NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY PRSRT-STD gentians and on the kora circuit at Namco lots 180 Hemenway Road • Framingham, MA 01701-2699 U.S. Postage of saxifrage and others. www.newfs.org ¥ [email protected] ¥ 508-877-7630 P AID TheTIBETAN Plateau Although the Tibet Plateau is quite high, we have Ashland, MA arranged the itinerary so that we will spend Permit No. 7 most of our time at moderate elevations. We will Western Sichuan&Tibet sleep in towns where the elevation is 11,000 to TIME VALUE 12,000 feet above sea level. During the second June 14-30, 2009 part of the program, we will travel in the Tibet Autonomous Region, spending most of our time around Lhasa (11,700 feet elevation). We anticipate that group members will be well-acclimatized. Our highest elevation overall is the pass that Dear Members & Friends: leads to Namco at 16,900 feet. Since we will cross the pass briefly in the course of a day’s The Tibetan Plateau has for centuries travel, we do not anticipate that this will present been a place of fascination for Western any altitude problems, even if it will most likely naturalists and explorers. Nowhere else in set a few personal altitude records. the world even comes close to putting so much terrain so high into the sky. Tibet is We sincerely hope that you will be able to join also home to a free-spirited pastoralist us in Tibet in 2009! Space is limited, so please people with a distinctive Tantric Buddhist let us know right away. spirituality. Expansive grasslands in the Sincerely, eastern part nurture some of the richest ITINERARY alpine plant communities in the world. Discover TIBET!... High basins further west support domestic Days 1/2 — New York to Hong Kong. Explore the Tibetan Plateau yak and timid herds of wild ungulates like Gwen Stauffer Greg Lowenberg Depart from New York’s JFK International Airport Tibetan gazelle and their predators, the Executive Director Education Director on Cathay Pacific Airways for Hong Kong, crossing from Western Sichuan to Lhasa! Tibetan wolf and snow leopard. the International Date Line en route. June 14-30, 2009 New England Wild Flower Society The Tibetan highlands—beyond the Day 3 — Chengdu. Himalaya range and west of Sichuan’s Arrive in Hong Kong this morning, and take panda country—form a resplendent tapestry a connecting flight to Chengdu. Transfer to the of rolling hills, meadows, lakes surprisingly spent between 11,000-12,000 feet. This expedition will be City Garden Hotel. Enjoy a walking tour along COSTS & CONDITIONS a tremendous experience for travelers with an appetite for large and often a sky of deep blue with endless Chengdu’s Fujiang River and welcome dinner. adventure who would enjoy a chance to explore culturally puffy clouds. Local people still accompany Tibet Trip Fee: $4,195 per person (plus air fare of approxi- and rich natural areas on the Tibetan Plateau. Please be their herds of yak, camping in traditional Days 4/5 — Chengdu to mately $1,495 + fuel surcharge + tax New York to Chengdu, flexible concerning time schedules, hotels, food, bumpy tents of canvas and felt. Birders and plant Jiuzhaigou National Park. China, round trip, and in-tour flights $495 per person). roads, and mechanical breakdowns. With this in mind, we enthusiasts tend to be well-rewarded for This morning, we will visit the giant panda will have a grand adventure of discovery. (No smoking in Questions: Please call Renée Apostolou at Betchart vehicles, during lectures, or meals, please.) their efforts. breeding center in Chengdu, one of the most Expeditions Inc., (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910. important locations for panda breeding and Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: International flights are on After an introduction to the fascinating Expedition Fee Includes: Land transport; airport Cathay Pacific Airways. Chengdu conservation in Sichuan. After lunch, we will transfers; accommodations; all meals in Sichuan and Tibet; Please phone Betchart Expeditions, city of and a visit to the giant AIR FARES ARE begin our journey with a flight to Chuanzhu tips to drivers and local guides; entrance fees; baggage (800) 252-4910 for further information. panda breeding center, we will visit China’s SUBJECT TO CHANGE. handling; leadership, administration. spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park. We in the Min Shan Mountains and visit China’s Accommodations: Are in comfortable and reasonably Expedition Fee Does Not Include: International air fare will then start our overland journey through spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park. This clean Chinese and Tibetan hotels based on twin share. (quoted separately); in-tour flights; China visa fee; gratuities the eastern part of Tibet (actually situated UNESCO World Heritage site has remarkably Expect a good bed, showers, Western style toilets, and to leaders; personal items such as laundry, phone calls, today in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, clear lakes and an excellent system of board- carefully prepared food. A couple of hotels are modest, alcoholic beverages, snacks; personal insurance; or foreign but are the best available for small towns not accustomed to Gansu and Qinghai). We will cross the Ruoergai walks and buses for exploration. Jiuzhaigou airport departure taxes. western visitors. On the overnight train to Lhasa, we will be grasslands and its extensive wetland areas, Lhasa has numerous sacred sites, each with Hotel (2 nights). What to Expect: This expedition is planned for travelers in soft sleepers, four to a compartment with share bathroom including a high elevation nature reserve that distinctive esoteric rituals, colorful iconography who would enjoy exploring the cultural heritage and natural facilities. Between hotels, some Asian toilets or bush toilets provides breeding habitat for Greylag Geese and profound spiritual significance to the Tibetan Day 6 — Ruoergai Grasslands. history of Tibet, from the grasslands of the Eastern Tibetan may be available (some “clean” and some not). Single accom- and rare Black-necked Cranes. We will also people. These include Jhorkang Temple, a This morning, we will drive from Jiuzhaigou Plateau to the Tibet heartland around Lhasa. Leading the modations are available for a supplement of $595 (no singles visit Labrang Monastery, an important center destination for pilgrims from all over Tibet, the to Ruoergai, ascending to the eastern rim of expedition will be Ted Elliman from the New England Wild are available on the train). the Tibetan Plateau and crossing an important Flower Society and an excellent guide. The group will of Tibetan Buddhist Learning, with colleges Potala, winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and