Tibet Tours: Tibet Shoton Festival Tour

from only $666

Shoton Festival is the most important festival in Tibet. Originally, it was purely a religious festival but it has developed to have a much wider traditional meaning. This festival begins at Drepung Monastery to seeing Tangka, then shifts to Norbulinka for Tibetan opera. This tour gives a glimpse of Tibet’s traditions and colorful festival lifestyle.

• tour code: xz-12
• Departure Date: 27th August,2011 only(Travel in a group with minimum of 2 adults)
• destination: Lhasa
• tour type: Land tour + well selected hotel + Private Guided with your own English speaking guide (otherwise specified), your own driver at your own pace and schedule.
• Request a Quote / Customize this Tour

day by day itinerary:

day 1
Place & Transport: Arrive Lhasa, Flight is not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Lhasa)

day 2
Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: The Potala Palace, The Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- The Potala Palace: The Potala Palace, which is now on the list of Chinese national key protected cultural relics, is the most valuable storehouse in Tibet. It is a huge treasure house for materials and articles of Tibetan history, religion, culture and arts. The Palace is widely known for the precious sculptures, murals, scripture, Buddha figures, murals, antiques, and religious jewelry treasured up, they are of great cultural and artistic value. In 1994, the Potala Palace was declared the United Nations World Cultural Heritage site.Perched upon the Marpo Ri Hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, it is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet.
- The Jokhang Temple: Constructed in the 7th century AD to house the statues of Buddha that princesses Bhrikuti from Nepal and Wen Cheng from Tang Dynasty China brought as gifts for their future husband, King Songtsan Gampo. The temple has been enlarged many times over the centuries and now also houses statues of King Songtsan Gambo and his two famous foreign brides. However, the original statue of Jowo Sakyamuni Buddha that Princess Wen Cheng brought from Chang' an over 1300 years ago is definitely it's most sacred and famous possession, and is perhaps the most venerated religious artifact in all of Tibet. The temple, a splendid four-floor building facing west under a gilded rooftop, is located on Barkhor Square in the center of the old section of Lhasa.
- Barkhor Street: The Barkhor is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts are assembled.

day 3
Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Shoton Feitival, Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Today is the most important and attractive for visitors. Shoton Festival is the most important festivals in Tibet. Originally, it is only a religious festival, now it is the common public festival as well. This festival is beginning at Drepung Monastery with the tanning Tangka, then shift to Norbulinka for Tibetan opera.
Early in the morning, arrive at Drepung Monastery to watch the Tangka Show. You will get to know how pious the pilgrims. In the afternoon, go to Norbulinka to join people's celebrations such as singing songs, dance circles, local exchange market, Tibet opera show and so on
- Drepung Monastery: Drepung Monastery lies in west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse, clustered round by the black mountain, its white grand buildings shining under the sunlight. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect in China. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong).
- Norbulingka: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.

day 4 Lhasa to Naqju to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Lake Namtso, Yambajan
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Lake Namtso is the second largest saltwater lake in China. The lake is beautiful with its azure water and surrounding snow capped peaks. There is a gravel road from Damxung to the lake. In the rainy season, the route can be quite difficult.
- Yambajan: It is famous for its hot spring and is a nice choice for those who want to get a close look at the Tibetan herders (drokpa) and their semi-nomadic lifestyle. Covering an area of about 150,000 square meters, Yambajan, 87 kilometers away from Lhasa, is situated in the basin at the foot of Nyainqentanglha Mountains to the northwest of Lhasa.

day 5
Place & Transport: Depart Lhasa, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lhasa)
Meals: Breakfast
Service ends.

tour price:

Special Notes:
a. warm clothing, including a weatherproof coat, will be needed even in summer.
b. Tibet is one of the last few “pure lands” in the world. please help to protect the natural environment and don’t discard your waste, especially batteries. don’t harm the wild plants or animals.
c. avalanches are frequent in jul and aug.

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