10 Days Ganden to Samye trek
This 10 day journey starts in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa, where you will spend 3 nights exploring all of the main sites.
Tour Length
10 Days
Price From
$1,900
$1,710
At a glance
MINIMUM AGE
Participants must be in good health and be able to spend each day walking around towns, villages and...
ACTIVE ELEMENTS
Include walking over steep, uneven terrain at high altitude
FIRST GROUP EVENT
Briefing will begin on Day 1, upon arrival to Kathmandu.
MAXIMUM ELEVATION
The maximum elevation is at Lhasa at null meters.
GROUP SIZE
Flexible group sizes available.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
This journey is rated as Moderate difficulty.
Trip Overview
This 10 day journey starts in the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa, where you will spend 3 nights exploring all of the main sites. You will start by strolling through the ancient market area around the Barkhor, where you will rub shoulders with countless Buddhist pilgrims. From there, you will go through the Jokhang, the holiest temple in all of the Himalaya. Inside, thousands of Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims will be chanting mantras and giving offerings of butter to the candles inside. You will then explore the huge monastery of Sera, one of the most influential monasteries in Tibet. Your next day in Lhasa will take you to Tibet's most iconic building, the Potala Palace. The Potala Palace has more than 1000 rooms and dominates the skyline of Lhasa. You will finish your time in Lhasa by exploring Drepung, another of Tibet's huge monastery complexes.
After 3 nights in Lhasa, you will make the short drive to Ganden, one of Tibet's most unique monasteries. From here, you will begin the fantastic 5 day trek to SamyeMonastery, located about 80 kilometers away. This trek is the most popular in Tibet, and for good reason! It allows you to see stunning landscapes, alpine lakes, Tibetan nomadic culture, rural Tibetan village life and so much more! During this trek, you will be fully supported with a guide, pack animals (yaks), a cook who will prepare all meals, all camping gear, all required permits and all ground transportation. At the end of your trek, you will arrive at Samye, the very first monastery in Tibet with a history stretching back over 1200 years!
Major Highlights
Barkhor Circuit and Jokhang Temple
Potala Palace
Sera and Drepung Monasteries
Ganden Monastery
Ganden to Samye 5-day trek
Shugu La high mountain pass (5,250 m)
Samye Monastery
Itinerary
Our experts have designed this gold-standard itinerary to inspire you, featuring our pick of the best hotels and experiences in every thrilling destination.
Day 1: Lhasa Elevation: 3600 meter
Arrive in Lhasa. When you arrive to Lhasa, you will be met by your guide and transported to your hotel. You can spend the afternoon wandering around the Barkhor, Tibet’s ancient market area that surrounds JokhangTemple. Each day thousands of Buddhist pilgrims make their way around this sacred temple.
Your Experiences
Tibet
Tibet
Day 2: Lhasa
You will explore the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in the Himalaya’s. Founded nearly 1400 years ago, Jokhang Temple houses the most sacred statue of Buddha. You will work your way through this fascinating temple alongside Buddhist pilgrims from the faraway regions of Tibet. The sound of pilgrims chanting mantras fills the air as does the smell of yak butter candle offerings. In the afternoon, you will go to the 600 year oldSera, one of Tibet’s largest Buddhist monasteries. Each weekday afternoon starting at 3pm, monks engage in Buddhist philosophy debates, which are fun to photograph.
Your Experiences
Lhasa Day Two
Day 3: Lhasa
You will start the day by exploring the Potala Palace, Tibet’s most iconic building. Towering above Lhasa with more than 1000 rooms, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama’s for hundreds of years. After lunch, you will go to Drepung, another of Tibet’s huge monastic complexes. The pilgrimage circuit around Drepung takes about an hour or so and offers spectacular views.
