored path. This was the challenge that initially convinced me to write to the Chinese authorities.</p> <p>The same motivator that has sent other madmen traipsing off to some of the highest, least travelled, most remote corners of a shrinking planet.</p> <p>Other folks I guess might have been content to stay in Colorado, especially at that time of year. After all, it was a cloudless afternoon. The type of day where the spruce trees, God’s own sweet air fresheners, scent the rarefied air with a promise of perennial hope.</p> <p>Besides, who could have guessed such a simple action as opening a mailbox could change one’s life forever? Tearing open an envelope, not from the embassy but from China’s “authorized” travel agent, I eagerly read:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>It is impossible to independently travel from Kathmandu into Tibetan Province, nor from Lhasa into Nepal on foot. As far as we know, it is impossible to get the permit to stay in Tibet for 60 or 90 days on your own. It is impossible to buy local food or find simple guesthouses every 300 km., let alone 30-km. You could hardly come across a soul within a couple of days, if you go on foot… Conditions in those high and deep mountains of Tibet are beyond your imaginations.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>I was thrilled. Its string of impossibilities just made me more determined, especially their bullheaded insistence that it couldn’t be done. Still, we prepared for the worse.</p> <p>“Look, if the Chinese refuse to give us visas,” I cautioned Cheryl, my wife and naive accomplice, “we’ll be forced to sneak in or bribe our way across the border from Nepal. We’ll have to hide in the mountains and slip from village to village.” Plus, I neglected to add, rely on the kindness of strangers.</p> <p>By the time we’d committed to the challenge, there was so little time to prepare for something so unknown. We feverishly scoured bookshops and found a Lonely Planet Tibet Guide. But the book contained no topographical maps, no details on food or shelter, and it was anyone’s guess what the Communists would do if they caught us without papers. Then, unexpectedly, doors began to open.</p> <p>The chance to become among the first Westerners to capture a bit of history, while beating the Chinese at their own bureaucratic game, convinced us. We’d give it our best shot.</p> <p>Looking back, we should have taken a year to plan for our harrowing journey. There was equipment to buy, test and break-in; food and supplies to order; maps to study; lives to put in order; physical conditioning to achieve. But we knew if we were to complete our trek before the ominous November snows, we had only three months to prepare.</p> <p>If we wait until next year, I figured, good sense will probably prevail. Physically, we’re in good shape, but we’re far from being mountaineers, I thought.</p> <p>Still, when you get right down to it, there’s little we can do now to prepare for a 35-kilometre (22-mile) hike each day—which is exactly what we need to cover if we hope to make it to Kathmandu before the last 5182 metres (17,000 foot) pass is hopelessly blocked by a ton of snow and we’re stranded until May.</p> <h2>Kathmandu, Nepal: October 7-12</h2> <p>It’s easy to forget the subtleties of a place like Kathmandu. But, like meeting an old lover on the street, those exhilarating sensations and musky memories quickly stir and reawaken.</p> <p>It begins with an on-rush of a dozen desperate urchins with their frantic curbside hustle, screeching, “Taxi, Misstah! Taxi, Sir?” Then there’s the ritual cramming of two size ten bags into a size five trunk. Once loaded, those taxis take off and swarm with all the frenzy and heated determination of wasps in a jar. Incessant bleats, peals and joy buzzer rasps of ten thousand horns punctuate fits of starts, stops and swerves. It’s an intricate ballet.</p> <p>Motorized tuk-tuks, hand-pulled rickshaws and dilapidated heaps careen down crowded streets, blaring at gawking tourists, persistent hawkers and wayward cows. They follow a well-practised weave, fake and swerve through an orchestra of sheer chaos and overpowering odours. All that’s missing is a conductor’s baton to direct the symphony of shit.</p> <p>The official trekking season attracts those who dream of <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Himalaya" target="_blank">Himalayan quests</a>, like vultures to African roadkill. The French roam murky alleys, narrowly skirting ambushes by mock-gracious merchants. Brits scour streets in search of legendary cakes, while Americans suck cold brews to tunes from pizza joint jukeboxes.</p> <p>Now, as if that wasn’t already enough to throw the typical traveller off balance, a two-week Nepalese religious festival added to the madness. Dasain, the most lavish of Hindu holidays, spilled frenzied throngs into already undulating streets.</p> <p>During our last visit after a month spent roasting in <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=Rajasthan" target="_blank">Rajasthan</a>’s summer desert, Kathmandu was an oasis fulfilling fantasies of food, comfort and relaxation. Yet, even then she was enigmatic. Her face changed like masks in a Balinese barong: one moment beautiful and enchanting, the next bizarre and revolting.</p> <p>Unfortunately, since then, fame aged her more than centuries past, and her virginal innocence, an honest wanderer’s welcome, was deflowered. We were saddened by the loss, but this time Kathmandu was just a staging area. Its score of trekking supply shops, groceries, banks and one-star (or falling-star) hotels only promised to hasten our departure.</p> <p>We needed all the help we could get since everything was uncertain. All except our steadfast determination. All we can do is have faith, I kept reminding myself.</p> <p>Yet, at that point in my life, the concept of faith was abstract to me, ethereal, best relegated to love, religion and the life hereafter.</p> <p>The travel agency that was recommended was set among a hundred other one-person shops in Kathmandu’s teeming Thamel district. We approached it reluctantly since after flying halfway around the world we arrived to find our hotel hopelessly filled. He had never reserved our room. Still, he was our only contact. Perhaps our last hope.</p> <p>“Narayan suggested we see you when we arrived... We’re planning a special trip and your brother thought you could help.” N.D. grinned while his head bobbed back and forth in that unmistakable Nepalese wobble—like a plastic dog in the rear window of a ‘65 Chevy.</p> <p>“Not to worry,” he chirped, already mentally tallying commission from another lucrative Nepal trek. “I will try.”</p> <p>At this mere mention of business, our host sent the “boy” scurrying for more tea then leaned back with a confident smirk.</p> <p>“Can we speak frankly?” I whispered, after turning to confirm the door was closed. Our plans had been shrouded in secrecy since that first meeting. Narayan’s hushed tones and wary glances made it seem like Chinese spies lurked right beneath his desk. Since then, we were extremely cautious about sharing our plan with anyone for fear the Chinese would catch wind and refuse us entry.</p> <p>“Of c-c-course,” he stuttered, now becoming intrigued by his mysterious strangers. Exasperated by our laboured ritual, Cheryl impatiently blurted out, “We want to go to Tibet.” “We want to fly to Lhasa,” I added, “then, trek back to Kathmandu.”</p> <p>“Trek back?” he clucked, shaking his head. “Nooo… Impossible!” After travelling so far, I refused to accept impossible as an excuse anymore.</p> <p>“Why? Buddhist pilgrims have done it for centuries.” “But no Western couple ever has that I know of,” he replied, snickering at the prospect. “Do you know how far it is?”</p> <p>“Over a thousand kilometres (621 miles),” Cheryl deadpanned, used to that tired old argument.</p> <p>“Yes and it’s a long way between villages,” he reminded us, as cautious or frightened as his brother.</p> <p>“We know,” my partner assured him, “but we have plenty of dehydrated food.” I nodded in agreement, although plenty was certainly stretching it. Actually, hoping to lessen the weight in our packs, we had foil packets for ten meagre meals.