High above the clouds, where prayer flags snap in mountain winds and the Himalayas frame the skyline, the Shoton Festival – literally “yogurt banquet” – takes place each August, a rare moment when sacred rituals and community joy come together in full view. This isn’t a polished performance for tourists. It’s a deeply local, living tradition.

When Dawn Breaks Over Drepung

The day starts before sunrise. By 4am, pilgrims are already making the steady uphill walk to Drepung Monastery, just outside Lhasa. At over 3,600 metres, the altitude is unforgiving – every breath a quiet reminder that you’re high in the Himalayas.

Then, as the first light hits the ridge, a hush spreads across the crowd. Monks in maroon robes slowly reveal a giant thangka – a 500-square-metre silk painting of the Buddha – draped across the hillside. Known as the “sunning of the Buddha,” this ritual lasts only a few hours each year. Then, just as quietly, the thangka is rolled away, not to be seen again until next Shoton.

Xiaohongshu@Long-Bún

This is no ordinary artwork. Created by master artisans using hand-ground pigments and precise brushwork, each thangka is a spiritual and cultural artefact, with layers of symbolism and technique passed down through generations.

The Rhythm of Sacred Days

Beyond the grand rituals, Shoton pulses through the streets and parks of Lhasa. The Potala Palace, with its fortress-like façade and thousand rooms, watches over the city. Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most revered shrine, glows with butter lamps and quiet chants. These sacred spaces take on renewed energy during festival week.

In Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s former summer residence, the festival shifts tone. Families gather beneath tall trees, laying out carpets and picnic spreads. Tibetan opera troupes perform dramatic, stylised retellings of ancient epics, their movements as intricate as the brocade they wear.

And then there’s the yogurt. Thick, tangy, and often homemade, it’s a far cry from the smooth supermarket version. Accept it when offered – especially if it comes with barley beer or yak cheese. Shoton is, after all, a banquet of generosity.

Roads That Touch the Sky

Tibet’s landscapes don’t do subtle. The route from Lhasa to Shigatse crosses Gampala Pass, where the altitude exceeds 4,790 metres. Below, Yamdrok Lake fans out in impossible shades of turquoise, reflecting snow peaks like a mirror for the gods.

In Shigatse, the 15th-century Tashilhunpo Monastery houses a colossal 26-metre golden Maitreya Buddha, built with more than 600 pounds of gold. The air is thin but filled with incense, chants, and a centuries-old sense of place.

Then there’s Namtso Lake. At 4,718 metres, this saltwater lake is among the highest on Earth. With nomads herding yaks and peaks mirrored in still water, it feels like a scene from another era – because it is. Time moves differently here.

The Eight-Day Journey

Dates: August 18–24, 2025

Day 1–3: Lhasa Acclimatisation
Explore Lhasa’s spiritual core: Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor pilgrim circuit, and the towering Potala Palace. Evenings are for slow walks and market wandering, as your body adjusts to the altitude.

Day 4: Gampala Pass & Yamdrok Lake
Drive west via the sky-high Gampala Pass (4,790m), with photo stops at Yamdrok Lake’s vivid shoreline. Continue on to Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.

Day 5: Tashilhunpo Monastery
Wander the monastic corridors of this historic centre of Tibetan Buddhism. Admire the golden Maitreya statue, still awe-inspiring six centuries after its construction.

Day 6: Namtso Lake Adventure
Cross plateaus to reach Namtso Lake, a place of raw, quiet beauty. Stay overnight at a local lodge and gaze up – the stars here don’t twinkle; they blaze.

Day 7: Return to Lhasa & Shoton Festival
Back in Lhasa, rise early for the Shoton Festival’s centrepiece: the thangka ceremony at Drepung. Stay on to join opera performances and picnic traditions in Norbulingka Park.

Day 8: Departure
Depart with lungs full of highland air and a heart full of memory. This isn’t a trip you’ll easily forget.

Limited spots available. Contact us for the detailed itinerary.