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9 Days Tibet Classic Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery with Lhasa City Landmarks Tour

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Overview & Highlight

Known as one of the most popular trek routes in Tibet, the 9 days trek tour from Ganden to Samye Trek offers lakes, Mountains, beautiful alpine landscapes, nomad camps, villages and sacred sites. The trekking route connects two of Tibet’s greatest monasteries: Ganden Monastery and the Samye Monastery. Through it is famous and has a lot to experience, you should not underestimate the difficulty of doing this trek as this trek is at high-elevation wildernesses, it would be better for those with high elevation trek experience. The best time for this trek tour is from mid-May to Mid-October.

You will not only visit the best part of the holy city Lhasa, but also see Ganden Monastery which is one of the“Great Three Gelugpa monasteries of Tibet”, founded by the Great Tsongkhapa in 1409, and explore the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism - Shannan.

If you are a trekking lover, it is worthwhile.

Tour Type: based on number of clients
Tour Service: Local Tibetan tour guide and driver & Tibet Permit application
Meet & Pick-up: Lhasa
Tour Route: Potala Palace - Jokhang Temple - Barkhor Street - Sera Monastery - Drepung Temple - Ganden Monastery - Samye Monastery
Best Time to Visit: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Tour Highlights:

1) 3.5 days Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery at a leisure pace
2) Visit the landmarks of Lhasa city: Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple
3) See Great Three Gelugpa monasteries in Tibet - Ganden, Drepung & Sera
4) Discovery the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism - Shannan
Tour Level: 5 stars
Tour Code: TTC-P51
Tour Inquiry: https://www.tibettourism.com/tibet-ganden-sayme-monastery-trek-9-days.html

Daily Itinerary

Itinerary Summary

Day	Route	Attractions & Activities	Accommodations	Meals
1	Arrival in Lhasa (3600m)	Pick up and transfer to the hotel.	In Lhasa	/
2	Lhasa City tour	Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery	In Lhasa	B
3	Lhasa City tour	Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street	In Lhasa	B
4	Lhasa-Ganden-Tsubshi, Trek to Yama-do trek 2 to 3 hours, 7kms	Ganden Monastery, Treking	At Tent	B,D
5	Trek to Tsotup Chu Valley 5 to 6hours, 10km	Treking	At Tent	B,L,D
6	Trek to Herder's Camp 6 to 7 hours, 14km	Trekking	At Tent	B,L,D
7	Trek to Yamalung 6 to 7 hours, 15km transfer to Samye	Trekking	At Tent	B,L,D
8	Explore the Samye Monastery	Samye Monastery	In Samye	B
9	Depart from Lhasa	Send off to train/airport	/	B

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

Welcome to Lhasa! Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your professional Tibetan guide will meet you right at designated location on time, with Pickup Board. Then a comfortable car or bus and experienced driver will take you to Lhasa hotel safely. It is about 60km from the airport to Lhasa downtown and takes about an hour through the Airport Expressway. It is only 30km from the railway station and takes about half an hour.

After arriving at hotel, tour guide will help you check in. You can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. To adapt to the high altitude ( over 3,600m ), you are recommended to have a good rest in the hotel, no running and intense activity, no smoking and no alcohol, no shower.
2. Please drink sufficient water and eat more vegetable, fruits, meat and eggs for more energy.
3. For the first-time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport Pick-up

Lhasa Train Station Pick-up
Day 2: Lhasa tour

After breakfast at your hotel, drive to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery was ever the largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, and now it is one of three great monasteries in Lhasa. Seen from the distant, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice.

In the afternoon, drive to visit Sera Monastery, which is famous for the unique “Daily Scriptures Debating” activity held from 3:30pm to 5pm in the central courtyard. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. The road condition to Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery is good.
2. Pack plenty of drinking water, sun glasses, suncream and some food.

Drepung Monastery

Sera Monastery
Day 3: Lhasa tour

After breakfast, your tour guide & driver will pick you and drive to visit the splendid Potala Palace, which is Lhasa’s cardinal landmarks. You will have a whole morning to explore this world-level architectural works: White Palace, Red Palace, corridors and stairs and countless lama’s dormitory. Others include: Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted, murals, etc.

In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, as the spiritual center of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha; learning Tibetan Buddhism; hearing the red-robed Lamas praying; taking photos of the gold roof and enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa.