Reservations, Deposits & Payments: To reserve a travel 4 to 7 hours by bus or van on each of several days. Ganden Monastery situated dramatically on watershed divide from the catchment of the place on this expedition, please mail a deposit of $500 per devoted to traditional medicine, tantric studies, On traveling days, we will take time for both planned and Yangtze to the Yellow River. This area has person with the completed reservation form to: NEWFS and Buddhist philosophy. This segment of the a ridge that overlooks the upper reaches of the spontaneous stops to walk, photograph, and talk with local Tibet Expedition, Betchart Expeditions Inc., 17050 journey culminates at the city of Xining near Lhasa Valley. astonishingly beautiful, high elevation grass- people. Walks will be at a leisurely pace suitable for Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435. land landscapes. Along the way, we will visit the discovery; binoculars are suggested. Qinghai Lake or “Koko Nor,” once an As we explore the Lhasa Valley, we will travel Balance of land fee is due 60 days before departure. small Tibetan town of Sedi and enjoy a picnic Weather is pleasant in Tibet during the summer with important landmark along the Central Asian north onto the high plateau and Namco Lake, midday temperatures in the 70s to upper 80s and some rain. Cancellations & Refunds: The initial deposit is trade routes. one of Tibet’s largest lakes situated in a basin at lunch in the alpine grasslands. Ruoergai is a refundable up to 60 days before departure less a handling Our itinerary starts in the lower eastern edge of the Tibetan From Xining, we will take the overnight train over 15,000 feet. Here the air is extraordinarily newly refurbished city—buildings are brightly Plateau where we will reach elevations of 12,500 feet. We fee of $100 per person. There is no refund after the 60-day painted, but many people on the streets are period unless your place is resold, then only the $100 per across the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa, historic clear, providing extravagant views of glaciated will acclimatize as we drive from lower to higher elevations. traditional Tibetans from the grasslands in Around Lhasa, we will stay no higher than 12,000 feet, and person handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for center of the Tibetan world and currently peaks that encircle the basin. We will see will drive over one 16,900 foot pass. Most nights will be unused meals or other expedition features. the capital of the “Tibetan Autonomous Region.” wild flowers en route, beautiful rose-colored town to shop. Sunshine Hotel at Ruoergai. NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY PRSRT-STD gentians and on the kora circuit at Namco lots 180 Hemenway Road • Framingham, MA 01701-2699 U.S. Postage of saxifrage and others. www.newfs.org ¥ [email protected] ¥ 508-877-7630 P AID TheTIBETAN Plateau Although the Tibet Plateau is quite high, we have Ashland, MA arranged the itinerary so that we will spend Permit No. 7 most of our time at moderate elevations. We will Western Sichuan&Tibet sleep in towns where the elevation is 11,000 to TIME VALUE 12,000 feet above sea level. During the second June 14-30, 2009 part of the program, we will travel in the Tibet Autonomous Region, spending most of our time around Lhasa (11,700 feet elevation). We anticipate that group members will be well-acclimatized. Our highest elevation overall is the pass that Dear Members & Friends: leads to Namco at 16,900 feet. Since we will cross the pass briefly in the course of a day’s The Tibetan Plateau has for centuries travel, we do not anticipate that this will present been a place of fascination for Western any altitude problems, even if it will most likely naturalists and explorers. Nowhere else in set a few personal altitude records. the world even comes close to putting so much terrain so high into the sky. Tibet is We sincerely hope that you will be able to join also home to a free-spirited pastoralist us in Tibet in 2009! Space is limited, so please people with a distinctive Tantric Buddhist let us know right away. spirituality. Expansive grasslands in the Sincerely, eastern part nurture some of the richest ITINERARY alpine plant communities in the world. Discover TIBET!... High basins further west support domestic Days 1/2 — New York to Hong Kong. Explore the Tibetan Plateau yak and timid herds of wild ungulates like Gwen Stauffer Greg Lowenberg Depart from New York’s JFK International Airport Tibetan gazelle and their predators, the Executive Director Education Director on Cathay Pacific Airways for Hong Kong, crossing from Western Sichuan to Lhasa! Tibetan wolf and snow leopard. the International Date Line en route. June 14-30, 2009 New England Wild Flower Society The Tibetan highlands—beyond the Day 3 — Chengdu. Himalaya range and west of Sichuan’s Arrive in Hong Kong this morning, and take panda country—form a resplendent tapestry a connecting flight to Chengdu. Transfer to the of rolling hills, meadows, lakes surprisingly spent between 11,000-12,000 feet. This expedition will be City Garden Hotel. Enjoy a walking tour along COSTS & CONDITIONS a tremendous experience for travelers with an appetite for large and often a sky of deep blue with endless Chengdu’s Fujiang River and welcome dinner. adventure who would enjoy a chance to explore culturally puffy clouds. Local people still accompany Tibet Trip Fee: $4,195 per person (plus air fare of approxi- and rich natural areas on the Tibetan Plateau. Please be their herds of yak, camping in traditional Days 4/5 — Chengdu to mately $1,495 + fuel surcharge + tax New York to Chengdu, flexible concerning time schedules, hotels, food, bumpy tents of canvas and felt. Birders and plant Jiuzhaigou National Park. China, round trip, and in-tour flights $495 per person). roads, and mechanical breakdowns. With this in mind, we enthusiasts tend to be well-rewarded for This morning, we will visit the giant panda will have a grand adventure of discovery. (No smoking in Questions: Please call Renée Apostolou at Betchart vehicles, during lectures, or meals, please.) their efforts. breeding center in Chengdu, one of the most Expeditions Inc., (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910. important locations for panda breeding and Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: International flights are on After an introduction to the fascinating Expedition Fee Includes: Land transport; airport Cathay Pacific Airways. Chengdu conservation in Sichuan. After lunch, we will transfers; accommodations; all meals in Sichuan and Tibet; Please phone Betchart Expeditions, city of and a visit to the giant AIR FARES ARE begin our journey with a flight to Chuanzhu tips to drivers and local