</p> <p>“And we have maps, too,” I added, having picked up the 'very latest' showing the thin, ragged route from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Although the kid hawking them on the street promised it was “just five days old,” I had my doubts since travellers are expected to be mighty gullible in Kathmandu.</p> <p>“Hey, maybe we can buy a yak or burro in Lhasa,” Cheryl suggested, figuring that hiking that far was hard enough without lugging forty-pound packs. “Or we can even hire a guide to lead us from one village to the next.”</p> <p>Although N.D. was fascinated, his practical nature (or daily experience with the Chinese) warned him that our scheme was pure craziness. It took several glasses of creamy tea to finally convince him it was worth at least one phone call to China’s “official” travel agent.</p> <p>One call and he could prove us wrong, get rid of us, and get back to his newspaper. As he slowly dialled the number, I almost stopped him. Reluctant to reveal our plans, especially to the Chinese, I was afraid we’d never get in.</p> <p>“It’s still not too late to hop an organised tour,” I figured, “then disappear into the Himalayas.” But to be honest, I wasn’t anxious to run into some overzealous, pubescent Chinese soldier waving an Uzi, eager to shoot “spies.” While all those doubts crossed my mind, N.D. reached the airline office. Although neither of us speaks Nepali, it was easy to decipher his conversation with China South West Airlines.</p> <p>“I have a couple who want to trek from Lhasa to Kathmandu,” he started. Then in a patronizing tone, he snickered, “I told them it was impossible, but…” He suddenly stopped. Our hearts raced. Were we finished? Did they just flatly refuse? “Yes, they know they’ll have to book a Lhasa tour, but… What? You’ll consider it?” Stunned, he shot us a quizzical glance. Then he apologetically blubbered, “Why, yes, yes, I’ll send them over right away.”</p> <p>The staff at CSWA was surprisingly cooperative and more than surprised that two Americans were serious about trekking through Tibet. “Your timing is fortunate. Most fortunate,” the slight supervisor pronounced, sizing us up with wide-eyed curiosity. “You see, the border officially opened just yesterday... however,” he continued, “it is only open from the Tibetan side. You must first fly to Lhasa on our mandatory five-day tour.” Cheryl and I shot each other incredulous looks. Grins started to surface. “Afterwards, you can continue on your own.”</p> <p>On our own? We nearly leapt from his sofa. Then, reluctant to let him glimpse our explosive, hallelujah-excitement, we calmly asked that one question, one last time. “Has this ever been done before?”</p> <p>The pensive supervisor hesitated only a second, assuring us, “No. To my knowledge, no Western couple has ever walked Lhasa to Kathmandu.”</p> <p>There, we’ve heard it three times, I thought. It must be true. But does that only mean that no one’s been so mad?</p> <p>“It just hasn’t been possible,” he added, de-emphasising our luck. “The border’s been closed many years now.” Although he promised to send our request to the Chinese Embassy, we remained sceptical that they would issue visas for the sixty days we needed. Or that they’d allow two unsupervised Americans free rein to trek across “their” Tibet. That was unheard of.</p> <p>Then, as if to allay all those unspoken fears, a displaced Tibetan clerk secretively shared something with us, a truth which eased our minds. “Why worry?” he asked, with a cryptic smile. “If it is meant to be, if Lord Buddha wills it, it will be.”</p> <p>And so it was. One telephone call, a change in policy one day earlier, the unlikely consent of a few officials, and suddenly it was willed. It was pure synchronicity. If we had never stumbled into that Tibetan shop or had arrived in Kathmandu one week earlier, or never dared to chase our outlandish dream, our lives would be different now.</p> <p><em>This is an edited extract from 'Yak Butter Blues: A Tibetan Trek of Faith' by Brandon Wilson. His other books in this series include: 'Along the Templar Trail', a Lowell Thomas Gold Award-winner for Best Travel Book, 'Yak Butter Blues', an IPPY award-winner, and 'Dead Men Don’t Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa'. Purchase a copy on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brandon-Wilson/e/B001JS4J0O?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1610446884&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><u>Amazon</u></a> or your favourite online seller or bookshop.</em></p> <hr /> <h3><strong>About the author</strong></h3> <p><em></em><a href="http://www.BrandonWilsonauthor.com" target="_blank">Brandon Wilson</a> is an author and photographer, explorer and adventure travel writer. Brandon has travelled to nearly one hundred countries and has trekked many long-distance trails, including the Camino de Santiago, Camino Catalan, Camino Aragones and Via de la Plata across Spain, and twice the St. Olav’s Way across Norway and Sweden.</p> <p>As well as being, the first Western couple to complete the 1100-kilometre pilgrim trail from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Brandon was the first American to traverse the 1850-kilometre Via Francigena from England to Rome. In 2006, he and his French friend re-blazed the 4500-kilometre route of the First Crusades from France to Jerusalem, naming it the Templar Trail, to establish it as a path of peace. Follow his adventures on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrandonWilsonauthorexplorer" target="_blank">facebook.com/BrandonWilsonauthorexplorer</a></p> <p><span style="color:#949e17;"><big><strong>Inspired to explore the Himalaya backed by 45+ years of experience pioneering treks? <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Himalaya" target="_blank">View our range of Himalaya treks ></a></strong></big></span></p> 50057 Incredible Base Camp Treks to do After Everesthttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2507/best-himalayan-base-camp-treksActivities,Trekking/Walking,Destinations,HimalayaTue, 12 Oct 2021 20:00:00 GMT<p><strong>For anyone heading to the Himalayas, nothing beats the feeling you get when you first lay eyes on the world’s highest mountains. Most are drawn to Everest for their first base camp trek, and for a good reason – it’s truly the experience of a lifetime, but where to after that?</strong></p> <p>There are so many incredible base camps that are accessible to trekkers in the Himalayas. From the sacred Kanchenjunga to the famous Annapurna<strong>,</strong> we list other impressive trails (some of which are more scenic than Everest Base Camp) that’ll see you sleeping in the shadow of Nepal or Bhutan’s magnificent giants.</p> <h2>Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek</h2> <p><img alt="Trekking near Kanchenjunga | <i>Michelle Landry</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1041690" dynamiccroppedimage="1" flexibleaspectratio="16x9" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Great-Himalaya-Trail/Kanchenjunga-Nepal-1041690-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Great-Himalaya-Trail/Kanchenjunga-Nepal-1041690-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world, located on the Nepalese side of the Nepal-India border. It is sacred to the people of Sikkim. In 1955, the first expedition team to climb it promised the Chogyal (king) that they would stop short of the summit. Ever since then, every climber has observed this tradition.</p> <p>At 5,140m (16,864ft), Kanchenjunga Base Camp is nearly as high as Everest Base Camp but strikingly remote in comparison.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Kangchenjunga-Base-Camp" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Annapurna Base Camp Trek</h2> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fwnji-oJ1hE?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></div> <div> </div> <p>The Annapurna region is the second most popular trekking area in Nepal. However, it is very different in character from Everest, both culturally and ecologically. Annapurna I was the first ever peak over 8,000 metres (26,000 ft) to be climbed. The summit was reached in 1950 on a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog.</p> <p>Passing through villages and terraced farmland on your way to base camp at 4,131m (13,553ft), this trek takes in some of Nepal’s most stunning and diverse scenery.