10 Day Ganden to Samye & Nepal
10-Day tour from Lhasa to Ganden monastery, Drak Yerba meditation caves, Yumbulakang Palace, Samye monastery, Mt. Everest Base camp, and towards Kyirong Nepal Border
This journey will start by exploring the holy city of Lhasa. Next, you will travel to Ganden monastery and Drak Yerpa meditation cave for a day trip with 2 hours hike in both places to see the beauties of Ganden Valley and Yerba Valley.
Travel to the first Palace and first monastery in Tibet at Tsetang region known as Samye monastery and Yumbulakang Palace with a visit to the meditation caves of 8th-century Tibetan ancestors at Chimpuk.
From Samye, we will drive to the North Face Base Camp of Mt. Everest where you will be rewarded with an up-close view of the world’s highest peak! From Everest, drive to Kyirong Border with a view of Shishapangma Mountain (8012M) and Phikutso Lake along the way.
Group Price & Size
1,690 US Dollar Per Person
Minimum 4 People & Maximum 12 People
Single room occupancy supplement: 350USD (hotels only)
Tour Type: Group Tours
Group Size: 4 to 12 People
Tour Duration: 10 Days
Price: 1,690 USD
- All travel permits for Tibet
- English-speaking Tibetan tour guide
- Pick up and drop off by airport bus
- All transportation in Tibet per itinerary, a vehicle for the trip outside of Lhasa, taxis inside Lhasa
- Vehicle tolls and vehicle repairs(if necessary)
- All administrative fees
- All meals and accommodations for your guide
- All lodging listed in the itinerary
- Breakfast each morning
- Entrance fees for the places listed in the itinerary
- One-time welcome meal for the group
- One box of mineral water plus shared
- Oxygen tank in the car
- Transportation costs to and from Tibet
- Chinese visa fees and passport fees
- Lunch and dinner
- Personal expenses (laundry, photography fees, souvenirs, etc)
- Tips to the driver and guide
DAY1. LHASA ARRIVAL (3650M)
Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be welcomed by your English-speaking Tibetan Guide and Tibetan Driver who will bring you to your hotel. Acclimatization to high altitude: please, drink lots of water and take plenty of rest in order to minimize altitude sickness.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
DAY2. LHASA TOUR WITH LOCAL GUIDE (3650M)
In Lhasa (3700m) we explore the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred monastery in Tibet, and the surrounding Bharkor bazaar, the bustling Lhasa market. In the afternoon we go to Sera Monastery to watch the monks debate in a centuries-old manner.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
(B)=breakfast
DAY3. LHASA TOUR WITH LOCAL GUIDE (3650M)
In Lhasa (3700m) we tour the Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama, and Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
(B)=breakfast
DAY4. LHASA - GANDEN MONASTERY - DRAK YERBA MEDITATION CAVES - LHASA ( 140KM ) 4-5 HOURS DRIVE
Today we start the day traveling to Ganden monastery, the most important monastery in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The highlight will be the 1-2 hours hike from the back side of the mountain to see the whole Ganden valley. Since there is only a vehicle trip on most of the tours so to make the tour special, arranging the hiking tour is one of Tibet Travelers' specialties for the Travelers. The hiking route is also known as the pilgrim kora route for the local Tibetans. Very few Travelers can be seen so its special.
We will also visit the tomb of Tsongkapa and the Throne of Ganden, the Great Hall of Ganden Monastery, and Ganden Tsogchen, where monks perform prayers.
In the afternoon, we visit the 7th Century meditation caves of the previous great master in DrakYerpa, we will also do meditation in the great master's meditation caves. We will also have a 1-2 hour hike to the meditation cave to see the beauties of Yerpa Valley. Later we will drive to Lhasa through the high pass Nachen la Pass near Lhasa.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
(B)=breakfast
DAY5. LHASA - TSETANG -SAMYE MONASTERY ( 250KM ) 5-6 HOURS DRIVE
On this day, we will travel to Yarlung Valley to visit the beauties of the first Palace in Tibet ( The Yumbulakang Palace ) built by the first King in Tibet ( Nyatri Tsenpo )
After the Yumbulakang Palace, we will travel to the Samye monastery to visit the Chimpuk meditation caves with a nunnery.
