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 1.5 hours. 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 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 the Tibetan Buddhism, features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers. Also, you can see a great many of pilgrims praying in front of the temple and do kora with local pilgrims.

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

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Attraction:
• Potala Palace
• Jokhang Temple
• Barkhor Street

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 Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. In the morning, the first station is the Drepung Monastery, which is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries that housed for more than 10,000 monks. It was the residence of the Dalai Lamas until the great fifth Dalai Lama constructed the Potala. It was known for the high standards of its academic study and was called the Nalanda of Tibet. Later, you will visit the biggest monastery kitchen in the monastery and enjoy a Buddhist sculpture carving workshop near Drepung.

Then after lunch, you will head to the Sera Monastery, which is another one of the ‘Great Three’ Gelug monasteries. It is famous for the Buddhism activities of "Monks Debate" for around 3 to 5 PM in the afternoon. Also, inside the monastery, the three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha is the hot attractions.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Attraction:
• Drepung Monastery
• Sera Monastery

In the morning, we drive to the holy Namtso Lake 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 NagelaPass(5150m), it covers a total area of more than 1900 square kilometers, being the second largest salt lake in China. At an elevation of 4718 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 Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Nagela Pass, you can see the stunning view of 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 Dangxiong for and accommodation. Starting from 2019, all the guesthouses at the lakeside will be removed due to environmental protection.

Stay overnight in Yampachen

• Attraction:
• Namtso Lake - Ideal Place for a Spiritual Journey
• Nyenchen Tangula Mountain

Today, you will head to Nagchu to watch the annual Nagqu Horse Racing Festival. There, you can enjoy a spectacular horsemanship and taste many Tibetan delicacy. Tens of thousands of herdsmen pour into the vast grassland and dotted with tents to enjoy the Festival which is included riding competition, yak race, tug of war, stone-lifting and Tibetan operas. This is really a grand and lively Horse Racing Festival that you should not miss.

It is also the traditional occasion for horse trade. The buying and selling of horses at these fairs attract the Tibetans. You can taste traditional Tibetan food in different tents and explore some unexpected goods.

Stay overnight in Nagchu

• Attraction:
• Nagqu Horse Racing Festival

In the morning, you will continue to enjoy Nagchu Horse Racing Festival which is lasted for about one week.

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

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Attraction:
• Nagqu Horse Racing Festival