Dates Sep 8–26, 2008
Leaders James Martin and local guides
Fee $7,495 from Shanghai, China
Deposit $400
Limit 16
Terms and Conditions

Our photographic journey onto the Tibetan Plateau begins in Shanghai. Once a sleepy fishing and weaving village, the city gained notoriety as the “Paris of the East” during its colonial period. More recently, China’s largest city has benefited from the country’s dramatic economic reforms. Now Shanghai is a world-class metropolis—the “Pearl of the Orient”—with its shiny, exuberant construction projects, brightly illuminated skyline and dramatic modernization on all sides.

We fly south and west to Yunnan Province, literally “South of the Clouds.” It stretches from the high Tibetan Plateau to subtropical areas bordering Southeast Asia, and represents an amazingly diverse area for photography. Twenty-five of China’s 55 ethnic minorities are represented
here, including the photogenic Naxi, Tibetan, Dai, Yi and Hani cultures.

In Lijiang we are transported into a world of narrow cobblestone streets bordering canals of crystal clear freshly melted snow—seemingly unchanged since the Ming Dynasty, when the town was founded. Dawn images of Black Dragon Pool against the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visits to local villages and markets, and exhilarating views of Tiger Leaping Gorge are all part of our journey into Tibet.

Driving to Zhongdian allows partial acclimation to the change in altitude before we fly into the holy capital of Tibet at 12,000 feet. Lhasa maintains its spirituality and mystique, despite the growing population of Han Chinese and its rapid development in recent years. The contrast among its inhabitants is immediately apparent—pilgrims kowtowing at the great walls of their spiritual center and young people in discos boogeying to Celine Dion. During
our stay we visit the best-known landmark of Tibet— the Potala Palace. Its red and white buildings sit astride a rocky hilltop, with commanding views of the Lhasa River Valley. The palace is the political center of Tibet, but was once the residence of the Dalai Lama, who now lives in exile in India.

At Jokhang Monastery we make a circuit of the inner courtyard where prayer wheels stand, ready to be spun by the devout. From the rooftop, there are stunning views of the Potala and snowcapped peaks in the distance. Later in the day we visit Drepung Monastery where an enormous hall is hung with thousands of silk-bound scriptures. We witness thousands of lamas at prayer—their passionate voices reverberating through the ancient halls—as yak butter candles flicker rhythmically.

We travel onward to Shegar, the last stop before Everest Base Camp. The following day our 50-mile onward journey takes place on a newly-built, paved (and aptly described) “highway” to be used for the torch relay in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. If the day is clear, the views are stupendous, and feature a huge sweep of the Himalaya range. Upon reaching the base camp, the first sight of the mighty Everest simply leaves travelers speechless.

We return along the Brahmaputra River to Lhasa, before making our way down from the roof of the world.



Day 1
Depart from home.

Day 2 (sep 9)
Arrive at Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China. (D)

Day 3
Fly this morning to Lijiang, home to an amazing mix of ethnic groups. (BLD)

Day 4
Photograph sunset over the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Images of a Naxi musical performance are also possible. (BLD)

Day 5
We visit Naxi villages and a gorge formed by the Yangtse River. (BLD)

Day 6
The limestone pools at White Water Terrace are our dawn photography stop. In the afternoon we enter the Tibetan cultural area and Zhongdian, a small town at 10,000 feet on the Tibetan Plateau. Tranquil Shudu Lake and Sonzenlin Monastery will provide inspiring evening images. (BLD)

Day 7
We photograph monks at their morning prayers at Songzanlin Monastery, one of the largest Tibetan monasteries in Yunnan. We cross a 12,876-foot pass through the Baima Snow Mountains this evening. Reaching the town of Deqin at sunset, we photograph Mt. Kawagebo, one of Tibet’s most sacred mountains. (BLD)

Day 8
We travel by horseback to the Mingyong Glaciers and photograph Mt. Kawagebo from a different angle at sunset. (BLD)

Day 9
We return to Zhongdian, stopping for images of Baimang and Haba Snow Mountain at Jisha Village. (BLD)

Day 10
We fly to Lhasa, resting in the afternoon. (BLD

Day 11
The Potala Palace is our objective today—with its extraordinary murals and sculptures. (BLD)

Day 12
We join pilgrims as they flock to Jokhang Monastery, the spiritual center of Tibet. It is the hub of concentric circles of monasteries reaching outward from Lhasa. Drepung Monastery in the afternoon. (BLD)

Day 13
We leave Lhasa, driving to Gyantse to photograph the Kumbum Stupa with its eight levels and 75 chapels with murals revered by art historians around the world. (BLD)

Day 14
We travel to Shegar, the last stop before Everest Base Camp. (BLD)

Day 15
Our drive today provides sweeping views of the Himalaya peaks. (BLD)

Day 16
We drive to Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet and the Tsang capital. (BLD)

Day 17
Visit the Tashilhumo Monastery’s Grand Hall and the giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha before our drive back to Lhasa. (BLD)

Day 18
Fly to Shanghai via Chengdu. (BLD)

Day 19
Depart for home. (B)





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