Samye monastery is the first monastery in Tibet. The monastery is full of blessings from Maha Guru Padmasambhava.
Overnight in the monastery guest house ( No private bathroom and no shower )
(B)=breakfast
DAY6. SAMYE - YAMDROK LAKE - GYANTSE - SHIGATSE (360KM ) 7 HOURS DRIVE
On this day we drive approximately 360km, first stopping along the banks of Yamdrok-Tso, the sparkling turquoise lake, for photos. After, on the way to Gyantse we cross Kampa-la (5050 m) and Karo-la Pass (5045 m) to view the Mt. Nojin Kangtsen Glacier falling down near the road. Upon arriving in Gyantse (3950m), we visit the seven-story-tall Kubum Stupa and Pelkor Chode Monastery.
Also, we admire the Gyantse Dzong (fort) overlooking Gyantse, famous for the British military siege led by Colonel Younghusband in 1903.
After spending some time at Gyantse, we drive 90 km to Shigatse via enjoying the beautiful landscape and small villages along the way. We also visit Shigatse Market and view the panorama of Shigatse Dzong (fort), with its architecture reminiscent of the Potala Palace.
Overnight at 4-star Gesar Hotel
Breakfast
DAY7.SHIGATSE - SAKYA MONASTERY - PELBER ( NEW TINGRI ) (290KM ) 6-7 HOURS
After breakfast, we visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, to see the future Buddha’s golden shrine. The Tashilhunpo Monastery is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the 2nd highest in the Tibetan Buddhist religious hierarchy.
We leave Shigatse and drive to Shegar across Tsou-la Pass (4500m) and Gyatso-la Pass (5220m), with good weather you can see your first views of Mt. Everest.
At the end of the day’s 230km journey, we arrive in the evening at Pelber (New Tingri) (4300m).
Overnight at 2-star Roof of the World Hotel
Breakfast
DAY8. PELBER - RONGBUK MONASTERY - EVEREST BASE CAMP ( 100KM ) 4 HOURS DRIVE
On the scenic drive from Pelber to Mount Everest Base Camp, we will cross the Gawu la Pass( 5200M) and see the view of 4 mountains above 8000M plus, such as Mt. Lhotse (8516), Mt. Everest ( 8848M), Mt. Cho-Oyo (8201M), and Mt.Makalu ( 8463M)
We then arrive at Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world, 4km from Everest Basecamp. The 100km drive takes approximately 4 hours due to unpaved roads.
Overnight at the Everest Basecamp area at the tea tent dormitory or in the off-season from November to February at the Rongbuk monastery dormitory.
(No private bathroom and no shower)
DAY9. RONGBUK MONASTERY - KYIRONG TOWN ( 285KM) 6 HOURS DRIVE
Enjoying Mount Everest under the stars in the night. This morning after sunset at Mount Everest, we drive to Kyirong, crossing over Lalung-la Pass at (5,050m) and, taking in beautiful panoramas of the Himalayan Range including Mt. Everest (8,848m).
On the way, we will pass by Phikutso Lake and see the view of Mt. Shishapangma ( 8201M) only Mountain above 8000M fully planted in Tibet.
After arriving in Kyirong, Travelers will have a rest day and prepare for border crossing the next day.
Overnight at 3-star Kyirong Hotel
Breakfast
DAY10. KYIRONG - NEPAL BORDER - RASUWA GADHI ( 25KM )
After breakfast, drive from Kyirong town to the border checkpoint 25 km via applying for a Nepal visa upon arrival and cross the border by foot to Rasuwa Gadhi.
Tibet Travelers service ends
You can find a vehicle to Syaburbesi town around 16km and hire vehicle public transport to Kathmandu cost around 100 RMB per person.
Tibet Travelers can also help to arrange a private vehicle for you with our Nepal agency help for 260 US dollar extra.
There is around 150 km from Rasuwa Gadhi to Kathmandu but because of the bad road condition, travel duration via private vehicle is around 6-7 hours.
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