The Shoton Festival Tour is one of Tibet’s most famous traditional festivals. “Shoton” means “yoghurt banquet” in the Tibetan language. The 2023 Shoton festival is held on the 16th of August.
According to the Tibetan lunar calendar, the Shoton Festival is held annually on the last day of June. The festival is an excellent occasion for both Tibetans and tourists.
During the Shoton festival, there are celebrations in the streets, squares, and monasteries in Lhasa. However, the central part of the celebration activities is gathering at the Drepung Monastery and the Dalai Lama’s palace called Norbu Lingka.
Another vital part of the Shoton Festival is Tibetan Opera. One can’t miss it. Starting from the first day of the Shoton Festival at Norbu Lingka and will last for a week. This festival is the most popular religious festival in Tibet.
You can also choose this festival’s 4 Days Holy Lhasa Impression Tour.
Lhasa Gongkar Airport (Google Map)
Upon arrival at the Lhasa Gongkar airport / Lhasa train station, our client will warmly welcome our Tibetan local tour guide and the traditional Tibetan white scarf.
We were driving for about an hour from the airport to Lhasa. Suppose you take the train to Lhasa, just half an hour from the train station to the hotel.
After check-in at the hotel, the guide will be briefing the tour itineraries for the next day. Therefore, we highly recommend all the travellers to relax in the hotel on your arrival.
We will begin our visit from Jokhang Temple, one of the most sacred temples in Tibet, built in the 7th century by the 33rd king of Tibet – Songtsen Gampo.
“Jokhang” means the temple of the Buddha. The Jokhang temple builds to house the Shakyamuni image.
After visiting the temple, you can explore the surrounding Barkhor street and spend time walking around the Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau.
In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery, one of three great monasteries of Gelugpa school,l and attend the monks debating session, which is quite popular in Sera.
We will start our Shoton festival tour by visiting the Drepung Monastery. The display of giant Thangka at the Drepung monastery is the theme of the festival.
Early in the morning to attend the Shoton Festival at Drepung and then visit the stunning Potala Palace – the landmark of Lhasa.
Potala is the winter palace that was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. The visit to the Potala Palace provides excellent views of the entire city and more than one thousand rooms, including the Dalai Lama’s private quarters and numerous grand chapels.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Norbu Lingka Palace, the summer palace of the successive Dalai Lamas. The palace will full of local peoples picnicking, singing and watching the shows of Tibetan opera.
The festival will last for a week of holiday in Lhasa.
Today is the scenic drive Gyantse with breathtaking high passes and the holy lake. Driving along the Lhasa river till the Lhasa Airport and we cross Kampa-la Pass [4797m] and then Karo-la Pass [5050m], where Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar [7206m] glacier lies near the road.
In the middle, we enjoy the unreal turquoise waters of holy lake Yamdrok-Yumtso lake. The lake is one of the four sacred lakes in Tibet.
Finally, we arrive at Gyantse town, where we visit the considered best Tibetan art paintings in Kumbum Stupa inside Pelkor Chode Monastery. Also, we admire the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) overlooking the valley.
After breakfast, we visit the Gyantse Dzong, and then we drive North-West to reach the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region – Shigatse.
We will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama. Nowadays is the spiritual seat for the successive Panchen Lamas.
We recommend doing Kora around Tashilhunpo Monastery if times allow having an incredible panorama view of the valley and impressive Shigatse Dzong (fortress).
Today, we drive back to Lhasa through the G318 Friendship Highway along the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) for 6hrs. After arrival in Lhasa, you will have half-day free time for shopping and exploring around.
Some groups are visiting Everest base camp for additional two days from Shigatse.
Our Shoton festival tour officially ends today.
Have a safe journey after that
