Ganden to Samye Trek

To accomplish all the trekking in Tibet, we must drive or fly from Kathmandu to Tibetan land first. Hence this trip begins with drive through the Friendship Highway to Lhasa or directly flight from Kathmandu. As far you have chosen to drive from Kathmandu along the friendship highway, we'll stop in the major towns/settlements enroute. Paying the visits of Sakya, Tashilumpo, Palcho Monasteries and Khumbum Stupa, the first step of drive takes 5 days to reach in Lhasa. Then we'll spend three days in Lhasa for acclimatization and sightseeing tours that covers the visit of the spiritual centers of Tibet: the Jokhang Temple, Sera and Drepung monasteries & the Potala Palace.

The next 5 days we will spend in trekking section which begins a 45 km drive to Ganden from Lhasa, we visit the monastery, one of the main Gelugpa sect of Buddhism. This five days trek crosses 2 over 5000m passes enroute and the total trekking distance is 80 KM. This trek has a perfect combination of elevation, moisture and aspect.

Upon arriving in Samye, we visit the the monastery-the only monastery that represents Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism (red capped).

Itinerary

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Kodari (4 hrs.) after immigration formalities in Zhangmu-2300m, continue drive to Nyalam-3450m and O/N at Guest house

Day 02: Drive from Nyalam to Lhatse, visit Milarepa's cave enroute O/N at hotel

Day 03: Drive from Lhatse to Shigatse- 3900m and O/N at hotel

Day 04: Morning visit Tashilhumpo Monastery. Afternoon drive to Gyantse-3950m, visit Kumbum Monastery and O/N at Hotel

Day 05: Drive from Gyantse to Lhasa-3650m pass by the morden glacier and Yamdrok lake, reach Lhasa and overnight at Hotel

Day 06-07: Sightseeing tours in Lhasa (Potala palace, Sera Monastery, Jokhang temple and Bakhor street, Drepung Monastery)

Day 08: Drive to Ganden, visit the monastery and start trekking, overnight at camp

Day 09: Trek to the foot of Xugar La. Camp 4-5 hrs

Day 10: Cross Xugar La (5000Mt) and down to Sumdo Kang. 5-6 hrs camp

Day 11: Sumdo Kang to Nyenbu and then to Samye by tractor. Visit Samye monastery. Camp or guest house

Day 12: Samye to Tsetang. Visit Yumbu Lakang and Traduk temple.Overnight at guest house.

Day 13: Transfer to the Gongkar airport and flight to Kathmandu, transfer to the hotel.