Nagchu Horse Racing Festival Tour

When you arrive in Lhasa, our staff will pick you up at Lhasa Airport/ Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel. From the airport, it takes about 1 hour. From the train station, it only takes 20 minutes. Afterward, it's better to relax and take it easy on the first day to get acclimatized to high altitude and alleviate the jet lag. You might go to the local market and wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

On your third day, you will be feeling much more acclimatized to Lhasa’s high elevation. It is an excellent idea to spend the day exploring the Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The superb collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. It is best to explore the inside of the Potala in the morning for 2-3 hours. Afterward, you can walk the pilgrimage route around the Potala Palace.

In the afternoon, you will head to the Jokhang Temple, which is well known as the center of Tibetan Buddhism, and features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers. Also, you can see a great many pilgrims praying in front of the temple and doing kora with local pilgrims.

After visiting the Jokhang Temple, you can stroll in the old alleys of Barkhor Street, where you may drink sweet tea, chat with locals to experience real life in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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On your third day, you will be feeling much more acclimatized to Lhasa’s high elevation. You will spend the day exploring two of three "Great Three" Gelug Monasteries. In the morning, you will call Drepung Monastery, which is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries that ever housed more than 10,000 monks. It's also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

Then after lunch, you will head to the Sera Monastery, which is renowned as the most beautiful Tibetan Monastery. It is famous for the Buddhist Debate. Also, inside the monastery, you can appreciate the three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Paintings of Buddhas.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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In the morning, we drive to the holy Namtso Lake (4,718m) along the Qinghai-Tibet. On the way to Namtso, you will have a far view of Nyenchen Tangula Mountains. Enjoy the view of the vast grassland and spectacular natural scenery.

You'll arrive at Namtso Lake after passing Nagela Pass (5,150m). It covers a total area of more than 1,900 square kilometers. At an elevation of 4,718 meters, it is also the highest-altitude salt lake in the world, the furthest depth being more than 33m. Besides, you can enjoy the view of the Sky Road Railway with a background of snowy mountains; while standing at the famous Nagela Pass, you can see the stunning view of the holy Namtso Lake. If the weather is good, you will have a chance to enjoy the marvelous sunset view of the lake. Then we will drive to Damxung for accommodation.

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Today, you will head to Nagchu to watch the thrilling Nagqu Horse Racing Festival. There, you can enjoy spectacular horsemanship. Tens of thousands of herdsmen wear their festival costumes, ride their finest horses and pour into the vast grassland. The grand festival definitely deserves your visit as it includes riding competition, yak race, tug of war, stone-lifting and Tibetan operas, etc.

It is also the traditional occasion for the horse trade. The buying and selling of horses at these fairs attract the Tibetans. In addition, you can taste traditional Tibetan delicacies in different tents and explore some surprising goods.

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In the morning, you will continue to enjoy Nagchu Horse Racing Festival which usually lasts for one week.

After lunch, you will head back to Lhasa along with the beautiful villages and vast plain.

Stay overnight in Lhasa