GANDEN TO SAMYE TREKKING TOUR
The Ganden to Samye trek is one of the most beautiful treks in Tibet. The level of difficulty is moderate, you will go over two high passes: Shuga-la Pass (5,250 meters) and Chitu-la Pass (5,210 meters).
The Ganden to Samye itinerary allows time for acclimatizing before the trekking. We will spend three days in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet at the altitude of 3900 before heading towards Ganden monastery, where our adventure begins. The trek is usually 4 days long and at the end, we reach Samye monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.
KEY FACTS
The total ascent on the trek: 1,600 meters
The total descent: 2,100 meters
Max elevation: 5,250 meters
Trekking length: 80 km
GANDEN TO SAMYE ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrive in Lhasa by plane or by train
You arrive at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or the train station. The airport is 62 km/ 39 miles away from the city, and it takes approximately one hour to get to the hotel from there. On the way to Lhasa, you will enjoy beautiful views of the mountains. The train station is located in Lhasa, and you will only need a short transfer to the hotel.
Depending on the time of your arrival, you might have some free time to spend in Lhasa. Our guides will be happy to advise you on what you can do with your time in Lhasa. Remember, that Lhasa is located at 3,650 meters/ 12,000 ft above sea level and you will need some time to acclimatize.
After you check in the hotel, you are welcome to explore the city, visit nearby temples, do some shopping, try delicious Tibetan food in one of the local restaurants, or just take a rest.
Walking around Barkhor Street can be an excellent choice for your first day in Lhasa. You will join crowds of pilgrims, local Tibetans, and monks circumambulating the Jokhang Temple.
Most importantly, on your first day in Tibet, be sure to relax, enjoy your day and allow some time for acclimatizing. It is essential to acclimatize to the high altitude of Tibet to prepare for the upcoming trek.
Day 2 Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
This tour visits the two most important religious sites in Tibet.
The Potala Palace was the seat of the Dalai Lamas since the 17th century. First, the guide will take you to the Chak Pori Hill to take photos of the majestic Palace. We will then go inside and spend approximately 1.5 – 2 hours there. While there, you will see many of its most famous artifacts.
There will be free time for lunch after visiting the Potala Palace.
Time permitting, you can walk around the Potala Palace and join many of the local Tibetans.
Next, we will walk towards the Jokhang Temple. It was built in the 7th century to display the Jowo Shakyamuni Statue – the statue of the 12-year-old Buddha before his enlightenment. The statue was created at the time when the historical Buddha lived. It is elaborately decorated with gold, jewels, and precious stones.
After visiting the temple, we recommend taking a walk around Barkhor Street.
Day 3 – Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
We are visiting the two most important monasteries in the capital.
We will first visit Drepung Monastery, which once was the largest monastery in the world with over 10,000 monks living there. It was the residence of Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was built.
There will be free time for lunch after the Drepung Monastery.
In the afternoon we are visiting Sera Monastery. It was founded by Tsongkhapa’s disciple in the 15th century. Nowadays it is famous for monks debate that you can witness. Debates are a very important part of learning and understanding Buddhism. Monks gather in the courtyard in the shade of the trees to refine their knowledge.
In the evening you will have some time to pack for our trek and prepare everything you might need.
Day 4 – Driving from Lhasa to Ganden Monastery
Today we will drive to Ganden Monastery, the starting point of our trek. The monastery was built by Tsongkhapa in 1409. The monastery is founded 60 km away from Lhasa on over 4100m high Wangpori hill. It is the first monastery of Gelugpa sect. We will walk the circuit (lingkor) around the monastery where you can get an incredible view of the Kyichu valley. In the afternoon, your guide will arrange porters and yaks for your luggage during trekking. Take a good rest and prepare to trek the next day. We are staying at the campsite beside Trubshi village located nearby.
Day 5 Trek from Ganden to Yama Do ( 17km, 5 to 6 hours ).
Ascent: 500 meters
Descent: 300 meters
Camping at approximately 4,400-4,600 meters
Today we start trekking from Ganden towards Yama Do village. We will be passing by Trubshi and Hepu villages and numerous small nomad’s settlements. We will steadily climb up the hill and for the first time get the view on the Shuga-la pass, the highest point of the trek (5,250 meters).
The road today is very pleasant. We will be following the path through the valleys, cross the mountain river bridge and start the ascent to the Yamo Do village.
We will set up our camp there and stay for the night.
