Overview: These popular annual pilgrimages to the sacred Buddhist sites of Nepal, Tibet and India are led by experienced Western Dharma teachers following the advice of Ven. Robina Courtin and Lama Zopa Rinpoche concerning the practices to be done on pilgrimage. These pilgrimages include daily Dharma teachings and group meditation sessions. There will also be local English speaking guides accompanying and assisting group members throughout the journey.

The Pilgrimage begins in Kathmandu with a week-long meditation retreat at Kopan Monastery. We visit nearby spiritual icons such as Bodhanath and Swambhunath Stupas. In India we see the places of Buddha's birth (Lumbini), death (Kushingar), enlightenment (Bodhgaya), and first sermon (Sarnath). In Tibet, we travel from Lhasa visiting a host of sacred sites such as Jokang Temple, Tashilunpo Monastery and much more.

 Leader for Dharma Journeys Tibet: Jimi 'Jigme' Neal
grew up and studied near Seattle, USA. On his second journey to India and Nepal in 1974, he met Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Jimi was an ordained monk from 1980 to 1995 and in 1981 he was one of the founding monks at France's Nalanda Monastery. He has taken many teachings, initiations and commentaries in Sutra and Tantra from various lamas and has completed several retreats. He has led retreats and has taught the Dharma in India, Nepal, America, France and Spain. Jimi has lived in India for most of his adult life and speaks Hindi and Tibetan. He has traveled previously to Tibet on pilgrimage to holy Mt. Kailas.

In addition to extensive worldwide study and practice, Jimi has studied at Manjushri Institute and Nalanda Monastery (where he resided over 10 years). He served as director of Tushita Meditation Center from 1996–1998 and continues to teach western students in the
United States, India, Israel and Europe.

 Leader for Dharma Journeys India: Jon Landaw, author of Buddhism for Dummies, was born in New Jersey in 1944. From 1972 to 1977 Jon worked as an English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. Jon produced many texts while under the guidance of
Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey.

Since 1973, as a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Jon has edited numerous works for Wisdom Publications, including Wisdom Energy and Introduction to Tantra. He is also the author of Prince Siddhartha, a biography of Buddha for children, and Images of Enlightenment, published by Snow Lion in 1993.

As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. He currently lives in Capitola, California, USA with his wife and three children, and leads the Discovering Buddhism courses at Land of Medicine Buddha.

Detailed Administrative Information For Each Pilgrimage...
Tibet Pilgrimage First, Then India Pilgrimage Follows

Dharma Journeys Tibet Pilgrimage • Administrative Details:

(+) Land Cost (land cost as itinerary has described):

$4500USD

(+) In-Trip Airfare Estimate (air during itinerary program):

+  $900USD

(=) Total Program Cost (Land & In-Trip Air costs combined):

=  $5400USD *

* Minimum Group Size & Surcharge:

Pilgrimage costs are based on a typical group size of at least 20 participants. Should this trip be undersubscribed, a surcharge of $400-200USD per person will apply. This surcharge will be added
upon registration and will be removed or reduced when/if the threshold of 20-15 participants is reached. A minimum of 10 participants are necessary to operate this pilgrimage.

Trip Deposit (submit with application):

$500USD

Single Supplement (optional single accommodation):

$800USD (optional)

Maximum Group Size:

Thirty Participants

Other Cost & Need Considerations:

Passport, Visa(s), Physicians Visit, Emergency Medical & Evacuation Insurance, Travel to/from Kathmandu, Meals Beyond Above Itinerary, Beverages, Spending/Personal Money.

Trip Activity–Level:

Mild: Accommodations are most often in comfortable guest houses and four–star hotels. Activities are usually mild and can include day hikes of less than four hours in length. Vehicle time can include fatigue with long travel along rough roads.

Registration Deadline:

March 18, 2012 ($100USD late fee thereafter)

The Dharma Journeys Nepal & Tibet Pilgrimage
Printable Itinerary:

The Dharma Journeys Nepal & Tibet Pilgrimage
(*Available 2012)

Pilgrimage Application:

The Dharma Journeys Nepal & Tibet Pilgrimage Application

Need More Information? Email Us, we're nice:

Himalayan High Treks Email

Dharma Journeys India Pilgrimage • Administrative Details:

(+) Land Cost (land cost as itinerary has described):

$TBD*/USD

(+) In-Trip Airfare Estimate (air during itinerary program):

+  $100USD

(=) Total Program Cost (Land & In-Trip Air costs combined):

=  $TBD/USD *

* Minimum Group Size & Surcharge:

Pilgrimage costs are based on a typical group size of at least 20 participants. Should this trip be undersubscribed, a surcharge of $200USD per person will apply. This surcharge will be added
upon registration and will be removed once/if the threshold of
20 participants is reached. A minimum of 10 participants
are necessary to operate this pilgrimage.

Trip Deposit (submit with application):

$500USD

Single Supplement (optional single accommodation):

$600USD (optional)

Maximum Group Size:

Thirty Participants

Other Cost & Need Considerations:

Passport, Visa(s), Physicians Visit, Emergency Medical & Evacuation Insurance, Travel to/from Kathmandu (Nepal), Meals Beyond Above Itinerary, Beverages, Spending/Personal Money.

Trip Activity–Level:

Mild: Accommodations are most often in comfortable guest houses and four–star hotels. Activities are usually mild and can include day hikes of less than four hours in length. Vehicle time can include fatigue with long travel along rough roads.

Registration Deadline:

TBD*, 2012 ($100USD late fee thereafter)

The Dharma Journeys Nepal & India Pilgrimage
Printable Itinerary:

The Dharma Journeys Nepal & India Pilgrimage
(*Available 2012)

Pilgrimage Application:

The Dharma Journeys Nepal & India Pilgrimage Application

Need More Information? Email Us, we're nice:

Himalayan High Treks Email