guides; entrance fees; baggage (800) 252-4910 for further information. panda breeding center, we will visit China’s SUBJECT TO CHANGE. handling; leadership, administration. spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park. We in the Min Shan Mountains and visit China’s Accommodations: Are in comfortable and reasonably Expedition Fee Does Not Include: International air fare will then start our overland journey through spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park. This clean Chinese and Tibetan hotels based on twin share. (quoted separately); in-tour flights; China visa fee; gratuities the eastern part of Tibet (actually situated UNESCO World Heritage site has remarkably Expect a good bed, showers, Western style toilets, and to leaders; personal items such as laundry, phone calls, today in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, clear lakes and an excellent system of board- carefully prepared food. A couple of hotels are modest, alcoholic beverages, snacks; personal insurance; or foreign but are the best available for small towns not accustomed to Gansu and Qinghai). We will cross the Ruoergai walks and buses for exploration. Jiuzhaigou airport departure taxes. western visitors. On the overnight train to Lhasa, we will be grasslands and its extensive wetland areas, Lhasa has numerous sacred sites, each with Hotel (2 nights). What to Expect: This expedition is planned for travelers in soft sleepers, four to a compartment with share bathroom including a high elevation nature reserve that distinctive esoteric rituals, colorful iconography who would enjoy exploring the cultural heritage and natural facilities. Between hotels, some Asian toilets or bush toilets provides breeding habitat for Greylag Geese and profound spiritual significance to the Tibetan Day 6 — Ruoergai Grasslands. history of Tibet, from the grasslands of the Eastern Tibetan may be available (some “clean” and some not). Single accom- and rare Black-necked Cranes. We will also people. These include Jhorkang Temple, a This morning, we will drive from Jiuzhaigou Plateau to the Tibet heartland around Lhasa. Leading the modations are available for a supplement of $595 (no singles visit Labrang Monastery, an important center destination for pilgrims from all over Tibet, the to Ruoergai, ascending to the eastern rim of expedition will be Ted Elliman from the New England Wild are available on the train). the Tibetan Plateau and crossing an important Flower Society and an excellent guide. The group will of Tibetan Buddhist Learning, with colleges Potala, winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and Reservations, Deposits & Payments: To reserve a travel 4 to 7 hours by bus or van on each of several days. Ganden Monastery situated dramatically on watershed divide from the catchment of the place on this expedition, please mail a deposit of $500 per devoted to traditional medicine, tantric studies, On traveling days, we will take time for both planned and Yangtze to the Yellow River. This area has person with the completed reservation form to: NEWFS and Buddhist philosophy. This segment of the a ridge that overlooks the upper reaches of the spontaneous stops to walk, photograph, and talk with local Tibet Expedition, Betchart Expeditions Inc., 17050 journey culminates at the city of Xining near Lhasa Valley. astonishingly beautiful, high elevation grass- people. Walks will be at a leisurely pace suitable for Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435. land landscapes. Along the way, we will visit the discovery; binoculars are suggested. Qinghai Lake or “Koko Nor,” once an As we explore the Lhasa Valley, we will travel Balance of land fee is due 60 days before departure. small Tibetan town of Sedi and enjoy a picnic Weather is pleasant in Tibet during the summer with important landmark along the Central Asian north onto the high plateau and Namco Lake, midday temperatures in the 70s to upper 80s and some rain. Cancellations & Refunds: The initial deposit is trade routes. one of Tibet’s largest lakes situated in a basin at lunch in the alpine grasslands. Ruoergai is a refundable up to 60 days before departure less a handling Our itinerary starts in the lower eastern edge of the Tibetan From Xining, we will take the overnight train over 15,000 feet. Here the air is extraordinarily newly refurbished city—buildings are brightly Plateau where we will reach elevations of 12,500 feet. We fee of $100 per person. There is no refund after the 60-day painted, but many people on the streets are period unless your place is resold, then only the $100 per across the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa, historic clear, providing extravagant views of glaciated will acclimatize as we drive from lower to higher elevations. traditional Tibetans from the grasslands in Around Lhasa, we will stay no higher than 12,000 feet, and person handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for center of the Tibetan world and currently peaks that encircle the basin. We will see will drive over one 16,900 foot pass. Most nights will be unused meals or other expedition features. the capital of the “Tibetan Autonomous Region.” wild flowers en route, beautiful rose-colored town to shop. Sunshine Hotel at Ruoergai. Day 9 — Labrang & Xining. many followers fled after a failed revolt against the Today we’ll drive across high grasslands of Gansu Chinese. A widely respected figure worldwide, NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY NEW ENGLAND Province which are ecologically distinct from those he was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. We of Western Sichuan to Xining, capital city of Qinghai will return to Xining for an afternoon at leisure. Province, via the Yellow River crossing. We will Then we board the overnight train to Lhasa. pass from a predominantly Tibetan to a Muslim Accommodations in soft sleepers on the train. region as the landscape changes from grassland to Day 11 — Tibetan Plateau semi-arid steppe and arid river valley with wind to Lhasa. eroded red sandstone formations in the valley of Today we will continue our train journey across the Yellow River, and some picturesque villages. the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa. This train route was Possible afternoon walk along old canals in Xunhua recently completed—and was long sought after by on the Yellow River and beside mud-walled homes the Chinese as a way to tie Tibet more closely to of the Salar people. The Salar, unlike many of China’s China. We’ll enjoy seeing the vast landscapes and other Muslim people, trace their ancestry to the grasslands en route to Lhasa. Kyichu Hotel (5 nights). Middle East. Qinghai comprises the northeastern Day 7 — Hua Hu Lake to Hezuo. part