Festivals:

The Tibetan year is based upon a lunar calendar of twelve months, with the New Year usually beginning sometimes in February. Each month consists of thirty days, with the full moon on the 15th day and the new moon on the 30th day. The majority of Tibetan monasteries will have tshok, "offering ceremonies," for the Medicine Buddha, Öpame, and Sakyamuni, respectively, on the 25th day there is an offering on the Khandroma. On the 10th day of every month the Nyingmapa sect celebrates special Guru Rhimpoche days, the important of these being in the sixth month to commemorate his birth.

Tibetan New Year:
The Tibetan New Year is reglemented by the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 and follows the Chinese New Year. Before that, the year started in Tibet with the blossoming of the peaches. On this day, families unite greeting with the auspicious "tashi delek".

Great Prayer festival:
Following the Tibetan New Year, this is the greatest religious festival in Tibet. It was instituted in 1409 by the founder of the Gelukpa Sect, Tsongkapa. In Jorkhang monks from the Three Great Monasteries of Tibet assemble to pray to Sakyamuni and hold philosophical debates among candidates for the Doctorate of Metaphysics. From all over Tibet pilgrims come to pray and donate to the monks. The festival lasts nearly two weeks.

Butter Lamp Festival:
The last day of the Great Prayer Festival celebrates the victory of Sakyamuni over non-Buddhist opponents. The festival was established by the Lord of Neu Dzong in 1409 with the illumination of countless butter lamps.


General Information:

Overcoming altitude problems: Traveling in Tibet is an adventure involving high altitude and could be strenuous. So far, most visitors have only minor effects from the altitude. However, we advice esp-ecially the guests with known heart or lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Mild headache, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder can take place before acclimatization Our advice: Drink 4 ltr of water minimum a day. Do not exhaust yourself of much and breathe deep and take rest mote than usual. Bottled water is available in each hotel where you have overnight and in the restaurant en route where you have your lunch.

Money: Banks in Tibet/China are closed on Saturday and Sunday. So you are kindly requested to carry about US$ 100.00 per person in cash to cover your extra expenses for your main meals and others en route until Lhasa. If it is cash dollars, even local people help you to get them exchanged in Chinese Yuan. Travelers Cheques and credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks especially out side Lhasa. Exchange rate from US$ to Yuan is about 8 Yuan from 1 US$. Next, if any of the clients pay for the Tibet tour in TC, one afternoon you are kindly requested to accompany the guide to the bank in Lhasa for about 15 minutes and please make an extra counter signature on the TCs you have paid. Your direct present and counter signature ensures immediate encashment of the TCs to our agent in Lhasa. Otherwise, it may take months. Your kind co-operation in this regard will be highly appreciated.