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Annapurna-Base-Camp-Trek" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the Annapurna Base Camp Trek<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Makalu Base Camp Trek</h2> <p><img alt="High Camp in Bakim Kharka | <i>Ray Mustey</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1041689" dynamiccroppedimage="1" flexibleaspectratio="16x9" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Great-Himalaya-Trail/Makalu-Region-Himalayas-Nepal-1041689-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Great-Himalaya-Trail/Makalu-Region-Himalayas-Nepal-1041689-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>Makalu is notorious for its steep slopes and knife-edged ridges, forming a challenging section of the <a href="http://www.trekthegreathimalayatrail.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Great Himalayan Trail</a>. The trail to base camp is renowned for its cloud forests and lush vegetation of hanging orchids and vibrant rhododendrons.</p> <p>With the summit of Makalu rising 3,000m (9,843ft) above base camp, this trek is a sure-fire way to feel humbled by the mountainous landscape.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/GHT-Makalu-Everest-Traverse-via-Sherpani-Col" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the GHT Makalu & Everest Traverse<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Jomolhari Base Camp Trek</h2> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bK0wXZieKoo?rel=0&controls=1"></iframe></div> <div> </div> <p>Also known as the <em>‘Bride of Kangchenjunga,’</em> this is arguably the finest short trek in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Due to restricted access and complex routes from Tibet, there is little climbing activity in the region. Only a handful of mountaineers have climbed Jomolhari since the summit was first attained in 1937.</p> <p>At 4,100m (13,450ft), this is a great base camp trek for those who are short on time and keen to pack in both remote wilderness and a unique cultural experience.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Bhutan/Trekking-Hiking/Jomolhari-Base-Camp-Trek" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the Jomolhari Base Camp Trek<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Manaslu Base Camp Trek</h2> <p><img alt="Trekking through peaceful villages in Manaslu | <i>Graham North</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1041688" dynamiccroppedimage="1" flexibleaspectratio="16x9" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Manaslu-Himalaya-1041688-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Manaslu-Himalaya-1041688-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>The <em>‘Mountain of the Spirit,’ </em>Manaslu is one of Nepal’s most beautiful yet rarely visited areas – the Nepalese Government only opened the area to trekkers in 1991. It has since flourished as a sanctuary for many endangered animals, including snow leopards, grey wolves, musk deer and blue sheep.</p> <p>Trekking around Manaslu offers incredible mountain views, remote Buddhist villages close to the Tibetan border and cultural and geographic diversity that rivals any other trek in the Himalayas. A visit to base camp at 4,895m (16,060ft) is definitely a standout.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Manaslu-Circuit-Base-Camp-Trek" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the Manaslu Circuit & Base Camp Trek<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek</h2> <p><img alt="On the trail in front of Ama Dablam | <i>Phillip Gordon</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1041691" dynamiccroppedimage="1" flexibleaspectratio="16x9" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Ama-Dablam_-Nepal-1041691-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Ama-Dablam_-Nepal-1041691-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p><em>‘Mother’s Necklace’</em> is one of the most stunning mountains along the popular trekking route to Everest Base Camp. This steep pyramid of ice with vertical walls and sharp, exposed ridges is also referred to as the ‘<em>Matterhorn of the Himalayas.’</em> </p> <p>This trek takes you beyond the tourist trails, and at 4,600m (15,092ft) high, the base camp provides stunning 360-degree vistas across the ranges.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Ama-Dablam-Base-Camp-Trek" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <h2> </h2> <h2>Damodar Saribung Traverse</h2> <p><img alt="Trekkers on our Damodar Saribung Traverse trip | <i>Dan Beacom</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="1041687" dynamiccroppedimage="1" flexibleaspectratio="16x9" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Damodar-Saribung-Region-Nepal-1041687-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Damodar-Saribung-Region-Nepal-1041687-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>Explore a region seldom visited by Westerners, trekking through <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal-Regions/Mustang" target="_blank">Mustang</a> and the <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=damodar" target="_blank">Damodar</a> Range and emerging into the Annapurna region. Cross several high passes with incredible vistas, including the stunning Saribung Pass (6,042m), a snowy trail exiting Damodar Kunda High Camp near the Tibetan border. </p> <p>An additional highlight is the close encounters with Tibetan culture, including a visit to Luri Gompa, the oldest and most famous cave monastery in the Mustang region, constructed in the 15th century.</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=damodar" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Find out more about the Damodar Saribung Traverse<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <p><big><strong></strong></big></p> <p><big><strong></strong></big></p> <p><big><strong>Our pioneering treks are designed to get you deep into the heart of the Himalayas. <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Himalaya" target="_blank">View our <u>full range of Himalayan treks</u> ></a></strong></big><br />  </p> 2507On the couch with Margie Thomas: Nepal’s Upper Mustanghttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/3271/margie-thomas-nepal-upper-mustang-trekActivities,Cultural Journeys,Trekking/Walking,Community,Charity Challenges,Guides and staff,Destinations,Himalaya,Nepal,Thoughtful TravelMon, 30 Dec 2019 06:08:00 GMT<p><em>One of the last places on earth to find untouched Tibetan Buddhist culture is in Upper Mustang. It’s a unique corner of the Nepalese Himalaya. Here’s why this region and its people hold a special place in Margie’s heart.</em></p> <p>Veteran trekker <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Upper-Mustang-Hidden-Tibetan-Kingdom-Pony-Trek" target="_blank">Margie Thomas</a> has undertaken numerous treks in the Nepal and Indian Himalaya, but Upper <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/advanced-search?searchKeywords=mustang" target="_blank">Mustang</a> is an area that has captured her heart time and time again.</p> <p>“Upper Mustang is just so different from anywhere else in the Himalaya. It’s sort of similar to Ladakh but is far more untouched, and far, far fewer tourists go there.”</p> <h2>Where it all began: first impressions of Mustang</h2> <p><em>Lonely Planet</em> author Stan Armington, who was one of the first Westerners to go into Mustang when it opened its borders and an old friend of Margie’s, invited her to visit Mustang with him back in August 2013 and it left her spellbound.</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>It was really like one of the last bastions of pure Tibetan Buddhist culture outside Tibet.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p>"Because it’s just 40 kilometres inside the border of Nepal and Tibet, it's remained untouched by the Chinese as there was no way that they could infiltrate and breakdown the culture. So, there’s a rich Tibetan Buddhist culture up in Lo Manthang.”