of the Tibetan Plateau. Its capital Xining has Days 12/14 — Lhasa. Flora of Tibet Today we will traverse grasslands and small long been an important trading center where We will explore Lhasa for the next three days. mountain ranges from Ruoergai to Hezuo with two Tibetan, Chinese and Turkic cultures intermingle. Our visits will include the majestic Potala, former A June visit to Tibet offers superb opportunities to excellent stops en route. Hua Hu Lake makes up This evening, we will explore the Shuijin free winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and Norbulinka, botanize: the Greater Himalayan Region (including part of the 1670 sq km Ruoergai National Wetland market, in the vanishing remnants of the old his summer palace. There will be time in the late Tibet) supports one of the most diverse alpine Reserve, set at 3400-3700 m (11,200-12,100 feet) Muslim part of town. Qinghai Hotel. afternoon to explore Barkhor, the fascinating old floras on earth. Expansive meadows in the east provide habitat for dozens of forb species. Many of elevation. It is important breeding habitat for black- section of Lhasa, and Jorkang Temple, the ultimate Day 10 — Pari Takster. destination for pilgrims who visit Lhasa from all these will be in flower by June, and if the season is necked cranes, and many other waterfowl; the favorable, some may color the landscape. This morning we will visit the village of Pari over the Tibetan world. Depending on the lakeshore marshes are accessible by boardwalk. Takster, which was the birthplace and original Kirti Monastery and Xiannu Valley in Langmusi monastery schedules, we may visit Sera or The region we will cross is a center of diversity for home of the 14th (current) Dalai Lama. The Dalai genera such as Primula (primrose) whose globular provide good walking and a very scenic lunch stop. Drepung, important spiritual centers near Lhasa. Lama was born here in 1935 and was recognized On our third day in Lhasa Valley, we will venture clusters of flowers are borne at the end of a long This evening we will stay in Hezuo, the county as the Dalai Lama in 1940, when he was four and scape, Pedicularis (lousewort) whose intricate floral seat, in a very remote area of the Tibetan Plateau. out to Ganden Monastery set on a ridge top in the architecture probably limits pollination to certain one-half years old. He became the leader of the mountains to the east of the city. In the Lhasa valley, Shang Ba La Hotel, Hezuo. Tibetan government in exile in 1959 when he and insect species, and Mecanopsis, the renowned Day 8 — Labrang. Himalayan blue poppy. Hill slopes of the eastern #1081 Descending from the grasslands to the valleys river valleys support many Rhododendron RESERVATIONS species, with smaller often fragrant alpine of Gansu, we enter an area where Muslims and the Tibetan people still practice traditional farming methods. En route to these monasteries, we will Rhododendron in the high meadows as well. Yes! I/we want to join the Tibetan Plateau Expedition, Tibetans have lived side by side for many centuries. June 14-30, 2009, offered by New England Wild Flower Our destination today is Labrang Monastery, one have superb opportunities to see the life of the In Lhasa Valley and the surrounding mountains, landscapes are drier and rockier. We may spot tufts Society. Please reserve ______space(s). As a deposit, I/we of the largest and most important monasteries in Tibetan countryside. enclose a check for $______($500 per person) of Saussurea, known locally as “snow lotus,” and payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account. Eastern Tibet with about 600 monks. The complex Day 15 — Namco Lake. Corydalis, a colorful genus of rock gardens and includes several colleges that focus on subjects Morning drive northward out of Lhasa Valley to scree slopes. Tiny saxifrages and cushion plants Name(s) ______Age______like philosophy and Tibetan medicine. We will the high Tibetan Plateau. We will traverse extensive of Arenaria grow in the highest, windiest locales. spend the afternoon exploring the monastery grasslands along the Qinghai-Lhasa Highway, then Bring your close-up lens and be prepared for many ______Age______in the company of one of the monks. Then take cross a pass at nearly 17,000 feet to spectacular rewarding sessions on your hands and knees, Address ______a walk in the Tibetan village of Ley-de near our Namco Lake. This lake is situated at 15,500 feet sampling the Himalayan biodiversity, first hand. hotel and climb a hill by a giant thanka wall to get elevation, covers many hundreds of square miles City ______State ______Zip ______photographs of the Labrang Monastery complex. and is encircled by grasslands and the glaciated Labulang Hotel. snow mountains of the Nyenchin Tanghla. See RESPONSIBILITY Phone: Home (______) ______wild flowers at the high pass, beautiful rose-colored Work (______) ______Betchart Expeditions Inc. and the New England Wild Flower Society act only as gentians and on the kora circuit at Namco lots of agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and hotels, and exercise Saxifrage and others. En route, we will enjoy a every care possible. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, Email Address______delay, loss, accident or irregularity in connection with the services of any picnic lunch on the grasslands and may have the airplane, ship, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out the Membership–New England Wild Flower Society: ___ Yes ___ No arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or opportunity to visit a family of seasonal nomads. additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, terrorism, acts of God, or other causes beyond Accommodations Preference: Days 16/17 — Lhasa to Chengdu our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as ___ Twin ___ Single ___ Twin Share with a friend or tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right & home. to substitute another leader of similar expertise or reserve the right to cancel any ___ Twin Share assign a roommate tour prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded with Take flight to Chengdu and overnight at the City no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or ___ Nonsmoker ___ Smoker Garden Hotel. Farewell dinner in celebration of retain any person as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid Signature ______Date ______our journey. Enjoy the Sichuan Opera this evening. penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on Fly to Hong Kong and New York, arriving on the to participants. