John Vincent Bellezza is a visiting scholar at the University of Virginia where he specializes in the pre-Buddhist phase of Tibetan civilization. Bellezza, a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies and Explorer's Club, has spent 25 years exploring the most remote parts of the Great Western Himalaya and Tibet. His latest book, Zhang Zhung: Foundations of Civilization in Tibet" (Austrian Academy of Sciences, 842 pp.), provides comprehensive treatment of the pre-Buddhist civilization he discovered single-handedly. No ordinary academic, John is a great story teller and entertainer, skills he developed during his long years of wandering around the Himalaya. John is one of the 120 outstanding individuals in Jason Schoonover's "Adventurous Dreams, Adventurous Lives".

This is an unique opportunity to see Tibetan civilization in all its splendor with John Vincent Bellezza, one of the world's leading authorities. From Buddhist monasteries to Eurasian animal art, this journey reveals Tibet in all her depth. John, an affable, sensitive and highly experienced expeditionary and tour leader, will guide a select group of people to Tibet's rarest cultural treasures. John, who has spent a quarter of a century intensively exploring the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau, will share some of his most brilliant discoveries with us for the very first time.

This is an unparalleled view of Tibet, providing extraordinary insights into the culture and people of this charmed land. In addition, to visiting the great heritage sites, there will be plenty of time to get to know the Tibetans and enjoy their fun-loving spirit. John, who is fluent in various Tibetan dialects, encourages his fellow travelers to intensively interact with the Tibetans and ask those questions one has stored up for years. And what better way to get answers than to ask the people themselves.

The journey begins in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and the heart of the Himalaya. With John, we will spend two days exploring special cultural sites in the Kathmandu valley. At Changu Narayan, Swayambunath and the old city state of Bhaktapur, witness how Himalayan civilization took root and grew layer by layer into its present form. In addition to visiting well known Hindu and Buddhist places, John will lead us to hardly-known Iron Age sites, where we can appreciate the links between the Newar and Tibetan cultures before the rise of Sanskrit influences. We will have plenty of time to chat with the experts and ordinary people of all persuasions.

After three days we fly to Lhasa, Tibet's famous capital. We will visit a rich array of cultural and archaeological treasures throughout the area. John will lead us to spectacular places such as the Potala and Jokhang, revealing their most ancient aspects. There will also be time to explore fascinating pilgrimage sites on the edge of the Lhasa valley. En route to Shigatse, Tibet's second city, we will stop at the most important monasteries of the Bon religion. While there are many superficial similarities, through art, design and literature, John will show us how Bon and Buddhism differ from one another.

In Shigatse we will have time to see the city's greatest spectacles, gaining a deeper appreciation of the depth and breadth of Tibetan civilization. From Shigatse we will head north through the majestic Transhimalaya range. In the Shang valley we will pass a string of Buddhist centers and natural power sites. At Sokpo see one of the region's greatest cave hermitages and have a chance to talk to the inhabitants. 

Above Sokpo, we traverse the Transhimalaya and enter the vast plains of the Changthang, Tibet's empty northern quarter. Yet, it is not as empty as it first seems. Hidden away in sheltered valleys and on escarpments are the remnants of the early inhabitants of the region. At places such as Mutig and Shawa Drag, these ancient places have devolved to the Buddhists. Here is a great opportunity to peel back the strata of Tibetan civilization and come to better understand its march over the millennia.

On the Changthang, John will introduce us to the drokpa nomads, some of whom he has known for over 20 years. We will get to know their way of life, interests and aspirations as can be shown only by someone who has long lived among them. We will move in an eastern direction, stopping at key archaeological and cultural sites along the way. Our Changthang adventure will culminate in Nam Tsho, the Celestial Lake (an object of study in John's first book, Divine Dyads). Not only is Nam Tsho very beautiful (she is envisioned as a young goddess), she is home to a stunning series of sacred headlands and islands dating back 3000 years and more. It is an easy return drive to Lhasa via the southeast corner of Nam Tsho. From Lhasa we return to Kathmandu so that the participants can catch their outbound flights.

September 5, Fri:  Fly from USA.

September 6, Sat: En route to high Asia.

