How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader was the best!  His knowledge of Chinese and Tibetan culture (having lived in China for 11 years) was so comprehensive, and we ate our way through the various regions, sampling so many different types of food that was typical of the areas we travelled through.  We intereacted with the local people, with our leader helping us not to commit any cultural faux-pas along the way, which included a game of football with some monks from Labrang monastery - a score of 1-1 ensured that we all walked away with no-one losing face.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go with an open mind and a willingness to learn about the peoples of the regions.  

It had been a surreal experience to be standing in a railway carriage and watching the altitude meter rising to a height higher than most of the mountains in Europe. And glancing from the spacious windows of the train to see a lone Yak surveying the vast rolling tundra of the Tibetan Plateau was another.     This was the third and final leg in a series of train journeys, travelling most of the way from Beijing to Lhasa; a journey of ever changing scenery and encounters with the diverse groups of indigenous people who inhabit this vast country.  What delights we had experienced along the way so far. Marvelling at the Forbidden City in Beijing, hiking along the Great Wall, travelling on a speed boat to see a twenty seven meter high statue of Buddha at Bingling Si, cycling along the ancient walls of Xian, and watching animated clapping monks as they debated points of Bhuddist Philosophy Labrung Monastery were just a few.    I was to discover this was just a prelude to the joys of Lhasa. From the hotel we had views across to the rooftops to the Potala. One could literally step out from the front door and join the many pilgrims, spinning their prayer wheels as they perambulated the kora route around the magnificent Jokang Temple.   Further out from the city we followed the beautiful Lhasa River, flanked by towering mountains, banks lined with golden tress in the early autumn clear air to reach the imposing Ganden monastery.  Traversing the high kora, lined with fluttering prayer flags, we were treated to expansive views across the valley below.    What an incredible journey this had been.(RTB -9th September 2010)