7 Days Tibetan New Year Festival Tour

Welcome to the roof of the world! You will be picked up by local tour guide at the airport hall or train station, and then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa city in a private vehicle.

After arrival at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the local areas and acclimatize yourself to the air, temperature and high altitude of Lhasa.

High Altitude Acclimation Tips: 1) Go for some leisure walking to acclimate the high altitude but avoid strenuous activity after arrival; 2) you’d better not have bath, in case of catching a cold; 3) Drink more water, and have some fruit; 4) Have a good rest.

Today’s theme is to drop the “old year” off. So after breakfast, you will be transferred to Tsurphu Monastery which is about 70km away from Lhasa city, located in a peaceful beautiful valley. Tsurphu Monastery (4500m) is the seat of Karma branch of Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery built by the founder of Karma Kagyu Sect in 1187 whose birthplace is Kham in Sichuan Province. Karmapa is the leader or abbot of Karma Kagyu. There have already had 17 Karmapas ruled in the Tsurphu Monastery since 12th century.

On every Tibetan New Year’s Eve, monks in Tsuphu Monastery will organize many religious and cultural activities to farewell to the finishing year. The most featured activity is a wonderful dancing called Charm which is performed by monks wearing masks.

Drive back to Lhasa for accommodation.

Today is the first day of Tibetan New Year. It is time to renew yourself with a new look both inside and outside. You will get up early and be companied by your tour guide to made the first pray and blessing in the spiritual center of Tibet – Jokhang Temple. Feel the devoted pilgrimage of locals, and enjoy the brilliant architectural arts in the temple. After the visit, get out the temple to join the crowding locals to walk the Barkhor Street Kora.

In the afternoon, you are going to visit the most famous landmark in Lhasa – Potala Palace. ake the challenge of climbing up to Potala Palace (3,700m above sea level) and get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas. Great photographic opportunities along the way up as you will have a great view of the traditional Tibetan architecture. Hear the story of the Dalai Lamas and see chapels that the Dalai Lamas studied, rested and worked in. Pass former Dalai Lamas’ graves which are decorated with beautiful treasures.

On the second day of New Year, you will be firstly taken to a bustling park for local people gathering and hanging out – Norbulingka, the former summer palace of Dalai Lama. During New Year Festival, local Tibetans bring their families and friends here for gathering. Next, you will be transferred to a special Buddhist site - Nechung Monastery. Usually on the second day of New Year, highly respected lamas in the monastery will give blessings for locals and pilgrims. The monastery is also a famous college for Buddhism study. The mural paintings in the monastery are very impressive.

Your tour ends at Sera Monastery, where you will get the chance to experience “Buddhism Scriptures Debating”. These debates are unique to Sera and are quite famous. Enjoy the debates!

Tips: Today, you will be driven to the outskirt of Lhasa City. The drive is not long, all within half hour. The road condition is good. A little walking or climbing is involved. Please bring some water with you. Don't forget sun glasses and sun-cream.

Today, you will leave Lhasa and drive about 8 hours to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. It may be a long journey, but there are many things to do along the road. The first site you will reach is the holy Yamdrok Lake. As the largest fresh lake in the northern of the Himalaya Mountains, it spreads about 675 square meters from south to north, like an eardrop lying in the arms of snow-capped giant mountains. Viewing from a distance, you can see fertile pastures full of yaks and sheep, and some small Tibetan villages along the lakeshore. Keeping driving not so far from Yamdrok Lake, you will see the imposing Karola Glacier towering aloft on the right side of the road.

Continuing your trip, you will get to the historical city of Gyantse. Feel hungry? Have a good lunch in the town, then go to visit the mysterious Palcho Monastery. The monks and tradition of three important sects of Tibetan Buddhism - Sakyapa, Zhalupa and Gelukpa, peacefully coexist in this monastery. Its Kumbum, which is 35 meters high and has 76 small chapels with hundreds images of Kriyatantras , is believed to be the largest such structure in Tibet.

After the Gyantse sightseeing, keep drive about 3 hours, you will arrive at your hotel in Shigatse. Have a good rest!

Tips of today: 1) wear warm clothes to prevent from cold and wild; 2) pack some food and drinks with you because you will spend much time on the road.

Today, before you driving back to Lhasa, you will ake a visit to the official seat of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery which is also the largest and most influential Gelug Monastery in Shigatse prefecture. Here you will see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth ( 26.2 meters high and 11.5 meters wide ), decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers.

Leave Shigatse and head for Lhasa. On the halfway, you will take a visit to Nyemo Tunba which was the home of Tunmi Sangbuzha who invented the Tibetan character as well as the famous Tibetan Tibetan Incense. Here in Tunba, you also have a chance to witness the process of making Tibetan Incense with water mill. At the same time, the scenery here is fabulous - ancient cypress trees, green willows, murmuring river...

Take a good rest in Lhasa city.

Today is free for you until your tour guide transfer you to the airport in time for your flight or drop you off at Lhasa train station.

Tips of Today: 1) please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charger, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel; 2) If your flight is arranged in the afternoon, please make sure you check out the hotel before 12pm.