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood Signature ______Date ______same day. that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held Mail To: New England Wild Flower Society Photographs by Dennis Schmitt, Don Nelson, responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not Tibetan Plateau Expedition on board their plane or conveyance. Betchart Expeditions Inc. Chris Carpenter & Virginia Smith-Rader ©2008 Betchart Expeditions Inc. All rights reserved. 17050 Montebello Road Map by illustration by April Milne. CST# 2036304-40 Cupertino, CA 95014-5345 Day 9 — Labrang & Xining. many followers fled after a failed revolt against the Today we’ll drive across high grasslands of Gansu Chinese. A widely respected figure worldwide, NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY NEW ENGLAND Province which are ecologically distinct from those he was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. We of Western Sichuan to Xining, capital city of Qinghai will return to Xining for an afternoon at leisure. Province, via the Yellow River crossing. We will Then we board the overnight train to Lhasa. pass from a predominantly Tibetan to a Muslim Accommodations in soft sleepers on the train. region as the landscape changes from grassland to Day 11 — Tibetan Plateau semi-arid steppe and arid river valley with wind to Lhasa. eroded red sandstone formations in the valley of Today we will continue our train journey across the Yellow River, and some picturesque villages. the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa. This train route was Possible afternoon walk along old canals in Xunhua recently completed—and was long sought after by on the Yellow River and beside mud-walled homes the Chinese as a way to tie Tibet more closely to of the Salar people. The Salar, unlike many of China’s China. We’ll enjoy seeing the vast landscapes and other Muslim people, trace their ancestry to the grasslands en route to Lhasa. Kyichu Hotel (5 nights). Middle East. Qinghai comprises the northeastern Day 7 — Hua Hu Lake to Hezuo. part of the Tibetan Plateau. Its capital Xining has Days 12/14 — Lhasa. Flora of Tibet Today we will traverse grasslands and small long been an important trading center where We will explore Lhasa for the next three days. mountain ranges from Ruoergai to Hezuo with two Tibetan, Chinese and Turkic cultures intermingle. Our visits will include the majestic Potala, former A June visit to Tibet offers superb opportunities to excellent stops en route. Hua Hu Lake makes up This evening, we will explore the Shuijin free winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and Norbulinka, botanize: the Greater Himalayan Region (including part of the 1670 sq km Ruoergai National Wetland market, in the vanishing remnants of the old his summer palace. There will be time in the late Tibet) supports one of the most diverse alpine Reserve, set at 3400-3700 m (11,200-12,100 feet) Muslim part of town. Qinghai Hotel. afternoon to explore Barkhor, the fascinating old floras on earth. Expansive meadows in the east provide habitat for dozens of forb species. Many of elevation. It is important breeding habitat for black- section of Lhasa, and Jorkang Temple, the ultimate Day 10 — Pari Takster. destination for pilgrims who visit Lhasa from all these will be in flower by June, and if the season is necked cranes, and many other waterfowl; the favorable, some may color the landscape. This morning we will visit the village of Pari over the Tibetan world. Depending on the lakeshore marshes are accessible by boardwalk. Takster, which was the birthplace and original Kirti Monastery and Xiannu Valley in Langmusi monastery schedules, we may visit Sera or The region we will cross is a center of diversity for home of the 14th (current) Dalai Lama. The Dalai genera such as Primula (primrose) whose globular provide good walking and a very scenic lunch stop. Drepung, important spiritual centers near Lhasa. Lama was born here in 1935 and was recognized On our third day in Lhasa Valley, we will venture clusters of flowers are borne at the end of a long This evening we will stay in Hezuo, the county as the Dalai Lama in 1940, when he was four and scape, Pedicularis (lousewort) whose intricate floral seat, in a very remote area of the Tibetan Plateau. out to Ganden Monastery set on a ridge top in the architecture probably limits pollination to certain one-half years old. He became the leader of the mountains to the east of the city. In the Lhasa valley, Shang Ba La Hotel, Hezuo. Tibetan government in exile in 1959 when he and insect species, and Mecanopsis, the renowned Day 8 — Labrang. Himalayan blue poppy. Hill slopes of the eastern #1081 Descending from the grasslands to the valleys river valleys support many Rhododendron RESERVATIONS species, with smaller often fragrant alpine of Gansu, we enter an area where Muslims and the Tibetan people still practice traditional farming methods. En route to these monasteries, we will Rhododendron in the high meadows as well. Yes! I/we want to join the Tibetan Plateau Expedition, Tibetans have lived side by side for many centuries. June 14-30, 2009, offered by New England Wild Flower Our destination today is Labrang Monastery, one have superb opportunities to see the life of the In Lhasa Valley and the surrounding mountains, landscapes are drier and rockier. We may spot tufts Society. Please reserve ______space(s). As a deposit, I/we of the largest and most important monasteries in Tibetan countryside. enclose a check for $______($500 per person) of Saussurea, known locally as “snow lotus,” and payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account. Eastern Tibet with about 600 monks. The complex Day 15 — Namco Lake. Corydalis, a colorful genus of rock gardens and includes several colleges that focus on subjects Morning drive northward out of Lhasa Valley to scree slopes. Tiny saxifrages and cushion plants Name(s) ______Age______like philosophy and Tibetan medicine. We will the high Tibetan Plateau. We will traverse extensive of Arenaria grow in the highest, windiest locales. spend the afternoon exploring the monastery grasslands along the Qinghai-Lhasa Highway, then Bring your close-up lens and be prepared for many ______Age______in the company of one of the monks. Then take cross a pass at nearly 17,000 feet to spectacular rewarding sessions on your hands and knees, Address ______a walk in the Tibetan village of Ley-de near our Namco Lake. This lake is situated at 15,500 feet sampling the Himalayan biodiversity, first hand. hotel and climb a hill by a giant thanka wall to get elevation, covers many hundreds of square miles City ______State ______Zip ______photographs of the Labrang Monastery complex. and is encircled by grasslands and the glaciated Labulang Hotel. snow mountains of the Nyenchin Tanghla. See RESPONSIBILITY Phone: Home (______) ______wild flowers at the high pass, beautiful rose-colored Work (______) ______Betchart Expeditions Inc. and the New England Wild Flower Society act only as gentians and on the kora circuit at Namco lots of agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and hotels, and exercise Saxifrage and others. En route, we will enjoy a every care possible. