OVERVIEW
10 Days Shoton Festival Everest Tour is the most well-defined tour itinerary since it allows you plenty of time to adjust to the altitude, see Tibet’s famous Shoton Festival, and visit and spend the night at the Mt. Everest Base Camp.
The Great Fifth Dalai Lama established the Shoton Festival in the 17th century, when the local Tibetans provided yogurt for all the monks, including the Dalai Lama, who were leaving on a summer retreat. Since then, this custom has evolved into a significant festival in Tibet. In the morning, Tibetans commemorate this holiday by displaying the large thangka on the largest walls of monasteries like Drepung and Sera. Later in the afternoon, Tibetans from the surrounding area perform cultural dance, or Tibetan opera dance. In Lhasa City, this large festival typically lasts for 7 days.
You will have a wonderful experience during your tour to view the thangka show at the Drepung Monastery or Sera, and later in the afternoon, you will see the Tibetan opera dance at the Norbulingka Palace.
Price From
$950
Per Traveler
Trip Level
Medium : Enjoy Festival in Lhasa & drive to Mt. Everest Base Camp
Trip Length
10 Days with 9 nights in Tibet
DETAIL ITINERARY
Our Tibetan guide and Tibetan driver greet you at the airport or train station with a white scarf. This is a very traditional way of greeting a friend in Tibet.
The distance from the airport to Lhasa city is around 60 kilometers, while the distance from the train station to Lhasa is approximately 15 kilometers. We take it easy on the first day to acclimate to the altitude.
ATTRACTIONS:- Showcase of Grand Thangka of Drepung Monastery or Sera Monastery, Tibetan Opera Dance, Potala Palace (Winter Resistant of the Dalai Lama), Norbu Lingkha Palace (Summer Resistant of the Dalai Lama), Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Streets & Sera Monastery;
Our 10 Days Shoton Festival Everest Tour begins from today. On Day 2, you guide will take you to visit the Potala Palace and Jokhang temple accordingly.
The tour program for Day 3 (August 16th) is specially kept for all the travelers to enjoy the Shoton Festival. This day is very relaxing day and optional. In the morning, your guide will take you to visit the showcase of Thangka Display at Drepung Monastery or Sera Monastery. It will be bit crowded because all the locals and many of tourist will be getting there. If you choose to visit the Sera Monastery, then they will be lesser people but to go to Drepung, there will be a lot of people.
If you are not able to visit the Potala Palace or Jokhang on Day 2, then your guide will take you to visit them on Day 4.
The Sera Monastery is one of the most intriguing places to see, and I strongly advise you to go there in the afternoon while the monks are debating Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.
We must obtain a Visiting Time Ticket to enter the Potala Palace. We must plan accordingly based on that. Due to this, when you get to Lhasa, kindly give our guide your passport.
ATTRACTIONS:- Gampala Pass(4,900m), Yamdrok Lake, Nyinchen Khangsar Range, Karola Glacier, Pelkhor Choede Monastery, Tashi Lunpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery, Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasarovar;
From Day 5 to Day 9, you’ll be driving throughout the countryside of Tibetan Plateau.
On Day 45 you will cross a very high pass (Gampa La) at an elevation of 4,900 meters above sea level.
You will enjoy a bird’s eye view of Lake Yamdrok from the top of the Gampa La Pass, which is also known as the turquoise lake due to its unique hue. Yamdrok Yutso Lake is considered a sacred lake, since the Great Guru Padmasambhava meditated there for three months and three days. During the auspicious periods of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, Tibetans circumambulate Lake Yamdrok to pay homage.
If the sky is clear and blue, you may also view the Nyinchen Khangsar Range, which has a peak that rises to a height of 7,300 meters.
The Karola Pass, which has an elevation of 5,000 meters, will be the next high pass you pass on this day.
From the Karola pass, you may also see Tibet’s 7th biggest glacier (Karola Glacier).
On Day 6, you will go to the Panchen Lama’s palace or monastery. In Shigatse Prefecture, which monastery is the biggest. In the past, the Tashi Lunpo Monastery could house over a thousand monks.
You’ll also go to the Sakya Monastery in the afternoon. In the Sakya Monastery, you may see the four enormous pillars and a secret Buddhist library with a more than 800-year history.
You will stay an overnight at Shegar on Day 6.
ATTRACTIONS:- Traditional Tibetan local villages, Himalayan Ranges, Mt. Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk Monastery ;
Day 7 will be thrilling because Mt. Everest will be right in front of you. This day will cover another 100 km, but the drive will be worthwhile because you will cross incredible high mountains, such as Gyawo La Pass (5,100 m). From the summit of the Gyawo La Pass, you can have a breathtaking view of the Himalayan Ranges as well as all five of the world’s Eight-Thousanders. These eight-thousanders include Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, Mount Cho Oyu, and Mount Shishapangma.
Continue your overland journey through Tibetan villages that are higher than 4,600 meters, and you will see how the Tibetans inhabited these mountains.
Our tour guide will also take you to visit Rongbuk Monastery. This monastery is located at a height of 5,000 meters, making it the highest in the world. This monastery has a history of roughly 1,300 years, and Padmasambhava meditated here as well.
The sunset view of Mt. Everest will wash away all your sorrows and replace them with the simple awareness of being alive.
ATTRACTIONS:- Gyawo La pass (5200m), 5 Eight-Thousanders with Mt. Everest, Tibetan-style Houses at the side of River banks,
From Day 13 to Day 14, you will be traveling back to Lhasa. These two days are intended to be a relaxed driving journey. Where there are no monasteries or other sites to see along the journey. However, the scenery is distinct, and you’ll get a unique tour experience. We also promise to make these two days enjoyable for you.
Today is the last day of your 10 Days Shoton Festival Everest Tour. It’s time to say goodbye to your tour guide and driver. They will meet you at your hotel lobby and drive to Airport and Train Station to depart from Tibet.
SERVICES AS PER ITINERARY
- Tibet Travel Permit
- Accommodation Mentioned in Itinerary
- All Breakfast
- Local Tibetan English Speaking Tour Guide
- Ground Transportation during the trip
- Listed Entrance Ticket Fees
- Pickup & Delivery Services
- China Visa & its fee
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Flight & Train Tickets
- Tips for Guides & Driver