Tibet Tours: Tibetan New Year Experience

from only $896

Come to Tibet and celebrate "Losar" the Tibetan New Year - Losar with the locals! You will experience the Losar in a local family and enjoy a well-prepared New Year lunch. You will experience how the local people extend their best wishes to their community. There are various traditional festival activities so join them and experience the atmosphere. Some Monasteries in Tibet will also hold festival ceremonies.

• Tour code: xz-8-gp
• Departure dates: Feb 21th, 2012(Travel in a group with minimum of 2 adults)
• Destination: Lhasa, Zedan
• Tour Type: Land tour + Hotel + Private Guided
• Request a Quote / Customize this Tour

Day by day itinerary:

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Lhasa to Tsetang, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Lhasa), Our guide and driver will escort you from Lhasa to Tsetang

Day 2

Place & Transport: Tsetang
Today's Activities: Trandruk Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Local Restaurant

Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, you will first visit Trandruk Monastery. The lamas will read scriptures and worship Buddha to pray for the New Year. You will see the local elders who get together to sing the traditional songs in the monastery. Then, you will go to visit a local family in a village near the city. You can receive a gift of Hada and Qiema. Qiema is a box with many carvings and contains barley and wheat. During New Year celebrations people will take Qiema when visiting their neighbors to express the best wishes. The villagers' will dress in traditional costume and give you a warm welcome. You will taste some of the local snacks and then have New Year's lunch.
After lunch, you can join the locals and attend the various festival activities such as stone throwing, dice and Guozhuang Dancing.
After the festivities you will be transferred to the hotel.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Tsetang to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Samye Monastery, Our guide and driver will escort you from Tsetang to Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Local Restaurant

- Samye Monastery (3.5 hours): Samye Monastery is one of the oldest Tibetan Monasteries. It was built a little later than Jokhang and the main monastery built during the first flourishing period of Tibetan Buddhism which is of great significance in the development of Tibetan culture. The monastery was once ruined by Lang Darma (Lang Darma was an ancient Tibetan King who banned Buddhism and destroyed Buddhist temples). It has been damaged throughout repeated wars and remains the present scope, which should be well cherished. Located at the foot of Mt. Hepo Ri, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River of Zharang County, Samye Monastery is about 38 kilometers from Tsedang. It’s one of the main scenic spots of the state-level scenic area – the Yarlung River Scenic Area.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Kechu Hotel

- The potala palace: perched upon the marpo ri hill, 130 meters above the lhasa valley, it is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet.

we kindly suggest you take taxi to the top of the palace which costs about 10 and then walk down after your visiting.

- The jokhang temple: the jokhang is the most celebrated temple in Tibet. because the temple is not controlled by a particular sect of Tibetan buddhism it attracts adherents of all the sects as well as followers of bon-po, Tibet's indigenous religion.

- 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 5

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Lhasa Kitchen

- Sera monastery: it is known as one of the three greatest monasteries of Tibet.
it costs 15 to take a taxi to go, however, you can bargain with the taxi driver.

- Norbulingka: Norbulingka means "jeweled garden". it was constructed as a summer palace for the dalai lama and later served the whole governmental administration.

- 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). The grand Shonton Festival is hold in the early part of August every year.

Day 6

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

Tour price:

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