Your Experiences
sa
Day 4: Lhasa to Ganden, Trek to Yama Do
After breakfast, you will make the 50 kilometer drive from Lhasa to Ganden, one of Tibet's largest and most impressive monasteries. The 600 year old monastery is unique and built along the side of a mountain. After exploring Ganden, you will begin your 5 day trek to Samye Monastery, located 80 kilometers to the south. The first stage of the trek will take you around the monastery along the pilgrimage path before taking a fork and heading into the mountains in the south to the open valley of Yama Do. The trekking distance this day is around 17 kilometers and will take about 6 hours to complete.
Your Experiences
Ganden
Day 5: Trek from Yama Do to Tsotup Chu Valley
The second day of the trek will lead you from Yama Do over the pass of Shugu La, elevation 5250 meters. This pass is the highest along the trek from Ganden to Samye. The top of the pass offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. From the top of the pass, you will descend to the valley floor until you reach the camp site at Tsotup Chu. Along the way, you should encounter some Tibetan nomads with their herds. The distance today is 10 kilometers taking 6 to 7 hours to complete.
Your Experiences
tup Chu Valley
Day 6: Trek from Tsotup Chu Valley to Herders Camp Tim
The midway point of your trek will take you to a herderscamp that is used seasonally. Along the way, there are excellent mountain views and as well as pristine alpine lakes. You will cross another high pass today, the Chitu La at an elevation of 5210 meters and then descend to the valley floor. The distance this day is 15 kilometers and will take around 5 hours to complete.
Your Experiences
ganden monastery
Day 7: Trek from Herders Camp to Nyango Tim
The fourth day of the trek is all descent. The last 2 days of the trek will take you through pleasant villages and through some junipers and rhododendrons. The villages you will pass through are excellent places to see traditional Tibetan culture. The trekking distance today is around 18 kilometers and will take about 6 hours.
Your Experiences
Herdesr Camp
Day 8: Trek from Nyango to Samye Monastery Time
The final stretch of your trek will continue going through nice villages offering great mountain views before arriving at Samye, Tibet's first monastery. Samye has a history stretching back more than 1200 years. After completing the trek, you will stay in a basic guesthouse located a short walk from Samye. The trekking distance today is around 18 kilometers and will take 4 or 5 hours to complete.
Your Experiences
Camp
Day 9: Samye Monastery to Yumbulagang Temple and Tsedan
After breakfast, you will make the 60 kilometer drive along the Yarlung River Valley to the Yumbulagang Palace. Yumbulagang is considered the oldest building in Tibet and overlooks the fertile valley below. From the Yumbulagang, you will continue along the Yarlung River Valley to the small city of Tsedang, where you will stay for your last night in Tibet.
Your Experiences
Monastery
Day 10: Depart Lhasa
In the morning, you will be transferred to the Lhasa Airport and depart Tibet. The Trek from Ganden Monastery to SamyeMonastery can be done anytime from May through October. This is a fully organized trek that includes all hotel stays before and after the trek, pack animals, trekking guide, a trek cook, all meals on the trek, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, all permits and transportation to and from the trailhead.
Your Experiences
Lhasa
What's Included
• All accommodations (based on double occupancy)
• Breakfast each morning in Lhasa, Samye and Tsedang
• All meals during the trek from lunch on Day 4 to breakfast on Day 8
• All ground transportation in Tibet
• All entrance fees for the itinerary listed
• All required travel permits
• Local Tibetan guide fees
• Trekking cook
• Tents, sleeping bags and sleeping mats
• Lhasa Airport or train station pick up and transfer
What's not included in this package
• Passport and Chinese Visa fees
• International airfare to/from Lhasa, Tibet
• Lunch and dinner while in Lhasa, Samye and Tsedang
• Travel vaccinations
• Insurance (travel, medical, etc)
• Souvenirs or personal items such as laundry, snacks, alcohol/soft drinks, etc
• Photography fees inside temples and monasteries
• Porters or pack animals
• Gratuities to the Tibetan guides and driver
Commonly Asked Questions
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