The Trips
2011 Conscious Journeys Programs to Tibet
THE SOLAR MISSION TO TIBETA Solar Installation Volun-Tourism Project in Kham, will be conducted around June 2012
Participants joined us for a PV installation at a new medical clinic in Suhurong Village, in a remote area on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Minyak Gongkar is a nearby peak, one of the 50 highest on Earth. The trip was organized as a class through San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, and was audited or taken for college credits. San Juan College is partnering with Tibetan Village Project Australia and Conscious Journeys to make this project possible.
The three days of work was to install the solar equipment at the clinic, the trip also included local hikes; talks about Buddhism and Tibetan culture; along with visits to an orphanage, local Buddhist monasteries, and the panda breeding center in Chengdu. It was a fun mixture of service work, PV training, and cultural education.
Program Cost: The trip was $5,800, which included airfare, ground transportation, meals, lodging, permits, and solar equipment. We got 12 participants, so it helped to lower the cost. They travelled to an area far off the beaten tourist path, and stayed in the homes of local families while they worked. If you are interested in participating in the future, contact Don Cullen. His email is cullen.don@gmail.com. Additional information and application forms can be found at our website. Should you wish just to contribute, then you can do so through our website at www.tvpaustralia.org.au or by mail to P.O. Box 417, Black Rock, Victoria, 3193.
How do we travel? The government laws do not permit organized volunteers from abroad in certain Tibetan areas including the TAR. Therefore, we offer volun-tour trips that blend service with sights, and our participants travel to China on regular tourist visas. When we travel to villages, we use local, authorized travel agencies to organize our service trips to Kham and Amdo.
True to our mission, we travel responsibly to minimize the exploitation of Tibet’s fragile natural and cultural landscape. We arrange for lodging and meals in local guesthouses and restaurants to facilitate cultural exchange and support community businesses. Furthermore, we encourage our guests to purchase necessities and goods from village markets and shops, and ask everyone to use recyclable materials, pack up their own rubbish, and educate others on responsible travel.
Why do volunteers have to pay? Organizing effective, cost-efficient, and socially responsible international volunteer service presents a challenge in any part of the world –particularly in Tibet. Volunteer funds help maintain our nonprofit, and are used in all of the structures, logistics, and support necessary to ensure project safety and success. We use funds to hire local coordinators and interpreters, rent vehicles, meet with community members, secure travel permits and liability insurance, and provide staff to support your project goals from the day we receive your inquiry until long after you have finished your journey.
Arrival / Departure: Our trips officially begin and end at the Chengdu airport. Upon reserving your space, you will receive a logistics packet containing all of the essential information you will need including instructions on how to apply for a visa to China, a packing list, a recommended reading list, day-to-day itinerary, detailed description of volunteer work, and health and safety information, etc.
Tagong Horseracing FestivalExperience the ultimate in cultural immersion and Volun-Tourism
in Eastern Tibet, . June 2012, date to be confirmed. If you wish to book for 2012, then contact Don Cullen on cullen.don@gmail.com.
If you are looking for the ultimate cultural and volun-tourism experience in Tibet, consider joining Tagong Horseracing Festival in Kham, Eastern Tibet. TVP organizes an annual trip to Tagong in Kham to experience three days of horse racing, a wide variety of volunteer opportunities at a monastic orphanage and a few days of light to moderate trekking and camping in a stunning nomadic site in the Kham grasslands. Every June or July, Tagong holds a spectacular three-day festival consisting of horse racing, dance performances, and games such as tug of war. In 2011, the Horseracing Festival happens to be around June 15th, 16th, and 17th and thus our trip is scheduled for 15-days from June 2012, dates to be confirmed.
Program cost $3,475 (estimated) and it includes: food, cooks, drivers, interpreters, permits & fees, travel insurance, ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and welcome and a farewell banquets. Program cost does not include the cost of your international flight to Chengdu, your Chinese visa and personal expenses. If you are interested in raising funds, we will be happy to provide materials and support to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. TVPA has tax deductible status and contributions are tax-deductible for the donors in Australia.
Who should join? Volunteer missions are designed for travelers who wish to experience the sights and sounds of Tibet while helping better the lives of rural Tibetans. Participants need not have a special skills, just an open mind and a genuine compassion for others; Conscious Journeys aims to put your own personal talents to work. Volunteers may also choose to assist skilled professional groups (Medical & Dental Mission, etc.). Given the rugged terrain and high altitude, participants must be physically fit, able to handle altitudes up to 12,000 ft, and afford to cover their own expenses.
Arrival / Departure: The trip will officially begin and end at the Chengdu airport. Upon reserving your space, you will receive a logistics packet containing all of the essential information you will need including instructions on how to apply for a visa to China, a packing list, a recommended reading list, day-to-day itinerary, detailed description of volunteer work, and health and safety information, etc.
JOURNEY TO MINYAK
Embark on a Conscious Journey to Kham and immerse yourself in Tibetan
culture, landscapes, spirituality and service. May 6th to May 24th, and also September 6th to 24th (approximately), 2012. This will be followed by a side trip to Lhasa as an optional extra. This trip will be led by Don Cullen from Australia.
Join us on journey to Kham, in Eastern Tibet to experience Tibetan culture, spirituality and sacred places in the shadow of the world's most magnificent mountains. We'll visit historic monasteries, home-stay in rural villages, do some moderate trekking and have the opportunity to volunteer at TVP project sites. Unlike other Tibetan regions, Minyak has its own distinct dialect and customs; has been successful in maintaining Tibetan cultural heritage and is one of Tibet’s best kept secrets, being free from commercial tourism. Very special features of this trip include a visit to the sacred and historically significant Pha Lagong Monastery in Tagong and exceptional views of Minyak Gongkar, one of the 50th highest peaks on Earth and revered by all Tibetans.
Program cost $3,475 (estimated, plus an additional $1,000 should you wish to travel to Lhasa for an extra 4 days) and it includes: food, cooks, drivers, interpreters, permits & fees, travel insurance, ground transportation, hotel accommodation, and welcome and a farewell banquets. Program cost does not include: the cost of your international flight to Chengdu or your Chinese visa. If you are interested in raising funds. TVPA has tax deductible status and contributions are tax-deductible
When and where do we travel? Our service program primarily operates in remote villages in Kham and Amdo – regions currently known as Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan Provinces. Although we occasionally offer service trips to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), political sensitivity and frequent travel restrictions limit out ability to consistently arrange volunteer work in this area. Depending on the location of the selected community, coordination and logistics, cost, and participant availability, our programs generally last between 12 and 21 days, and can optimally run from May to October. Participants who are able to return to the same village after their journey will have a deeper understanding of that community’s needs and opportunities to provide more complex services.
Who should join? Volunteer missions are designed for travelers who wish to experience the sights and sounds of Tibet while helping better the lives of rural Tibetans. Participants need not have a special skill, just an open mind and a genuine compassion for others; Conscious Journeys aims to put your own personal talents to work. Volunteers may also choose to assist skilled professional groups (Medical & Dental Mission, etc.). Given the rugged terrain and high altitude, participants must be physically fit, able to handle altitudes up to 12,000 ft, and afford to cover their own expenses.Arrival / Departure: The trip will officially begin and end at the Chengdu airport. Upon reserving your space, you will receive a logistics packet containing all of the essential information you will need including instructions on how to apply for a visa to China, a packing list, a recommended reading list, day-to-day itinerary, detailed description of volunteer work, and health and safety information, etc.
Contact: Don Cullen on cullen.don@gmail.com or by mail, P.O. Box 417, Black Rock, Victoria, 3193, Australia
.gif)
