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Inter-Cultural Arts Exchange

GROUP TOURS

Our groups are small, often only 6-8-10 people who are experienced travelers with similar interests.

Burma: Art & Culture: January 19-30;
Extension to Tribal Villages January 31-February 4, 2007
Explore the spectacular art, architecture, Buddhist culture of ancient cities and tribal villages on this insightful journey. Escorted by Daw Khin Myo Lwin (we call her Rosie). Detailed Itinerary

Arabian Peninsula: United Arab Emeritus, Yemen, Oman: February 3-18
& November 30-December 16, 2007
We will start with arrival in United Arab Emirates UAE) where we will spend two days touring and enjoying the natural beauty of the coast and beaches. From here we fly to Oman and then to Yemen. You may join us for Oman or Yemen separately. If time and interest allow, continue on with us to Ethiopia.! Detailed Itinerary

Viêt Nam North to South: Cultural & Historic Highlights: March 11-25 & October 28-Nov 12, 2007
From north of Hanoi to Saigon, explore tribal villages, historic monuments, art, architecture, ancient ruins and life on the Mekong Delta. This comfortable journey covers all the highlights of an extensive tour in only 15 days. If you have more time, add a tour to Cambodia and or Laos. Please inquire for details! Tour Highlights - Detailed Itinerary

China: Yunnan and Guizhou - April 29-May 13 coincides with SistersÕ Rice Festival
Tour Highlights/Detailed Itinerary
Attend the Miao "Sisters' Rice Festival" - a celebration of spring and of love. Dressed in finest embroidered and appliqued clothing, adorned in all their freshly shined silver jewelry, young women set out to attract a suitable mate. Festival days are filled with dancing, singing, eating, drinking lots of rice wine, watching bull fights and cockfights, and horse racing. We will explore the beauty anfd culture of the Guizhou and Yunnan countryside including Lijiang, Kumning and Lugu Lake.

Sri Lanka Sinhalese New Year Celebrations April 11-22 Detailed Itinerary
Celebrate Hindu and Sinhalese New Year with the locals, explore a rich culture of quaint villages, preserved ruins and modern cities, and enjoy the scenic and diverse geography

Tibet: Everest Base Camp Guaranteed Departures

Tibet/China: Saga Dawa: Celebrate Buddha's birth in one of the most important places
Tour Highlights
Pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash Detailed Itineray May 13-June 10
Celebrate the birth of Buddha in one of the most important places in Tibet: holy Mt Kailash. We start with arrival in Kathmandu or Chengdu, China and on to Lhasa, ending in Kathmandu. "Pilgrimage to Kailash" is an adventurous journey through Tibet Autonomous Region and includes a 3 day trek to circumambulate the sacred mountain with the pilgrims. You will celebrate Saga Dawa day at the gateway village of Darchen with special ceremonies. If you do not wish to partake in the trek, you can elect to stay at a guesthouse in darchen and a guide will be available to you for exploring the local activities in the area.

Sri Lanka Kandy Festival: August 2007 dates to be announced Detailed Itinerary
Join us for the annual Buddhist festival, famous throughout South Asia for its dancers and elephants adorned with embroidered cloths. The Perehera celebrates the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, said to have been brought to the island more than 2,000 years ago in the hair of a princess. It is now housed in the Temple of the Tooth - Kandy's most famous building. A replica of this tooth is carried in a golden casket at the head of each night's procession, on top of a large tusked elephant covered in bright cloths lined with tiny lights. The original tooth is considered too precious to be allowed to leave the temple precincts.

Mongolia: Nadaam Festival July 9-23 Detailed Itinerary
We immerse ourselves right from the start with attendance at the famed Nadaam Festival and its competitions of nomadic skills. Experience nomadic lifestyle and learn about Buddhist heritage as we travel to visit monasteries and nomadic camps in the countryside as well as explore the Gobi Desert,

Bhutan: Paro Festival, with Sikkim and Darjeeling -March 25-April 8, 2007
Extention to Tibet April 8-17
Explore Bhutan during the colorful festival season. Tsechus, religious festivals that depict Buddhist teachings, are held every year in all districts. Masked dances are performed to instruct the onlookers in the ways of dharma. We offer a spring tour to the Paro Festival which includes Darjeeling & Sikkim with an extension to Tibet; and a fall tour which includes three frestivals in Bhutan.
16 people max. Trip Highlights - Detailed Itinerary: Paro Festival

Bhutan: Thimpu Festival Tour Sep 17-30, 2007
Tour Highlights - Detailed Itinerary
This very special small group tour coincides with the Thimphu Tsechu, considered the grandest festival in Bhutan, and will have a focus on tradtional arts of Bhutan which play such an important role in spiritual life there. Group members have an opportunity to study either traditional painting or pottery with a master teacher for three half days at the famed School of Traditional Arts in Thimphu in addition to attending the festival, visiting monasteries and small villages, and enjoying the breath-taking Himalayas. This tour exits east in Assam so we will get to visit some of the most remote and as yet unvisited parts of Bhutan.

Burma: Art & Culture-Phaung Daw U Festival: Sept-Oct dates TBA
Includes the ceremonial Phaung Daw U Festival (Pagoda Festival) in Inle Lake. Explore Buddhist culture of ancient cities and tribal villages on this insightful journey. Escorted by Daw Khin Myo Lwin (we call her Rosie). Detailed Itinerary

Bali: Yoga, Sacred Sites and Time to Reflect: October 4-16 Highlight is attending the October full moon temple ceremonies. This tour offers diversity of bali's regions south, central, north and east including: beaches, mountains, lake, volcano, hot springs, green lush oasis', small villages as well as the cultural towns of Ubud and Depensar.Activities include: visits to beautiful sacred temples, snorkling, (dive packages also available), hiking, attending dance perfeormances and unscheduled rituals and traditions such as Odalam (temple's birthday) and cremation ceremonies. There will be plenty of time to be with oneself or join with others for activities. Yoga is offered but not required. Highlights, Detailed Itinerary

Please visit the site often as the site continues to build with new programs and valuable travel information added almost daily.

Also visit Spirit of India for travel to India and Original World Journeys for unique cultural experiences all over the world.

Click Here for a master list of all group tours offered to Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.

(888) 367-6147 - Intl (415) 381-5861
P.O. Box 446 Mill Valley, CA 94941

all text & photos © 1997-02, Barbara Sansone