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, Email Address______delay, loss, accident or irregularity in connection with the services of any picnic lunch on the grasslands and may have the airplane, ship, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out the Membership–New England Wild Flower Society: ___ Yes ___ No arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or opportunity to visit a family of seasonal nomads. additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, terrorism, acts of God, or other causes beyond Accommodations Preference: Days 16/17 — Lhasa to Chengdu our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as ___ Twin ___ Single ___ Twin Share with a friend or tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right & home. to substitute another leader of similar expertise or reserve the right to cancel any ___ Twin Share assign a roommate tour prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded with Take flight to Chengdu and overnight at the City no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or ___ Nonsmoker ___ Smoker Garden Hotel. Farewell dinner in celebration of retain any person as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid Signature ______Date ______our journey. Enjoy the Sichuan Opera this evening. penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on Fly to Hong Kong and New York, arriving on the to participants. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood Signature ______Date ______same day. that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held Mail To: New England Wild Flower Society Photographs by Dennis Schmitt, Don Nelson, responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not Tibetan Plateau Expedition on board their plane or conveyance. Betchart Expeditions Inc. Chris Carpenter & Virginia Smith-Rader ©2008 Betchart Expeditions Inc. All rights reserved. 17050 Montebello Road Map by illustration by April Milne. CST# 2036304-40 Cupertino, CA 95014-5345 NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY PRSRT-STD gentians and on the kora circuit at Namco lots 180 Hemenway Road • Framingham, MA 01701-2699 U.S. Postage of saxifrage and others. www.newfs.org ¥ [email protected] ¥ 508-877-7630 P AID TheTIBETAN Plateau Although the Tibet Plateau is quite high, we have Ashland, MA arranged the itinerary so that we will spend Permit No. 7 most of our time at moderate elevations. We will Western Sichuan&Tibet sleep in towns where the elevation is 11,000 to TIME VALUE 12,000 feet above sea level. During the second June 14-30, 2009 part of the program, we will travel in the Tibet Autonomous Region, spending most of our time around Lhasa (11,700 feet elevation). We anticipate that group members will be well-acclimatized. Our highest elevation overall is the pass that Dear Members & Friends: leads to Namco at 16,900 feet. Since we will cross the pass briefly in the course of a day’s The Tibetan Plateau has for centuries travel, we do not anticipate that this will present been a place of fascination for Western any altitude problems, even if it will most likely naturalists and explorers. Nowhere else in set a few personal altitude records. the world even comes close to putting so much terrain so high into the sky. Tibet is We sincerely hope that you will be able to join also home to a free-spirited pastoralist us in Tibet in 2009! Space is limited, so please people with a distinctive Tantric Buddhist let us know right away. spirituality. Expansive grasslands in the Sincerely, eastern part nurture some of the richest ITINERARY alpine plant communities in the world. Discover TIBET!... High basins further west support domestic Days 1/2 — New York to Hong Kong. Explore the Tibetan Plateau yak and timid herds of wild ungulates like Gwen Stauffer Greg Lowenberg Depart from New York’s JFK International Airport Tibetan gazelle and their predators, the Executive Director Education Director on Cathay Pacific Airways for Hong Kong, crossing from Western Sichuan to Lhasa! Tibetan wolf and snow leopard. the International Date Line en route. June 14-30, 2009 New England Wild Flower Society The Tibetan highlands—beyond the Day 3 — Chengdu. Himalaya range and west of Sichuan’s Arrive in Hong Kong this morning, and take panda country—form a resplendent tapestry a connecting flight to Chengdu. Transfer to the of rolling hills, meadows, lakes surprisingly spent between 11,000-12,000 feet. This expedition will be City Garden Hotel. Enjoy a walking tour along COSTS & CONDITIONS a tremendous experience for travelers with an appetite for large and often a sky of deep blue with endless Chengdu’s Fujiang River and welcome dinner. adventure who would enjoy a chance to explore culturally puffy clouds. Local people still accompany Tibet Trip Fee: $4,195 per person (plus air fare of approxi- and rich natural areas on the Tibetan Plateau. Please be their herds of yak, camping in traditional Days 4/5 — Chengdu to mately $1,495 + fuel surcharge + tax New York to Chengdu, flexible concerning time schedules, hotels, food, bumpy tents of canvas and felt. Birders and plant Jiuzhaigou National Park. China, round trip, and in-tour flights $495 per person). roads, and mechanical breakdowns. With this in mind, we enthusiasts tend to be well-rewarded for This morning, we will visit the giant panda will have a grand adventure of discovery. (No smoking in Questions: Please call Renée Apostolou at Betchart vehicles, during lectures, or meals, please.) their efforts. breeding center in Chengdu, one of the most Expeditions Inc., (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910. important locations for panda breeding and Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: International flights are on After an introduction to the fascinating Expedition Fee Includes: Land transport; airport Cathay Pacific Airways. Chengdu conservation in Sichuan. After lunch, we will transfers; accommodations; all meals in Sichuan and Tibet; Please phone Betchart Expeditions, city of and a visit to the giant AIR FARES ARE begin our journey with a flight to Chuanzhu tips to drivers and local guides; entrance fees; baggage (800) 252-4910 for further information. panda breeding center, we will visit China’s SUBJECT TO CHANGE. handling; leadership, administration. spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park. We in the Min Shan Mountains and visit China’s Accommodations: Are in comfortable and reasonably Expedition Fee Does Not Include: