Tibet Trekking from Gandan to Samye

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Lhasa

Welcome in Tibet – the roof of the world

Today arrive in Lhasa (3650 m), the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. Stay at the hotel for adapting to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Barkhor Street

DAY
2

Lhasa

Potala Palast - Stadtbild von Lhasa, Jokhang und Barkhor Straße

In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Jokhang Monastery

DAY
3

Lhasa

Panoramic view over Potala, Norbulingka, Debate in Sera

In the morning visit Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from here you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. It is also one of the six master monasteries of the Gelugpa. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. You have the opportunity to experience the famous monks' "Buddhism scriptures debates". Public religious debates are part of the education of monks.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Debate in Sera Monastery

DAY
4

Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse

Karo La Pass and Glacier, holy lake Yamdrok, Palkhor with Pagoda Kumbum

Drive to Gyantse. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4,441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On arriving, visit Pelkor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the 15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Afterwards drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang.

356 km
6 hours 41 minutes
Overnight at 4*Mulunlazong Hotel

Breakfast

Yamdrok Lake

DAY
5

Shigatse – Lhasa

Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse, traditional manufacture for Tibetan incense

In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. In the afternoon drive back to Lhasa. On the way visit a traditional manufacture for Tibetan incense in small town Tunba by the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

273 km
4 hours 58 minutes
Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Tashilunpo Monastery

DAY
6

Lhasa – Ganden

Gandan Monastery of the Gelugpa

Drive to the Gandan monastery. It was built in 1409 by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa of Tibetan Buddhism. Gandan, Drepung and Sera are the three largest monasteries in Lhasa. And Gandan is the place where Tsongkapa passed away. Therefore, it has the highest reputation of all the monasteries of the Gelugpa. If you are interested, you can walk along the pilgrimage way to the left and right hillsides of Gandan Monastery to visit Tsongkhapa’s meditation cave and enjoy the panorama of Gandan Monastery and magnificent scenery of Lhasa River valley. Preparing for the 5-day trekking tour.

51 km
1 hour 9 minutes
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Gandan Monastery

DAY
7

Trekking Gandan – Drogpa

Trekking begins

Today your trekking takes about 6 hours. Camping at Drogpa, near Shuga La Pass (5240 m).

Trekking 6 hours
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking to Samye

DAY
8

Trekking Drogpa – Chitu La

Arrival at Chitu La Pass (5090 m)

Trekking for about 5 hours until you arrive at Chitu La Pass (5090 m). Camping on a beautiful flat land.
Trekking 5 hours
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking to Samye

DAY
9

Trekking Chitu La – Nyango Village via Yemalung

Yemalung, an important pilgrimage destination for the pilgrims of the Gelugpa

Today you hike for about 5 hours. Your first station, Yemalung, is an important pilgrimage destination for the pilgrims of the Gelugpa. Camping at the village of Nyango.

Trekking 5 hours
Camping

Breakfast

Trekking to Samye

DAY
10

Trekking Nyango Village - Wango - Dragmar - Samye Monastery, drive to Tsetang

Monastery Samye, the old palace Yongbulakang

The final step is to Samye Monastery and it takes about 3 hours. You walk through a forest and a small village. The slope becomes ever narrow until you reach Samye Monastery, the first monastery in Tibet. Visit the Samye monastery. The construction of Samye symbolized victory from Tibetan Buddhism to primitive religion - Bon in Tibet. The design is characteristic. Then continue to Tsetang. Here you will visit the first palace in Tsetang - Yongbulakang of the Turpo kingdom, and the Trangdruk monastery founded during the Songtsang Ganpo period. The great king had once meditated in this monastery, so it enjoys a high position among the Tibetans.

Trekking 3 hours
Overnight at 4*Tsetang Hotel

Breakfast

Samye Monastery

DAY
11

Leave Tibet

Travel to next destination

Today transfer to Gongga airport or Lhasa railway station, leave Tibet.

Breakfast

Yongbulakhang

Tailor-make this tour

This trip can also be tailor-made, please let us know your travel idea: travel date, duration, number of travelers, child (2 - 12 years old), baby (0 - 2 years old), other travel destinations, meals, accommodation category, boutique hotel, special interest ...

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