</p> <p>“It was an amazing trek up there," Margie recalls. "We trekked all the way up along the Kali Ghandaki, the deepest gorge in the world, and across a breathtakingly beautiful remote high-altitude desert... The countryside was absolutely spectacular, and we visited many small settlements, villages and nomad camps including the old royal capital of Tsarang, on the way to Lo Manthang.”</p> <p>“It was summer, so the harvest was on. So, in this vast, barren landscape there were fields of pink and green and mustard... it was so beautiful.”</p> <p><img alt="Stunning views are to be found at every turn on our Upper Mustang Horse Trek | <i>Sandra Shrubb</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="590640" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Logos/WWOT-images/Upper-Mustang-Horse-Trek-590640-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Logos/WWOT-images/Upper-Mustang-Horse-Trek-590640-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>Upper Mustang opened its doors to visitors in 1992; however, this isolated and remote northern region still remains largely unexplored by foreigners.</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>I think the great attraction is that, up until last year, you really saw very little change from the 14<sup>th</sup> century.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p>"Lo Manthang and much of upper Mustang is as it was; hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. I just do not see that anymore. It’s also because its cultural horizons focus toward Tibet, rather than Kathmandu. The lack of tourists is another big plus; things have changed slowly up there.”</p> <p>Completely captivated by the culturally rich and deeply spiritual place, Margie was determined to revisit <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Upper-Mustang-Hidden-Tibetan-Kingdom-Pony-Trek" target="_blank">Upper Mustang</a> and within a year she returned for a second time, taking a trekking group with her. This time in the company of Australian/Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal, whose family had escaped from Tibet when he was a small child. They retraced her first trip and, at Lo Manthang, arranged for Tenzin to perform for the locals inside the walled city.</p> <p>“All the locals came to hear Tenzin’s concert and they absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful night in the walled city, and the King and Queen were looking down from their window over the village square, listening to Tenzin’s haunting music. It was quite magical.”</p> <p>It was Margie’s extraordinary journeys among these remote communities and her experiences in such a relatively untouched region that inspired her to continue to trek to Lo Manthang with World Expeditions, which she has been <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Upper-Mustang-Hidden-Tibetan-Kingdom-Pony-Trek" target="_blank">leading annually since 2017</a>.</p> <p>Margie is looking forward to returning with a newly devised and rarely trekked route on her <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Upper-Mustang-Hidden-Tibetan-Kingdom-Pony-Trek" target="_blank">Upper Mustang Pony Trek</a> in 2020.</p> <p>“There are some long hard days – eight-hour days – so it’s not a soft option. You’ll get the best of both worlds. You’ll have a remote trek, particularly with this new route coming back through Luri and Yarra and out through Tetang and Chhusang on the banks of the Kali Gandaki. Thankfully, there are no vehicles out there.”</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>The trek is graded a Level 5 by World Expeditions, which is the same as a trek to Everest Base Camp… but you’ll almost have the place to yourself. You might only see a dozen other tourists.</strong></p> </blockquote> <h2>Meeting the royal family</h2> <p>Margie’s connections extend to that of royalty – the nephew of the Last King of Mustang, Tsewang Jonden Bista.</p> <p>“Tsewang, being part of the royal family, has been wonderful in opening doors for us that very few tourist have been opened for, so we’ve had access to all sorts of unique, off-limit places and old palaces.”</p> <p><img alt="Private puga at Tsarang Gompa in Mustang | <i>Margie Thomas</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="590572" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Private-puga_-Tsarang-gompa-Mustang-590572-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Private-puga_-Tsarang-gompa-Mustang-590572-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>“The experience has been quite remarkable; going into his home and meeting other members of his family. The King – although not recognised by the Nepalese government, is revered by the Lobas in Upper Mustang. We met him and his son on our previous trek, so again, we had an insight into royal life and into many aspects of the villagers’ lives, which just aren’t accessible to other travellers.”</p> <h2>Charitable support for a Chosar school</h2> <p>Behind each trip Margie's embarked on to Mustang, she would <a href="https://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/Margie-34204981" target="_blank">raise funds for a little school out in Chosar</a>, located about two hours northeast of Lo Manthang. The school provides free education and food for around 25 students who are from very poor and disadvantaged backgrounds.</p> <p><img alt="Village women in rarely seen traditional dress worn at festival times, Chosar village, Upper Mustang. | <i>Margie Thomas</i>" class="responsiveImage" cropdataid="590573" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Upper-Mustang-590573-1100px.jpg" variablesrc="/croppedImages/Indian-Sub-Continent/Nepal/Upper-Mustang-590573-###width###px.jpg" /></p> <p>“I was enamoured by then, and what happened on that trip was I got to know more local people and I could see the need up there for support, particularly for the children and for education. Many of the children just know the local dialects, so no knowledge of Hindi or Nepali, sometimes, let alone English. Without those language skill they really are hampered in terms of employment later on.”</p> <p>“I talked to World Expeditions and said, what can we do? Could I put a group together and raise funds through the <a href="https://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/Margie-34204981" target="_blank">World Expeditions Foundation</a>? And that’s what I’ve been doing every year since."</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>We’ve raised significant funds over the years. We usually average about $10,000 (AUD), but in 2019, we’ve raised more than $13,000.</strong></p> </blockquote> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/Margie-34204981" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">Make a donation<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> <p>“We received one generous donation of $2000 from a family trust and with that money we put solar panels on a hostel (Himalayan Children's Care Home) for children from Upper Mustang. 75 children now have access to hot water. They’re down in Pokhara but believe me, it gets very cold during winter in Pokhara. Previously the children had cold showers or a weekly bathe in the river. So people have been incredibly generous in making this happen.”</p> <p>In addition to these projects, Margie’s philanthropic efforts have helped provide funds for female students at a small nunnery in Tsarang, for Amchis (traditional Tibetan medics and healers) who provide essential support for residents in these remote areas, as well as provide an annual donation to the cave monastic school at Gharpu.</p> <p>“The main benefits I’ve seen is in the confidence in the children at the Chosar school. Their English language skills have grown enormously, because they’ve been able to employ better teachers and more teachers, and bringing tourists there regularly also helps because they’re interacting with Westerners and practicing. The confidence in those children through better education has been really the most remarkable change I think.”</p> <p>So, what's Margie’s advice for travellers to get the most out of their travels?</p> <p>“An open mind, an open heart, along good sense of humour are the top three, definitely. It’s hard not to have those in Nepal because the people are so wonderful… Just open yourself to the experience. To quote Stan Armington, ‘Nepal is here to change you, you’re not here to change Nepal’.”