The Female Leaders Tour is dedicated to five artisan centers led by remarkable women: Dawa Drolma (ཟླ་བ་སྒྲོལ་མ) – Khyenle Arts Center, Sonam Yangchen (བསོད་ནམས་དབྱངས་ཅན) – Yang Lek Shey, Tashi Choetso (བཀྲ་ཤིས་ཆོས་མཚོ) – Nayo Tsang Weaving Center, Tsering Tso (ཚེ་རིང་མཚོ) – Nayo Oldhouse Pottery Center, and Pema Wangmo ( པདྨ་དབང་མོ) – Yuma Center.
These women are true examples of courage and determination. Working in different fields, some alongside their husbands, others independently, they play diverse roles, from hands-on craftsmanship to leading business management. Each of them has faced, and continues to face, countless challenges, becoming a source of inspiration for the entire community.
This tour invites you to discover their work, their vision, and how they are nurturing and strengthening our community. All of these young women have chosen to remain rooted in Menshod, living and working here with the shared goal of building a stronger present and future for the town.
Khyenle Arts Center
Dawa Drolma is the co-founder of Khyenle Arts Center, where lima bronze statues are still produced according to the traditional methods, and where every product carries a centuries-long heritage. Thanks to Dawa’s and her family commitment, the center constitutes a cornerstone of the community and a place where Tibetan culture is preserved as well as continues to evolve.
Nayo Tsang Weaving Center
Manager of the Nayo Tsang Weaving Center, Tashi Choetso carries forward an ancestral weaving tradition using the traditional Tibetan loom. By choosing handmade craftsmanship over industrial production, she preserves an intangible heritage while empowering local women.
Yang Lek Shey
Sonam Yangchen, the mind behind Yang Lek Shey, is a calligrapher and painter dedicated to preserving and reimagining Tibetan artistic traditions. Trained in some of the most complex Tibetan scripts, she blends rigorous study with contemporary creativity to connect heritage with younger generations.
Yuma Center
Founder of the Yuma Center, Pema Wangmo transforms Yuma, a traditional Tibetan root vegetable, into innovative products that honor its cultural and nutritional value. Inspired by the women of her community, she is bringing this local heritage to a wider market while promoting women’s empowerment.
Nayo Oldhouse Pottery Center
Working from a nearly 300-year-old Tibetan house, pottery master Tenzin Dakpa works alongside silversmith and business manager Tsering Tso, whose vision was the key to found and run the center. Together, combining pottery and silverwork, they create pieces that unite tradition and innovation. Their center is both a creative workshop and a living guardian of Menshod’s cultural heritage.
Tour Fee
1-3 people 300 RMB each; more than 3 people 250 RMB each.
Note: The tour lasts all day and lunch is included; private car excluded. For the entire day private car rent and ENG guide, please contact us.