Tibet: Gateway to Heaven on Earth

Dates: April 5 - 24, 2009.

Some say Tibetans are the most religious people on earth. Certainly their spirituality dominates their culture. You cannot visit Tibet and return the same person. It is not for the faint of heart. A Journey to the Gateway to Heaven on Earth will change your life forever.

Join Maureen for this amazing sacred journey to Tibet.

Maureen's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals to travel and experience their history alongside their future in the present. You will be with many kindred spirits, everyday men and women who demonstrate a keen desire for their own spiritual mastery. This will be a very special journey.

We will be arriving along with the spring season. We can expect sunny skies most of the time. Although daytime temperatures may be as warm as 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit, the nights could be very, very cold.

Sacred Journey to Tibet:

"I wondered why we were going to Tibet the first time in 2007 - when Drunvalo told me that the energy of Tibet was weak. Then it became clear when we were asked to work with Pink Tara! We are now going back with a fresh purpose to renew and expand that energy. I am honored to travel with you to the Gateway to Heaven on Earth!"  Maureen

TEI is pleased to work with the foremost American guide in Tibet, Mr. Gary Wintz. He and his former partner were the first westerners to live in Tibet after Communist rule. He has worked with such luminaries as Gregg Braden and escorted thousands of tours since 1985. With his intimate knowledge of Tibet and Tibetan culture, Gary has lectured at many universities, including Harvard and Yale, and at organizations such as the National Geographic Society. Gary is the International Guide used by both Gregg Braden and Power Places Tours. Gary will guide your Tibetan Journey with Maureen.

Join TEI for a phenomenal journey to the Gateway to Heaven on Earth.

Although this will be a fun journey, all Sacred Journeys with Transformational Enterprises, Inc. should be considered pilgrimages and contain many opportunities to grow, not only in your personal knowledge, but your spiritual experience as well. This trip will be challenging due to the extreme weather conditions we may encounter at high altitude. Many make this trip by preparing physically as well as mentally and spiritually.

Enjoy the beauty and majesty of Tibet. Photos provided by Dan Cutright, photographer.
Click on any photo to view a larger picture.

For an extra treat visit the Himalayan Museum in New York City, the Rubin Museum of Art. If NYC isn't on your travel list and you don't live in that majestic city, feast your eyes on this wonderful website featuring their incredible collection of Tibetan art: Himalayan Art Exhibit

Interested in learning more? For a virtual trip to Tibet and a wide selection of topics, check out this comprehensive listing of Tibetan information: Tibet Links

Details: Tibet Sacred Journey 2009

Dates: April 5 - 24, 2009

(Subject to reality.)

Journey cost includes airfare from Los Angeles to Bangkok, Kathmandu, overland/bus travel, accommodations in all locations, sightseeing, breakfast, some dinners and a special farewell dinner/celebration.

Join us for this 20 day spiritual pilgrimage through Tibet.

Due to airline restrictions, Tibet Sacred Journey pricing will not be posted until July. We are waiting for airline price confirmations. Now more than ever, Tibet needs you. If you feel a calling to travel to Tibet, please consider joining this special Sacred Journey.   Contact Us for more information.

