Shaman Festival Tour
Shaman Festival Tour
Trip Details
- Trip Duration
- 6 day
- Group Size
- 2-8
- Trip Type
- Cultural Trips, Hiking
- Trip Location
- Amdo Tibet
Trip Details
- Trip Duration
- 6 day
- Group Size
- 2-8
- Trip Type
- Cultural Trips, Hiking
- Trip Location
- Amdo Tibet
The Shaman Festival Tour starts in Xining and continues to Shachung, Rebkong, Ganjia, back to Rebkong, and finally returns to Xining. This is a 5-night, 6-day trip.
Tibetan Buddhism & Traditions
While our course area is known as the Gateway to Tibet, its unique culture is also influenced by its large Muslim population and its proximity to Mongolia.
We will visit secluded temples and monasteries, where we will have the opportunity to learn about traditional thangka painting as well as Tibetan worship and prayer. Along the way, we will meet local monks and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of Tibetan Buddhism to the people of Qinghai and Gansu.
Nomadic Culture & History
Home to hundreds of yaks and the nomads who tend them, this region encompasses two of the three historic provinces of Tibet.
Its rich history lives on in the many monasteries scattered across its windswept plains and soaring red-rock mountains, making Qinghai and Gansu places of both extraordinary natural beauty and exceptional cultural richness for those willing to explore one of China’s most remote regions.
Physical Challenge
Hiking at high altitude provides a rewarding physical challenge that encourages personal growth and resilience. This program will engage your passion for the outdoors in some of the most breathtaking scenery on the Tibetan Plateau.
The gorges and mountains of Qinghai and Gansu are among the most spectacular—and least visited—in the region. By the end of the course, participants will have developed a greater appreciation for nature and increased confidence in their ability to challenge themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally away from the crowds of the big city.
This course offers an opportunity for genuine adventure and discovery.
Option 2 The Shaman festival tour start in Xining, Shachung, Rebkong, Ganjia, Rebkong and back to Xining for 5 nights and 6 days trip.
Day 1 - July 24, 2027
In the mid-morning, we will meet you at Xining XNN Airport after baggage claim and transfer you about 1 hour to our hotel in Xining. Xining is located at 2,280 meters above sea level, and we will begin gradually acclimatizing here before continuing to Rebkong.
1:00 pm – Lunch in Xining, followed by a visit to the local Tibetan History Museum to see the world’s longest thangka painting, measuring over 600 meters in length. This thangka tells the story of the Tibetan people and was painted by 400 local artists over four years.
4:00 pm – Rest at the hotel and relax after your long flight.
5:30 pm – Enjoy an authentic Tibetan dinner in Xining and discuss the schedule for the week.
8:00 pm – Settle into our hotel in Xining for a good night’s rest.
Day 2 - July 25, 2027
8:00 am – Breakfast at the hotel in Xining.
9:00 am – Drive approximately 2 hours from Xining to Shachung Monastery.
Shachung Monastery overlooks the Yellow River and sits on a ridge directly across from Kanbula National Park. Here we can learn about the history of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) School of Tibetan Buddhism.
12:30 pm – Lunch in a small town near Shachung Monastery.
1:00 pm – Short hike through a nearby village as we walk the kora, the sacred pilgrimage route around the monastery and its dramatic holy cliffs.
4:00 pm – Depart Shachung Monastery and drive to Rebkong (2,500 meters).
6:00 pm – Authentic Tibetan dinner in Rebkong.
8:00 pm – Overnight at a hotel in Rebkong.
Day 3 - July 26, 2027
7:30 am – Breakfast at the hotel in Rebkong.
8:00 am – Drive about 10 minutes to Longwu Monastery, Qinghai’s largest monastery. Explore its back alleys to gain insight into daily monastic life and discover the origins of Tibetan thangka art, as many of the thangkas found throughout Tibet are produced here.
1:00 pm – Lunch in Rebkong.
2:30 pm – Visit a local village outside Rebkong to experience the Shaman Festival.
6:30 pm – Dinner in Rebkong.
8:30 pm – Overnight at the hotel in Rebkong.
Day 4 - July 27, 2027
7:30 am – Breakfast at the hotel in Rebkong.