September 7, Sun:  Arrive Kathmandu.    (-/-/D)
Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer to our hotel. In the evening John will talk to members about the trip over refreshments.
Overnight Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu

September 8, Mon:  Kathmandu  (B/L/D)
We explore Bhaktapur in the morning to see prehistoric Kiranti sites, Newar Buddhist temples and more. Changu Narayan is the afternoon excursion, where we will see a 2000-year panorama of history in this core Himalayan region.
Overnight Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu

September 9, Tue: Kathmandu  (B/L/D)
Our morning trip is to delightful Swayambhu, Nepal's first cultural site, according to legend. In the afternoon we will visit select cultural and archaeological nooks in hidden corners of the valley. Expect some surprises.  
Overnight Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu

September 10, Wed: Kathmandu - Lhasa  (B/-/D)
Fly to Lhasa. We drive one hour to Lhasa and our hotel. There will be a welcome dinner and trip briefing in the evening.
Overnight Hotel Doodh Gu or Kyichu, Lhasa

September 11, Thu:   Lhasa  (B/L/D)
In the morning visit the Potala Palace and some of its most unusual chapels. In the afternoon we will go the Jokhang, the geomantic heart of Lhasa. There is also plenty of time for shopping in the Barkor market, where authentic treasures and tourist kitsch await the discerning eye.
Overnight Hotel Doodh Gu or Kyichu, Lhasa.

September 13, Sat: Tsangpo Valley  (B/L/D)
We drive to Yungdrungling in Tsang province. This is the site of one of Bon's most important and sumptuous monasteries. We will camp in the Tsangpo valley along the mighty Brahmaputra river.
Overnight Tented Camp.

September 14, Sun:  Shigatse  (B/L/D)
We proceed to Menri monastery in the remote Topgyal valley. Menri, the nerve center of the Bon religion, is the ideal place to see alpine Tibet in all its majesty. We reach Shigatse in the evening. 
Overnight Hotel Manasarovar, Shigatse

September 15, Mon:  Shigatse (B/L/D)
Tashilhunpo, Shalu, Shigatse Dzong and other great Tibetan cultural hubs around Shigatse city are on today's agenda. This is a fine opportunity to see Buddhist civilization in one of its most refined and grand manifestations.
Overnight Hotel Manasarovar, Shigatse

September 16, Tue: Changtang  (B/L/D)
We travel up the rugged Shang valley and cross the lofty Trans Himalaya range to the Changtang, the vast northern quarter of Tibet. We make camp in the midst of a pristine lake-filled basin.
Overnight Tented Camp.

September 17, Wed: Lutsang  (B/L/D)
Visit Mutig monastery, spectacularly set on the end of a long promontory jutting into Pearl Lake. In the afternoon we drive and camp at Lutsang, a cave sanctuary and Buddhist monastery sheltered in a colorific limestone escarpment. Among the greatest attractions are the Tibetan nomads themselves. John will introduce us to some of his old friends among them.  
Overnight Tented Camp.

September 18, Thu:  Lake Nam Tso West   (B/L/D)
In the morning we explore Deer Rock, the site of a Kagyud monastery and the ruins of a Bon hermitage occupied by the master Nangzer Lodpo in the 8^th century CE. Here the breadth of Tibetan civilization is revealed in a way that few religious centers can offer. In the evening we set up camp on the western shores of Lake Nam Tso. 
Overnight Tented Camp.
September 19, Fri: Lake Nam Tso East  (B/L/D)
Today we enjoy the views of Nam Tso (the Celestial Lake) from Dokya Gonpa, an amazing vantage point. We also visit Chedo to revel in 3000 years of Tibetan rock paintings. Later in the day we drive along the north side of Lake Nam Tso and make camp at one of its many sacred sites. Expect more stunning scenery.
Overnight Tented Camp.

September 20, Sat:  Lhasa (B/L/D)
We reach Tashido, a very important cultural site in Upper Tibet. After beholding rock art secreted in caves, we return to Lhasa for our last evening in Tibet.  
Overnight Hotel Doodh Gu or Kyichu, Lhasa

September 21, Sun: Lhasa - Kathmandu (B/-/D)
Return flight to Kathmandu. The afternoon is free for shopping and other enjoyments. In the evening we celebrate our journey with a lavish dinner.  
Overnight Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu

September 22, Mon: Depart Kathmandu  (B/-/-)
Return flight to America.