Looking for exotic destination? Try Tibet, China, Arctic Circle.(The Orlando Sentinel)

Byline: Arline Bleecker

Sometimes, you need to go a long way just to see yourself clearly. By that I mean, the farther afield you venture from your familiar, day-to-day life, the more introspective and enlightened you can become.

That thought popped into my mind last week when I spotted an alluring morsel from Crystal Cruises. I mean, really, how can you not blink when a luxury cruise line promises such temptations as "Timeless Tibet" or "Xi'an and the Terra Cotta Warriors"?

It has the pull of a siren's song.

During March and April, the 940-passenger Crystal Harmony will sail several cruises through China, Japan and Taiwan, as well as offer a pair of trans-Pacific sailings between North America and Asia. The 13- and 14-day Asia adventures depart March 15 and 22, and April 5, 13 and 26 from either Hong Kong or Beijing. All the cruises include a three-night stay in Beijing.

To this roster of sailings, Crystal is offering three five-night land extensions, one of which _ "Timeless Tibet" _ is perhaps the most interesting, certainly for a cruiser. The Asian extravaganza features a flight over the Himalayas, a visit to the 1,000-room Potala Palace (for four centuries the winter home of the Dalai Lama) and the ancient Tombs of the Tibetan Kings in Congue, as well as visits to Drepung (Tibet's largest and richest monastery) and the Sera Monastery.

Fares for the land extensions _ "Timeless Tibet," "Yangtze Splendor," or "Xi'an and the Terra Cotta Warriors" _ are in addition to cruise rates, which start at $3,000 per person (for the Hong Kong-to-Beijing sailing on March 15.) The land programs range, respectively, from $2,750 to $2,995 to $2,795 per person, double occupancy, and include air and land transportation, hotel accommodations, meals and destination guides. For details, call 1-800-446-6620.