Tours
10D Monlam "Great Prayer" Festival
Depart: 7th February 2025, Friday
Return: 16th February 2025, Sunday
Duration
9 Days
Highlights

Langmusi Monlam Festival, Giant Thangka Ceremony, Xicang Monastery Mask Dance, Gomar Monastery Prayer Ceremony, Qiang Minority Villages & more

Min/Max Pax
6/16
Current Pax
8
Tour Status
✓ Confirmed
Tour Price
(Land Tour Only)
landtour
Price
SGD ($)
Single Pax Twin/Triple Share
4,899 4,299
No. of Pax:
Important Notice

All tours are land tours and based on twin sharing only. If you have registered as a single participant and do not wish to pay for the single supplement, we will try our best to match you with another single participant; however, this is strictly subjected to availability and you will need to incur the single supplement charge if we are unable to pair you up.

 

Recommended Flights

Via Singapore Airlines

7 Feb    SIN-CTU   SQ844    0210 hrs / 0700 hrs
16 Feb  CTU-SIN   SQ5881   0945 hrs / 1455 hrs

Flight schedule subjected to change.

  • Tour Itinerary
  • Tour Inclusions
  • Tour Exclusions

7 Feb: Arrive Chengdu, transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure as we await the arrival of the rest of the group. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

8 Feb (B,L,D): After breakfast, we transfer to Chuanzushi via high speed train. From there, we bus via private bus to Zhagana for our sunset shoot. Overnight in local boutique guesthouse.

9 Feb (B,L,D): Photograph Zhagana at sunrise before heading off to Langmusi. In the late afternoon, we proceed to our vantage point for a panoramic view of Langmusi under the Red Rock Cliffs at sunset. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

10 Feb (B,L,D): This morning, we proceed to our vantage point to photograph the grand appearance of the Giant Thangka at Taktsang Lhamo Monastery before heading down to partake in the festivities. Photograph local monks and villagers in their Sunday best as they celebrate the Tibetan New Year. In the evening, we check out and head to the township of Luqu. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

11 Feb (B,L,D): After breakfast, drive up to Xicang Monastery to partake in their local jewelry parade as local monks deck out in various intricate and ornamental jewelry pieces. We also have the opportunity to photograph the Monlam Mask Dance before heading to Tangke Town. Here, we take the escalator up to photograph the first bend of the Yellow River. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

12 Feb (B,L,D): In the early morning, we drive to Gomar Monastery to partake in their prayer ceremony. Afternoon is some free time to explore the Aba township and a good opportunity for some panoramic photos from our vantage point. In the evening, we attend the Butter Flower festival at Gomar. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

13 Feb (B,L,D): After breakfast, we head to Nangshig Monastery, one of the biggest Bon monasterys in China where we witness the local horse parade. Photograph the prayer ceremonies within Tutelary Hall as well as the local Mask Dance. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

14 Feb (B,L,D): This morning's sunrise shoot will be at a panoramic platform of Nangshig Monastery. After breakfast, we traval to Lianbaoyeze to photograph this scenic mountain range. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

15 Feb (B,L,D): We return to Chengdu, passing by the Qiang minority villages of Taoping where we photograph their iconic watch towers. We then proceed to Qinyan Tower for a panoramic view of the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project before arriving back at Chengdu. Overnight in local 4 star hotel.

16 Feb: The rest of the day is free and easy for some last minute shopping before our transfer to the airport for our flight back to Singapore.

** Dates of Festival and itinerary are subjected to change.

- 9N Accommodation in comfortable 4-5 star grade hotels
- All meals as per itinerary
- All entrance fees
- All county permits
- Comfortable Air-Conditioned Bus including space for our equipment
- Chinese & English speaking guide
- SGTrekker Tour Leader 

- International Airfare
- Personal expenses eg. alchohol drinks during meals / shopping
- Visa fees if applicable (Singaporeans do not require a visa)
- Guide and driver gratuity

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Testimonials
My wife and I have just completed our second tour with Adrian, the first being to Mount Bromo 6 months ago. Bromo was more active in the sense of having to get up super-early and sleep when we normally wake up so as to beat the crowds for astrophotography, sunrises and sunsets. It was a medium-sized group but so well-coordinated by Adrian, even out in the dark freezing rain trying to find the Milky Way. His quick-thinking and flexible planning countered a potential problem with the withdrawal of 4WD jeeps due to last-minute local issues. He instilled a sense of collective responsibility among the group so there was no single episode of \”lost\” member or time delay throughout the trip. Adrian paid attention to how every member got their shot and made photo-taking technique as simple as he could for the less experienced. On this recently-completed trip to the backwoods of Rakhine State in Myanmar, we were clearly feeling jittery about safety and possible military conflict. Adrian went to great lengths to ensure personal safety and in providing for our different dietary needs in this religiously-sensitive area of Sittwe and Mrauk-U, centre of the Rohinggya and Arakan conflicts. This situation meant that there were almost no foreigners jostling for position and throughout the tour, we had all the scene to ourselves. Sunrise over the stupas was also thankfully devoid of hot-air balloons like those hanging over Bagan. We also interacted with displaced communities by Adrian\’s foresight to encourage us to bring and distribute small gifts as a friendship gesture, thereby strengthening rapport for street and portrait photography. A two-hour boat ride allowed us to document the fading face tattoos of Chin tribe women as this practice has been banned for a generation. Again Adrian\’s contingency planning skills came to the fore when our connecting flight out of Yangon was cancelled at last minute and we had to stay in town for 24 hours. Instead of chilling out in a hotel, Adrian arranged for an impromptu street photo session at a jetty followed by shooting sunset over a lake before dinner. On trips like these participants must be flexible and lay their trust in the leader, and on both trips for us Adrian delivered the itinerary goals and we took back great photos and more importantly wonderful memories, and made good friends.
KS Khong
Bromo July 2019 & Mrauk-U Jan 2020
An enjoyable trip with lots of photo opportunities under the expert guidance of Adrian.
CHUA SIONG AIK
Ban Gioc waterfall Vietnam
I must admit that my recent trip to West Java was fairly relaxing and easy going as well. Facing the Indian Ocean, the coastline of Sawarna offers fascinating and stunning scenery for seascape photography during golden hour – the times around sunrise and sunset. However, the most challenging task is to secure firmly the camera and tripod on rocky and undulating grounds. I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of magnificent waterfalls in Ciletuh Geopark. Diehard photographers can spend hours at the various waterfalls to try out and experiment creative options in composition, lighting and mood at different high-low vantage points. Throughout the trip, participants were in high spirits and felt well-rewarded with many wonderful shots. Adrian, you had again done an excellent job in fulfilling our dreams of an ideal photographic trip. Thank you.
FL Foong
5D West Java Photo Trip (27th April – 1st May 2019)