Ganden - Samye Trek (Lhasa-Lhasa) - 10 days
A trek from Ganden to Samye is the most popular trek route in Tibet. During this trek, you will see lakes, beautiful alpine forests and meadows, as well as two centers of Tibetan religious culture. The best time for this trek is from May to Mid of Oct. Summer will be wet but the mountains are at their greenest and wild flowers spangle the alpine meadows. Before you start this trek you need a couple of days at Lhasa to acclimatize.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival: Upon your arrival at Lhasa (Gonggar Airport
96km from the main city) Transfer to Lhasa and Hotel check in. Afternoon
free for acclimatization. O/N in Hotel.
Day 02: Lhasa sightseeing: Sightseeing in Lhasa,
visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Market. O/N in Hotel.
Day 03: Lhasa sightseeing: Sightseeing in Lhasa,
visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. O/N in Hotel.
Day 04: Lhasa / Ganden Monastery: After your
breakfast at Hotel we Drive from Lhasa to Ganden, takes about 2 hours,
and the altitude will up to 4500m. Today you will be spent acclimatizing
further and visiting this wonderful Monastery. Overnight at Ganden.
(Guesthouse).
Day 05: Ganden / Hepu / Yama Do: Today we start trekking
5-6 hours, 17km: The first day of trekking begins at the highest point
on the Ganden Kora. From here walk along a saddle trail. After leaving
this trail with wondrous views traverses the west side of the ridge
before passing through an ancient Hepu village. Later in the day pass
through Ani Pagong, a narrow bottleneck in the trail and former site
of a nunnery. You will end the day with an ascent towards Yama Do,
where will set up camp. O/N in Camp.
Day 06: Yama Do / Tsotup Chu Valley: After Breakfast
at our Camp we start trekking 5-7hours, 10km: In the morning leave
the valley and make our way through a steep gully rising form the
stream bank. Finally, we climb over the Shug La (5250m) and begin
our climb down through treacherous boulder fields. Later, we cross
Tsotup Chu, a large stream winding through the valley floor. A comfortable
camp will be set up in one of the many herder fields. O/N in Camp.
Day 07: Tsotup-chu Valley / Herders' Camps:
trekking 5 hours, 14km Today follow the Tsotup Chu down through its
tributary and head towards the Chitu La pass (5100m). After ascending
this rocky pass quickly descend down and find a beautiful place to
camp in one of the fields surrounding the stream. O/N in Camp.
Day 08: Herders' Camps / Nyango / Samye Monastery: 5-6
hours trekking, The trail gets wider and easier as following it through
scrub forests in the main valley. Beautiful streams and lush forests
surrounded. However, the desert is close by. The next few hours are
arguably the most delightful part of the entire trek. More than 15
types of scrub trees, blooming rhododendrons, and vast meadow will
amaze you every step of the way! After passing through this wondrous
landscape arriving at the first permanent village Changtang since
Hepu. From Changtang walking another 1.5 hours to arrive Nyangohere
where you can take a tractor to Samye Monastery. Visit Samye Monastery
in the afternoon. O/N at guesthouse.
Day 09: Samye Monastery / Yumbulakang Palace & Trandruk
Monastery/ Tsedang Drive from Samye to Tsedang, afternoon visit Yumbulakang
Palace and Trandruk Monastery near the town. Overnight at Tsedang.
O/N in Hotel.
Day 10: Lhasa airport dropping off, end the trip.
