Tibet Trekking from Gandan to Samye

Itinerary

Itinerary
Collapse
Expand

DAY
1

Arrive in Lhasa

Welcome in Tibet – the roof of the world

Today arrive in Lhasa (3650 m), the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. Stay at the hotel for adapting to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water.

Overnight at Thangka Hotel (Oxygen bar room)

Barkhor Street

DAY
2

Lhasa

Potala Palace – landmark of Lhasa, Jokhang and Barkhor Street

In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

Overnight at Thangka Hotel

Breakfast

Jokhang Monastery

DAY
3

Lhasa

Panoramic view over Potala, Norbulingka, Debate in Sera

In the morning visit Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from here you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. It is also one of the six master monasteries of the Gelugpa. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. You have the opportunity to experience the famous monks' "Buddhism scriptures debates". Public religious debates are part of the education of monks.

Overnight at Thangka Hotel

Breakfast

Debate in Sera Monastery

DAY
4

Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse

Karo La Pass and Glacier, holy lake Yamdrok, Palkhor with Pagoda Kumbum

Drive to Gyantse. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4,441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On arriving, visit Pelkor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the 15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Afterwards drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang.

356 km
6 hours 41 minutes
Overnight at Gesar Hotel (VIP Building)

Breakfast

Yamdrok Lake

DAY
5

Shigatse – Lhasa

Tashilunpo Monastery

In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. In the afternoon drive back to Lhasa.

273 km
4 hours 58 minutes
Overnight at Thangka Hotel

Breakfast

Tashilunpo Monastery

DAY
6

Lhasa – Ganden - Hepu. Trekking Hepu - Yama Do

Visit Gandan Monastery. Short trekking from Hepu to the first campsite

Drive to the Gandan Monastery (3800 m). Gandan was built in 1409 by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa of Tibetan Buddhism. Gandan, Drepung and Sera are the three largest monasteries in Lhasa. And Gandan is the place where Tsongkapa passed away. Therefore, it has the highest reputation of all the monasteries of the Gelugpa. If you are interested, you can walk along the pilgrimage way to the left and right hillsides of Gandan Monastery to visit Tsongkhapa’s meditation cave and enjoy the panorama of Gandan Monastery and magnificent scenery of Lhasa River valley. Afterwards drive to Hepu Village, meet local Tibetan with his yaks or horses. One hour from Hepu you will reach Ani Pagong, a narrow, craggy bottleneck in the valley. A small nunnery used to be above the trail. From Ani Pagong the trail continues for one hour through marshy meadows to Yama Do.

Drive 60 km, 1 hour 20 minutes
Trekking 2 hour
Camping (4400 m)

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Gandan Monastery

DAY
7

Trekking Yama Do - Tsotup Chu Valley

Today‘s highest point Shug-la (5284 m)

One hour past Yama Do leave the valley and ascend a shelf on the eastern side of the valley to avoid a steep gully that forms around the stream. After 45 minutes you‘ll enter a wet alpine basin covered with tussock grass. The Shug-la (5284 m) is at least one hour and twenty-five minutes from the basin. Remain on the east side of the valley as it bends to the left. You have to negotiate boulders and lumpy ground along the final steep climb to the pass. The Shug-la cannot be seen until you're virtually on top of it. It is marked by a large cairn covered in prayer flags and yak horns. The cairned trail gradually descends to reach the valley floor 1.5 hours from the pass. Cross the large stream, the Tsotup Chu, which flows through the valley. During heavy summer rains take special care to find a safe ford. The pastures in the area support large herds of yaks, goats and sheep, and during the trekking season herders are often camped here. This is an ideal place to camp and meet the herders (drokpo in Tibetan). It is a two to 2.5 hour walk from the stream ford to the second pass, the Chitu-la, and at least 1.25 more hours to the first camping place.

Trekking 6-7 hours
Camping (4800 m)

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking to Samye

DAY
8

Trekking Tsotup Chu Valley - Herders‘ Camp after Chitu La

Today‘s highest point Chitu La (5090 m)

From the Tsotup-chu ford, climb upwards for 30 minutes until you reach a large basin. Follow this broad valley which soon arcs south to the Chitu-la (5090 m). A short but steep descent will bring you into a basin with three small lakes. It takes 45 minutes to reach the southern end of the basin. Drop down from the basin on the western side of the stream and in 30 minutes you will hit the first place to set up camp. Herders have carved out level places for their tents here. However, you may go down for one more hour to find other camping places.

Trekking 6 hours
Camping (4000 m)

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking to Samye

DAY
9

Trekking Herders‘ Camp after Chitu La - Yamalung Hermitage. Drive to Tsetang

Yamalung Hermitage. Samye Monastery and Yongbulakhang Palace

The trail now becomes wide and easy to follow as it traces a course down the eastern side of the valley. The next three-hour stretch of the trail is the most delightful of the entire trek. According to local woodcutters more than 15 types of trees and shrubs are found here, some growing 6 meters tall. Then you cross the Yamalung Tsangpo Valley and visit the Yamalung Hermitage. It is said that this is the cave where the master Padmasambhava meditated. It consists of several small temples, and a few meditators live there. Then you get up the vehicle that waits here, drive to Tsetang. In terms of geography, the fertile valleys of Yarlung and Chongye here are appropriate for development of Tibetan civilization. At first visit the Samye Monastery. Located in the north of Yarlung Tsangpo River and hold in the arms of mountains, it is the oldest monastery of Tibet (8th century). The stele hanging on the entrance to the main temple shows that king Trisong Detsen took Buddhism as the state religion in 779. The monastery complex consists of several buildings, whose arrangement reflects the Buddhist conception of the structure of the universe. Afterwards driving or biking (50 km) to visit the Yongbulakhang, the first palace in Tibet built in the 7th and 8th centuries during the time of the first Tibetan kings. It is far viewed that the castle is high on the rock hills and looks brightly white. The original fortress is now converted into a chapel; in the ground floor there is a shrine in honor of the early kings. The steps up are steep but it is worthy because on the top of the hill you can far view the valley and the surrounding mountain.

Trekking 4 hours
Drive 1 hour
Overnight at Tsedang Hotel (3560 m)

Breakfast

Trekking to Samye

DAY
10

Tsetang - Gongga Airport

Travel to next destination

Free until transfer to Gongga Airport, leave Tibet.

Breakfast

Samye Monastery

Tailor-make this tour

This trip can also be tailor-made, please let us know your travel idea: travel date, duration, number of travelers, child (2 - 12 years old), baby (0 - 2 years old), other travel destinations, meals, accommodation category, boutique hotel, special interest ...

Salutation:

Mr.

Ms.