Ganden to Samye Trek

In the first few days of this trip, explore the famous sites in Lhasa. Visit the great Potala Palace, the holy Jokhang Temple, and the lively Barkhor market. Watch monks debate at Sera Monastery and discover the nooks and crannies of the numerous temples and prayer halls at Drepung Monastery. At last, drive to Ganden Monastery, where trek begins. Following a trail dotted with roses and rhododendron, descend into a bowl of wildflowers surrounded by enormous peaks. Throughout the trek, climb over mountain passes with fantastic views and into lush valleys inhabited by nomads. Walking along the Samye River, stop by a small shrine to have a cup of tea with nuns before heading towards the golden spires of Samye Monastery.

Itinerary : 

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa [3650m]

Welcome to Lhasa! Transfer to your hotel and get settled.

Day 2: Lhasa

In the morning, visit the Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in all of Tibet. From the rooftop you will see pilgrims from all over Tibet prostrating in front to the Jowo Buddha statue inside the monastery. Afterwards, walk through the Barkhor, a famous shopping street filled with goods and souvenirs from Tibet, Nepal, and India. Spend some time drinking sweet tea in a traditional tea house located on a rooftop overlooking the bustling Barkhor. Then in the afternoon, visit Drepung, one of the three most famous monasteries in Lhasa. Drepung is located just outside Lhasa on Gambo Utse Mountain. Once home to as many as 10,000 monks, the enormous monastic complex is the site of many prayer halls, dormitories, and temples. Just below the monastery is the Nechung temple, the former home of the state oracle. Afterwards,  visit visit the Norbulingka Palace, the summer Palace of the Dalai Lama. In the late afternoon, go to the Barkhor street, follow the local pilgrims from all of Tibet.

Day 3: Lhasa

In the morning, visit the Potala Palace, the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. The Potala is 13 stories high and holds countless treasures in its many rooms. Built in 637 AD, the Potala has been home to the Dalai Lama lineage for more than a thousand years. Afternoon, visit Sera monastery, where you can watch monks clap their hands and stomp their feet as they debate Buddhist philosophy in the courtyard. If you enjoy hiking, walk the hour-long circumambulation path around the monastery complex.

Day 4: Lhasa to Ganden Monastery [4200m], driving 70km, 1.5hours 
One of the three most important monasteries in Lhasa (along with Sera and Drepung), Ganden sits high on a mountain ridge. Explore the monastery prayer halls, then hike around the ruins on the backside of the mountain and do a kora (circumambulation) around the monastery — it’s a short hike that offers great views over a vast valley. If you’re up for it, do the longer kora, and climb way on top of a mountain ridge and fly some prayer flags. Guide will arrange your yaks here. Stay in the Ganden Monastery Guesthouse or Camp nearby.

Day 5: Ganden to Yama Do, Trekking 5-6 hours,  17km

The first day of trekking begins at the highest point of the Ganden Kora. From here walk along a saddle trail. After leaving this trail with wondrous views traverse the west side of the ridge before passing through an ancient Hepu village. Later in the day pass through Ani Pagong, a narrow bottleneck in the trail and former site of a nunnery. From Ani Pagong the trail steadily climbs for one hour through marshy meadows to Yama Do.  Above Yama Do the valley’s watercourse splits into three tributaries.You will end the day with an ascent towards Yama Do, a few nomads families used to dwel their tents in this area for whole summer time, set up camp and overnight camping.

Day 6: Yama Do-Tsotup Chu Valley 5-7 hours • 10km

In the morning leave Yama Do.  the valley and make our way through a steep gully rising form the stream bank. Finally, we climb over the Shug La [5250m] and begin our climb down through treacherous boulder fields. Later, we cross Tsotup Chu, a large stream winding through the valley floor. Notice that the Tibetan mastiffs of the namad family on the other shore of the river is little aggressive. A comfortable camp will be set up in one of the many herder fields and overnight camping.

Day 7: Tsotup Chu Valley-Herders’ Camps 5 – 6 hours,14km

Today follow the Tsotup Chu down through its tributary and head towards the Chitu La pass [5100m], then trek through the rocks along a beautiful lake just after the pass. After ascending this rocky part quickly descend down through several twisted curves in the valley, and encounters some nomads settlements within the valley, find a beautiful place to camp in one of the fields surrounding the stream. Over night in camping.

Day 8: Herders’ Camps-Yamalung Hermitage Tempel-  Samye Monastery[3680m], 10 hours, 39km

The trail gets wider and easier as we go through scrub forests in the main valley where beautiful streams and lush forests surrounded. However, the desert is close by. The next few hours are arguably the most delightful part of the entire trek. More than 15 types of scrub trees, blooming rhododendrons, and vast meadow will amaze you every step of the way. After passing through this wondrous landscape arriving at the first permanent village Changtang since Hepu. This village named after the northern Tibet Changtang Plateau. From Changtang, look south to the distant mountains; this is the range on the far side of the Yarlung Tsangpo valley.  Forty-five minutes down the valley is the turn point for the Yamalung Hermitage.  It is nearly a one-hour steep climb to the hermitage. Yamalung is where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated and received empowerment from the long-life deity Tsepame (Amitayus).

The hermitage consists of several small temples, and housed few meditators.  Below the temple complex is a sacred spring and an old relief carving in stone of Guru Rinpoche, King Trisong Detsen and the Indian scholar Shantarakshita, all of whom lived in the 8th century.  The cave Guru Rinpoche meditated in is enshrined by the Drupug Mara Titsang Temple.  Inside are the footprint and handprint of the saint said to have been created when he magically expanded the size of the cave.
Trek from Yamalung in a motorable track for about 40-50minutes, you will get to Nyango, where you can take a tractor or your landcruiser will pick you up to Samye Monastery or keep walk for another 3 hours to Samye.  Visit Samye Monastery in the afternoon. Overnight at Samye Monastery guesthouse.

Note: Add an extra day to your itinerary if you would like to take an incredible hike up to the Chimpu meditation caves above Samye.

Day 9: Samye Monastery-Yumbulakang-Trandruk Temple-Tsethang [3500m]

Drive from Samye to Tsedang cross the Yurlung Tsangpo River either by bridge or boat, you will get to the ancient capital of Tibet prior to Lhasa and fertile valley of Yarlung is also known the cradle of Tibetan civilization, Here, visit Yumbulakang Palace and Trandruk Temple. Yumbulhakang Palace is an ancient palace in the Yarlung valley. According to legend it was the first building in Tibet and built as the palace of the first Tibetan king-Nyatri Tsenpo. Yumbulhakang Palace stands on a hill. You can ride a horse up to the temple or walk up to there.  Over night in Tsethang.

Day 10: : Tsedang to the Lhasa airport,  Driving 2 hours

Today is your last day in Tibet, we will drive you to the airport. You will see the vast valley and expanded Yurlung Tsangpo River. Once you are at the Lhasa Gongga airport. Our guide will assist you to check in. Once everything is set. Say goodbye to Tibet!

If you are taking train, you can be in Lhasa on the night of Day 9th and go to the train station on the Day 10.

Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.