Conscious Journeys

Conscious Journeys is a unique volun-tourism program of the Tibetan Village Project (TVP) and we offer a balanced blend of cultural immersion, sustainable travel and volunteerism excursions to Tibet for professional volunteers such as doctors, nurses, dentists, adventurists, and students. Volunteer activities include things like building greenhouses and working on community-based tourism projects such as building hiking trails, constructing waste bins, offering site clean ups and ‘Leave No Trace’ environmental ethics training. Volunteers can join with one of the featured journeys or create a customized journey to suit their own interests. Our program offers living and breathing Tibetan cultural experiences, and we give 30% of the profit from the trips back to local communities. In short, we don’t organize tourist trips to tourist places.

2012 Featured Trips

April 2012: A group of dentists from the Free to Smile Foundation will be returning to Kham, eastern Tibet to conduct dental hygiene check-ups and perform basic dental work on school children and community members. For trip registration please contact Byron Henry through this website and for trip logistics please contact Conscious Journeys.

July 2012: Spirit of Kham: Both new and old friends and supporters of Tibetan Village Project are invited to travel with our staff on a very unique trip to Kham. This 16-day trip (July 1st –July 16th) includes visiting project sites, meeting and staying with families (experiencing living and breathing Tibetan culture), and enjoying short hikes. Please contact Conscious Journeys for inquiries and registration.

• August 2012: A group of students from the civic engagement program of Southwestern University (Texas) will be traveling to Tibet to build a greenhouse for school children, work and live with Tibetan families, and connect with the local culture and landscape. Please contact Professor Carl Robertson for registration and Conscious Journeys for trip logistics.

Other Service Trips: If you are interested in making a service trip to Tibet we have several projects available for groups, including building composting toilets and installing a solar shower for a school. There are also projects available that focus on developing community based tourism, such as training local hosts, guesthouse owners, homestay families, cooks and drivers and developing unique itineraries. Trips can be arranged from 2-3 weeks with about 6-10 group members.

When and where do we travel? Our service program primarily functions in remote villages in Kham and Amdo – regions currently known as Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan Provinces. However, we organize cultural and spiritual journeys to unique and sacred places in Central Tibet (TAR) where some of our guides and staff members grew up. Given the rugged terrain and high altitude, participants must be physically fit, and able to handle the altitude (average 12,000 feet). The best time to travel is from April to November.

How do we travel? Chinese laws do not permit organized volunteers from abroad in certain Tibetan areas including the TAR. Therefore, we offer volun-tour trips that blend service with sights, and our participants travel to China on regular tourist visas. When we travel to villages, we use local, authorized travel agencies to organize our service trips to Kham and Amdo.

True to our mission, we travel responsibly to minimize the exploitation of Tibet’s fragile natural and cultural landscape. We arrange for lodging and meals in local guesthouses and restaurants to facilitate cultural exchange and support community businesses. Furthermore, we encourage our guests to purchase necessities and goods from village markets and shops, and ask everyone to use recyclable materials, pack up their own trash, and educate others on responsible travel.

Who should join? Volunteer missions are designed for travelers who wish to experience the sights and sounds of Tibet while helping better the lives of rural Tibetans. Participants need not have a special skill, just an open mind and a genuine compassion for others; Conscious Journeys aims to put your own personal talents to work.  Volunteers may also choose to assist skilled professional groups (Medical & Dental Mission, etc.). Given the rugged terrain and high altitude, participants must be physically fit, able to handle altitudes up to 12,000 ft, and afford to cover their own expenses.

Trip Registration: To reserve a spot on Conscious Journeys to Tibet, please submit the Application Form (click here) with a $500 deposit made out to Tibetan Village Project. In most cases an interview will also be required. Once an applicant has been approved, we will send out all essential information regarding your trip to Tibet including: China visa, travel gear, a recommended reading list, day-to-day itinerary, detailed description of volunteer work, and health and safety information, etc.

Additional Information: Conscious Journeys invites you to learn more about our program by visiting www.consciousjourneys.org or email us info at TibetanVillageProject.org. ‘Tashi Delek’ (Greetings), and we look forward to welcoming you to embark on a Conscious Journey in the near future.

Accomplishments | Contact Info | Media | Donate | Resources