Journey Through Tibet - Travel Documentary

Tibet is one of the world’s most mysterious and fascinating travel destinations. It has evoked the imagination of many travelers throughout the centuries, in part due to its inaccessibility and isolation. For those that make it here, they find a land of beautiful landscapes, overwhelming religious devotion, delicious food, and friendly, welcoming people.

In this video, I explore the spiritual side of Tibet, traveling to four different regions of the Tibetan world, between 2010 and 2019. From the imposing Labrang monastery in China to the residence of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government in exile in India. And from the communities of Tibetan refugees in Nepal to the highlands of Lhasa and Tibet, today also known as the ‘Tibetan Autonmous Region’.

Tibet has had a tumultuous history, and Tibetans in general never had it easy. Yet, despite the challenges they have managed to retain much of their culture. Much has been written about the Tibetan issue, and it’s a good idea to learn more about its history.

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Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media

Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video:

Our first encounter with the Tibetan world is in Xiahe, a small village nestled in the mountains of Gansu province in China. Despite the challenges of modernization and Chinese influence, the town remains a deeply spiritual place. The main focus of Xiahe is the massive Labrang monastery, one of the most important outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region. This is where we find monks and pilgrims making traditional kora, turning prayer wheels and whispering mantras.

We continue our journey in Dharamsala, located in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh in India. Here we attend a public teaching lesson of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. Dharamsala is also home to a large community of Tibetan refugees, and it’s easy to spend a few days here learning about Tibetan culture and eating traditional food.

The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, is also home to a large population of Tibetan refugees. Many of them live around the imposing Boudhanath stupa, which in itself is a highlight for many travelers and pilgrims. Some of the gompas, or monasteries in this area are also open to visitors.

We end our travels in ‘Tibet proper’, where we have a chance to visit Lhasa, the capital and spiritual heartland of Tibet. Although foreign travelers can only visit Lhasa and Tibet on a guided tour, we are able to explore parts of Lhasa and a few more places in Tibet, including Shigatse and Mount Everest Basecamp.

On this final part of the journey, we get a deeper understanding of Tibetan life and culture, as we take a look the Potala Palace, the incredible neighborhood of Barkhor, and three of the most important Buddhistic monasteries and universities. And along the way, we traverse spectacular landscapes of mountains, glaciers, and frozen lakes.

Timestamps / video chapters:

0:00 Introduction
1:47 Xiahe (China)
4:12 Dharamsala (India)
7:55 Kathmandu (Nepal)
10:57 Lhasa (Tibet/China)
16:33 Tibetan Autonomous Region (China)
20:57 End