8:00 am – Spend the full day viewing and photographing the unique Shaman Festival. Each local village hosts its own version of this festival, which has its origins in the pre-Buddhist Bon religion. The village shaman performs unique rituals and dances to honor the local mountain gods and pray for the health of the villagers and a successful harvest.
At the height of the celebration, long needles are placed through the cheeks and into the backs of dancers to the beat of a goatskin drum. This ritual is believed to release evil spirits from within the dancers.
1:00 pm – Lunch near Rebkong.
2:30 pm – Continue experiencing the Shaman Festival. Across all of Tibet, this festival is celebrated only in Rebkong.
6:30 pm – Dinner in Rebkong.
8:30 pm – Overnight at the hotel in Rebkong.
Day 5 - July 28, 2027
8:30 am – Depart Rebkong and drive through the high Tibetan grasslands for a short hike near Ganjia Gorge (3,200 meters).
12:30 pm – Lunch near the Ganjia Grasslands.
1:30 pm – Continue into the grasslands for an afternoon hike beginning at 3,200 meters, passing through rocky gorges and by a Buddhist meditation cave.
4:30 pm – Depart the Ganjia area and return to Rebkong.
6:30 pm – Check into the hotel and rest (or, if you are feeling energetic, take a short hike above the monastery).
7:30 pm – Tibetan dinner in Rebkong (2,600 meters).
8:00 pm – Return to your cozy boutique hotel in Rebkong.
Day 6 - July 29, 2027
8:30 am – Breakfast at the hotel in Rebkong.
Spend the morning exploring Rebkong and viewing its famous Tibetan thangka art.
11:00 am – Drive approximately 2.5 hours back to Xining Airport.
12:30 pm – Lunch along the way.
3:00 pm – Drop-off at Xining XNN Airport for your evening departure.
End of Services
Price Includes
Your Tibetan Trails journey is designed to provide a seamless and authentic travel experience across the Tibetan Plateau. The tour price includes:
- Accommodation in carefully selected Tibetan boutique hotels, guesthouses, or luxury lodges throughout the itinerary.
- For trekking and backpacking expeditions, all camping arrangements including tents, cooking equipment, pack animals (horses or yaks where required), and support staff. Guests are welcome to bring their own sleeping bag and sleeping pad, though these can also be provided upon request.
- Cultural experiences and nomadic activities as outlined in the itinerary.
- All meals during the tour, typically beginning with lunch or dinner on the first day and continuing through the conclusion of the trip. (Many other travel agencies cut out lunch and dinner for guests to make the prices seem lower, but we believe every traveler should experience the true culinary richness of Tibet and include a generous food budget inside our tours).
- One professional English-speaking Tibetan guide throughout the journey. Our guides have over 15 years of experience with foreigners.
- Private transportation in a comfortable van, SUV, or bus, including all ground transportation specified in the itinerary.
- All entrance fees and permits for attractions, monasteries, parks, and sites included in the itinerary.
- Accommodation and meals for guides, drivers, and support staff.
- Local mountain guides where required for specific trekking routes.
- All required travel permits, legal paperwork, and group insurance required for travel within Tibetan regions.
- Unlimited bottled drinking water throughout the tour.
Price Excludes
The following items are not included in the tour price:
- International or domestic flights and train tickets.
- Personal travel insurance. We require all travelers to obtain their own travel insurance for the duration of their trip. We recommend purchasing coverage through World Nomads or a comparable provider.
- Visa fees, passport fees, and any related travel documentation costs.
- Optional activities or excursions not specifically listed in the itinerary.
- Alcoholic beverages, specialty drinks, and personal snacks.
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, and support staff (recommended for excellent service).
- Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone charges.
- Costs resulting from itinerary changes, flight delays, weather conditions, altitude-related issues, government restrictions, natural disasters, or other force majeure events beyond our control.
Trip Highlights
- Experience the unique Shaman Festival in Rebkong, found nowhere else in Tibet.
- Explore Longwu Monastery, Qinghai’s largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery and a renowned center of thangka art.
- Visit Shachung Monastery overlooking the Yellow River and walk its sacred pilgrimage route.
- Hike through the stunning Ganjia Grasslands and dramatic mountain gorges.
- Discover authentic Tibetan culture, traditional villages, local cuisine, and centuries-old Buddhist traditions.