</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;"><a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal/Trekking-Hiking/Upper-Mustang-Hidden-Tibetan-Kingdom-Pony-Trek" target="_blank"><button class="btn btn-borders world-ex mr-xs mb-sm" type="button">View Upper Mustang trip<em class="icon-arrow-right-thin"></em></button></a></p> 3271On the couch with Everest summiteer Allie Pepperhttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2478/on-the-couch-with-everest-summiteer-allie-pepperActivities,Mountaineering,Trekking/Walking,Community,Destinations,Himalaya,Nepal,TibetMon, 02 Jul 2018 23:00:00 GMT<p><strong>She’s well aware of the highs and lows that're in store when ascending at altitude on some of the world's highest peaks and it can prove to be more than just a mental or physical game. Though, one takeaway she says adventurers should always keep in mind when taking on their dream trek or climb is, quite simply, preparedness.</strong></p> <p>Being one of the handful of women in the world to have scaled Cho Oyu (8,201m) in Tibet solo and without the use of supplementary oxygen back in 2007, Allie Pepper's passion to climb ultimately led her to the summit of Mt Everest four years later.  Along the way, she's led outdoor recreation activities since 1999 and guided expeditions in South America and the Himalaya, with her passion for adventure and climbing seeing her achieve many mountaineering feats, including the successful ascent of several high-altitude peaks in the Andes and the Himalaya, three of which were 8,000m mountains.</p> <p>Climbing to the highest of heights, Allie Pepper shares tales from her most challenging expedition and what she finds special every time she travels to the Himalayas.</p> <h3>How did you first get into climbing?</h3> <p>I didn't discover rock climbing until I was 23 when I started my first Outdoor Recreation course at Blue Mountains TAFE. I was finding a career path after returning from 6 months travelling in India, and even though I grew up in the Blue Mountains, I never actually went outdoor climbing until then.</p> <p><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Bluemtnsrockclimb-1024x768-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Bluemtnsrockclimb-1024x768-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /><span class="blogImageCaption">Climbing in the Blue Mountains</span></p> <p>I loved the course, especially learning technical climbing skills – I had finally found something that I was interested in and that I was good at.</p> <p>I started working as an outdoor guide in Katoomba and, at the end of 1999, I went to New Zealand and completed a technical mountaineering course, which is where I discovered my passion for mountaineering.</p> <blockquote> <p>I then had the opportunity to work on my first high altitude expedition in 2000 as an assistant guide on Aconcagua in Argentina – and I discovered there my strength at altitude. I have been climbing and guiding all over the world since.</p> </blockquote> <h3>You are the second Australian female, after Sue Fear, to summit an 8,000m peak without supplementary oxygen. What made you decide to attempt such a feat on Cho Oyu?</h3> <p>I spent around three years climbing and guiding in the South American Andes. I guided Aconcagua around 10 times and was working as a lead guide, and spent three seasons climbing on more technical peaks in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. I was feeling very strong, fit and confident in my technical climbing abilities at altitude, so decided I was ready for the Himalaya.</p> <p><img alt="" class="responsiveImageLimited" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/alpamayoperu2002-196x300.jpg" width="300" /><span class="blogImageCaption">Allie has lead many expeditions in Argentina and Peru. She's pictured here at Alpamayo in 2002.</span></p> <p>I chose Cho Oyu because I had met a Sherpa guide on Aconcagua who was organising the logistics for an American team on the mountain in Spring 2007. He was able to organise a small Base Camp for my climbing partner, Jason and I, at a reasonable price. We had a cook and one Base Camp dining tent, and we shared the transport to Tibet from Nepal with the other team. I never considered using oxygen at the time, and Jason and I acclimatised by trekking around the Everest region before our climb. I made a good acclimatisation plan, so either we would summit the mountain, or we would turn around. Either way, we didn't plan on using oxygen and didn't have any, so it wasn't an option!</p> <h3>How challenging was the Cho Oyu Peak summit?</h3> <p>Cho Oyu was the hardest thing I had ever done at the time. It was made harder because I ended up climbing alone. My climbing partner suffered bad frost nip on most of his toes during one of our rotations up the mountain, forcing him to stay at Base Camp while I went on the summit push. It took me eight days to summit and return to Base - and no one else went to the summit the day I did.</p> <blockquote> <p>I had to plug a lot of steps in fresh snow by myself which was very tiring, especially at above 7,500m but it was one of the most rewarding climbs I have ever done because of the difficulties and I felt a great sense of achievement.</p> </blockquote> <h3>How would you compare it to climbing Everest?</h3> <p>I don't know how to compare it to Everest because it was more than 10 years ago, and the pain and suffering has faded in my memory. Everest had many other challenges as I did not climb in a team, just with one Sherpa named Dawa.</p> <p><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/dawa-and-I-everest-768x1024-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/dawa-and-I-everest-768x1024-###width###px.jpg" width="350" /><span class="blogImageCaption">Unforgettable memories forged. Dawa and Allie at Everest.</span></p> <p>I had to carry quite a heavy pack up high and I hadn't climbed at altitude for three years before the expedition. I had planned to try climb it without oxygen but on my second rotation I realised I was not fast enough to stay warm up high. I decided, last minute, to use oxygen and had to buy and borrow the equipment from teams in the Base Camp.</p> <p>I had a mask that didn't fit my face which caused me a lot of trouble on summit day. We didn't have a satellite phone at the time, so we didn't know that the weather forecast had changed when we went to the summit.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Dawa and I started in clear skies but climbed into a storm. We had 10 metre visibility and 60km/h winds on the summit ridge. It was so cold it froze my water solid as well as my snacks inside my down suit, so I didn't eat or drink the whole day.  </span></p> <blockquote> <p>I was terrified as I had never climbed so high in such bad conditions; however, Dawa was confident to go on, so we did.</p> </blockquote> <p>Thankfully, we made it to the top and back to camp that day. Sadly, a Japanese climber was not so lucky. Both expeditions were hard and took months to recover after them. I don't really know which one was harder.</p> <p><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/everestsummit-1024x768-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/everestsummit-1024x768-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /><span class="blogImageCaption">Allie standing at the top of Everest in 2011.</span></p> <h3>Whether one is trekking or mountaineering, what do you find special every time you travel into the Everest region?</h3> <p>Of course, the views are absolutely spectacular, and no photo really does them justice. You need to be there amongst the mountains to truly experience the beauty and energy of the Himalaya.</p> <p>What I find the most special about being in that region, however, is the Sherpa people, who are so kind and generous. I have made many friends there and they are what I miss the most. The Sherpa are very friendly and respectful, and if you show them respect, they welcome you into their homes with open arms and open hearts.</p> <h3>How do you mentally train for your expeditions?</h3> <blockquote> <p>Every failure has taught me a lot about myself and my climbing and made me better prepared for the next expedition.