6 days Tibetan New Year Festival tour

Upon arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, to be met and transferred to your hotel in Lhasa. Then have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. Overnight at Lhasa.

Today is the first day of Tibetan New year. You will be arranged to visit Jokhang temple and Potala Palace. Jokhang temple is the most sacred shrine in Tibet which was built in the 7th century and located at the heart of old town in Lhasa, the circuit around it called Barkhor street, which is a good place to purchase souvenirs. Potala Palace is the worldwide known cardinal landmark of Tibet. The massive structure itself contains a small world within it. Mostly it is renowned as residence of the Dalai Lama lineages (Avalokiteshvara). Both of them are the focal points of pilgrims from the entire Tibetan world, multitudinous pilgrims are circumambulating and prostrating in their strong faith. Overnight at Lhasa.

Start your sightseeing from Norbulinka - the summer palace of Dalai lamas. 'NorbuLinka' means beautiful gardens. This garden covers an area of 36 hectares and it is the annual vacation home for the 7th to the 14th Dalai Lama, who would move here from the Potala Palace to this summer palace and spend most of their summer here. Afterward, visit Sera Monastery sits at the foot of the mountains. One of the three main Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa, Sera is an important spiritual center for Buddhist monks. During the Tibetan new year festival, Tibetan people prefer to go worship in the monasteries all around the Lhasa such as Jokhang, Sera, Drepung, etc. If possible watch the ritual dance somewhere in a monastery. Also in the monastery, they all are very busy with putting new decorations all around the monasteries and also changes new carpets too.

After breakfast, drive up to Kambala pass[4794m high], you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso there, which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Then along the Friendship southern Hwy to Gyantse, a short stop at Karo La pass[5100m] which is overlooked by Mt. Nyenchen Kangsar glacier. Visit the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, the most stunning architectural wonder in Tibet. Late afternoon drive to Shigatse. Overnight at Shigatse.

Morning visit Tashilunpo Monastery and the spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas, then do its kora with local people. Afternoon drive back to Lhasa along the friendship highway. Overnight at Lhasa.

Your guide and driver will see you off at the airport or train station, end of the trip.