Norden Travel
A
nomad i will remain for life, in love with distant and uncharted places
Isabelle Eberhardt
Norden Travel
WHAT IS NORDEN TRAVEL? Norden Travel is a new way to experience Tibetan culture and outdoors in style, comfort and authenticity. At Norden Travel you can experience conscious travel in Tibet. Norden camp is run and staffed by nomads. The camp itself uses elements of the nomad’s way of life adding to it the essentials that make visitors feel comfortable and welcome without compromising the culture or the environment. The site, a winter grazing area for local nomads, is stunningly beautiful and covers 11 hectares, bordering a meandering river, the home of hares and marmots, foxes, gazelles, and many birds. The weather in summer varies from 15 to 25 degrees centigrade. Fall is beautiful, with warm sun, clear skies and cool nights. The local altitude is 3,200 meters.
WHERE IS NORDEN TRAVEL? It is situated 20 minutes out of Labrang, the famous Tibetan monastic town in the Tibetan Autonomous Kenlho Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. The camp site can be reached from the local Labrang Airport, half an hour away, or by five hour car ride from Lanzhou, the Capital city of Gansu, accessible from any major Chinese city.
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STAYING AT NORDEN TRAVEL
Introductory Rates for 2014 Norden Travel offers three types of accommodation: wooden log cabins, tents and a suite. WOOD LOG CABIN (7): $460/room/double occupancy including three meals, $330/ room/double occupancy with breakfast, $360/room/single occupancy including three meals Two beds or double bed Feather duvets and pillows Norlha yak textiles and felt home accessories Vernacular village furniture Deck with spectacular view Traditional bucket bath Finish style dry toilet Heating stove local style
WOOD LOG CABIN SUITE (1): $930/room/double occupancy including three meals, $660/room/double occupancy with breakfast, $720/room single occupancy including three meals Two bedrooms (one double bed in one and a twin in the other one) Living room with nature view from both sides Deck Traditional bucket bath Finish style dry toilet Heating stove local style Outdoor Japanese soaking tub
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TENT (4): $260/room/double occupancy including three meals, $200/room/ double occupancy with breakfast, $180/room/single occupancy including three meals Yak wool tent Cozy carpets Yak wool duvet Norlha textiles and accessories Vernacular village furniture Heating stove local style Outside bathroom with Finish dry toilet
FOOD Breakfast is included in all rates. Lunch and dinner are fixed meals with Western, Tibetan and Chinese Menus menu options. All are prepared from local ingredients. Please make sure you let us know your preferences when you make your booking. Alcoholic drinks, coffee, juices, snacks and pastries will be charged separately.
EXPERIENCE NORDEN TRAVEL Norden Travel will customize your experiences according to your interests, the time of your visit and the local experience of the nomads who run the camp. We have divided the activities in four areas of interest: Relaxing; Culture and Buddhism; Outdoor, Adventure, Nature and Textile Connoisseur.
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RELAXING Norden Camp is the perfect place to relax and unplug from the stress of daily life. The natural setting suggests silence and introspection. We selected a few activities that could be done on the same day or alternating with other experiences.
SAUNA With a maximum occupancy of four people, the sauna is the perfect place to relax and decompress. Bucket shower is available to finish the experience and a beautiful deck overlooking the river is the perfect place to transition while having snacks and drinks. Guests get one pass to use the sauna per stay. Please contact our concierge for extra reservations. Suggested time: One hour WALKS There are many beautiful walks of different intensities around the camp. We suggest to walks accompanied by one of our guides since we are in nomad pastures and it is safer to go with someone from the area. EVENING BONFIRE After dinner you will find the bonfire waiting for you with dessert and drinks served under the stars. Star gazing is best in September and October
LUNCH AT NORDEN CAFÉ IN LABRANG Overlooking the Monastery, Norden Café is the best place to eat western bakeries and drink coffee, tea and fresh juices in Labrang. It also provides light meals and snacks. NORLHA LOUNGE Norden Travel has a library lounge where you can enjoy a traditional Tibetan sitting area. The atmosphere is cozy, with a décor using Norlha textures in fun and colorful combinations and the books offer a comprehensive selection about the area and culture. Norlha Lounge can be reserved for private dinners and meetings. Please contact the concierge. SHOPPING IN LABRANG In Labrang make sure you visit Norlha’s Shop where you can find the most beautiful yak textiles in the world. The list includes: felt bags, pouches and hats, hand spun yak scarves, silk and yak scarves, home collections, baby gifts and semi precious stone malas. In the main street, closest to the Monastery you can find many local shops that offer the traditional chubas, malas, the nomad silver belts, sheep skins, statues, tea pots etc. We suggest you go with one of our guides who can offer shopping assistance.
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CULTURE/BUDDHISM
GUIDED VISIT TO LABRANG MONASTERY: $165/person, $200 for 2 people, $230 for 3 people, $ 330 for 4, +$30 for every two people Labrang, 11 km from Norden Camp, is the spiritual heartbeat of Kanlho. Squeezed between two hills in an elongated valley, Labrang’s two towns, the monastery and modern town, meet like two fish mouth to mouth, extending their tails in opposite directions. Today, Labrang Monastery is the largest and most vibrant of monasteries on the Tibetan Plateau with over 1000 monks, 18 halls and hundreds of monks’ residences. Here, travelers are transported back in time to witness an ancient culture and tradition as is rarely experienced in modern times. Norden Travel will guide visitors through the daily routine of the monks with visits to the six colleges including Tantric, Medical and Kalachakra colleges. Visitors will start the morning with a circumambulation around the monastery where pilgrims from all over Tibet can be seen in their heavy Traditional garb making the 3km walk. Later in the day visitors can roam the town and spend time enjoying the atmosphere.
