12 Day Samye & Ganden to Mt Everest

Day1. Arrival to Lhasa, Tibet (3650m)

Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide, from the airport to Lhasa city is 60km, and one hour drive will take you to the holy Lhasa. Driving along the Brahmaputra River and Lhasa River. If you take the train to Lhasa, a 20-minute drive will take you to your hotel in Lhasa City. If you take the flight, 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Gongkar airport to Lhasa. Check into the hotel, and have a good rest to acclimatize to the high altitude.

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 sightseeing with a local Tibetan Tour Guide (3650m) 

After breakfast, you will visit the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in all of the Himalayas. Each day, many thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here to worship. Many have traveled well over a thousand kilometers by foot to see this 1400-year-old temple. After lunch, you will visit the 600-year-old huge monastery complex of Sera. While at Sera, you watch the monks engage in entertaining Buddhist philosophical debates. In the evening, you will have free time to wander around the Old Town on your own.

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 sightseeing with a local Tibetan Tour Guide (3650m) 

Today you will start your day by visiting the massive 1000-room Potala Palace, the most iconic building in Tibet. You will work your way up the steps of the Potala and then go through the most important rooms on this famous UNESCO site. After lunch, you will explore the beauties of the summer palace of Dalai Lama ( Norbulingka Palace ) after visiting many monasteries, it's a great option to visit the summer palace where Travelers can visit more than three palaces. In the late afternoon and evening, you will have free time to explore Lhasa on your own.

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 / Yamdrok Lake / Ralung monastery / Gyantse town (3900m) 270km, 6 hours drive 

Travel from Lhasa to Kampala pass [4794m], and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso and spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. 

The turquoise-colored Lake Yamdrok Yutso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. The unforgettable vista of the pincer-shaped turquoise water of the lake and the fantastic spectacle of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier from Karo la pass is where we will do a short hike to the opposite of Nyenchen Khangsar to visit a small lake and the mountain.

We travel to the Ralung monastery, which was once the biggest Buddhist college in Tibet and home of many great Tibetan Yogis from the Drukpa Kagyu sect including Jetsun Ling Repa, Jetsun Tsangpa Gyare, Jetsun Tsang Nyon, Jetsun U Nyon, Jetsun Drukpa Kunley. They are no tourists and sometimes not even locals, so Ralung Monastery is one of the most peaceful monasteries with beautiful landscapes.

Then along the Friendship southern Hwy drive to Gyantse.

Overnight at a 3-star Yeti hotel

(B)=breakfast

Day5. Gyantse / Shalu monastery / Shigatse (3900m) 90km, 1-hour 20min drive

Visit the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet, and visit the Palkor chode monastery. Gyantse is one of the beautiful Tibet towns with more local Tibetans.

Travel from Gyantse to Shigatse in a duration of 90km. On the way visit the Shalu monastery for beautiful old wall paintings. After arriving in Shigatse, check in at the hotel and visit the Tashilhunpo monastery.

Overnight in 4-star Gesar hotel

Breakfast

Day6.Shigatse / Sakya monastery / Pelber (4400m) 240km, 5-6 hours drive 

In the morning drive to Sakya and visit Sakya monastery on the way then drive to Pelber across Tsou-la Pass (4500m) and Gyatso-la Pass (5220m), with good weather you can see your first views of Mount Everest. At the end of the day’s 230km journey, we arrive in the evening at Pelber (New Tingri) (4300m).

Overnight in a 2-star hotel in Pelber

(B)=breakfast

Day7. Pelber / Gawu la pass / Rongbuk monastery / Mount Everest north face base camp (5200m) 100km, 4-5 hours drive 

This day will take you from Shigatse to Tibet’s North Face Everest Base Camp. Along the way, you will be passing through several small Tibetan farming villages that you will be able to photograph. You will cross over the 5248 meters high Gyatso La Pass, which offers a sweeping view of the rolling Himalayas Mountains. You will continue on to the Everest Region crossing over another high pass. This pass, the Gawu La, offers a panoramic view of the glacier-covered Himalayas. From here, you can see 5 of the world’s 15 highest peaks, including Everest. From the Geu La, you will then go to Rongphu, the highest monastery in the world at just under 5000 meters in elevation. The iconic view of Everest from here will be a high point of your journey!

Overnight in Black Yak hair tent dormitory in summer from April to mid-October or Rongbuk Guesthouse in the off-season from November to February

(No private bathroom, No Shower) 

(B)=breakfast

Day8. Rongbuk monastery to Shigatse (3900m) 340km, a 7-hour drive 

After breakfast,  see the sunrise at Everest Base Camp then drive to Shigatse through the same route from Gawu la Pass with the last view of the Himalayas range, stop at any point if you find interest. The duration of the tour is 340km. We will stay overnight at Shigatse.

Overnight at 4-star Gesar Hotel

(B)=breakfast

Day9. Shigatse / Northern Friendship highway / Yarlung Tsangpo River / Samye monastery (4000m) 300km, 6-7 hours drive 

After breakfast, we will travel from the northern friendship highway via seeing the view of the Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River through Rinpung town. We have started the tour to Shigatse via Lhasa from the Southern friendship highway from Gyantse, today we will travel back through the Northern friendship highway.

After arriving at Samye monastery, we will spend a night in the Guesthouse. Samye monastery is the first monastery in Tibet built during the 8th century. The monastery influences India, China, Nepal, and Tibet.

Overnight in a guest house ( No private bathroom and no shower )

Breakfast

Day 10: Samye monastery / Chimpuk meditation caves and nunnery / Lhasa (B) [3,650m], 250KM, 6-7hour drive

In the morning visit Samye monastery and drive to Chimpuk meditation cave and hike up to the monastery. Chimpuk is the meditation cave of great Tibetan masters since the 8th century. 

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 / Ganden monastery hike / Drak Yerba meditation caves hike / Lhasa (B) [3,650m], 140KM, 4-5hour 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 backside 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 it's 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, after 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

Day 12: Lhasa airport or train station dropping off 

Morning Lhasa airport or train station dropping off, the time comes to say your farewells to your guide and driver, end of the tour Tibet. 

Thank you for loving Tibet Beauties! Thank you for choosing Tibet Travelers! We look forward to seeing you once again in Tibet.