Schedule of Events: Tibet Sacred Journey Itinerary for April 5 - 24, 2009

Date	Day	Activity
Sunday, April 5	Day 1	Departure from LAX. Los Angeles to Bangkok.
Monday, April 6	Day 2	Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. Overnight in Bangkok. (Rama Gardens Hotel)
Tuesday, April 7	Day 3	Day in Bangkok, Thailand. Morning orientation / Afternoon free.
Wednesday, April 8	Day 4	Fly to Kathmandu, Nepal. Second half of orientation in mid-afternoon. (Soaltee Hotel - Holiday Inn Grand Plaza)
Thursday, April 9	Day 5	Kathmandu: Tour Kathmandu City, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.
Friday, April 10	Day 6	Fly to Lhasa, capital city of Tibet. Drive to Lhasa Hotel / day at rest. (6 nights in Lhasa Hotel)
Saturday, April 11	Day 7	Lhasa: Visit two spectacular sites: the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of all Tibet, and Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. We will see many shrines, statues and murals. The most important is the statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha, the most precious object in Tibet.
Sunday, April 12	Day 8	Lhasa: Interesting tour of city nunnery / orphanage / 10,000 Buddhas Lingkor.
Monday, April 13	Day 9	Lhasa: Tour of the Hospital of Traditional Tibetan Medicine and of the herbal medicine dispensary. We will hear talks by the Tibetan physicians practicing here. In the afternoon, tour Sera Monastery, one of the great monasteries of the Lhasa region. We may even see some of the monks who reside here practicing their debates, an essential part of their training. We will also visit the small but powerful Palalh Ubu Monastery.
Tuesday, April 14	Day 10	Lhasa: Tour of the largest monastery in Tibet, Drepung Monastery. Free time in this beautiful mountain region in the afternoon.
Wednesday, April 15	Day 11	Lhasa: Today we visit the famous Potala Palace. This is the beautiful mountain palace featured on our website. In the afternoon we allow free time for roaming and shopping around the Barkhor. You will know the city by now, and use this afternoon time for rest, or returning to your favorite places.
Thursday, April 16	Day 12	All day drive to Gyantse. The road via Kamba-la crosses two high passes with fabulous scenery and offers views of Lake Yamdrok Yamtso. This sapphire-blue lake is the third largest in Tibet. Overnight in Gyantse.
Friday, April 17	Day 13	Gyantse: This morning we visit the sites of Palkhor Monastery and the Kumbum Chorten as we continue our tour of the ancient trading town and religious center of Gyantse. We depart Gyantse after lunch and travel to Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet. On the way to Shigatse, our travels will include a side trip to visit the Shalu Monastery, a small monastery renowned for centuries as a center of scholarly learning and psychic training. Here we will also see a few of the remaining murals that are considered to be the most ancient and beautiful in Tibet.
Saturday, April 18	Day 14	Shigatse: Today we tour the Tashilhunppo Monastery, one of the most active monasteries in Tibet. This is the seat of the Panchen Lama, considered the second highest Lama of Tibet after the Dalai Lama. Here we see the Chanting Hall, the library and the 86-foot tall statue of Maitreya Buddha. In the afternoon, we visit a Tibetan women's cooperative carpet factory and the town market to shop for Tibetan artifacts, jewelry, etc. We may also include a stop at a project of the Swiss Red Cross.
Sunday, April 19	Day 15	Depart Shigatse on our way to Tingri: We continue our tour with a drive along the plain of Tibet past isolated houses, villages and nomads with their yaks. We will visit to the Sakya Monastery, once the capital of all Tibet. Overnight in Shegar.
Monday, April 20	Day 16	Drive to Old Tingri via Chhummolangma. We will visit Rongbuk Monastery near Mt. Everest Base Camp while enroute to Old Tingri where we spend the night.
Tuesday, April 21	Day 17	Drive to Jammu: We continue our travels on a spectacular drive over a 17,500-foot high pass with views of Mt. Everest in the distance. This trip provides excellent opportunities for pictures of the most glorious mountain vistas to be seen anywhere in the world. We will visit a nearby monastery, Pyenzhangling, where Milarepa, a famous Tibetan mystic and poet, spent many years as a hermit in the cave.
Wednesday, April 22	Day 18	Drive to Kathmandu: Leaving Jammu, which is on the border of Tibet and Nepal, we cross over the river on the "Friendship Bridge" at Kodari and begin our five-hour drive in Nepal, south to Kathmandu. (Note: sometimes portions of this road in both Tibet and Nepal may be closed due to landslides. If this occurs it may be necessary to walk small sections of this road.)
Thursday, April 23	Day 19	Fly to Bangkok. Arrive early evening. There is no free time scheduled, but it may be possible for you to add a day or two to your tour and therefore return a day or two later. You could visit other places in Thailand or the region. Please ask.
Friday, April 24	Day 20	Departure from Bangkok to Los Angeles, USA. Arrive LAX.* *Because crossing the International Dateline is in our favor, we actually arrive in the USA the same date we depart Bangkok.

Register for Tibet Sacred Journey 2009: Tibet Registration

Please contact us if you need more information: Contact Information

Tibet Sacred Journey: Registration Policies

Prices are based on double occupancy and a minimum of 18 paying guests. If you sign up late, you may be required to pay the single price. Every attempt will be made to provide a roommate for you.

Due to airline restrictions, Tibet Sacred Journey pricing will not be posted until July. We are waiting for airline price confirmations. Now more than ever, Tibet needs you. If you feel a calling to travel to Tibet, please consider joining this special Sacred Journey.   Contact Us for more information.

Package price: This rate is based on a minimum group of 18 paying guests.

• Per person, double occupancy - TBD
• Single supplement (added to double occupancy price) - TBD

What's included:

• Airfare to and from LAX, Bangkok, Kathmandu, Lhasa
• All accommodations
• Daily buffet breakfast at hotels
• All hotels, taxes, and service charges
• All tour entry
• All transfers from and to airports, hotels
• All entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary
• All overland and bus transportation
• Personal American tour guide
• Lunches and dinners provided when indicated on the itinerary as B, L, D
• Farewell dinner

What's excluded:

• Travel and Health insurance (strongly advised)
• Camera fees - only one movie camera per person allowed
• Drinks
• Entry Visa upon arrival, $60.00 per person - Visa required, can be handled locally
• Entry tax $25 per person
• Tipping for tour escort and group leader, local tour company staff ($300 to be collected in advance from clients)

Cancellation Policy:

Part of your deposit or registration fee may be refundable if you must cancel. Considerable administrative work is initiated when you register, including air and travel bookings, lodging space, and communication, planning and coordination with our tour company. The amount of your refund will be based on the date we receive notice of your cancellation.

• If canceled more than 120 days prior to the departure date, 90% of total trip cost per person will be refunded (excluding non-refundable deposits)

Later cancellations require additional administrative fees based on the time schedule documented in our Credit Card/Refund Policy.

Notify us immediately if you need to cancel: Contact Information

Tibet Sacred Journey is a 20-day tour, April 5 - 24, 2009. Tour Cost per person (TBD) is based on double occupancy and a minimum of 18 paying guests and a maximum number of 36 persons. You may make an $800 early deposit to confirm your registration and reserve your space.

Due to airline restrictions, Tibet Sacred Journey pricing will not be posted until July. We are waiting for airline price confirmations. Now more than ever, Tibet needs you. If you feel a calling to travel to Tibet, please consider joining this special Sacred Journey.   Contact Us for more information.

TEI has arranged special air fares and may be able to save you money. Contact us if you would like assistance in obtaining your airline tickets to Los Angeles, CA LAX International Airport. In many cases the add on fare through TEI may save you 50% of the ticket you would be purchasing on your own to get to LAX.

 To register online using your credit card: Sacred Journeys Registration

 To register by mail, make your check payable to Transformational Enterprises, Inc. and include your desired Sacred Journey Name and Dates. Mail to:

Sacred Journeys with TEI
708 West 192nd Street, Apt 6P
New York, NY 10040-2427

Send a confirming e-mail to to receive your confirmation letter promptly.

 If you need to reach someone right away, please call Mary Ellen: 707-548-9408