Day 6 Trek from Yama Do to Tsotup-chu valley ( 10km, 5 hours )
Ascent: 900 meters
Descent 300 meters
Camping: Tsotup-chu valley (5,050) or campsite (5,100)
In the morning we will continue the journey towards Shuga-la pass (5,250 meters). The road changes as we now walk through rocky hills and many streams (especially during the rainy season). We will take our last look at the Ganden monastery still visible in the distance before climbing up to the pass.
From the top of the pass, you will see an incredible view of the valley below. The fast mountain river is running at the bottom of the hill. Our way is lying to the East from the pass, taking us towards the Tsotup-chu valley. While the river is leading to the West where there is a short way out to Lhasa.
When we reach the bottom of the hill, we will cross the river. There are usually some nomad’s camps in the valley, and it is a nice place for camping. However, depending on the time of the day, we can continue trekking for another 15-20 minutes to reach the campsite (5,050 meters). The area is flat near the river and stone barriers.
Day 7 Trek from Tsotup-chu valley to Herder camps ( 14km, 5 hours )
Ascent: 200 meters
Descent 800 meters
Camping at Herders Camps (4,300 meters)
Today we start trekking towards Chitu-la pass, the second highest point of the trek (5,210 meters high). The ascent is much easier and shorter compared to Shuga-la pass. Soon we will reach the top from where you will get an incredible view of three lakes. The first lake will be on the top of the mountain and we will walk by it on the way down to the valley with the other two lakes.
After a steep descent, we will walk along the lakes and after that continue down to the river and the rocky valley. From now on we will be slowly descending and the landscape starts to change. We will see more greenery and forest with tall trees.
After we pass the rocky section, we will find ourselves in a vast valley with two rivers. We will start seeing many of nomad’s tents on both sides of rivers. We will settle in the herder’s camps area by the river for the night.
Day 8 Trek from herders camp to Samye monastery (approximately 5 hours)
Descent 700 meters
Final destination: Yemalung (3,600), Samye 3,570 meters
Today we will continue our descent. The path becomes wider. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the trek. We will be walking along the fast mountain river, surrounded by forest. As we descend more than 1,200 meters, the weather gets warmer.
We will reach the first permanent Tibetan village in the afternoon, and from there it will be only a short walk to Changtang village. From Changtang we can climb up to visit the Yemalung Hermitage site with the active nunnery and meditation caves. Alternatively, we can rest in the tea house and have lunch.
We are now only 16 km away from Samye. The driver will take us to the monastery hotel, where will rest. If time permits, we can visit the Samye monastery, alternatively we will visit it in the morning the next day. You can freely walk around the monastery complex or walk a kora (circumambulation) around the monastery wall.
Day 9 – From Samye monastery to Tsedang: Samye monastery, Yumbulakhang.
We will start our day by visiting the Samye monastery. It is the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet built in the 8th century. The monastery complex is incredibly beautiful. It resembles the universe with the main temple Utse representing Mount Meru, four continents and subcontinents, and the Sun and the Moon Temples. There is a beautiful park and a debating courtyard where monks master their knowledge.
After visiting the monastery we will drive to Tsedang. Before reaching it, we will visit the first fort and the oldest building in Tibet – Yumbulakhang. The architectural style is different from everything else that you previously saw in Tibet. Yumbulakhang was the first palace for Tibetan kinds before the Potala Palace construction.
We will stay in the hotel in Tsedang overnight.
Day 10 Tsedang to the airport.
Today we are driving to the airport or train station. Tsedang is approximately 2,5 hours away from the airport and 4 hours away from the train station.
INCLUDED WITH THE TOUR
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TREKKING TOUR INQUIRY
TREKKING INFORMATION
ABOUT TIBET TOURS
PACK ANIMALS AND YAKS
For most of our trekking tours, we use yaks to carry heavy items that we don’t use during the day. Yaks are walking very fast. Usually, we will see them in the morning and in the evening when we reach our campsite. It allows hikers to carry only the day pack with small amounts of necessities and some snacks and water.
On some trekking tours, we can use horses. Horses can carry lighter loads, but a horse can walk alone with a horseman, while yaks only walk in groups.
CARS IN TIBET
For our group tours, we use a variety of cars depending on group size and weather conditions. On some of the days, we will be driving long hours and we are trying to arrange the most comfortable car for your journey.
Here you will find photos and descriptions of cars: Transportation in Tibet
