An Ecology Tour of Tibet
For: Immediate Release
Contact: Tsultrim Gyatso,
847-772-1430 or info@tibetanecology.org
Itineraries: www.tibetanecology.org/tours
An Ecology Tour of Tibet
Although Tibet, the “Roof of the World,” averages 12,000 feet above sea level, it sustains a unique and
fragile ecosystem with an astonishing variety of plants and animals.
In fact, every major climatic condition on earth is represented on the Tibetan Plateau, from forest,
grassland, river valley and lakes to alpine tundra, all with a pristine beauty that astonishes most
Westerners.
It’s also a region crucial to the ecology of the world, holding, within its borders, the sources of the seven
largest rivers of Asia, including the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Mekong, the Indus, and the Ganges.
Together these rivers provide drinking water for 40% of the earth’s population. All of these river
systems are under development, with dams and hydroelectric projects planned or under construction.
Tibet Eco-Tours offers a chance to witness firsthand the beauty and challenges of life at the top of the
world, with amazing ten to 25-day tours of Central and Northeastern Tibet. Their packages include all
arrangements and accommodations, taking the hassle out of visiting this exotic land.
Six tours are available ranging in cost from $1,900 to $5,139 per person (not including airfare). Custom
tours are also available for individuals or groups.
• Sacred Tibet (15 days). The monasteries and sacred sites of Tibet, including the Potala Palace in Lhasa,
the Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, plus Namtso Lake and tours of the central Tibetan Plateau.
• Trekking the Back Country: Ganden to Samye Monasteries (10 days). Includes four days of hiking
Central Tibet, including a two-day hike on one of the highest trekking paths on the planet. Begins with
four days in the capital, Lhasa, touring the sites while you acclimate to the altitude.
• The Rivers: The Sources of the Indus and Brahmaputra Rivers plus Lhasa (21 days). You will hike and
camp along two of the major rivers of Asia, with the assistance of knowledgeable, local cooks and
guides.
Begins with four days in Lhasa.
• The Source of the Yellow River (21 days). A driving tour of the monasteries, nomadic areas, villages and
nature reserves of Northeast Tibet. Tour begins in Xining, in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and
includes several short hikes.
• Tibetan Wildlife (25 days). Begins with the sights of Lhasa, then moves on to camping and day-hikes in
the Changtang Nature Reserve. With luck, you will see the wild Brown Yak, Wild Kiang, Tibetan Antelope
and other native species. This tour includes an overnight trek to the Indus River source and Mt. Kailash.
Making Tibet accessible
Some people assume that you have to be in top physical condition to tour this mountainous country, but
that’s really not the case. Tibet Eco-Tours offers a variety of experiences appropriate for people of
moderate fitness levels. Most tours start with three to four days in Lhasa, where you’ll have a chance to
acclimate to higher altitudes while touring sacred and cultural landmarks, then move out into the
Tibetan highlands. Although accommodations can be rustic, you can choose a tour that’s mostly driving,
driving with day hikes, or driving with fairly rigorous overnight treks.
Each tour also offers significant interaction with Tibetan people, as well as a chance to visit Buddhist
shrines and nomadic villages and camps. The company is owned and staffed by people born in Tibet,
and all guides, cooks, drivers and providers of accommodations are Tibetan.
Your tour will benefit the Tibetan people in several ways. Ten percent of your travel fees are tax
deductible and directly support the work of the Tibetan Ecology Foundation and the Galma Lishow Art
School Foundation. Both are non-profit 501 (c) (3) organizations dedicated to preserving the Tibetan
ecology and Tibetan culture.
Tsultrim Gyatso, the company’s founder, says that “We want to show you a view of the real Tibet that
cannot be replicated in books, magazines, or on the web. In doing so, we hope to foster bonds of
friendship that last a lifetime. As you share your experiences with those you know, you will be a witness
for Tibet, increasing understanding and support of this remote and special land.”
Tsultrim Gyatso
In 1977, Tsultrim Gyatso was born in Amdo, East Tibet. From the age of nine until the age of twenty, he
was a monk in Labrang Monastery in Amdo, Gansu Province. He studied Tibetan language and
Buddhism. In his twenties he lived in Lhasa where he worked for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), KunDe
Foundation (of the U.K.), and Namchen Travel Service LTD. He first came to the United States in an
environmental exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government in 2003. In 2006 he came back to
the US and now lives in Santa Fe, “The City Different.”
In 2006 Gyatso founded the Tibetan Ecology Foundation. He realized there is very little material in
Tibetan, and he believes it is essential to provide environment materials in the Tibetan language and
promote environmental conservation in Tibet. He produced, directed, and filmed a movie about river
management in Colorado. The movie is called Blood of the Earth: Colorado River and has been
distributed throughout Tibet. Also, Gyatso believes ecotourism is one of the best ways to promote
Tibetan ecology issues.
Tsultrim Gyatso