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tibetan new year monlam ritual

Yamandaka Cham Dancer _edited.jpg

      People often say that the best time to visit the Tibet plateau is summer. It's true -- the weather is excellent and the pastureland is covered by abundant flowers in summer. Little known by the outside world, is that Tibet in winter is also a great time to visit. The landscapes display the majesty in its extreme weather with precipitous snow mountains and solemn waters. The local pilgrims gather at the monasteries to take part in the annual rituals that cleanse the misfortunes and clear away the obstructions of the past year, and observe the beginning of the new year. In the villages, the new year is celebrated with decorations, feasts, folk songs, traditional dresses and more. So it's definitely a good time for the visitors to see and experience the ways in which Tibetans express their views about time and social order in both religious and secular settings. 

Yamandaka Cham Dancer _edited.jpg
Tibet Buddhist Arts Workshop 1 .JPG
Tibet Buddhist Arts Workshop 1 .JPG

This itinerary covers primarily the eastern part of Tibet in Amdo region. It will take you to over a dozen monasteries and its surrounding villages, across six counties and three provinces. It's not merely to drive a long way through many monasteries. The string of the sites are carefully chosen to showcase the diversity represented in different religious traditions, as well as in each locality with predominant pastureland, farming or forestry landscapes. For example,  one of the focal areas is Ngawa county (also spelled as Aba), where the monasteries of Gelugpa, Nyingma, Jonang, Bon, coexist together. How similar, or say, different do the rituals of the new year take place in these institutes of different linages? Also, how similar or different do people of high pastureland, and low valleys, living in earth-bound houses, stone-built houses or log houses celebrate the new year? This is going to be grandeur of a trip to witness Tibetan culture that is still vibrant and alive in the time of drastic changes. 




     Is it going to be freezing cold? No worries. We book decent hotels and homestay nights with good heating and hot water for showers. The 4WD car is well-equipped to drive across the distance. The road is well-paved. Your tour leader is very experienced, who has been guiding and managing tours for the past 20 years and is exceptionally detail-oriented in customer service. Check out recent feedback about him! This trip is going to become one of your unforgettable journeys.



Itinerary A
7 days trip to see Cham ritual festival in Qinghai    

 

Day 01. Arrive in Xining. Orientation dinner 

Day 02. We drive from Xining to Shachong Monastery located on top of Mt. Amnye Shachong with a scenic view of the Yellow River valley.  It is one of the major monasteries of Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.
We will then continue to Rebkong  (the centre of the religious arts in Amdo ) and spend the next five days in to see the festivals in different locations. 
Day 03. Visiting Cham ritual in Sangge Shong Monasteries. After noon, visit monks' private houses and thangka paintings. Overnight in Rebkong 
Day 04. Visiting Gomang Monastery and attending the public tea ceremony follow by visiting Champa Lingkor ritual. Carrying the statue of the future Buddha walk around the villages.  Lunch at Chuma village at the local Tibetan home.
Day 05. Visit Cham Ritual in Gomar monastery. After lunch drive to Labrang (Chin: Xie He). Overnight in Labrang.
Day 06.  Visit Labrang monastery in the morning, and Explore the town in the afternoon. Overnight at the same hotel. 
Day 07.  Morning leave for Lanzhou airport and fly out. Tour end

Please email us for the detailed program.

Original Price: 5600RMB Per Person

 

Price: 4480RMB Per Person (20% off)

 

Price includes:

  1. Accommodations with daily breakfast (heating and hot shower )

  2. Private transportation

  3. Experienced Tour leader

  4. Lunch and dinner

  5. All expenses of meals and tea settings at the private homes


Price does not include: 

  • Any international or national flight tickets 

  • Entrance fees for festivals

  • Tips for driver and guide




                                                                Itinerary B
                                                                   13 days of excursion to visit some of the most extraordinary
                                                                     Buddhist rituals in the Tibetan regions in Sichuan province.

     

Day 01. Arrive in Xining. Orientation dinner 

Day 02. We drive from Xining to Shachong Monastery located on top of Mt. Amnye Shachong with a scenic view of the Yellow River valley.  It is one of the major monasteries of Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.
We will then continue to Rebkong

Day 03

Drive to Labrang via the open grassland of Gartse and stop to taste the nomads' homemade yoghurt. Arrive at Labrang monastery at noon. Visit Labrang Tashi Kyi monastery (the monastic university) in the afternoon. Explore the town and local market.

Day 04

This is going to be a long and scenic drive (6-7hrs), through endless grasslands, nomadic towns, rivers and mountain passes. But you will have many chances to stop for taking a rest, photograph, have short walks and picnic (if the weather allows). We will arrive in Ngawa (Chin:
A Ba) in the early evening. Check-in at your hotel.

Day 05–Day 10

We will visit two Bon monasteries, Kriti Monastery and Se Monastery of Jonang tradition on the 23rd. From the 24th till the 28th, we will visit festivals in both Bon and Buddhist monasteries.  

Day 11

Drive from Ngawa toward Barkham, we'll reach the valley of Gyarong region in the afternoon. The area is covered by forestry with traditional stone houses and fortresses. 

Day 12

Drive toward Danba via Jinchuan, along the Jinchuan river. We will make stops at the ancient Bon and Buddhist temples and villages. We will stay with a local Tibetan family in Gyaju Village.

Day 13

We will leave early morning for Kangding airport. Trip ends.
Please email us for the detailed program.

Original Price: 10400RMB Per Person

 

Price:8320RMB Per Person (20% off)

 

Price includes:

  1. Accommodations with daily breakfast (heating and hot shower )

  2. Private transportation

  3. Experienced Tour leader

  4. Lunch and dinner

  5. All expenses of meals and tea settings at the private homes


Price does not include: 

  • Any international or national flight tickets 

  • Entrance fees for festivals

  • Tips for driver and guide

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