Ganden Samye Trek

Description

Ganden Samye Trek is one interesting and fun trek that connect the two of the 6 Great Gelug Pa monastery. Among of which, Ganden Monastery has delicate, fine murals, sculptures and thangkas are special and similar to the embroidery of southern China. The most important and valuable arts left are paintings of Buddha and Jataka stories drawn by the First Panchen Lama. Ganden Samye Trek begins from Ganden Monastery, traversing south along the ridge to reach the first village, Hepu. Then, we’ll head south to Samye monastery, which is built with the shape of a huge mandala. The different buildings are arranged according to complex symbolism, around the Utse, the central hall, housing the hall of prayers.

Be advised: included yaks are used for carry tent, food and other camping gears, staff’s bags, and each client has 20 kg free carried bags; if you may need additional yak to carry your bags, we can assist you to rent one, and you can pay local

Itinerary

D1 Arrive in Lhasa

Arrive in Lhasa airport, meet your guide, and then drive to your hotel. En route, we’ll visit to Nie-Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the face of the mountain. In the afternoon we’ll take a walk to Norbulingka, the former summer palace of Dalai Lama.

Overnight: Dekang Hotel — Include | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D2 Lhasa tour

We’ll visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Street.
Potala Palace , the winter palace of the Dalai Lama dominates the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa’s holiest destination for a pilgrimage. Going up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1,000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels a clockwise spin as they make their way to the entrance.
The Jokhang Temple is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statues are adorned with colorful brocade, pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of Yuan (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims. Then after we will stroll around in the Barkhor street

Overnight: Dekang Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D3 Lhasa tour

Visit Sera, Drepung, and Nechung monasteries.
Sera Monastery, one of the Six Great Monasteries of Gelug Pa, located at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a longer history. Sera in Tibetan means “Wild Rose Garden” since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it.
Drepung monastery once housed 10,000 monks and if we’re lucky, we’ll ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or sit under a willow tree and watch the monks engage in theatrical debate.
Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet’s State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.

Overnight: Dekang Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D4 Lhasa – Drakyer Pa, Ganden monastery, Camp

Drakyer Pa is a wonderful site for its great natural views, and some meditation caves are built in this beautiful mountain. After the visit we’ll drive to Ganden Monastery, which has delicate, fine murals, sculptures and its thangkas are special and similar to the embroidery of south China. The most important and valuable art left is the painting of Buddha and Jataka drawn by the First Panchen Lama. After having this site visited, we will find a spot and camp near the monastery.

Overnight: Tent — Include | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — Include

D5 Trek Day 1 — Ganden to Yama Do (5-6 h)

The trek begins from Ganden Monastery, traversing south along the ridge to reach the first village, which is called Hepu after three hours. One hour from Hepu you will reach Ani pagone, a narrow, craggy bottleneck in the valley. A small nunnery used to be above the trail. From Ani Pagong the trail continues for one hour through marshy meadows to Yama Do.

Overnight: Tent — Include | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — Include

D6 Trek Day 2 — Yama Do to Tsotup Chu valley (5-7h)

One hour past Yama Do leave the valley and ascend a shelf on the eastern side of the valley to avoid a steep gully that forms around the stream. After 45 minutes you’ll enter a wet alpine basin covered with tussock grass. The Shug-la (5,250 meters) is at least one hour and twenty-five minutes from the basin. The trail gradually descends to the valley floor, one hour and a half from the pass. The pastures in the area support large herds of yaks, goats and sheep, and during the trekking season herders are often camped there. This is an ideal place to camp and meet the drokpas (nomads). It is a 2 hour walk from the stream ford to the second pass, the Chitu-la, and at least a one and a half hour walk to the first camping place.

Overnight: Tent — Include | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — Include

D7 Trek Day 3 — Tsotup Chu valley to Herders’ camp after Chitu La (5h)

From the Tsotup-chu ford, climb upwards for 30 minutes until you reach a large basin. Follow this broad valley which soon arcs south to the Chitu-la (5,100 meters). A short but steep descent will bring you into a basin with three small lakes. It takes 45 minutes to reach the southern end of the basin. Drop down from the basin on the western side of the stream and in 30 minutes you will hit the first place to set up camp. Herders have carved out level places for their tents here. However, we may go down for one more hour to find other camping places.

Overnight: Tent — Include | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner — Include

D8 Trek Day 4 — Herders’ camp after Chitu La to Samye (3h), then drive to Tsetang

The trail now becomes wide and easy to follow as it traces a course down the eastern side of the valley. The next three-hour stretch of the trail is the most delightful of the entire trek. According to local woodcutters more than 15 types of trees and shrubs are found here, some growing 6 meters tall. We then cross the Yamalung Tsangpo valley and visit the Yamalung Hermitage. It consists of several small temples, and a few meditators live there. Then we meet the vehicle that waits here, drive to Samye monastery, which is built in the shape of a huge mandala. Surrounded by a circular wall, it is a representation of cosmos. We will drive to Tsetang for overnight after visiting Samye monastery

Overnight: Shannan Hotel — Include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include

D9 Tsetang departure

Your tour ends today, you will be driven to Lhasa airport or train station for your departure

Overnight — Not include | Breakfast — Include | Lunch and Dinner — Not include