Shoton Festival Tour

Day 01 : Flight to Gonkar Airport of Lhasa and transfer to Tsedang (3,500m/11,667ft)

Flight to Gonkar airport of Lhasa .Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by the Tibetan guide and drive to Tsetang (87km/58miles, 2 hrs)- the capital of the Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Check in hotel and take rest for the acclimatization.

Tsetang Hotel***

Day 02 : Tsetang-Lhasa (Alt. 3,658m/12,193ft, 183km/122miles, 4 hrs) (B/D)

AM visit Yumbulakhang Palace & Trandduk temple, PM drive to Lhasa ; visit Samye Monastery en route. Check in hotel and take rest for the day.

Day 03: Shoton Festival celebration in Drepung Monastery and Lhasa sightseeing (B). 

Drive early morning to Drepung Monastery to secure your place for watching festival. A giant Buddha Thangka will be displayed amidst an exciting atmosphere. Watch the festival activities for sometime and later drive to old Tibetan part of Lhasa and visit the The Jokhang Temple and Bakhor Street.

Day 04: Shoton Festival Celebration in Norbulingkha Palace and Lhasa sightseeing (B)

Attend the Shoton festival in Norbulingkha Palace and later take the sightseeing tour of Potala Palace and Sera Monastery.

Day 05: Yangpacheng Hot Spring and Namtso Lake Excursion. (B)

Early morning drive to Yangpacheng Hot Spring which is 58 miles north from Lhasa. Appreciate the landscape of Qiang grassland and Nyacheng Tangula Snow Mountain Range. Continue driving to Namtso (98 miles), literally a heavenly lake, which is the biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as the highest lake in the world (15,573 ft).

Day 06: Lhasa-Gyantse . (13467ft, 160miles, 6 ½ hrs) (B)

Today, you will set out along the friendship highway, heading westwards to Gyantse, following the bank of Yamdrok Tso for more than 40 miles and motoring over two high passes, Kamba La (15,700 ft) amd Laro la ( 16, 500ft)

Day 07: Gyantse-Shigatse (12,785ft, 57miles, 2 ½ hrs) (B )

After breakfast, you will visit the Pelkor Chode & Kumbum Monastery which are the highlights of Gyantse and drive to Shigatse where you will visit the famous Tashilunbo Monastery-the principal seat of Panchen Lama-the second most venerated religious leader of Tibet. Shigatse Hotel***

Day 08: Shigatse-Lhasa (186miles, 7 hrs) (B)

Drive to Lhasa via new road that runs parallel to the Yarlung Tsambo River. The road is rough and rehabilitation work is going on. If time permits, you will stop by Yundrungling Monastery in Tradruk. Check in hote and take rest for the day.

Shangbala or Xiongbala Hotel***

Day 09: Lhasa-Departure (B)

Transfer to Gonkar airport (60 miles, 2 ½ hrs) and catch your flight to next destination.