Norzi (ནོར་རྫི) means “yak herder”, and our identity is deeply connected to the semi-nomadic culture of our community. Life here has always moved with nature, with the seasons, the animals, and the rhythms of the valley.
At Norzi Home, we offer a series of hands-on activities inspired by this culture. Some take place within the homestay, others in the surrounding natural environment. Each experience is designed to bring you closer to the daily life, knowledge, and traditions.
Making Yak Pot Yogurt
Discover this traditional activity at the homestay. We collect the milk from Dorphu nomads and prepare clay bowls for the fermentation process. Pot yogurt, in Tibetan culture, is widely appreciated because clay pots help keep the yogurt fresh and preserve its original taste.
Fee:
1-3 people 150 RMB each; more than 3 people 120 RMB each.
Keep in Mind: All yak-milk-related activities depend on seasonal and environmental conditions. We deeply respect our animals and natural rhythms. In colder months, milk production is limited, so availability cannot always be guaranteed. Check out the Dorphu Valley section, for more activities with yaks and yak milk.
Dege Queen Dukmo Hairstyle
Discover the beauty of traditional Tibetan hairstyling inspired by the Dege Queen Dukmo (འབྲུག་མོ།). We have a local hair-braiding expert who will recreate the Queen Dukmo hairstyle for you, complete with traditional jewelry and dresses. Guests can learn how the braids are shaped and decorated according to this local tradition, experiencing an element of Tibetan cultural identity that carries both elegance and history.
Fee:
The duration of the braiding is approximately two and a half hours and the fee is 250 RMB.
Mushroom Collecting
In the forests behind the guesthouse, guests can learn to identify and collect shamo (ཤ་མོང་), a wild mushroom traditionally used in Tibetan diet. A guide will accompany guests throughout the activity as they walk into the nearby forest to collect mushrooms growing in their natural environment.
Afterwards, guests can taste the self-collected mushrooms prepared with yak butter at the homestay.
This activity is seasonal, since the mushrooms grow for approximately four months each year, from July till October.
Fee:
1-3 people 300 RMB each; more than 3 people 250 RMB each.
Other Suggested Self-Guided Activities:
We encourage our guests to enjoy the nature around the guesthouse. Here two suggested free activities that can enrich your time at Norzi Homestay.
Bird Spotting
The area is especially rewarding for bird enthusiasts. For example, during the colder months, it is possible to spot the White-eared Pheasant in its wild habitat. Known locally as shagwang (བྱ་ཝང་), meaning “snow fowl”, this bird can often be observed while walking quietly through the nearby forest.
Star Watching
With no light pollution, our night sky is exceptionally clear. From the small second-floor terrace, reached by climbing a traditional Tibetan wooden ladder crafted by a local carpenter, or from the yard, guests can observe stars, constellations, and sometimes even visible planets.
