11 Day Trek Ganden To Samye
Why Travelers Like This Trek
- It’s the best trek close to Lhasa
- The sprawling ruins of Ganden remain a stunning sight. This is one of Traveler's favorite Tibetan monasteries, built high on a cliff in a natural amphitheater. After the tour buses leave, it’s a wondrous place
- High lakes and bleak, remote mountain pass
- Getting immersed in Tibetan history and their bizarre version of Buddhism from both new and old schools of Tibetan Buddhism
- Optional side-trip scramble up to an ancient Nyingmapa retreat called Yamalung and Chimpuk
- Beautiful sand dunes close to Samye
- View of the Yarlung Tsangpo River
- The Samye is the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet
- Chances to meet Yogis if you have merit
- Great place to witness the beauties of Nomads and Nature
- The month for this trek is starting from May to mid-October. Other months are too cold to trek. The beginning of June and September is the best month for trekking in the Tingri region.
Group Price & Size
2,180US Dollar Per Person
Minimum 4 People & Maximum 12 People
Single room occupancy supplement: 250USD (hotels only)
Tour Type: Group Treks
Group Size: 4 to 12 People
Tour Duration: 11 Days
Price: 2,180 USD
Day 1: Arrive In Lhasa
Welcome to Lhasa! Your guide and driver will meet you at the train station or airport and transfer you to your hotel.
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
Day 2: Jokhang Temple And The Barkhor Circuit
Lhasa, elevation 3650m, is the holiest city in Tibet and each day pilgrims from across the Tibetan Plateau arrive in the city to worship at one of the many temples found there. You will spend 3 full days exploring the city. On the first day, you will visit the Jokhang Temple, the most famous temple in Tibet. From the rooftop, you will see religious pilgrims prostrating in front of the Jowo Buddha statue inside the monastery. Afterward, you will explore the endless maze of markets and restaurants that line the ancient Barkhor circuit. While exploring the Barkhor circuit, you will rub elbows with Tibetan pilgrims who are prostrating their way around the Tibetan Quarter.
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
Day 3: Potala Palace And Sera Monastery
In the morning, you will visit the Potala Palace, the most recognizable structure in Tibet. Built in the year 637, the Potala Palace rises 13 stories and has more than 1000 rooms. In the afternoon, you will visit the great monastery of Sera, where monk debates take place each day. If you are interested in hiking, there is a pilgrimage circuit around the monastery that takes about an hour to complete.
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
Day 4: Drepung Monastery, Ramoche Temple, and The Tibetan Quarter
This day you will explore Drepung Monastery. Drepung was formerly the largest monastery in the world and is still one of the 3 most important monasteries in Tibet. Below Drepung is Nechung Monastery, the former home of Tibet’s state oracle. In the afternoon, we will visit the Ramoche Temple as well as a small nunnery in the Tibetan Quarter.
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
Day 5: Lhasa-Ganden Trek From Ganden Monastery To Yama Do 17kms, 5 To 6 Hours
In the morning, you will drive 55 km from Lhasa to Ganden Monastery. Ganden was founded in the 15th century and is one of the most famous monasteries in Tibet. You will depart from Ganden and trek to the meadows of Yama Do, elevation 4456.
Camping with meals
Day 6: Trek To Tsotup Chu Valley (5 To 6hours,10km)
In the morning, leave the valley floor and make our way through a steep gully rising from the stream bank. Then, climb the Shug La and begin our climb down through treacherous boulder fields. Later, cross Tsotup Chu, a large stream winding through the valley floor. A comfortable camp will be set up in one of the header fields.
Camping with meals
Day 7: Trek To Herder's Camp (5 To 6 Hours,14km)
Follow the Tsotup Chu down through its tributary and head towards the Chitu La pass. After ascending this rocky pass, we will quickly descend down and find a beautiful place to camp in one of the fields surrounding the stream. To find our campsite we will meander through quiet herder camps for nearly an hour. Another beautiful day of our trek is over!
Camping with meals
Day 8: Trek To Yamalung (6 Hours,39km):Changtang village, Yamalung Hermitage
During the 39km journey, you will trek about 15km, while for the rest 24km you can enjoy the ride on a tour vehicle. The trail gets wider and easier as we follow through scrub forests in the main valley. Beautiful streams and lush forests surround us as we walk. The next few hours are arguably the most beautiful part of our trek. More than 15 types of scrub trees, blooming rhododendrons, and vast meadows will amaze your every step of the way! After passing through this wondrous landscape, we will trek through the Changtang village. Less than an hour away, participants can choose to make the one-hour hike to the Yamalung Hermitage. Yamalung is an ancient and holy Buddhist meditation site. The driver will pick you up at Yamaling and drive you to Samye Monastery for the night.
Overnight at Samye Guesthouse( No private bathroom / No shower)
Breakfast
Day 9: Visiting Chimpuk Meditation Caves As A Day Trip From Samye
Today we finish the trek from Ganden to Samye. The highlight of the day will be the Chimpuk meditation caves where the first Tibetan Yogis meditated in the 8th Century. Chimpuk is located in the east part of the mountains. Great place to visit Nunneries and Yogis if you have merit.
Overnight at Samye Guesthouse( No private bathroom / No shower)
Breakfast
Day 10: Samye Lhasa 200kms, 5 Hours
Samye is the first Monastery built in Tibet during the 8th Century. Samye has a combination of Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan artists works, which makes Samye monastery very special as compared to other monasteries in Tibet. After visiting Samye, we finish the trek and drive back to Lhasa enjoying the view of the Yarlung Tsangpo River along the way.
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
Day 11: Lhasa Airport / Train Station Dropping Off
Morning Lhasa airport or train station dropping off, the time comes to say your farewells to your guide and driver.
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