For an overview of the Monastery we suggest a three hour visit accompanied by one of our local guides. However, Labrang Monastery can very well be a full day (or more) experience if you would like to experience the place in detail. SHARING A TRADITIONAL TIBETAN MEAL AT A MONK’S RESIDENCY IN THE MONASTERY Norden Travel can arrange a private dumpling dinner with a monk who can share the history of the place from his unique point of view. The meal with the monk could happen after the visit to the monastery.
VISIT WITH A LOCAL NOMAD FAMILY: $330 /day for 1-3 people, $660 day for 4-8 people (max 8 people) After an hour drive, going through the nomad pastures, enjoy beautiful scenery and arrive at the family’s camp where you will share a local lunch with a nomad family. A traditional menu may include: yak or lamb meat, fresh butter, fresh yogurt, local bread, Tsampa. Because Norden’s founder is a Nomad, he has access to the nomad lifestyle in its most authentic form. Guests are invited to observe the nomad lives without any staging. Please be aware that Norden Travel is about conscious traveling in Tibet. This activity takes approximately 6 hours (2 hours driving) Norden Travel
VISIT TO GYENJA VILLAGE: $330 /day for 1-3 people, $660/day for 4-8 people (max 8 people) This picturesque village is surrounded by a 2000 year old fortification and striking scenery of rock mountains, high cliffs with spectacular views and a Bon monastery. This is a very sacred area for Tibetans because the area is known to have many yogis, hermits and meditators dwelling in the cliffs. The visit can include a walk on the mud wall that surrounds the old town, a visit to the local monastery, a picnic lunch in a scenic area characterized by its rich wild flora, and a peek in the famous religious cave.
One day (3 hours driving) Lunch box by Norden CafĂŠ
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OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE/NATURE
Labrang Tashkyil Day Hike: $165 /person/day, $200 for 2 people, $230 for 3 people,$330 for 4 and + $35 for every two people The size and majesty of Labrang Monastery can only be fully appreciated from a bird’s eye view. For those visitors who are not intimidated by a little exercise, a hike along the hillside surrounding the monastery is an ideal way to appreciate the scale of Tibet’s largest functioning monastery. Norden Travel will prepare a hearty picnic lunch of yak or vegetarian sandwiches accompanied by a camp fire and tea at the destination. Over lunch, travelers can enjoy a stunning view of Labrang’s two towns, the monastery and modern town. This is a one day activity
DAY HIKES: $100 for 1-3 people+ $10/peron for additional people There are several suggested circuits close to Norden Camp. Norden Travel
*Up the hill from Norden Camp *Around the valley west of Norden Camp We suggest you go accompanied by our local guides.
LONGER HIKES AND OVERNIGHT CAMPING: $330 /person, $410 for 2 people, $500 for 3, and $580 for 4 Norden Travel can provide sleeping bags, tents and hiking gear. Norden Travel guides walk ahead of you to set up the camp where you will be met with spectacular panoramic views of the plateau. Hikes in Tibet are hard because of the altitude. We recommend them for experiences hikers. Please contact our concierge for customized longer hikes. BIRDWATCHING: Free There are beautiful birds around the camp. HORSEBACK RIDING: $165 /person for 5 hours Norden Camp can arrange up to ten horses. Different circuits can be organized ranging from two to five hour rides.
TEXTILE CONOISSEUR Norden Travel
Visit to Norlha workshop: $410 for two people (double occupancy room) Norlha, Weaving Yak Treasures, is a leading enterprise in China and one of the few luxury brands in the world able to merge the worlds of cultural and environmental sustainability with the most sophisticated and changing tastes of high-end customers. Norlha is internationally known for its innovation with yak textiles and its inclusion of local nomads in the whole process of transforming the yak. At the Norlha Workshop you can visit the different sections such as: dying, weaving, sewing, felting, product development and the outlet. If you feel inspired, you can make your own yak with Norlha’s felting kit Which includes all the supplies and instructions. Norlha House will prepare a delicious meal for you. Visit to Norlha workshop: $410 for two people (double occupancy room) Norlha, Weaving Yak Treasures, is a leading enterprise in China and one of the few luxury brands in the world able to merge the worlds of cultural and environmental sustainability with the most sophisticated and changing tastes of high-end customers. Norlha is internationally known for its innovation with yak textiles and its inclusion of local nomads in the whole process of transforming the yak. At the Norlha Workshop you can visit the different sections such as: dying, weaving, sewing, felting, product development and the outlet. If you feel inspired, you can make your own yak with Norlha’s felting kit Which includes all the supplies and instructions. Norlha House will prepare a delicious meal for you. Address: Xia He County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, P.R China - Post Code: 747100 Email: contact@nordentravel.com Website: www.nordentravel.com
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