Experience of Tibetan New Year - 6 Days

Our guide and driver will escort you from Lhasa to Tsedang.

After breakfast, you will first visit Trandruk Monastery. The lamas will read scriptures and worship Buddha to pray for the New Year. You will see the local elders who get together to sing the traditional songs in the monastery. Then, you will go to visit a local family in a village near the city. You can receive a gift of Hada and Qiema. Qiema is a box with many carvings and contains barley and wheat. During New Year celebrations people will take Qiema when visiting their neighbors to express the best wishes. The villagers will dress in traditional costume and give you a warm welcome. You will taste some of the local snacks and then have New Year's lunch.
After lunch, you can join the locals and attend the various festival activities such as stone throwing, dice and Guozhuang Dancing.
After the festivities you will be transferred to the hotel.

Today's Activities: Visit Samye Monastery, our guide and driver will escort you from Tsedang to Lhasa.
- Samye Monastery (3.5 hours): Samye Monastery is one of the oldest Tibetan Monasteries. It was built a little later than Jokhang and the main monastery built during the first flourishing period of Tibetan Buddhism which is of great significance in the development of Tibetan culture. The monastery was once ruined by Lang Darma (Lang Darma was an ancient Tibetan King who banned Buddhism and destroyed Buddhist temples). It has been damaged throughout repeated wars and remains the present scope, which should be well cherished. Located at the foot of Mt. Hepo Ri, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River of Zharang County, Samye Monastery is about 38 kilometers from Tsedang. It’s one of the main scenic spots of the state-level scenic area – the Yarlung River Scenic Area.

Tour starts from the religious Potala Palace (3700 m )built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king-Songtzen Gampo. The present one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It became known as the "Winter Palace" by the 1750, when the 7th Dalai Lama built the Norbulingka Park as his summer residence. After lunch, you will visit Jokhang Temple, situated in the old section of Lhasa. King Songtzen Gampo built this temple in the mid-7th century A.D. Now it is the most sacred place in Tibet. Pilgrims come here to pay homage from all over Tibet. Visit Barkhore Street in the evening.

Full day sightseeing takes you to Sera Monastery (3 hours), located in the northern suburbs of Lhasa. It is a complex of 4 structures; the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang (1355–1435), a disciple of Tsongkhapa. 'Sera' means wild roses and was called this because the monastery was surrounded by wild roses. One of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place.
Tips: Every day (except Mondays) at 15:00, there is a debate about Buddhist doctrines among the monks at Sera Monastery. The debating is held in the grounds and is a necessary way of learning sutras and scriptures. Visitors can watch the debate, but it is advised to keep quiet.
Then take a visit to Drepung Monastery which is the largest of the monastery of the Gelug Sect in Tibet. After that, you will visit Norbulingka Park. In 1752, the 7th Dalai Lama built the first palace here for successive Dalai Lamas to carry out their political and religious activities during the summer season. Today Norbulingka has become a public park for picnicking, relaxing and entertainment.

Hotel to airport Transfer (Lhasa)