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!!