2020 Katok Festival

2020 Katok Festival will have been held in Katok Monastery , which is one of the six ‘Great’ Nyingma Monasteries in Tibet.

Katok monastery was founded by Katok Dampa Deshek, who was the younger brother of Phagmodrupa in 1159. The monastery had a reputation for fine scholarships and produced some of the greatest scholars in Tibetan history. During this festival, the last day of 22^nd July will be the day for unfolding Thangkar, however, this program (Unfolding Thangkar) might be changed in the last minute.

Itinerary

2020 July 24^th Arrive in Chengdu

Arriving in Chengdu, meet your guide at airport, drive to your hotel, check in, rest;

Overnight: Minshan Lhasa Grand Hotel — Include | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 25^th Chengdu to Xinduqiao

We will depart early, the drive to Kangding takes about7 – 8 horus, en route we will stop by some sites to stretch legs. Ya’an is a well-known location that grows excellent China Green Tea, we will visit local Tea planting field and see how people make tea (In Spring of March and April). The we will visit to Luding Iron Bridge, we will keep driving, via Kangding onto Mt Dzeto (4324m) then descending to Xinduqiao which is a small Tibetan village that is well-known for its picturesque view, overnight here

Overnight: Jin Qiu Mu Ma Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 26^th Xinduqiao to Garze (Kanze) County

Today, we begin our journey by driving to Lhagang town, where to visit Lhagang monastery and enjoy the great view of Lhagang pasture, then we will follow the valley the road curves onto Garze (Kanze) county, en route we will pass through Dawu County — a warm Tibetan town, its unique architecture make this town unique from other Tibetan towns. After a short visit to this beautiful town, we will continually head west to Luohuo County , and then drive along the road onto the Luo-guo-liang-dzi (4680m) to Garze (Kanze) County, which is about 3890 meters above sea level, we will visit to Garze monastery and Den Gonpa. overnight in Garze (Kanze)

Overnight: Tang Gu La Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 27^th Garze (Kanze) to Pelyul County

There will be a 10 kilometers drive from Garze (Kanze) to the road junction that leads to Pelyul, from which we’ll head into the valley passing a rocky mountain. En route we will detour to visit Yarchen Gar Nunery Buddhist Accademy (Be advised: the visit to Yarchen Gar May be canceled due to local Interim control ). Then we will again regain to the main road heading to Pelyul, which is located in the forest area and surrounded by mountains on both banks of the Jinshajiang River at the Sichuan-Tibet border in which some Tibetans of the patriarchal clan live.

Overnight: Cha Qin Song Duo hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 28^th Pelyul to Katok Monastery – Katok Festival

We will drive along the east bank of Jinsar River heading south for Horpo village. Then, we’ll go in the forest valley, drive to the top of the hill, where Katok monastery located, and experience the mystery festival of Katok.In the evening, we will drive back to Pelyul county for overnight

Overnight: Cha Qin Song Duo hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 29^th Pelyul to Katok Monastery – Katok Festival

In the early morning, we will drive you back to Katok monastery, witnessing the festival, yo see the different religous performance; In the evening, we will drive you back to Pelyul county again for overnight

Overnight: Cha Qin Song Duo hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 30^th Attending Katok festival, Drive to Derge County

Today is the last day we will spend in Katok monastery, we will depart early to attend the festival for the great Thangkar unfolding if weather permits (Thangkar unfolding might be canceled due to bad weather). During the process that the great Thangkar will be carried by dozens of monks to the side slope of the mountain which face east. The Katok Festival shall be ended after this ritual. Then after, we’ll depart for Derge County, check in the hostel, and rest

Overnight: Ying Jin Yuan Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 July 31^th Derge to Garze (Kanze) County

In the morning, we will visit to the three major sites of Derge printing house, Derge Gonchen monastery and Tangyel Lhakhang. Then afer, we will drive east to reach Mt. Trola, which is the highest point of this trip, the pass we’ll cross is 5,050 meters high. The view is superb and on the way we’ll stop by Yilhun Lhatso which is one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet. Its shores are covered with carved Mani Stone. The mountain and rocks surrounding the lake are said to be a divine form of the Cakrasamvara Mandala for those that have pure vision to see them.

Overnight: Tang Gu La Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

2020 August 1^st Garze (Kanze) County to Kangding

The drive from Garze (Kanze) County to Kangding is about 370 kilometers, approxiamtely 7 hours drive. En route we will detour of the religious site of Garta Shangba Lin monastery that 7th Dali Lama spend years to meditate in this monastery. The land that this monastery located is with a shape of Lotus. Therefore this place is also called “Lotus village”. Then after we will get back on the main road via Mt Dzetuo back to Kangding for overnight

Overnight: Kangba Grand Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner

2020 August 2^nd Kangding to Chengdu and to depart

Previously, it took more than 8 hours to drive from Kangding to Chengdu. Nowadays, the highway between this two cities has tremendously shorten the driving hours from 8 to 3.5 hours. We will drive you directly to the airport or train station for your departure (Be advised: please book your departure flight or train with departure time after 14:00pm )

Overnight: Not include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner