I was lucky to meet Thupten in my travels through Nepal. Very open and friendly person to newcomers like myself- it felt like our meaningful human connection started right rom the start. We talked a lot about Tibet (which I was very much interested in)- and Thupten reminded me, that there was a very active and lively Tibetan community living in Pokhara, which I wasn't even aware of! He organizes the tours , which put the newcomers in touch with the Tibetans in exile, their history, culture and customs. I was happy to be on one of these tours and meet the Tibetan refugees in their modest yet beautiful surroundings in Pokhara, which I would have never been able to do without Thupten and his tour. There is a great psychological depth to these meetings with Tibetan refugees- the one that noone but a true Tibetan, connected with the community- like Thupten, can initiate. The talks of the elders about escaping Tibet from the Chinese, the shared , real Tibetan lunch and snacks, the meeting with the Tibetan doctor and the Tibetan buddhist monk, exploring the Tibetan refugees' everyday life, etc. etc. There are many locations around Pokhara where all this happens- Thupten is truly a master in organizing it so smoothly, with a comfortable van, so that one doesn't even take notice of the road traffic! He is also very well respected in the local, Pokhara Tibetan community and it was a great pleasure to feel associated with him wherever I went! To anyone visiting Pokhara and interested in Tibetan culture: this is not the one to miss!

i was gravelling with Thupten Gyatso for two days in the Tibetan settlements around Pokhara. he is very kind and full with knowledge of the area and the life of the Tibetan refugees in the area / he took me to meet another world of great and interesting people that invited me to their homes and had with me and Thupten their meals and told me about their life. it was a very strong and interesting experience for me. he also took me to a Tibetan doctor for an interesting talk about Tibetan medicine and after checking me she even gave me some advice for life. if you have a day or two don't miss the tour with him it was one of the best experience i had travelling Nepal.

Last year I visited with my family (my wife and our two teenage children) Nepal. During our stay in Pokhara we learned that there was a possibility to get an insight in the Tibetan community in Pokhara. We took Thupten's tour and for half a day Thupten guided us along the Tibetan Culture and showed us how they live, how they pray, told us abouth the history. We had an early meeting with praying monks, we had breakfast with a very old tibetan man who told us himself abouth his life, we visited a school, we got a medical check by a real Tibetan docter, we spoke with a monk abouth his life, we visited a little market where Tibetan items were sold and Thupten guided us along in a very kind and friendly way. It was a very special experience for us and our children en we enjoyed it very much, thank you Thupten.

I recently took the afternoon tour with Tibetan Encounter and it exceeded all of my expectations. At first I wasn't sure what to expect but Thupten, who runs the tours, spent a long time explaining the program to me and his passion and enthusiasm for his work quickly won me over. I feel very fortunate to have been introduced to the Tibetan refugee community by a local Tibetan who has lived the struggles himself and is so incredibly knowledgable about Buddhism, Tibet, history, politics and really wants to make a difference in his community. I had one incredible experience after another, such as meeting the village elders spinning wool, lunch and Tibetan tea time in the homes of refugees in the settlements, a discussion with a monk about Buddhism and a medical consultation with a doctor in Tibetan Buddhism. The tour allowed me to engage with the local people and by taking the tour itself I was able to give back as a traveler. I highly recommend this tour to anyone with a free day in Pokhara. Worth every penny and so many special memories!!