Voor wie avontuurlijk is ingesteld en belangstelling heeft in de mensen van Oost-Tibet, hun cultuur, omgeving en spiritualiteit, zal Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche van 1 tot en met 22 juli 2009 weer een reis begeleiden naar de Dzachuka-vallei. Een van de hoogtepunten van deze reis is de volledige en langste zonsverduistering van deze eeuw, namelijk meer dan 5 minuten.
In deze schitterende omgeving zul je aan den lijve de warmte en gastvrijheid van het tibetaanse volk ondervinden en de authentieke levende traditie van het Tibetaans Boeddhisme.
Tijdens deze reis gaan we o.a. naar Yachen Gar, een klooster-universiteit gelegen in een diep verborgen vallei, waar meer dan 8.000 mensen onder leiding van Lama Achuka Rinpoche, een van de grootste nog in Tibet levende Dzogchen meesters het tibetaans boeddhisme bestuderen. We zullen ook het klooster Ju Mohor bezoeken waar Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche abt is en een bezoek brengen aan de Mani Dungkar, een muur van stenen waarin gebeden gegraveerd zijn; de manimuur werd begonnen door Patrul Rinpoche en is de langste muur in Tibet.
Na Dzachuka reizen we door een adembenemend landschap naar Derge, eens de hoofdstad van de regio, waar in de beroemde drukkerij sinds de 18e eeuw, alle teksten van de Boeddha bewaard zijn gebleven en nog dagelijks worden gedrukt.
Tenslotte zullen we tijdens de laatste dag van onze reis een volledige zonsverduistering kunnen meemaken.
- Day 1: Verzamelen in Chengdu
- Day 2: Vertrek vanuit Chengdu naar Kangding
- Day 3: Kangding
- Day 4: Kangding-Drango
- Days 5: Drango naar Kandze
- Day 6: Naar Yachen Gar
- Days 7: Verblijf op Yachen Gar
- Day 8: Yachen Gar terug naar Kandze
- Day 9: Van Kandze naar het klooster Ju Mohor
- Day 10-12: Verblijf op het klooster Ju Mohor
- Day 13: Naar Sershul
- Day 14: Bezoek aan de Mani Dungkar muur
- Day 15: Van Sershul.naar Derge
- Day 16-17: Derge
- Day 18: Van Derge naar Kandze
- Day 19: Van Kandze naar Tawu
- Day 20: Van Tawu naar Kangding
- Day 21: Terugreis naar Chengdu - totale zonsverduistering!
- Day 22: Vertrek Chengdu
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Day 1: Meet in Chengdu
On our first day we will meet and spend the night at the Hotel, allowing everyone time to relax.
Day 2: Chendgu-Kangding
We travel 370 kilometres from the plains surrounding Chengdu through a gorge to Kanding, the traditional border of China and Tibet which has long been an important trading centre. The journey to Kanding involves a climb from 508 metres (Chengdu) to 2590 metres (Kanding). This is the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and the start of the acclimatisation process.
Day 3: Kangding
To reduce the chance of altitude sickness, we will spend a rest day in Kangding, so help our bodies adjust to the sudden jump in altitude. While in Kanding you can take the cable car to Paoma Mountain, and here is an old monastery in the old centre of town and lots of interesting shops and people around.
Day 4: Kangding-Drango
We travel 292 kilometres from Kangding to Drango. Located at the confluence of the Zhe-chu and Nyi-chu rivers, Drango is home to Drango Monastery, once the largest monastery in this part of East Tibet. We continue our acclimatisation and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Drango-Kandze
We head to Kandze, passing through barley fields peppered with beautiful rammed earth buildings. Backed by stunning snow capped mountains, Kandze is a vibrant town still retaining a predominantly Tibetan flavour.
Day 6: Kandze-Yachen Gar
We head on to Yachen Gar. Yachen Gar is one of the main centres of Buddhist learning in eastern Tibet. The seat of His Holiness Khenpo Achuk Rinpoche, over 8,000 monks, nuns and laypeople study and practice under his guidance.
Day 7: Yachen Gar
Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche spent several years studying and on retreat at Yachen Gar. We will meet nuns and monks from his monastery, and be taken around the site. The visit to the Gar provides a precious opportunity to be present among a vast gathering of people completely devoted to spiritual practice. The magnificence and spaciousness of the landscape mirror the spiritual power and serenity of Lama Achuk Rinpoche.
