July 8-21, 2016, join the New England Wild Flower Society’s Ted Elliman as we explore forests, meadows, alpine communities, and the culture of the traditionally nomadic Tibetan people who inhabit the eastern edge of the Roof of the World. The Tibetan highlands of Sichuan are home to a spectacular array of landscapes, flora, and wildlife, with mountains soaring to 20,000 feet and an extraordinary diversity of plants, including many species of rhododendrons, primroses, orchids, gentians, and numerous other plants. Little wonder the region has been a magnet for plant explorers for over 150 years. The spruce, fir, and hardwood-forested slopes of the mountains, often with dense understories of bamboo, are among the last strongholds of the giant panda. Want to learn more? Download the brochure at http://www.newfs.org/images/learn/FINAL%20FLYER%20NEWFS.Tibetan%20Highlands%202016.pdf or register now! Please note: This tour will be a deeply rewarding experience for passengers who enjoy travel on scenic, winding mountain roads. There will be frequent stops, and most days do not require excessively long drives, but there will be travel most every day. Most nights will be spent in valley locations at elevations below 11,000 feet, and there will be one night in the town of Litang, which is more than 13,000 feet elevation. Lodging will be “best available,” which means basic amenities everywhere, but some hotels may reflect local rather than Western standards of opulence. Some days we will drive and take short walks at elevations that may exceed 14,000 feet, although we do not intend to spend long periods of time at these elevations, nor engage in sustained activity this high. The higher elevation areas will come later in the trip, after you have had some time to acclimatize. And yes, there will be pandas. Trip fee $3,995 per person double occupancy, plus $1,595 airfare from Boston to Chengdu, round trip, and $295 in tour air.