Tibet — Rooftop of the World

Tibet is the earth's highest ecosystem and one of the most remarkable places in Asia. On your journey you will see stunning views of the world's highest mountains and visit ancient monasteries. And you will meet the world's most gentle and compassionate people.

Tibet has captured the minds and imaginations of travelers and adventurers for centuries. It is believed that Buddha prophesied 2500 years ago that his teachings would leave India and travel to Tibet, the Land of the Snows. Not only did Buddhism make its way into Tibet, it surpassed India in its Buddhist heyday. For more than a thousand years, Tibet dedicated itself completely to the peaceful nonviolent teachings of the Buddha.

Tibetans created a society based on a higher realization — that true everlasting happiness surpasses the material and mundane approach to life. The most respected individuals in Tibetan society were not the wealthy, but the enlightened beings. A simple monk was revered as a hero. Tibetan society built more than 6,000 monasteries where men and women tried to realize and perfect what being human was all about.

Although today, Tibet is a shadow of its illustrious past, it is still one of the world's most astonishing and exotic places on earth. For centuries, Tibet remained closed to westerners. Political and physical barriers kept Tibet one of the most isolated regions in the world. Surrounded in all directions by the world's highest mountains at an average altitude of 4000 meters, its no wonder that Tibet is considered the Roof of the World. Since much of Tibet is a barren, high-altitude desert, this harsh environment became conducive to inner reflection. Prayers, mantras and walking meditation were the formula for hours, days and even weeks of travel by foot. It was the monastery that became the cultural and spiritual hub of Tibetan society — from small unpretentious enclaves to sprawling, grandiose monastic universities that housed thousands of monks.

Explore Tibet's most precious cultural treasure — its monasteries that house masterpieces of Buddhist art. Visit Tibet's most sacred power places — the Potala, Samye Monastery, the Kumbum Stupa and the Jokhang, where you will hear the monks with their throaty chants praying as they have done since ancient times. Drive over lofty glacier mountain passes that overlook turquoise crystalline lakes and barren windswept slopes. One of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet, it is easy to imagine how this powerful natural environment inspired Tibetans to turn inward.

Although ancient Tibet is slowly disappearing, it is still one of the world's most astonishing cultures. Discover the sacred power places that contributed to this remarkable Buddhist civilization. Join us on this spectacular journey and experience the magic and the mystery of Tibet — Land of the Snows.