World Weavers in partnership with Spiti Ecosphere is thrilled to bring you the ground-breaking Monk for a Month - Tibetan Tradition, 22-day spiritual adventure.

2018 dates are now ready to book, get in quick to avoid missing out! Dates: 27th May - 17th June & 22nd June - 13th July

Spiti Ecoshpere is an award winning social enterprise that has been operating responsible travel and community-based tourism in the majestic Spiti Valley since 2004. The area itself is located in the north eastern part of India, high in the Himalayan mountains on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. A distinctively Buddhist region, Spiti Valley is one of the least-populated areas in India. The culture is predominantly Tibetan making Spiti Valley an important preservation area for Tibetan Buddhism.

The program schedule begins in the Tibetan quarter of Delhi before we wind our way up deep into the Himalayas and the hidden vistas of Spiti Valley. The heart of the program is the contemplative experience of living in a traditional Tibetan monastery high in the breath-taking mountains. During the 7-8 days in the monastery you will learn about Buddhism from the source while practising the path and having a living-experience of daily life of Tibetan Monk and Nuns.

The program concludes with a very special 2-day pilgrimage to Dharamsala, the seat of the Dalai Lama. Our program guests are afforded a privileged insiders perspective to the many spiritual treasures in the "heart" of Tibetan Vajrayāna Buddhism.

Programs run only between May and September and places are limited to 8 persons per group. Bookings can only be secured by payment in advance and places will be allocated on a first in, first served basis.

Ugyen Sanag Choling is a big monastery with 60 monks. The main monastery building is new, and gives many modern facilities like water toilets. Life in the monastery is simple and basic and while it is easy for a westerner to live there it will be quite different from the facilities one is used to back home. The monastery is quite active with visiting teachers and a highly realized Rinpoche that lives at the monastery.

You will experience the buzz of a bigger monastery here - in this little society, there is always something to do - food to be cooked, places to be cleaned, things to be prepared. There are also very young monks, something that creates life every day.  The monks are very friendly, and a few of them are average English speakers. If you open up, they will be very willing to talk, tell and listen.

Features:

• Simple monastery rooms.
• Non-attached toilet and bathing facilities.
• A great Rinpoche, who is quite easy to access.
• A very good teacher fairly proficient in English and easily accessible.
• Daily busses to/from Kaza.

Program Includes:

• All accommodation starting day 1 in Delhi till day 22 in Delhi
• Meals – Day 8 dinner to Day 17 lunch (packed)
• Transfers – All transfers starting with pick up from airport on Day 1 to drop to Delhi on Day 22 (airport drop not included)
• Lifestraw bottle for all your drinking water requirements in Spiti and to take back with you
• Reading material
• Monastery Fees in Spiti and Inner line permit 
• Guide and translator during most sessions 
• Lectures and instruction on Vajrayāna Buddhism
• Further talks on Buddhism and Spiti Valley, Talks with Monks, Talks with The Nono and talks at the Kungri monastery including lessons on Mandala and Torma making, conducting of the Nuangnay fasting and silence and more.
• Day Hikes
• Visits to other monasteries and villages in Spiti.
• Special sessions with Ecosphere on development and conservation issues and solutions in the region.
  
  

Secure your place with a 20% Deposit on Checkout.

• Inner Line Permit (in the event that group has to be routed through Shimla instead of Manali - based on opening of the passes from manali)
• Mineral water
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Any additional expenses arising out of unforeseen circumstances
• Some activities may entail an additional charge (see itinerary description).

Secure your place with a 20% Deposit on Checkout.