Tibet
is most unusual and beautiful place. The majority of its land
rests above 4000 meters and is surrounded by mountain ranges on
three sides. The awe- inspiring Himalayas are the highest in the
world, as is the never-ending Tibetan plateau. It is a place for
the rugged adventurers as well as the spiritual wanderers.
Tibet
is a land held back in time, housing many secrets. Nomads remain
much the same as they did one hundred years ago. Roaming around
the plateau from winter and summer camps the nomads still mainly
subsist from their yak herds. Then there are the monasteries,
which are striving to find a place in a country that's suddenly
facing the 21st century.
The Tibetan people and their religion have been inseparable. Even
in their earliest myths one finds references to Tibetan religious
beliefs. Originally, the bon religion dominated Tibet. After the
introduction of Buddhist statues and later, Sanskrit document from
India, Buddhism crept increasingly into Tibetan culture. Tibetan
Buddhism is the culmination of some early Bon beliefs, Indian
Buddhist texts and several great Lamas. Buddhism and politics had
been interwoven since King Songtsen Gampo married a Chinese and a
Nepali Princess, who were both integral in the emergence of
Buddhism. It was the Fifth Dalai Lama who built the Potala Palace
as the government seat and religious center. A theocracy had
prevailed until 1951.
After
centuries of virtual isolation Tibet is cautiously opening up to
the western world. Officially, China has only opened the doors for
travelers these past few years. A visit to Tibet is an incredible
experience, although it is not for the faint- hearted. The
traveling is difficult and unpredictable. The infrastructure is
poor to non- existent, therefore turning a regular tour into a
complete adventure. Traveling in Tibet is not your average trip
but an experience of the lifetime, which we invite you to take
with us.