International air fare will then start our overland journey through spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park. This clean Chinese and Tibetan hotels based on twin share. (quoted separately); in-tour flights; China visa fee; gratuities the eastern part of Tibet (actually situated UNESCO World Heritage site has remarkably Expect a good bed, showers, Western style toilets, and to leaders; personal items such as laundry, phone calls, today in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, clear lakes and an excellent system of board- carefully prepared food. A couple of hotels are modest, alcoholic beverages, snacks; personal insurance; or foreign but are the best available for small towns not accustomed to Gansu and Qinghai). We will cross the Ruoergai walks and buses for exploration. Jiuzhaigou airport departure taxes. western visitors. On the overnight train to Lhasa, we will be grasslands and its extensive wetland areas, Lhasa has numerous sacred sites, each with Hotel (2 nights). What to Expect: This expedition is planned for travelers in soft sleepers, four to a compartment with share bathroom including a high elevation nature reserve that distinctive esoteric rituals, colorful iconography who would enjoy exploring the cultural heritage and natural facilities. Between hotels, some Asian toilets or bush toilets provides breeding habitat for Greylag Geese and profound spiritual significance to the Tibetan Day 6 — Ruoergai Grasslands. history of Tibet, from the grasslands of the Eastern Tibetan may be available (some “clean” and some not). Single accom- and rare Black-necked Cranes. We will also people. These include Jhorkang Temple, a This morning, we will drive from Jiuzhaigou Plateau to the Tibet heartland around Lhasa. Leading the modations are available for a supplement of $595 (no singles visit Labrang Monastery, an important center destination for pilgrims from all over Tibet, the to Ruoergai, ascending to the eastern rim of expedition will be Ted Elliman from the New England Wild are available on the train). the Tibetan Plateau and crossing an important Flower Society and an excellent guide. The group will of Tibetan Buddhist Learning, with colleges Potala, winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and Reservations, Deposits & Payments: To reserve a travel 4 to 7 hours by bus or van on each of several days. Ganden Monastery situated dramatically on watershed divide from the catchment of the place on this expedition, please mail a deposit of $500 per devoted to traditional medicine, tantric studies, On traveling days, we will take time for both planned and Yangtze to the Yellow River. This area has person with the completed reservation form to: NEWFS and Buddhist philosophy. This segment of the a ridge that overlooks the upper reaches of the spontaneous stops to walk, photograph, and talk with local Tibet Expedition, Betchart Expeditions Inc., 17050 journey culminates at the city of Xining near Lhasa Valley. astonishingly beautiful, high elevation grass- people. Walks will be at a leisurely pace suitable for Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435. land landscapes. Along the way, we will visit the discovery; binoculars are suggested. Qinghai Lake or “Koko Nor,” once an As we explore the Lhasa Valley, we will travel Balance of land fee is due 60 days before departure. small Tibetan town of Sedi and enjoy a picnic Weather is pleasant in Tibet during the summer with important landmark along the Central Asian north onto the high plateau and Namco Lake, midday temperatures in the 70s to upper 80s and some rain. Cancellations & Refunds: The initial deposit is trade routes. one of Tibet’s largest lakes situated in a basin at lunch in the alpine grasslands. Ruoergai is a refundable up to 60 days before departure less a handling Our itinerary starts in the lower eastern edge of the Tibetan From Xining, we will take the overnight train over 15,000 feet. Here the air is extraordinarily newly refurbished city—buildings are brightly Plateau where we will reach elevations of 12,500 feet. We fee of $100 per person. There is no refund after the 60-day painted, but many people on the streets are period unless your place is resold, then only the $100 per across the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa, historic clear, providing extravagant views of glaciated will acclimatize as we drive from lower to higher elevations. traditional Tibetans from the grasslands in Around Lhasa, we will stay no higher than 12,000 feet, and person handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for center of the Tibetan world and currently peaks that encircle the basin. We will see will drive over one 16,900 foot pass. Most nights will be unused meals or other expedition features. the capital of the “Tibetan Autonomous Region.” wild flowers en route, beautiful rose-colored town to shop. Sunshine Hotel at Ruoergai. Day 9 — Labrang & Xining. many followers fled after a failed revolt against the Today we’ll drive across high grasslands of Gansu Chinese. A widely respected figure worldwide, NEW ENGLAND WILD FLOWER SOCIETY NEW ENGLAND Province which are ecologically distinct from those he was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. We of Western Sichuan to Xining, capital city of Qinghai will return to Xining for an afternoon at leisure. Province, via the Yellow River crossing. We will Then we board the overnight train to Lhasa. pass from a predominantly Tibetan to a Muslim Accommodations in soft sleepers on the train. region as the landscape changes from grassland to Day 11 — Tibetan Plateau semi-arid steppe and arid river valley with wind to Lhasa. eroded red sandstone formations in the valley of Today we will continue our train journey across the Yellow River, and some picturesque villages. the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa. This train route was Possible afternoon walk along old canals in Xunhua recently completed—and was long sought after by on the Yellow River and beside mud-walled homes the Chinese as a way to tie Tibet more closely to of the Salar people. The Salar, unlike many of China’s China. We’ll enjoy seeing the vast landscapes and other Muslim people, trace their ancestry to the grasslands en route to Lhasa. Kyichu Hotel (5 nights). Middle East. Qinghai comprises the northeastern Day 7 — Hua Hu Lake to Hezuo. part of the Tibetan Plateau. Its capital Xining has Days 12/14 — Lhasa. Flora of Tibet Today we will traverse grasslands and small long been an important trading center where We will explore Lhasa for the next three days. mountain ranges from Ruoergai to Hezuo with two Tibetan, Chinese and Turkic cultures intermingle. Our visits will include the majestic Potala, former A June visit to Tibet offers