Finally, you will have a relaxing walk around Jokhang Temple at Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa, and full of religious atmosphere, showcasing Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. In Potala Palace, your visiting time is limited on 1 hour. Climb up there, you might experience slight shortness of breath, please take your time and rest when needed.
2. Don’t disturb pilgrims and Lama. Don’t take photos of them without permission.
3. In Barkhor Street, remember to bargain and compare the price in different shops for the souvenirs if you are purchasing.

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple
Day 4: Lhasa-Ganden-Tsubshi, Trek to Yama-do (trek 2 to 3 hours, 7km)

In the morning, we will drive to Ganden Monastery, about 70 kilometers east of Lhasa and is one of the “Great Three Gelugpa monasteries of Tibet”, founded by the Great Tsongkhapa in 1409. On the way you can enjoy the beautiful view of Kyichu River and as we drive up to Ganden along winding mountain road, tourists can see the far view of Splendid monastery complex on the top of the mountain. Later we will visit chapels of Genden monastery and the tomb of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelupa sect.

After visiting Ganden, transfer to Tsubshi Village, prepare for yaks. Then start the trekking up to Yama-do (trekking time 2-3hours).

Overnight at tent camping.

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery
Day 5: Trek to Tsotup Chu Valley (5 to 6hours, 10km)

In the morning, we leave the valley floor and make our way through a steep gully rising form the stream bank. Then, climb the Shug La and begin our climb down through treacherous boulder fields. Later, cross Tsotup Chu, a large stream winding through the valley floor. A comfortable camp will be set up in one of the herder fields.

Overnight at tent camping.

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery
Day 6: Trek to Herder's Camp (6 to 7 hours, 14km)

Follow the Tsotup Chu down through its tributary and head towards the Chitu La pass. After ascending this rocky pass, we will quickly descend down and find a beautiful place to camp in one of the fields surrounding the stream. To find our campsite we will meander through quiet herder camps for nearly an hour. Another beautiful day of our trek is over!

Overnight at tent camping.

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery
Day 7: Trek to Yamalung (6 to 7 hours, 15km), transfer to Samye

During the 39km today’s journey, you will trek about 15km, while the rest 24km you can enjoy the ride on tour vehicle. The trail gets wider and easier as we follow through scrub forests in the main valley. Beautiful streams and lush forests surround us as we walking. The next few hours are arguably the most beautiful part of our trek. More than 15 types of scrub trees, blooming rhododendrons, and vast meadow will amaze your every step of the way! After passing through this wondrous landscape, we will trek through the Changtang village. Less than an hour away, you can choose to make the one-hour hike to the Yamalung Hermitage. Yamalung is an ancient and holy Buddhist meditation site. Drier will pick you up to Samye Monastery.

Overnight at Samye guesthouse.

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery

Trek from Ganden to Samye Monastery
Day 8: Explore the Samye Monastery and Yarlung River Valley, live in Samye Town

Today, you will visit Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet built in the 8th century. Ascend to the top of the 3-story monastery to have a clear view of this unique monastery whose layout was designed in the form of a giant mandala, a representation of the Buddhist universe. The main temple in the center represents Mt. Meru, the mythical mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. The four continents in the ocean around Mt. Meru are represented by the four temples at the cardinal points, each flanked by two smaller temples to symbolize islands in the ocean. You will be struck by the distinctive spiritual ambience permeating through such a holy Buddhist site. With time permitting, you may kora up to the top of Hepori hill to enjoy the stunning panorama of Samye Monastery.

After visiting Samye, we finish the trek and live in Samye Town near the Yarlung River.

Overnight at Samye.

Samye Monastery

Samye Monastery
Day 9: Drive to Lhasa Airport or Lhasa train station for departure

Today is free for you until you are escorted to the airport or railway station for departure and the guide will help you get on board.

