Visit Songtsanlin Monastery during the Tibetan New Year Festival Losar
2 weeks trip through Northern Yunnan focusing on the cultural diversity in Southern China, the Tibetan New Year Festival Losar, the Tibetan people as well as the matrilineal Naxi minority
Destinations: Kunming, Shangri-La, Lijiang, Dali
Ideal trip to get to know Yunnan and for people interested in Tibetan Buddhism
Partake in the festivities of Losar Festival: a true insider's tip
The area is easy to access so you can enjoy the Tibetan New Year Festival Losar without having to travel great distances, while avoiding mass tourism
Daytime temperatures should be around freezing and might drop to -15° C at night. As this festival is held during off-season you will encounter very few other tourists
Cultural Trip to the Tibetan New Year Festival in Shangri-La (Zhongdian)
This tour will lead you to the Tibetan New Year Festival in Shangri-La (Zhongdian; in Tibetan also referred to as Gyalthang) in Yunnan. Every year, thousands of believers and pilgrims gather at the biggest Buddhist monastery of the region to pray for good fortune.
You will get to know Yunnan and partake in the Losar Festival. Starting in Kunming, you will explore the Tibetan Northern regions of Yunnan and the famous destinations Dali, Shangri-La and Lijiang. All hikes are rather easy, although we will reach an altitude of 3'500 meters and above. This trip is specially designed for people, who want to gain an insight into Northern Yunnan and Tibetan Buddhism as well as to get to know the matrilineal Naxi minority. With your visit to the Losar Festival you will have the unique opportunity to learn more about the local population's culture.
You will logde at the best hotels available to ensure you have a pleasant stay during this cold time of the year. Temperatures may drop to -15°C on occasion.
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Quick Introduction
After arrival and two days of sightseeing in the "spring city" Kunming - the provincial capital of Yunnan - this tour will lead you into the province's mountainous Northern part to Shangri-La (also known as Zhongdian). On February, 21st 2008 you will partake in the Tibetan New Year Festival "Losar". As this festival is held during off-season you will encounter very few other tourists.
From Shangri-La we head southwards to Lijiang via the "Tiger Leaping Gorge", one of the earth's deepest gorges. Lijiang's old town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where we will come in contact with the matrilineal Naxi society and its Dongba Shamans.
Then we travel on to Dali, the former capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom. The town is famous for its three towers, the Erhai Lake and the nearby temples. Dali also attracts a lot of martial arts enthusiasts from all over the world.
