Shoton Festival Tour - 2025

Your Tibetan guide will be waiting to welcome you at Gongkar Airport. After immigration formalities, you will drive for around 45 minutes to reach the old city, Lhasa (3660 meters). After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to take rest, drink plenty of fluids and most importantly let your body get used to Lhasa’s high altitude. During afternoon you can go around the hotel area for light walk and sightseeing. Later, you will be briefed in detail about the program and entertain any question. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Early morning visit Drepung monastery to witness breath taking ceremony of unveiling Giant Painting Tibetan called it Thank belong to Buddha amidst the rituals perform by hundreds of Monks. Hundreds of local people witness the ceremony and receive blessing. Later another grand function takes place in front of Potala Palace (Winter Palace of Dalai Lama). Then your guide will take you on a tour to Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Market respectively.

Drepung Monastery: This Monastery is 8 km west of Lhasa. One of the three great Gelukpa Monasteries near Lhasa, the other two being Sera and Ganden. Until the occupation it served like its two sister monasteries as centre for learning and monastic training to which monks from all over Tibet would come to spend as long as 15 years methodically studying and debating the meaning of the Buddhist scriptures. For centuries it existed as a small monastic township housing thousands of fully ordained monks and other functionaries. It was founded in 1416 by Jam yang Chöje Tashi Palden, a disciple of Tsong Khapa.

Jokhang Temple: This temple is a seventh-century geomantic temple at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet. It is considered to be a Power Place in all Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti, a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple and in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti the main gate of the temple faces west towards Nepal.  The most impressive structure of the Jokhang Temple is the many chapels surrounding the temple.

Barkhor Market (Bazaar): The most popular Barkhor Market (Bazaar) is a square where Tibetan handicraft items, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings etc. are all in sale for your delight, you may want to visit colorful local grocery market . At the end of the day your guide will escort you back to your hotel. Lhasa offers variety of Restaurant for both Lunch and Dinners.

After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

After breakfast you will be briefed about the day’s program and discuss if there are any issues. Then your guide will take you on a tour to majestic Potala palace & Sera Monastery respectively.

Potala Palace: This Palace is also known as the “winter palace”. The imposing structure of the palace dominates the landscape of Lhasa. It is a 13th storied complex monument rising to a height of above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms.As you are guided through the ancient chambers of the palace, you get to see Tibetan art at its best. The Potala Palace has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues. You will also get to view the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas. Due to tourist traffic, only one hour is allowed to visit Potala.

Sera Monastery: This monastery is approx. 5km drive away from Lhasa. Sera Monastery was founded in 1419. It sits in the prettiest and most charming atmosphere at the base of Mount Purbuchok. Sera Monastery used to be an important center for learning where in the past approx. 5,000 to 6,000 monks resided. Currently about 550 monks are supposed to be living there. The important structures inside the monastery include Coqen Hall, (the main assembly hall), three Zhacangs (Buddhist colleges) and twenty-nine Khangtsens (monk dormitories).The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter image of Maitraya which was erected in 1419; here one can also witness the practicing of debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other. 

Today, you will visit Norbulinka Palace to witness one of the important part of Shoton festival takes place for days, it is Opera show and other various cultural shows perform by groups of artist from many parts of Tibet, the best shows will receive recognition as well on last day of show. You will also meet hundreds of Tibetan people enjoying this summer festival by celebrating picnic, eating delicious cuisine, playing their various local games etc. Basanta Adventure will organize special picnic ceremony to give you experience of a lifetime in the same place where you will get to interact with local people or get to learn their local games. After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB).

After breakfast, leaving Lhasa and a drive of 370km, taking about 6 hours including break for lunch at one of the villages’ en-route. We will drive over two spectacular high passes – the Kampa La at 4750m and Karo La at 5010m, over, and along the beautiful deep blue green Lake called Yamdrok Lake or Turquoise Lake. The landscape of the Tibetan Plateau is truly unusual and spectacular.  We will arrive in Gyantse an old Tibetan Town against a backdrop of magnificent 14th-15th century fortresses and temples.  Here we will visit Pelkhor Chode Temple & Khumbum respectively.

Pelkor Chöde: This Monastery is located in the northeast of Gyantse at 3900 meters above sea level. Pelkor Chode Monastery, or rather  Palcho Monastery in Tibetan language means "auspicious monastery". It was first built in early 15th century and took 10 years to complete. Because it was built when different religious sectors conflicted neck and neck in Tibet, Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelukpa of Tibetan Buddhism coexist in it. Each religious sector has five to six "Dratsang" (schools) in the monastery. This Monastery occupies a stunning position in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. It features a mixture of pagoda and monastery, whose architectural style reflects the typical feature of monasteries in between late 13th century and mid 15th century. The most symbolic architecture in the monastery is the Khumbum Stupa, which is composed of nine layers of nearly 77 temple halls with a total of 10,000 Buddha statues in halls, niches and on murals, hence the nickname "Ten Thousand Stupa". Pelkor Chode Monastery is also noted for its distinctive sculptures and murals.

Kumbum: Gyantse Kumbum Chorten was commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427 and it is the town’s main attraction. The 35 meters high chorten, with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome, is awe-inspiring. The interior is equally impressive. Khumbum means 100,000 images in Tibetan. Indeed, there is what seems to be an endless series of tiny chapels. Each chapel is decorated with wall paintings; some have various statues of Buddha’s, Bodhisattvas and deities. Most paintings date to the time of the construction of the stupa.There are nine levels, 108 cells and 75 chapels. At the higher levels you can go out to an outdoor terrace and enjoy an incredible view on the town, monastery and surrounding fort.

After detail visit you will drive to second largest city of Tibet, Shigatse. O/N at hotel in Shigatse (BB).

After breakfast you will be visiting Tashilumphu Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. There are about 39 amazing chapels inside including the huge Maitreya Chapel coated with gold; its workmanship certainly impresses everyone.

After visiting Tashilumpho Monastery, you will drive to via northern route and today you will drive along Yarlung Zangbo River at Chushul which is the confluence of the Kyichu River and will be passing through Nyemo country and Rinbung country. Once you reach Lhasa you will drive to Hotel. O/N at hotel in Lhasa (BB).

Note: Offer "Lungta" and prayers flag (printed prayers for the peace and good health/happiness) together with your Tibetan Guide. Offering Lungta in high passes and temple is believed to bring good fortune and long life in Tibetan culture.

After breakfast your guide will drive you to airport for  Flight to Chengdu.