Sacred Experience of Grand Tibetan Festivals
Shoton Festival is the most important festival starting with the dramatic unveiling of a giant Thangka at Drepung Monastery before moving to Sera Monastery and then down to the Norbulingka for performances for Tibetan opera and some epic picnics. This tour offers you an opportunity to celebrate the famous Shoton Festival and enjoy the happy times with Tibetans.
Highlights of this tour
Welcome to Tibet, the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism! Your tour guide will pick you up at the airport arrival hall and escort you to your downtown hotel in Lhasa while you enjoy the stunning views along the Yarlong Tsangpo River.
After check in, the rest of the day is for you to acclimate to the high altitude and weather of Lhasa. Avoid strenuous physical activities during this first day since that may cause high altitude sickness.
Orientation Tips: 1) avoid vigorous activities but do take some leisurely walks in the city to acclimatize to the air and high altitude of Lhasa city (altitude of 3,600m); 2) do not drink liquor in the arrival day, instead plenty of water and fruits are recommended.
After breakfast, start an incredible day of exploration in Lhasa city. The grandiose Potala Palace will be the first site to discover. After more than 1300 years of historical changes, this colossal palace still dominates the skyline of Lhasa city. The Palace is the political and religious center of Tibet and has served as the governance and preaching site for the Dalai Lama. Climbing up the sacred steps to the Red Palace and White Palace you will explore their marvelous interiors full of exquisite Thangkas, numerous Buddha statues, vivid wall paintings, and other works of Buddhist art.
In the afternoon, first visit the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet, Jokhang Temple, where the 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue is consecrated. With a history stretching over 1,300 years, this temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, China, Nepal and India. As a spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple attracts hundreds of devoted pilgrims to worship there every day. Outside the door of Jokhang Temple is the famous pilgrimage circle, Barkhor Street, where you can join faithful Tibetans in colorful attires walking the circle around Jokhang Temple.
Tips for today: 1) wear suitable headgear and glasses to protect you from strong sunlight, but do not wear any hat while visiting inside the Tibetan monasteries; 2) photography is not allowed inside the chapels of monasteries; 3) have your passport with you all the time.
Get up at early morning, then drive to school of the Dalai Lamas - Drepung Monastery where you will witness the grand opening of the Lhasa Shoton Festival. Firstly you will see the exhibition of a massive Buddha thangka tapestry that covers the entire hillside. Then other interesting activities get started.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Sera Monastery, if you are lucky you can watch the debate of scripture of Lamas in the monastery.
After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas and also the largest Tibetan garden – Norbulingka Park. The luxuriant trees and flowers, cool ponds and comfortable palaces make Norbulingka the best place for a summer retreat. Here, you have chance to enjoy the most authentic Tibet Opera, some featured local food and some sports game like yaks racing, etc, and goods exchanges.
In the late afternoon, drive 170km to Damxung to expect for the Horse Racing Festival in the following day.
On this day you will experience the Damxung Horse Racing Festival. The herdsman, especially the young girls and boys would collect here and chase for their lovers with singing and dancing. A large variety of interesting activities will attract you as well, such as horse racing, yak racing, toxophily on horseback, hada-picking on horseback, Tibetan-style weight lifting, push-and-pull, stone-moving, Tibetan costume performance etc.
Only exploring the exotic culture of Tibet is not enough, you also have to enjoy its natural beauty. So today, drive to the picturesque Namtso Lake which is about 80km from Damxung.
Namtso Lake, in Tibetan, means “the Heaven Lake”. It covers more than 1,920 square kilometers shaping lake a rectangle, and locates about 4,718 meters above the sea level, which makes Namtso the highest lake in the world. The pure water waves slightly under the pure and blue sky. Along the shore are enormous well-proportioned Mani stones. The colorful prayer flags hanged on the hills and monasteries make Namtso Lake holy and mysterious. A lot huge stones have existed along the Namtso for thousands years, and are related to some beautiful Tibetan stories. Namtso Lake is also the heaven for animals. It is natural pasture for nomads of northern Tibet. You have chance to see the sheep and yaks grazing leisurely on the grassland. Famous as one of three holy lakes in Tibet, Namtso lake is also a popular place for pilgrimage and meditation. It is honored as the holy lake both for Tibetan Buddhism and Bön.
After the sightseeing, drive back to Lhasa. (Optional: if you want, you can spend a night there to watch amazing sunset and sunrise. But this arrangement needs you add one extra day to your tour.)
Tips of today: 1) Get well prepared for the high altitude(nearly 5,000m); 2)The weather is changeable. Rains, hail and snow usually come unexpectedly. So bring both thick and portable clothes with you. Also bring sunglasses and sun cream to prevent from strong sunlight and ultraviolet ray
Today is free for you until your driver transfer you to catch your flight (or train) leaving Tibet. Please check your luggage and make sure everything is packed, and then check out from your hotel before 12pm.
Lhasa / Namtso
Lhasa / Gyangtse / Shigatse / Mt.Everest / Namtso Lake
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