- Attend the beginning ceremony of Shoton festival
- Potala Palace: Winter palace of the Dalai Lama
- Jokhang Temple: Spiritual Center for Buddhists in Tibet.
- Drepung Monstery: Drepung used to be a seat of central government until the 5th Dalai Lama built Potala Palace.
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Destination
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Trip duration
7 days, 6 nights
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Price
From 11500 cny
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Availability period
22 Aug. 2023 - 1 Nov. 2025
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Min/Max travelers
Min. 6 | Max. 12
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Transport
Van
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Accommodation
4 star hotels
THE SHOTON FESTIVAL
Originated from the 11th century, the week-long Shoton Festival happens on the last day of the sixth month in Tibetan calendar and it falls on 27 Aug. 2022. It is one of the most popular traditional festivals in Tibet, with celebrations of eating yogurt, watching of Tibetan dramatic operas, and activities of Tibetan Buddhism.
August is also the best season to admire the spectacular natural landscape in the mysterious land. Serving as a showcase to rooted tradition, appealing culture and great piety of the Tibetan people, the Shoton Festival is paradise for photographers.
- Yamdrok-tso: One of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet.
- Tashilunpo Monastery: the seat of Tibet’s second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama.
- Namtso Lake: the highest saltwater lake in the world
Day 1
ARRIVE IN LHASA
Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your guide and transfer to the hotel. Acclimatize the high altitude in the hotel.
Food
-/-/-
Accommodation
LHASA (3650M)
Day 2
LHASA
The tour will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site - Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.
Then continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
LHASA (3650M)
Day 3
LHASA – GYANTSE (280KM,5H)
Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse (265km, 5 hours). Admire the Gampala pass (4790 m) on the way, and get a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Then continue to drive west towards Gyantse. In Gyantse, you will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. Then proceed to the Gyantse fort, which boost great views over the old town and Palkor monastery. Doesn't take too much extra time if you're fit to climb it fast.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
GYANTSE (4000M)
Day 4
GYANTSE - SHIGATSE – LHASA(370KM,7H)
Check out hotel and transfer to Shigatse(90km,2h), explore Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha - the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. Drive back to Lhasa afterwards.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
LHASA (3650M)
Day 5
LHASA – DANGXIONG – LHASA-EVEREST BASE CAMP(360KM,6H)
Set off to Dangxiong county, visit the Namtso Lake, the highest saltwater lake in the world. Snow-capped mountains and open grassland, dotted with yak herds and local nomads, surround the crystal clear water of Lake Nam, making it one of the most beautiful places in Tibet. Drive back to Lhasa afterwards.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
LHASA (3650M)
Day 6
LHASA
Full day to enjoy the Shoton Festival in Lhasa.
Today you have a great opportunity to visit the beginning ceremony of the most important annual festival, that is the dramatic unveiling of the 500-square-meter embroidered thangka portrait of the Buddha at Drepung Monastery
In the very early morning your guide and driver will pick you up and drive to Drepung Monastery to attend the ceremony（need 2-3 hours’ long walk to the monastery as the traffic will be blocked）. With thousands of local pilgrims and tourists, you will luckily see one of the largest embroidered Thangka/scroll painting of Buddha in Tibet. Hundreds of monks and volunteers transfer it to a hillside not far from the monastery and display on a huge wall then the monks perform a special religious ritual to open the ceremony, the pilgrims from nomadic area offer fresh Yak Yogurt to the monks and everyone receives blessings from main master of monastery.
Later you will proceed to Norbulinka to see how people are enjoying their festival, you will have a great chance to watch the performance of traditional Tibetan opera, join with very friendly local people, their hospitality towards you makes you feel like very close friends, they will serve you free cookies, Yak meat or yogurt sometimes and plenty of their homemade barley beer if you like it.
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
LHASA(3650M)
Day 7
LHASA DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport for flight back.
Food
B/-/-
Create the experience of your dream with our travel experts
Make your own trailIncluded
- All necessary travel permits for Tibet (excluding the Chinese visa)
- 6 nights’ hotel accommodation
- Tourist bus/minibus transportation with experienced local driver during tour
- Experienced Local Tibetan private guide
- 5 Lunches as indicated in the programme
- All admission fee of tourists sites listed in the itinerary
- Oxygen bottles/Oxygen tank cylinder provided during the tour days in Tibet
Not Included
- Domestic flight/train to and from Lhasa
- Other tours & meals than mentioned in the program
- Tips to driver and tour guide
- Single room supplement if clients request a private room in hotels
- Optional tours
- Expenditures of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.
- Excess luggage surcharge
- Any personal expenses
Payment and Cancellations
- Full payment is due 30 days prior to departure. We reserve the right to release all services in case of payment default.
- Intermediate bank charges and fees are the responsibility of the client.
- In case of cancellation, the following cancellation fees will apply:
- Between 30-15 days prior to departure - 25% of total price
- Between 14-7 days prior to departure - 50% of total price
- Less than 7 days prior to departure – 100% of total price