</p> </blockquote> <p>I have not succeeded on every climb, in fact, I would have turned around as many times as I have made the summit – there are so many other factors that can lead to an unsuccessful expedition. It doesn't matter in the end how much I want to stand on the summit because more than anything I want to stay safe.</p> <p><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/summitmtcook2003-1024x668-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/summitmtcook2003-1024x668-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /><span class="blogImageCaption">Allie scaled New Zealand's Mt Cook (3,724m) in 2003.</span></p> <p>Being mentally prepared to fail is the hardest concept for most people, especially nowadays, when people are so focused on being successful and achieving their goals. This is one of the reasons why some climbers don't turn around when they should.</p> <p>If you don't have years of experience to feel confident in your abilities, you need to train harder mentally. You need to push your comfort zones in your physical training to become more comfortable with suffering. Not just for a few minutes, like in Cross Fit for example, but for hours and hours. This is why ultra-running is a great sport to train for expedition climbing.</p> <p>Being prepared physically and having all the technical skills needed for the expedition is going to put you in a better mental state. Sometimes a route on a mountain might involve a certain type of climbing that I am not very confident in. In that case, I need to train my weaknesses, so I am not nervous about that part of the climb and I am better prepared mentally.</p> <h3>When altitude sickness strikes, how would you cope?</h3> <p>Personally, I have only ever had altitude sickness once on a bus in Bolivia. We drove up too high too quickly and I had no idea how horrible it was until then. I started to sweat, wanted to vomit and my head felt like it was splitting open. Thankfully, we dropped in altitude pretty quickly and it went away. Since then I have a lot of empathy for people that have these symptoms.</p> <p>I make sure my clients have a slow acclimatisation program when I plan expedition itineraries. We ascend slowly and steadily, to ensure that most people won't feel altitude sickness, but of course there is the odd occasion where someone in the team does. We usually then stop and spend an extra day at the same height rather than go up. Unless of course their symptoms are more severe, in which case they need to descend. This is rare on trips that I’ve led, but I have been involved in many rescues of people in other groups that have gone up too fast.</p> <h3>What are some highlights trekkers can experience on an Everest and Ama Dablam Base Camp trek?</h3> <p>When I think back to the first time I experienced this area, there are so many highlights! Flying into Lukla is always amazing as it is a short runway on the side of a steep mountain. I try to sit up the front to get the full exposure because I love it. Then there are the amazing stone houses and lodges – all built by hand, as well as Buddhist prayer wheels and Mani stones that line the trail.  I love the yaks carrying loads in and out of Base Camp that share the trail with porters and trekkers; the views, the swing bridges, your first sight of Everest, the people, the smells, food and culture. Pretty much everything!</p> <blockquote> <p>Climbing up Kala Pattar ... is amazing and has the best views of Everest in the Khumbu. Trekkers will also see Ama Dablam, a spectacular mountain that dominates the valley, so getting close to her walls is a great experience.</p> </blockquote> <h3>What’s your favourite part of Nepal?</h3> <p>Getting out of the city and onto the trail! After months of training, planning and organising, then shopping in Kathmandu for my expeditions, I just love getting into the mountains and hiking on the trail.</p> <blockquote> <p>Everything becomes a lot simpler and life starts to slow down. For me, this is the least stressful part of the trip and the most enjoyable.</p> </blockquote> <p><img alt="" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/camp2lhotse-1024x768-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/camp2lhotse-1024x768-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /><span class="blogImageCaption">Taking in the amazing scenery as they set up camp at the base of Lhotse.</span></p> <h3>What's your next goal?</h3> <p>My goal in terms of 8,000m mountains has always been to climb as high as I can without supplementary oxygen. After my trip with the Everest Base Camp trekkers, I plan to attempt this again, but I don't want to talk too much about which mountain until I have finalised logistics, so watch this space!</p> <p><em><strong>Feeling inspired? <a href="https://worldexpeditions.com/Nepal" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="color: #949e17;">View our Nepal treks and start living your Himalayan dream ></span></a></strong></em></p> 2478The Borders of China: Multi Country Holidayshttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2390/multi-country-holidays-asia-chinaDestinations,Asia,ChinaWed, 08 Feb 2017 14:34:25 GMT<p><strong>Being one of the largest countries in the world with a surface of 9.597 million km2, China encompasses deserts, lakes, wetlands, mountains, rivers, farmland and beaches – all waiting to be explored. The Asian giant is the world’s top country with the most neighbours (before Russia and Brazil). This gives us, and you, a large variety of options for multi country holidays that include China.</strong></p> <p>From North to South and East to West, here is an overview of China’s neighbouring countries and the cross-border holidays you can take crossing borders.</p> <h2>North</h2> <h3>China, Mongolia & Russia</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Mongolia_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Gobi desert in Mongolia near China - World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Mongolia_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Mongolia_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>Hop on a train in Beijing and take a journey crossing several borders that has captured the imagination of travellers for decades. In China, witness the iconic attractions of capital Beijing, cross the Gobi desert to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia and visit the immense steppe for a taste of nomadic life staying in comfortable ‘ger’ camps. After passing the heart of Siberia at Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and largest freshwater lake, soak up Russia’s vast history as you head to iconic cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, your final stop. The Trans-Siberian train is a fantastic mode of transport for an epic multi country holiday.</p> <p>Want to cross borders from China into Mongolia and Russia? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=29893" target="_blank">Trans-Siberian Explorer</a> adventure touring & day walking holiday in June, July or August. Or join a special departure in July to experience the colourful <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=71420" target="_blank">Naadam Festival in Mongolia</a>.</p> <h3>Russia & China</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Russia_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Baikal Lake in Russia on the way to Beijing, China, with the Trans Siberian Express" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Russia_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Russia_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>The Russian Revolution took place in 1917, during the final phase of World War I. It removed Russia from the war and brought about the transformation of the Russian Empire into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), replacing traditional monarchy with the world’s first Communist state. Three years later, China followed in this philosophy although taking a different direction in the 1950s. Today you can travel both countries on the Trans-Siberian Express and see the legacy of communism at sites around the Red Square in Moscow and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.