Day 8: Yachen Gar-Kandze
We will return to Kandze for the night.
Day 9: Kandze-Ju Mohor Monastery
From the lush fields of Kandze, we head on to the grasslands of Dzachuka valley at over 4,000 metres altitude. Our destination, Ju Mohor Monastery, was established ca. 1650 by the First Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche, and the present, Fifth Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche is Abbot. Many famous masters including Patrul Rinpoche and Ju Mipham Rinpoche have taught, practiced and attained realisation at this small, but significant monastery.
Day 10: Ju Mohor Monastery
On the first day at the monastery we will have to opportunity to relax and acclimatise to the higher altitude.
Day 11: Ju Mohor Monastery
Rinpoche will show us the significant sights around the monastery. This includes the retreat hut of the great nineteenth century master Mipham Rinpoche, who spent many years on retreat here.
Day 12: Ju Mohor Monastery
We will have the opportunity to visit nearby nomadic families and experience their fascinating way of life.
Day 13: Sershul
We move on to the nearby town of Sershul. This is home of the Vista Project, Rinpoche's aid programme to help the local nomadic population.
Day 14: Mani Dungkar Wall
This breathtaking wall, over a kilometre in length, consists entirely of hand-carved mani stones and images. It is one of the most significant yet least known pilgrimage sites of Tibet. Patrul Rinpoche began the construction of the wall at the place where his root teacher, Jigme Gyalwe Nyugu, gave teachings which he immortalised in “The Words of My Perfect Teacher”.
Day 15: Sershul-Derge
The drive to Derge is one of the most spectacular of this trip, as we move from barren grasslands to lush forest. Crossing over a 5,000 metre mountain pass, we descend through a gorge into the beautiful town of Derge. Often regarded as the cultural heart of Kham, this area was the capital of the Kingdom of Derge which was the largest of the five kingdoms of Kham.
Day 16: Derge
Derge is the home of the famous Barkhang printing house where a complete collection of Buddhist texts have been printed since the 18th century. It is one of the few significant places of Tibetan culture not destroyed during the cultural revolution. We will visit the printing house, and see how this traditional craft is being revived.
Day 17: Derge
Nearby to Derge is the Gyaltsa Shakur monastery, a site important to the ancient King of Tibet, Gesar of Ling. It was here that King Gesar's uncle lived, who was one of Gesar's main advisors.
Day 18: Derge-Kandze
Travel back to Kandze where we spend the night. This is start of our return to Chengdu.
Day 19: Kandze-Tawu
Travel to Tawu, where we spend the night.
Day 20: Tawu-Kangding
We return to Kangding for the evening.
Day 21: Solar Eclipse; Kangding-Chengdu
We wake early to see the solar eclipse, due to start at 9.20am. We will watch it at a location outside of town. The length of the eclipse, at over 5 minutes, will be the longest of this century.
Day 22: Depart Chengdu
Leave Chengdu according to peoples onward plans.
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Pricing
The trip will cost NZ$3800. This includes:
- tour guidance from Rinpoche
- hotel accommodation
- internal overland travel
- daily breaksfast, lunch and dinner
It does not include flights into and out of China, which should be booked to arrive in Chengdu on or before July 2.
To secure a place on the trip, a non-refundable deposit of NZ$1500 should be paid by April 8th 2009.
Transport
We will travel in 4-wheel drive vehicles for the whole duration of the trip.
Accommodation
Where possible, we will stay at good quality hotels. However, given the nature of the some of the places we are visiting, accommodation will occasionally be more simple.
Food
Three meals per day are included in the cost of the trip, to be eaten at local restaurants. Vegetarian options will be available.
Visas
Passport holders of most countries currently require a visa for China. You must obtain a China visa prior to leaving home: it cannot be obtained on arrival.
Vaccinations
Please consult your doctor or nearest vaccination centre for advice on what vaccinations should be taken before visiting China.
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Joining the trip
Places on the trip are limited and only a few places remain. If you have questions about the trip or are interested in joining please contact us by sending an email to , or fill in and submit the following form:
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Joining the trip
Places on the trip are limited and only a few places remain. If you have questions about the trip or are interested in joining please contact us by sending an email to , or fill in and submit the following form:
About Us
Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche has previously led four successful trips to Tibet.
Having a close connection to the area, as well as being fluent in Chinese as well as Tibetan, Rinpoche is able to take us to places tourists would otherwise be unable to visit.
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