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Shoton is a Tibetan word which means the Yogurt festival, it is also called the summer opera festival, in Lhasa. This is because the monks were fed up with much yogurt like a yogurt festival during the summer retreat. During fifth Dalai Lama, Kinds of Tibetan traditional dances like Tashi Sholpa, Tropa and Lhamo opera were held in Drepung to greet while exchange the new face of the Thangka unveiling.
Later, built a house for 11th Dalai Lama in Norbulingka, and since then, the shows continued in Norbulingka. Shoton festival tour 2018 is pre-bookable from now.
Note: If your arrival time is different from others and you don’t want to wait for the free shuttle bus, then we can arrange private airport pick up/transfer for additional cost CNY400. It is free for train station pick up / transfer. Please let us know your arrival time and detail information of flights/train.
Meals & Accommodations: As Specified in the itinerary
Upon arrival, our guide and driver will receive you from airport/ train station and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day at own leisure to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude at 3650m. A welcome dinner at 6:30pm from a local Tibetan restaurant.
Overnight: Lhasa
At 9 am, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and escort the grand Potala Place, which is built in the 7th century by 33rd King Songtsan Gampo, and later rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama. Followed by visiting the Jokhang Temple and exploring around Barkhor Street. The Jokhang Temple was founded in the 7th century during the King Sogtsan Gampo’s reign. Barkhor Street was busy since from the butter system.
Overnight: Lhasa
This morning, our guide will walk with you to Ramoche Temple (less than 1km) which was built by Han Chinese Princess Wencheng in the 7th century. In the afternoon, we are visiting Sera Monastery to enjoy the interesting monks Debating on Buddhism at their courtyard.
Overnight: Lhasa
Kindly finish your breakfast before 8 am as our guide will be waiting you at lobby drive towards Namtso Lake. It is one of the four sacred lakes in Tibet and there are pilgrimages throughout the year. It spreads more than 1900 square kilometers. It is the second largest salt water body in China and the highest salt water lake above the sea level in the world. From there, we are driving towards Yangpachen Hot-spring. By the time we reach to Lhasa, it will be already late evening.
Overnight: Lhasa
Today too, we are leaving hotel by 8 am to witness the special ritual activities at Drepung Monastery. This day, monks will unveil a giant Thangka in Drepung Monastery. Very early in the morning, monks at Drepung Monastery spread out the giant “Thanka” of Buddha and pray. If you attain the chance to see the Buddha Thangka in a year, it is said that you could accumulate merits from spreading spirit of Buddhism. After getting blessings from displayed Thangka, we will have lunch from a local restaurant near Drepung. Then, we are moving towards Norbulingka, the summer Palaces for the successive Dalai Lamas. Professional and amateur Tibetan opera troupes annually gather in Norbulingka and perform various Tibetan operas. Along with the Tibetan operas and other religious activities. You can also watch yak races, horse races and dancing. (Note: We will get the recreation schedule only few days of the festival so we will update the schedule at your arrival or during the trip.)
Accommodation: Lhasa
This morning, you can enjoy Tibetan Opera at either Norbulingka or nearby place. Before 2hours of your departure, the guide and driver will transfer you to airport or train station to connect your next destination. Thank you for choosing us!