</p> <p>Want to go on a relatively short multi country holiday to combine Russia and China? Travel on the 19-day <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=199914" target="_blank">Classic Trans-Siberian</a> adventure touring holiday year-round.</p> <h2>East</h2> <h3>China & Hong Kong</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Hong-Kong_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Foodstall in Hong Kong - World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Hong-Kong_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Hong-Kong_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>On 1 July 1997 Hong Kong was handed back to the Chinese authorities, which marked the end of more than 150 years of British rule. Britain had controlled Hong Kong since 1842 and as such the Hong Kong region developed into the global financial centre it is today. Take a multi country holiday to see how Hong Kong compares to the rest of China and travel from Beijing to Hong Kong. Along the way take in the Great Wall, Shanghai and Terracotta Army in Xi’an.</p> <p>Want to go on a multi country holiday to combine China and Hong Kong? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=200833" target="_blank">Beijing to Hong Kong</a> adventure touring and day walking holiday. Another hiking and cycling holiday that combines China with a short stay in Hong Kong is the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=220395" target="_blank">Hike and Bike China</a> multi activity holiday that departs year round on selected dates.</p> <h3>China & North Korea</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_North-Korea_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="From Beijing, China, travel to North Korea - World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_North-Korea_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_North-Korea_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>Led by an expert English speaking guide and travelling in private vehicles, start in China’s capital Beijing and travel East to get a taste of what life in North Korea looks like. Straddle the North and South at the Panmunjom DMZ line, view the Arch of Reunification, visit capital Pyongyang and its Central City Square and see gifts presented by foreign governments to North Korean leaders at the International Friendship Exhibition. To get an idea of what daily life of the locals looks like, share a barbecue dinner with North Koreans. Before or after the guided visits in North Korea, you can spend time in the historic city of Beijing to explore for example Tiananmen Square with Mao’s Mausoleum and the Forbidden City.</p> <p>Want to go on a multi country holiday to combine China with North Korea? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=3672487" target="_blank">North Korean Explorer</a> adventure touring holiday in April, June, August or September.</p> <h2 data-wpview-marker="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldexpeditions.com%2Fuk%2Findex.php%3Fsection%3Dtrips%26id%3D3672487">South</h2> <h3>China, Tibet & a bit of Nepal</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Kangshung-Everest_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Everest Kangshung Face on the border with Tibet, China, and Nepal - World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Kangshung-Everest_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Kangshung-Everest_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>Officially one country, but culturally worlds apart, combine China and its autonomous province of Tibet that shares the world’s tallest mountain with Nepal. Everest Kangshung Face is an adventure tour in Tibet that culminates with an exhilarating trek to the ‘Hidden Face’ of Everest, a view of this impressive mountain from the east that is rarely seen by others. In Tibet’s capital Lhasa and other places in the southern province you will notice Chinese influences. Another option to experience this is to join buddhist pilgrims to the sacred Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. Travel during the Saga Dawa festival to take part in Tibetan festivities and celebrations.</p> <p>Want to go on a multi country holiday to combine China, Tibet and a bit of Nepal? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=46" target="_blank">Everest Kangshung Face</a> adventure touring and trekking holiday in June or September or <a href="http://worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=45" target="_blank">Journey to Mount Kailas</a> during the Saga Dawa festival in early June.</p> <h3>China & Tibet</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Lhasa-Tibet_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Potala Palace in Lhasa - World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Lhasa-Tibet_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Lhasa-Tibet_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>To get an even better idea of the differences between Chinese and Tibetan culture, one of the best ways is to travel overland from China’s capital Beijing and cross the border into Tibet and finally capital Lhasa. Along the way, you will come across the Great Wall for a 2-3 hour walk, the highlights of Beijing, Xi’an and its truly impressive Terracotta Warriors and Muslim quarter before taking an overnight train to Lhasa. Here you feel like entering a different era; admire the pilgrims at Jokhang temple, explore the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace, witness monks at debate at Sera monastery and see a great monastic university that used to house 10,000 monks.</p> <p>Want to go on a holiday to combine China and Tibet? Take the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=200835" target="_blank">Beijing to Lhasa Journey</a> in April, May or August. Or travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=44" target="_blank">High Road to Lhasa</a> adventure touring holiday in May, August or September.</p> <h3>China & Nepal</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Kathmandu-Nepal_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Multi Country Holidays combine China, Tibet & Nepal - World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Kathmandu-Nepal_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Kathmandu-Nepal_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>Begin your journey in Beijing - a contrasting metropolis of the imperial capital and 21st century architecture, and travel overland all the way to one of the highest capitals of the world in Nepal - largely influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism. In just under three weeks you can cover the highlights of China and Tibet, before you finish in Kathmandu where you can visit the Buddhist Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas, Durbar (Royal) Square of Bhaktapur and Nepal’s most important Hindu temple at Pashupathinath along the Bagmati River.</p> <p>Want to go on a multi country holiday to combine China, Tibet and Nepal? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=200834" target="_blank">Beijing to Kathmandu</a> adventure touring and day walking holiday in August.</p> <h2>West</h2> <h3>China & Xinjiang</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Silk-Road_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Mogao Caves in China - Silk Road with World Expeditions" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Silk-Road_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Silk-Road_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>Another autonomous territory in China and home to many ethnic minorities is Xinjiang. It’s situated in the northwest of China and was the gateway between mainland China and the countries of the Middle East when the ancient Silk Road trade route was thriving. Today, you can follow parts of the route when leaving Beijing behind and head west for the markets of Kashgar. Along the way encounter camel caravans, magnificent grottos of Magao, colourful bazaars, the Buddhist monastery of Labrang, and Heavenly Lake.</p> <p>Want to go on a multi country holiday to combine China and the autonomous region of Xinjiang? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=304602" target="_blank">China Silk Road</a> adventure touring holiday in April, May, August or September.