Adventure Sense introduces you Tibet differently by arranging different unique and authentic Tibet trek. Ganden Samye trekking is one of the mid level best Tibet trek. It is not only one of the most attractive Tibet treks but also a Tibetan traditional pilgrimage trail between the two famous monasteries which are Ganden and Samye monasteries.
Ganden monastery is the first ever Gelukpa school monastery built in 15th century by the great master Tsongka, the founder of the Gelukpa school and the Samye monastery is the first ever Nyingmapa or the first ever Tibetan monastery which was built in 8th century by the 38th Dharma King called Trisong Detsen.
It is three and half days Tibet trek and the total distance of the Ganden Samye Tibet trek is around 80Km. The average daily walking hour is around 5-6 hours. The most part of the Ganden Samye Tibet trek is not very difficult except the Shugarla pass which is around 5000m so the day of trekking across Shugar la pass is a little because you will not only cross a high mountain pass but also have to cross some bigger stream flow from here and there.
Ganden to Samye trek will enable you to see the most historical monasteries of Tibet,Yamalung hermitage, beautiful villages, remote nomadic lives and their camp, mountain passes, Pastureland, beautiful small lakes and stream flow and some wild animals including blue sheep, fox, wolves etc, beautiful and cute mountain birds and Samye valley with a fertile agricultural land and Bargmaputra river.
Day 1 Arrival at Lhasa airport and transfer to Lhasa.(3650Mts/ 60Km)
You will be warmly welcomed by our Tibetan travel guide and driver and accompany you to the holy city of Lhasa along with the view of Bharmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan and a giant stone carved Buddha with more than a thousand years history.
Day 2 Sightseeing tour in Lhasa, Potala Palace, Jokang temple, Bharkor Bazar.
After breakfast, you will walk to the Potala Palace, the most monumental of structures in Tibet, is best admired from the outside. Slowly circumambulate the palace by following the pilgrims path around it, noting different aspects and moods of the sophisticated design from varying view point.
The Potala Palace, the most complex monument ever built in Tibet, was designed to serve numerous diverse functions. First and foremost, it was the Palace of the successive of the Dalai Lamas. The Palace was divided into two main buildings, the white Palace which is mainly used for the leaving quarter of the Dalai Lama and the red Palace which is mainly used for the religious event. The most important object of the Potala Palace were the chapel of Phakpa Lhakang, filled to the brim with the priceless statues and the statue of Arya Lokeshvara and the tomb stupas of the successive of the Dalai Lamas, made of gold and silver, decorated by different kinds of precious stones. After the Potala Palace sightseeing, make clockwise Kora around the Potala Palace and enjoy Tibetan sweat tea and noodle with locals in a famous local Tibetan restaurant. Afternoon, visit Jokang temple, built by King Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century.
The most important object of the Jokang temple is the statue of the Buddha Shakyamuni which has over 2500 years history. Pilgrims come from all the country to pay homage to the Jokang temple, Tibet’s most sacred temple. Jokang temple is located in the very heart of Lhasa’s colorful Tibetan quarter, Jokang is the focus of devotion day and night. Multitudes of Tibetans circle it while going round and round the Bharkor, gaining spiritual merit and generally having a wonderful time. This is not only the spiritual center of Tibet but also the heart of holy Lhasa city. Late afternoon, walk to Ramoche temple and visit. Ramoche temple was also built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo. There is a very sacred statue of Jowo Mikyo Dorjee, also has over 2500 years history.
Day 3 Pabongka temple-Sera Wutse-Sera monastery. 4 hours hike
After breakfast, you will start your tour by vehicle to Pabongka which is just 15 minutes’ drive from your hotel. Pabongka has more than thousand years history and it was the cave where the 33rd Tibetan King Songtsan Gamp took his meditation and it is also the place where the King Songtsan Gampo’s minister Sambota created the Tibetan alphabets and offered it to the king. Nowadays, it is a small temple with around 20 monks and you can still visit the King Songtsan Gampo’s cave.
You will start your trek from Pabongka to Sera Wutse. Sera Wutse is the small temple where Tsongkapa, the founder of the yellow hat school used to take meditation prior to the construction of the Sera monastery. You will trek through the trail from Pabongka, enjoying a beautiful view of Pabongka, Sera monastery and the bird eye view of the whole Lhasa city and the Golden roof of the Potala Palace and Jokang temple.
The hiking to Sera Wutse from Pabongka takes around 4 hours to reach the top, from the top, you will see the most beautiful panoramic view of the Potala Palace, Sera monastery the whole Lhasa city including the Jokang temple and it’s beautiful golden roof.
