Enter the Gates of Shambhala
A Shamanic and Spiritual Journey
into the Altai Region of Southern Siberia

Where the elusive snow leopard lives and the gods make their sacred playground, the Altai mountains express the divine through Nature.

A journey into the rare natural beauty that is Altai providing nourishment for soul and body.
Yoga at Altitude, Meditation in stillness

This extraordinary virtually-pristine landscape that is the home to the rarely-sighted snow leopard, natural fauna and flora that seems to coexist with the elements magically and beautifully, is the palette upon which we shall be trekking by foot and on horse, rafting and walking to altitudes that invigorate and expand the consciousness.

Mount Belukha, where in the 1920's the great mystic and painter Nicholai Roerich and his wife disappeared through the portal of Shambhala for over two weeks, we shall touch the glacier lakes of this sacred mountainscape and meditate within these natural shamanic temples.

Accommodation and experiences: We shall be enjoying a summer climate that reaches into the sometimes high 80sC (30ºF), camping in tents and wooden chalets. Experiencing and enjoying Bagnas (Russian saunas), swimming in glacier-cold crystal clear lakes of many colours and doing yoga and t'ai chi within some of the earth's most stunning landscapes as our inspiration.

Rafting on white waters
We will have a chance to raft rapids inthe natural waters that flow from the Altai mountains at high speed down the gorges and through the fir-clad forests as well as taking in the magnificent splendour of the ascending hills to snow-covered summits on horseback. In Mongolia you can hang out with the locals and enjoy their festivals and sacred ceremonies.

Walking, sharing, talking, silent or allowing the awe and wonder of this magnificent temple of nature to merge into your being


There will be opportunities to meditate, practice walking meditation, do some T'ai Chi and yoga with your hosts, Jonathan Trapman, a yoga teacher of many years standing (and sitting!) and Virve Viigand, Tai Chi master and massage therapist (see Altai Massage).
As we camp along the way, evenings round the fire will enable storytelling, sharing and community to be celebrated and enjoyed.

This time of year not only offers a very pleasant climate but also enables us to explore areas that would at other times be off limit, due to inaccessibility.
The unioque opportunity to witness one of the cosmos's most spectacular events in the vast expanses of a scarcely populated Mongolia will afford a life remembered experience for all

Both the high Altai and the plains and valleys of Mongolia are places of sparce population and yet those that one will meet on the way have been drawn to these places because of their spiritual and sacred nature and thus the personal pilgrimage that can be experiencedwill afford openings on many levels and in often unexpected ways.

About your hosts on this trip
Jonathan Trapman and Virve Viigand have explored this pristine territory and fallen in love with it. Virve, born in Russia and brought up in Estonia has the Shamanic inheritance through her lineage and her familiarity with the Altai Shamanic tradition that has been a strong foundation in her Altai Massage School and practice.
Jonathan, a yoga practitioner and teacher, photographer and writer has spent a lifetime travelling the world, photographing and absorbing the cultures and understanding of all who he has met and with whom he has shared his journey. His yoga, from the Siddha Samaj yoga tradition from South India has been, for more than 20 years a pivotal part of his life. As founder of Yoga-ez, he has not shied away from spreading ancient wisdom through modern means and using communication as the basis for growth and understanding.
Their combined depth of experience and knowledge, renowned humour, love of life and joyful enthusiasm will help you to make this Altai trekking experience and journey into Mongolia, on a body, mind and soul level, one to be treasured for life.
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