Tour Overview
Monlam Festival (The Great Prayer Festival, Losar Festival or Tibetan New Year Festival) is the grandest religious festival in Tibet. Monlam in Tibetan means great prayer, Losar is the Tibetan word for New Year, therefore Monlam Festival is also called the Great Prayer Festival, the Losar Festival or Tibetan New Year Festival. Monlam Festival has its origin in a prayer meeting organized by Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelukpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism at Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa in 1409. Monlam Festival is a time of monastic dancing, village-wide celebration, and ceremonies infused with incense on snow-covered highlands by Tibetan monasteries. This 10-Day Amdo Tibetan Monlam Festival Tour will give you a chance to join Tibetan monks and colorfully dressed pilgrims in a variety of religious ceremonies at Tibetan monasteries in Amdo. The highlight of the festival will be the 'Sunning of the Buddha' ceremony, during which a huge thangka of Buddha (usually measuring 90 feet by 60 feet) will be unfurled on a hillside. The festival will be accompanied by lively Cham dances and prayer assemblies throughout the entire period of two weeks. Join this GoGrandChina Monlam Festival tour and feel the excitement of pilgrims as they gather to view the pulsating rhythms of monastic Cham dancing, prayer assemblies and Basking of the Buddha ceremonies.
Tour Highlights
• Celebrate Tibetan New Year in Amdo with local Tibetans and nomads
• Admire Kumbum Monastery, birthplace of Tsongkhapa (founder of the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism)
• Visit Rongwo Monastery, the principal monastery in Tongren (Repkong in Tibetan)
• View Sunning the Buddha ceremony at Gomar Monastery
• Join local Tibetans for a milk tea breakfast at Gomar Monastery
• Enjoy Cham Dance by Tibetan Monks at Gomar Monastery, Lower Wuntun Monastery and Labrang Monastery
• Experience Tibetan life by visiting a normad's family
• View Sunning the Buddha ceremony at Labrang Monastery
• Admire Yak Butter Sculptures at Labrang Monastery, one of the six most important monasteries in Tibet
Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Day 1 Jan 19, 2021: Arrival in Xining, Airport Pickup & Visit Kumbum Monastery
• Day 2 Jan 20, 2021: Drive to Tongren, Rongwo Monastery
• Day 3 Jan 21, 2021: Tongren, Gomar Monastery, Sunning the Buddha
• Day 4 Jan 22, 2021: Tongren, Lower Wuntun Monastery, Cham Dance
• Day 5 Jan 23, 2021: Tongren, Gomar Monastery, Cham Dance
• Day 6 Jan 24, 2021: Drive to Xiahe, Tibetan Normad's Family
• Day 7 Jan 25, 2021: Xiahe, Labrang Monastery, Sunning the Buddha
• Day 8 Jan 26, 2021: Xiahe, Labrang Monastery, Cham Dance
• Day 9 Jan 27, 2021: Xiahe, Milarepa Palace, Yak Butter Sculptures
• Day 10 Jan 28, 2021: Xiahe, Labrang Monastery, Transfer to Lanzhou for Departure Flight/Train
Hotels & Meals
• 1 night of accommodation at local 4-star Sanwant Hotel in Xining or similar
• 4 nights of accommodations at local 3-star Hongfengde Hotel in Tongren or similar
• 4 nights of accommodations at local 4-star Labrang Civil Aviation Hotel in Xiahe or similar
• Daily buffet breakfast at hotel
• 19 meals (lunch & dinner at local restaurants)
Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs and Requirements
• If you have booked your own hotel, if you want to stay at other hotels or if you want to modify this itinerary, please feel free to contact us by WhatsApp (+86-18309280878), Wechat (+86-18309280878) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com), we will create a tailor-made tour for you.
Tour Prices (US$ Per Person)
1 person |
2 people |
3 people |
4 people |
5 people |
6 people |
7 people |
8 people |
9 people |
10 + |
$4298 |
$2108 |
$1588 |
$1388 |
$1278 |
$1168 |
$1108 |
$1048 |
$998 |
$918 |
Price Remarks
• Prices are based on sharing in double/twin/triple room at proposed hotels.
• S/S (Single Supplement) fee is charged for staying at single room.
• S/S fee for less than 10 adult travelers: USD ; S/S fee for over 10 adult travelers: USD.
Price Inclusions
• Hotel accommodation with daily hotel breakfast
• Professional English language speaking guide
• Air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver
• All admission tickets to sightseeing places
• Meals as specified in the itinerary
• All government taxes
Price Exclusions
• Your personal expenses
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.
Additional Info
• Tour starts on Jan 19, 2021 in Xining, ends in Lanzhou
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that all travelers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in a traveler not being able to join the tour, or for the entire group to be denied access to sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.
Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 31 days or more prior to the scheduled departure date, will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made within 22 - 30 days will incur a 10% fee.
• Cancellations made within 15 - 21 days will incur a 30% fee.
• Cancellations made within 8 - 14 days will incur a 50% fee.
• Cancellations made within 0 - 7 days will not receive a refund.
• After the tour has commenced, there is no refund for canceled services due to non-participation, missed days on tours.
• The confirmed cancellation date is determined based on the supplier's local time (Beijing Time).
• Please allow 2-5 business days to process and confirm your cancellation request. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive your refund within 14 working days.
Why Travelers Have to Choose GoGrandChina Private Tours?
• Choose your most suitable departure time, whether you are an early bird or you prefer sleeping in.
• GoGrandChina private tours are more flexible, allowing you to adjust everything on your trip to your wishes.
• GoGrandChina tour guides will be at your service to make sure you get the most from each destination. They are there for you and are responsible for making your journey special – and your needs always come first.
• GoGrandChina offers comfortable and luxury vehicles with a private & experienced driver who’s always by your side and ready to take you to your next destination.
• No shopping stops & factory visits, no chance of getting ripped off.
• No hidden costs, rest assured that there are no nasty surprises.