Day 4 Lhasa-Dark Yepa hermitage-Ganden monastery-Drupshi village
Drive from Lhasa-Dark Yepa hermitage-Ganden monastery (4300Mts/ 60KM )-Drupshi village-3900m.
You will start your tour at around 9 am and drive to Dark Yepa hermitage on the northern side of Lhasa river at the distance of around 25km from Lhasa city. You will hike to Dark Yepa from the vehicle parking area and it takes you around one hour and half. From Dark Yepa, you will get a panoramic view of the whole Kyichu valley. Visit Dark Yepa cave and the small monastery which has more than 1300 years history, built by the 33rd Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo.
Trek down through the narrow valley and continuously driving to Ganden monastery along the Lhasa river dominated by beautiful Tibetan villages and flocks of yaks grazing on side mountain of Ganden monastery. Have lunch in Ganden monastery and We will visit Ganden monastery and do a monastery Kora which takes you between one hour and half or two hours. Drive to our campsite for 20km and enjoy the dinner at the campsite.
Day 5 Start trek from Ganden to Lheipu-Yamado. 5-6 hrs.
We start our trek at around 9 Am after the breakfast. The trail gradually ascends for 1.5 hrs before reaching a saddle marked by a cairn with views of Kyichu valley to Lhasa . Traversing the west side of the ridge from the saddle, the trail reaches a spur surmounted by a cairn, a spring and then the village of Hepu in 2 hrs. 1 hr from Hepu reaches Ani Pangong, a small nunnery. The trail climbs steadily for 1 hour through marshy meadows to Yama Do.
Day 6 Trek from Yamado to Tso Topchu valley.4-5 hrs.
You will start your trek at around 8.30Am. In 2 hrs past Yama Do, ascend Shug-la pass ( 5250 m ). It takes at least 1.5 hrs from the basin negotiating boulders and lumpy ground along the final steep climb to the pass. The route continues over the Shug-la pass following the cairned trail descending gradually and reaching the valley in 1.5 hrs from the pass. Cross the Tsotup Chu. Nomad herders with their herd of yaks, goat and sheep can be found here.
Day 7 Trek from Tso Topchu to Herders camp.5 hrs.
You will start your trek as usual and from the Tsotup Chu valley, follow a small tributary entering from the south-west. The route follows steeply upwards for 30 mins until you reach a large basin. The terrain is not particularly difficult to reach Chitu-la pass ( 5100 m ) which is marked by several cairns . A short steep descent will bring you into a basin with three small lakes. The trail at many points is not clearly marked and goes past several seasonal camping sites before it reaches the valley floor.
Day 8 Herders camp – Yamalung – Samye monastery
Trek from Herders camp to Yamalung.5-6 hrs and then to Samye monastery by driving
Start the trek at around 8.30 Am. The trail is now wide and easy to follow and goes through forest of shrubs and rhododendrons for 3 hrs. The trail winds through a series of meadows before reaching Gen Do, a place with a ruined stone structure. The forest thins rapidly and reaches the first permanent village of Chantan ( 4020 m ) after leaving Hebu. In 30-40 mins , arrive at the turn off at Yamalung Valley . Yamalung Hermitage is another 1 hour steep climb from the valley floor. From Yamalung Valley we will meet our driver and drive to Samye monastery for around 2hrs.
Day 9 Drive from Samye monastery to Tsetang.50Km
After the breakfast, we will visit Samye monastery. If you are not scared of waking up earlier, you can also go to see the monks chanting in the monastery assembly hall which is already held from 7Am. After the sightseeing of the monastery, we will drive along the Bharmaputra river and get to Tsetang in 2 hrs. Visit Yumbu Lhakang and Traduk temple in Tsetang
Day 10 Drive from Tsetang to Lhasa Gongkar airport .160Km
Departure transfer to Lhasa airport for flight to onward destination.
| City | Night (s) | Hotels / Camps |
| Lhasa | 03 | Shangri La |
| Yamado | 01 | Camp |
| Tso Topchu | 01 | Camp |
| Herders | 01 | Camp |
| Yamalung | 01 | Samye Guest House |
| Samye Monastery | 01 | Tourlist Lodge |
| Tsetang | 01 | Tse Dang Hotel |
– 09 nights accommodation as mentioned in the program.
– All necessary Tibet entry and road permits.
– 1 Local Tibetan English speaking guide.
– Transportation by good conditioned mini van.
– All entry fees to the sites and monasteries.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– All camping equipments except sleeping bags.
– All camping fees.
– Cook and assistant with all utensils.
– Different kinds of snack like biscuit, cheese, dried and fresh fruit during the camp.
– Pack Yak and Yak men for the trek.
– Oxygen in the vehicle and during the trek in case needed.
– All taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.