Send off to the Train Station / Airport

Leave Tibet for next destination

Price Inclusions & Exclusions:

Price Includes:

1. Permit: All necessary Tibet Travel Permits (Incl. Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, Border Pass, etc.);
2. Accommodation: all hotels or guestrooms listed in the itinerary;
3. Ticket: All entrance tickets fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
4. Guide: Professional English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
5. Vehicle: 5-29 seats Comfortable Tibet tourist vehicle with licensed and experienced driver;
6. Meal: Breakfasts in the hotel;
7. Insurance: Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance;
8. Drinking water provided during the trip;
9. A container of Oxygen for emergency use;
10. Accommodation and meal allowance to the guide & driver;
11. Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges;

Price Excludes:

1. Meal: not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners).
2. Single room supplement: If you are a solo traveler, you need to share twin room with another tourist (same sex in most cases). You can pay the single room supplement to stay in one room by yourself. And the exact cost depends on market fluctuation in high and off season of Tibet tourism.
3. Tips: If you are satisfied with the service of guide, driver and waiters, you may consider tipping them appropriately ( Tips is not required but expected).
4. International and domestic flight/train (we can offer the ticket booking service at the competitive price).
5. Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
6. Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.

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Tour Tips:

Knows before You Book:

1. Travelers to Tibet should have a moderate physical fitness level. Patients with serious hypertension, heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, and cold should be restricted from traveling to Tibet.

2. Book at least 20 days in advance so the tour operator may have enough time to apply for and deliver your Tibet Travel Permit. Normally, it takes around 8-9 days to process your Tibet Travel Permit from the Tibet Tourism Bureau and another 3-4 days to deliver your Permit to your address in Chinese mainland.

3. A Tibet train/flight ticket is not included in our tour package. If you book with us, we can help you book your train/flight ticket. The train ticket to Lhasa is normally issued 15-60 days before departure. During peak seasons (from June to mid-October, during the Chinese Spring Festival and other public holidays in China), train tickets may be issued only 1-9 days before departure.

4. Price is based on double occupancy. Solo travelers who prefer to stay in a room by themselves need to pay for the additional charge of single room supplement. Please consult our travel consultants for specific prices.

5. Your airport/train station pick-up and drop-off in Lhasa needed to be arranged by the tour agency as foreign visitors are prohibited from independent traveling.

6. If you plan to travel to Lhasa via Kathmandu, please do not apply for a China L Visa in advance. You need to apply for a Tibet Group Visa from the China Embassy in Kathmandu via a travel agency. If you have your China L Visa, it will automatically expire when applying for a Tibet Group Visa.

7. Please read the Payment Methods, Terms and Conditions and Cancellation policies before you book.

Knows after You Book:

1. Please provide photocopies of your passports and China L visas at least 15 days before the travel date, making sure we have enough time to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit. If you have other type of visas, please contact your travel consultant.

2. Make sure to bring warm and comfortable clothing and walking shoes for your Tibet trip.

3. It is recommended to bring spending cash for the whole trip. In Lhasa, you can withdraw money with a foreign bank card or change your foreign currency into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, CNY).

4. Travel insurance is provided by The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited (www.epicc.com.cn), which covers tourist accident risks only in China. Tourists are recommended to purchase additional insurance on their own.

5. Altitude Sickness is a common reaction in the plateau. Common symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, headache, etc. Normally such symptoms will disappear in 2 days. You’d better consult your doctor and bring some medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and nutrient supplements.

6. During your stay in Tibet, please obey the law and respect the local religion and customs. Do not photograph military facilities, and other politically sensitive areas; Do not accept any news media interview; Do not collect secret intelligence; Do not wave antisocial banners, yelling antisocial slogans; Do not use aerial cameras; Do not venture into areas beyond planned itineraries.

7. Souvenirs like knives, antiques, animal skulls, etc. are not allowed to be taken out of China at customs. Please don’t buy this kind of souvenir.

Please share your contact information, so we can send you the answer directly by email.

Mr. Becker from Germany, asked on June 2nd, 2024

Travel to Samye from Kathmandu

Hi! I’m planning to visit Tibet from Kathmandu with Samye included in my itinerary. Is that possible?

Mr. Ihakpa Tsering from Tibet Horizon, answered on June 2nd, 2024

Dear Ben, we’re glad to hear that you’re considering a Tibet trip. Your desired itinerary is absolutely possible. You can either travel overland to Tibet or take a flight to Lhasa from Kathmandu.

If you travel overland to Tibet via Gyirong Port, you can choose to visit Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, and EBC on your way to Samye Monastery in Shannan. Taking a flight to Lhasa is a faster choice. From Lhasa, it takes around 2 hours to get to the monastery by road, which lies 121 kilometers from the Tibetan capital.

Please feel free to contact us if you have other questions or need assistance in planning your Tibet tour. Our professional travel consultants can give you suggestions according to your preferences.