7 Days Gyantse Damar Festival Tour
Overview
The Gyantse Damar Festival Tour is a captivating journey that takes you deep into the heart of Tibetan culture and traditions. Located in the enchanting town of Gyantse in Tibet, this festival is one of the most vibrant and significant events in the region. The festival, which usually takes place in the month of June, is a celebration of Tibetan Buddhism and commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Lord Buddha.
In this tour, tourists will visit major monasteries in Lhasa and head to enjoy the well-known Gyantse-Shigatse loop during which you can join the Damar festival.
The Gyantse Damar Festival Tour is not only a feast for the senses but also a transformative cultural experience. It offers a glimpse into the spiritual essence of Tibetan Buddhism and allows you to witness the living traditions that have shaped the identity of this enchanting region. Prepare to be captivated by the vibrant colors, enchanting rituals, and the profound spirituality of the Gyantse Damar Festival.
Tour Type:
Escorted by private guide and vehicle; leave 365 days a year!
Trip Level:
Easy – suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.
Season:
Spring春
Summer夏
Autumn秋
Winter冬
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa
Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to your hotel in Lhasa.
Then check in at the hotel, and have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 2: Lhasa Tour – Potola Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street (B)
In the morning, we are about to visit the famous Potala palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, and you will experience its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.
In the afternoon, we will tour the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during Songtsen Gonpo’s reign by princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkhor Kora (circling around Jokhang temple and Barkhor street) and bargain with vendors for Tibetan souvenirs on Barkhor street.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Potala Palace, at the top of the hill in central Lhasa city, is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.A Tibetan pilgrim is worshipping Jokhang Temple
Day 3: Lhasa Tour – Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B)
Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung monastery was situated at the foothill of a mountain and was once home to 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung was famous for its role as the governmental centre during the fifth dalai lama and later was moved to the famous Potala Palace during the fifth dalai lama.
After having lunch, we continue to visit Sera Monastery founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive scene is its monk debate held in the debating courtyard mostly around 3 – 5 in the afternoon.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
The spectacular vista of Drepung MonasteryMonk Debate is a highlight of Sera Monastery
Day 4: Visit Yamdrok-Tso Lake and Pelkor monastery in Gyantse (B)
Drive across Kambala Pass to the dazzlingly turquoise green Yamdrok-Tso Lake, one of the three great holy lakes in Tibet. After having an eyeful of the stunning scenery, move on to Gyantse, one of Tibet’s most traditional towns. En route you will also enjoy spectacular vistas of Karo-la Glacier roadside at 4960m.
Another important attraction for today is Pelkor monastery, a walled monastery complex in Gyantse. Pelkor monastery is also known for its Kubum, a 35m-high chorten (stupa) with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome.
Stay overnight in Gyantse.
Bathing in sunshine, Yamdrok lake is dispalying its dazzling beauty to visitors both home and abroad.A great view of Palkhor Monastery
Day 5: Enjoy Gyantse Damar Festival and Nomads’ Trade Fair (B)
Our focus of today is to enjoy the annual Gyantse Damar Festival lasting from April 15 of Tibetan calendar. Considered to be one of Tibet’s most traditional festivals, it offers us a chance to experience Tibetan Buddhism and folklore in an intimate way. Locals from the 19 townships in the Gyangze County gather to celebrate the festival, which also attracts people from everywhere.
Tourists can enjoy wresting, horse racing, shooting contest, etc. It is not only a folk festival but an exchange with a theme of promoting economy through cultural events like exchanging goods in the trade fair etc.
During the festival, nomads will drive their horse carts to bring their families to the annual festival. Some are fond of races, some like to watch performances, while still others will set up stands to sell home-made sweet milk dregs and other products. But most people will stay in their own tents and enjoy themselves until nightfall.
As tourists explore the exotic trade fair, you can also taste highland Tibetan delicacy and collect exquisite handicrafts and other souvenirs.
Stay overnight in Gyantse.
Horse racing is one of the most important events during Gyantse Damar FestivalA local Tibetan girl is selling hand-made wood-ware.
Day 6: Gyantse to Lhasa via Shigatse (B)
First follow the Nyang River northwest for an hour or so to Shigatse. On the way , we will stop to tour Shalu Monastery renowned as a center of scholarly learning and psychic training, and its ancient and beautiful mural paintings.
Later, we are going to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama (Tibet’s second highest incarnation).
After lunch, start our drive back to Lhasa along the Sino-Nepal Highway for roughly four hours.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Nowadays, there are still over 800 monks living and studying in Tashilhunpo Monastery.The mural paintings in Shalu Monastery are considered to be the most ancient and beautiful in Tibet.
Day 7: Departure from Lhasa (B)
Transfer to Lhasa airport for your flight back home.
Included:
- Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
All meals listed in the above itinerary;
Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
First aid kit;
Excluded:
- International flight to and out of China;
Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.