superb opportunities to excellent stops en route. Hua Hu Lake makes up This evening, we will explore the Shuijin free winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and Norbulinka, botanize: the Greater Himalayan Region (including part of the 1670 sq km Ruoergai National Wetland market, in the vanishing remnants of the old his summer palace. There will be time in the late Tibet) supports one of the most diverse alpine Reserve, set at 3400-3700 m (11,200-12,100 feet) Muslim part of town. Qinghai Hotel. afternoon to explore Barkhor, the fascinating old floras on earth. Expansive meadows in the east provide habitat for dozens of forb species. Many of elevation. It is important breeding habitat for black- section of Lhasa, and Jorkang Temple, the ultimate Day 10 — Pari Takster. destination for pilgrims who visit Lhasa from all these will be in flower by June, and if the season is necked cranes, and many other waterfowl; the favorable, some may color the landscape. This morning we will visit the village of Pari over the Tibetan world. Depending on the lakeshore marshes are accessible by boardwalk. Takster, which was the birthplace and original Kirti Monastery and Xiannu Valley in Langmusi monastery schedules, we may visit Sera or The region we will cross is a center of diversity for home of the 14th (current) Dalai Lama. The Dalai genera such as Primula (primrose) whose globular provide good walking and a very scenic lunch stop. Drepung, important spiritual centers near Lhasa. Lama was born here in 1935 and was recognized On our third day in Lhasa Valley, we will venture clusters of flowers are borne at the end of a long This evening we will stay in Hezuo, the county as the Dalai Lama in 1940, when he was four and scape, Pedicularis (lousewort) whose intricate floral seat, in a very remote area of the Tibetan Plateau. out to Ganden Monastery set on a ridge top in the architecture probably limits pollination to certain one-half years old. He became the leader of the mountains to the east of the city. In the Lhasa valley, Shang Ba La Hotel, Hezuo. Tibetan government in exile in 1959 when he and insect species, and Mecanopsis, the renowned Day 8 — Labrang. Himalayan blue poppy. Hill slopes of the eastern #1081 Descending from the grasslands to the valleys river valleys support many Rhododendron RESERVATIONS species, with smaller often fragrant alpine of Gansu, we enter an area where Muslims and the Tibetan people still practice traditional farming methods. En route to these monasteries, we will Rhododendron in the high meadows as well. Yes! I/we want to join the Tibetan Plateau Expedition, Tibetans have lived side by side for many centuries. June 14-30, 2009, offered by New England Wild Flower Our destination today is Labrang Monastery, one have superb opportunities to see the life of the In Lhasa Valley and the surrounding mountains, landscapes are drier and rockier. We may spot tufts Society. Please reserve ______space(s). As a deposit, I/we of the largest and most important monasteries in Tibetan countryside. enclose a check for $______($500 per person) of Saussurea, known locally as “snow lotus,” and payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account. Eastern Tibet with about 600 monks. The complex Day 15 — Namco Lake. Corydalis, a colorful genus of rock gardens and includes several colleges that focus on subjects Morning drive northward out of Lhasa Valley to scree slopes. Tiny saxifrages and cushion plants Name(s) ______Age______like philosophy and Tibetan medicine. We will the high Tibetan Plateau. We will traverse extensive of Arenaria grow in the highest, windiest locales. spend the afternoon exploring the monastery grasslands along the Qinghai-Lhasa Highway, then Bring your close-up lens and be prepared for many ______Age______in the company of one of the monks. Then take cross a pass at nearly 17,000 feet to spectacular rewarding sessions on your hands and knees, Address ______a walk in the Tibetan village of Ley-de near our Namco Lake. This lake is situated at 15,500 feet sampling the Himalayan biodiversity, first hand. hotel and climb a hill by a giant thanka wall to get elevation, covers many hundreds of square miles City ______State ______Zip ______photographs of the Labrang Monastery complex. and is encircled by grasslands and the glaciated Labulang Hotel. snow mountains of the Nyenchin Tanghla. See RESPONSIBILITY Phone: Home (______) ______wild flowers at the high pass, beautiful rose-colored Work (______) ______Betchart Expeditions Inc. and the New England Wild Flower Society act only as gentians and on the kora circuit at Namco lots of agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and hotels, and exercise Saxifrage and others. En route, we will enjoy a every care possible. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, Email Address______delay, loss, accident or irregularity in connection with the services of any picnic lunch on the grasslands and may have the airplane, ship, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out the Membership–New England Wild Flower Society: ___ Yes ___ No arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or opportunity to visit a family of seasonal nomads. additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, terrorism, acts of God, or other causes beyond Accommodations Preference: Days 16/17 — Lhasa to Chengdu our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as ___ Twin ___ Single ___ Twin Share with a friend or tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right & home. to substitute another leader of similar expertise or reserve the right to cancel any ___ Twin Share assign a roommate tour prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded with Take flight to Chengdu and overnight at the City no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or ___ Nonsmoker ___ Smoker Garden Hotel. Farewell dinner in celebration of retain any person as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid Signature ______Date ______our journey. Enjoy the Sichuan Opera this evening. penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on Fly to Hong Kong and New York, arriving on the to participants. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood Signature ______Date ______same day. that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held Mail To: New England Wild Flower Society Photographs by Dennis Schmitt, Don Nelson, responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not Tibetan Plateau Expedition on board their plane or conveyance. Betchart Expeditions Inc. Chris Carpenter & Virginia Smith-Rader ©2008 Betchart Expeditions Inc. All rights reserved. 17050 Montebello Road Map by illustration by April Milne. CST# 2036304-40 Cupertino, CA 95014-5345