</p> <h3>China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan</h3> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Silk-Route_World-Expeditions.jpg"><img alt="Multi Country Holidays - Follow the Silk Road to cross borders from China to Uzbekistan" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Silk-Route_World-Expeditions-1024x600-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/China-Multi-Country-Holidays_Silk-Route_World-Expeditions-1024x600-###width###px.jpg" width="1024" /></a></p> <p>A journey that follows the ancient silk route (parts of which are now <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1442">inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage list</a>) from its source in Xian, China, through an ever-changing landscape to the fabled city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. From Terracotta Warriors and Tibetan monasteries to the serene ‘Heavenly Lake’ and Kashgar’s famous Sunday markets, this historical itinerary crosses into Central Asia and steps into tree-lined streets, walled cities and palaces with impressive domes and minarets.</p> <p>Want to go on a multi country holiday to combine China with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan? Travel on the <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=65" target="_blank">Silk Road to Samarkand via Kashgar</a> adventure touring holiday in April, May, August or September.</p> <p> </p> <p>From the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors to the Great Wall and even Shanghai’s modern architecture, China never fails to conjure up a myriad of feelings, images and a sense of mystery. Combine it with one of its 14 neighbouring countries and you are sure to embark on an unforgettable journey.</p> <p>As in the days of Marco Polo, you will still be regarded as honoured guest and the locals will delight in watching you watch them!</p> <p> </p> <p>For more information on <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=countries&id=105" target="_blank">trips to China</a> and multi country holidays with its neighbouring countries, please <a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=contact_us" target="_blank">get in touch with our team of travel experts around the world</a>.</p> 2390Remote Festivals of Asiahttps://assets.worldexpeditions.com/Blog/PostId/2249/remote-festivals-of-asiaDestinations,Asia,Mongolia,Himalaya,Bhutan,Tibet,Indian Subcontinent,IndiaFri, 15 May 2015 11:02:00 GMT<h1>Remote Festivals of Asia</h1> <p>To highlight the unique cultures and extra special experiences that Asia has to offer, World Expeditions has put together a number of unique journeys and departures that take in some of the most interesting festivals throughout the world. Here we are just looking at some of our favourite festivals in Asia that are well off the beaten track.</p> <h2>May: Saga Dawa Festival - Tibet</h2> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Saga-Dawa-Tibet.jpg"><img alt="Remote Festivals of Asia Saga Dawa Tibet" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Saga-Dawa-Tibet-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Saga-Dawa-Tibet-###width###px.jpg" width="1050" /></a></p> <p>Journey to the roof of the world at the time of the Saga Dawa festival and you will have the chance to join many thousands of pilgrims from throughout Tibet as they gather to pay homage to the Mt. Kailash, one of the most sacred places in the Buddhist and Hindu religions.<br /> Many of the pilgrims may have spent up to a month travelling across Tibet to attend the festival, which involves monks offer their prayers and blessings to the huge gathering before a huge prayer pole is erected. The event takes several hours creating a feeling of awe and expectation before the pole is finally put into place. It is then time for the more devout pilgrims to commence the ‘kora’ or pilgrimage around Mt Kailash.</p> <p><a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=45"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Get there in 2016 on our Journey to Mount Kailash (20 Days) >></span></strong></a></p> <h2>June: Hemis Festival - India (Ladakh)</h2> <p> </p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="embed-responsive-item" frameborder="0" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1v9OkZ-JnBY" width="560"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>Hemis commemorates the Indian sage Padmasambhava who introduced Tantric Buddhism to this region of the Himalaya in the 8th century. The festival consists of an elaborate series of masked dances depicting the life of Padmasambhava and the moral victory of knowledge over ignorance etc. Several hundred Ladakhi villagers from throughout the Indus Valley attend the festival. Besides its religious significance it is a time to renew acquaintances, visit the<br /> many stands and drink large quantities of butter tea and barley beer. In essence it is more of a medieval fair than a religious festival that reflects much of the contemporary cultural life of Ladakh.</p> <p><a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=1400"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Get there on our Hidden Valleys of Ladakh (20 Days) >></strong></span></a></p> <h2>July: Naadam Festival – Mongolia</h2> <p><img alt="Remote Festivals of Asia Naadam Mongolia" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Naadam-Mongolia-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Naadam-Mongolia-###width###px.jpg" width="1050" /></p> <p>This UNESCO listed festival is a mass gathering of local tribesman in Ulaan Baatar. See local contestants put their courage, strength and daring to the test with the three “manly” sports of archery, horse racing, and wrestling. Discover a unique nomadic culture and traditional hospitality at its best in the land of Genghis Khan.</p> <p><a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=71420"><strong>Get there on our Trans Siberian Adventure Naadam Festival (23 days) >></strong></a></p> <h2>October: Jambay Lakhang Festival - Bhutan</h2> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Jambay-Lakhang-Festival-Bhutan.jpg"><img alt="Remote Festivals of Asia Jambay Lakhang Bhutan" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Jambay-Lakhang-Festival-Bhutan-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Jambay-Lakhang-Festival-Bhutan-###width###px.jpg" width="1050" /></a></p> <p>A hugely popular religious festival which takes place every autumn at one of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Considered one of the most spectacular, the festival lasts for five days and the highlights of the festival are the fire blessing ceremony ‘Mewang’ , where devotees attempt to jump across flames to ensure good luck and the ritualistic naked dance (‘Tercham’, the ‘Dance of Treasure’), designed to bless fertile women and allow them to conceive.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=133662">Get there with our Bhutan Festivals - Land of the Thunder Dragon (13 days) >></a></strong></p> <h2>December: Hornbill Festival – India (Nagaland)</h2> <p><a href="http://blog.worldexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Hornbill-Nagaland.jpg"><img alt="Remote Festivals of Asia Hornbill Nagaland" class="responsiveImage" dynamiccroppedimage="1" largestloadedsize="1100" src="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Hornbill-Nagaland-200px.jpg" variablesrc="/Portals/World Expeditions/LiveBlog/WP-Images/Remote-Festivals-of-Asia-Hornbill-Nagaland-###width###px.jpg" width="1050" /></a></p> <p>Celebrated every year in the first week of December the Hornbill festival brings together 12 Naga tribal groups including Konyak, Ao, Angami, Sema and Rengma, who gather to transform the festival ground to a traditional Naga village with their different and unique style of housing. The sound of log war drums and the song of the head hunting ceremony with the ferocious traditional dresses with tattoos makes for an exciting atmosphere. Every day will be traditional Naga dance, song, games and other activities performed by different Naga tribes, which highlight the cultures and traditions of the tribal peoples.</p> <p><a href="http://www.worldexpeditions.com/index.php?section=trips&id=276522"><strong>Get there with our Assam, Nagaland & The Hornbill Festival (9 days)>></strong></a></p> 2249