Samye and Trandruk Cham Festival Tour
- Duration:
- 6 Days
- Price:
- From USD1591
- Route:
- Lhasa-Tsetang-Lhasa
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
Samye and Trandruk Cham(Vajra) Festival would be respectively held at Samye and Trandruk monasteries for two or three days in the middle of May according to the Tibetan calendar. Cham dance is an ancient temple dance, which is to drive away demons and ghosts for the common people so that they can live in peace. The purpose of making offerings to Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajra Dance is to protect all sentient beings from suffering, eliminate worries, and achieve what you want.
As the origin of Tibetan Buddhism, Samye Monastery is a shrine founded by the great master Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century. Trandruk Monastery is one of the first rounds of Buddhist monasteries built in the Tobo period. Besides, you can visit the famous Chongye Burial Mounds, one of the few historical monuments in Tibet. After this tour, you may understand Tibetan Buddhist culture better and attain a creative epiphany in your life.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m) | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 2 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street |
| 3 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery |
| 4 | Lhasa - Tsetang (3,560), 280km, Approx. 6hrs | Samye Monastery, Trandruk Monastery |
| 5 | Tsetang - Chongye - Tsetang, 56km, Approx. 1hrs | Chongye Burial Mounds |
| 6 | Tsetang departure | Send off to airport/railway station |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseWhen 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
Today, you will explore the Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The most valuable collections here are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. It's best to explore the inside of the Potala in the morning for 2-3 hours. Afterward, you may 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, etc. Also, you can see a lot of pilgrims praying in front of the temple and doing kora. After visiting the Jokhang Temple, you will stroll in the old alleys of Barkhor Street, where you can drink sweet tea, chat with locals and even bargain with the street vendors to understand the real life in Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
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
Today, drive to Tsetang along with the famous Yarlung Tsang River. On the way, you’ll visit the Samye Monastery and Trandruk Monastery. The Samye Monastery is the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism. It is renowned for the characteristic art of its buildings and the vivid murals. Besides, Trandruk Monastery, founded by Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century, is the most important and largest of the surviving royal foundations in the Yarlung Valley.
Stay overnight in Tsetang
Today, you’ll leave for Chongye to visit the famous Chongye Burial Mounds (3,800m). It represents one of the few historical monuments in Tibet that give any evidence of a pre-Buddhist culture. Most of the Tibet kings interred here are firmly associated with the rise of Buddhism, but the methods of their interments point to the Bön faith. Here, you can visit the most revered of the Tomb of Songtsen Gampo which is the largest of the burial mounds. Then climb to the Tomb of Trisong Detsen and see the superb views of the Chongye Valley.
Stay overnight in Tsetang
Tour Price and Service
From US$1591 p/p
Based on 3-star hotels for 2 people in low seasons. Price varies according to travel season, number of people and level of accommodation.
INCLUSIONS
- Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance tickets fee for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
- Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
- Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
- 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 guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
- Breakfasts provided by hotels;
- Pick-up & Drop-off service from Airport/railway station;
- Travel Agency Liability insurance;
- Government tax;
- Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
- Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
- Oxygen tank for emergency use;
- Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
EXCLUSIONS
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
- Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
- Meals are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 5-15 USD per person for each meal.
- While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them 8-15 USD/day in total;
- All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
- Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.
I am well thankyou. It turned out to be a great trip. I have two excellent guides and the driver. Especially as Lakdun (not sure how to spell her name) was there to help me at the airport when my flight got cancelled. You might also be interested to know that I run spiritual retreats and pilgrimages ....
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Rose***
I would very much like to do your Samye Tour and your Mt. Kailash Kora. My thinking is to do the Samye Tour in 2022 and the Mount Kailash Kora Tour in 2023. I will be very happy to go to Lhasa twice! I have been Buddhist for more than 40 years and both pilgrimages are life long dreams. I plan to make my way to Lhasa by train from Xining in Qinghai as my Lama-la and many of my friends live in different places in Qinghai. Also, Kumbum/Taersi is my "home" temple. By the way, I am fluent in Chinese and love travelling throughout China. What would be the cost for each of the two trips? I may prefer to travel alone, unless you can find an older companion or two (I am 62 now) who is also Buddhist. I have hiked to as high as 5100 meters and that was in the summer of 2019 in the Dekeh region of Western Sichuan.
Dear Roseanne E Freese, Thank you for sending us an inquiry! This is Catherine from Great Tibet Tour at your service. Great Tibet Tour is a local tour operator based in Lhasa, Tibet. It was founded in 2005 and recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best reputed local Tibet travel agencies. We specialize in arranging Tibet travel for foreigners, as well as other parts of China & Nepal. In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to do the Samye Tour in 2022 and the Mt. Kailash Kora in 2023, we can arrange the tours for you. Taking a train from Xining to Lhasa is fine, and our tour guide will meet you at the Lhasa railway station. Here is the itinerary.
Asked by Mari***
I would like to visit Tibet. I am traveling alone. I am interested in monasteries, cultural events, festival events. I can travel 7-10 days
According to your requirement, I pick up two itineraries for you, 10-day-tour and 7-day-tour,which I send to your email.Both of the two plans contain some monasteries as the following. I need know some information definitely. When will you arrive in Tibet? Which level hotel would you like to stay overnight? It is easier to choose the best one for you.
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