| Day 01 Arrive in Lhasa
Accommodation: Hotel
Our tour guide will meet you at Gonggar Airport and greet you with a white scarf (called Khada) in a Tibet traditional way. Then transfer you to Lhasa City (100km's driving). On the way, you will see the big Nietang Buddha engraved in a mountain wall. Upon arrival, just take rest for high altitude acclimatization.
Day 02 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Accommodation: Hotel [B]
We will start from the most beautiful splendor in Tibet - Potala Palace, the symbol of Tibetan people's wisdom and power. Beside the numerous art pieces it stores, you can also have a bird-eye view of the whole Lhasa City and the undulating mountain ranges in distance.
In the afternoon, we will visit the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism - Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is the famous bustling Barkhor Street where you can get a close touch with local Tibetans.
And in the evening, pay a visit to a Tibetan family for the special Tibetan flavor.
Day 03 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Accommodation: Hotel [B]
Today we will visit the great Gelugpa monastery - Drepung Monastery about 8km west of central Lhasa. It was once the world's largest monastery housing more than 10,000 monks. If we are lucky, we can enter into a dark columned hall quiet easily to see and hear the lilting, booming, chanting of sutras.
In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery, about 5km north of central Lhasa. Here you can see the interesting "Buddhism Scriptures Debating" between Lamas.
Day 04 Lhasa - Gandan Monastery - Start Trekking: Gandan - Hepu (6hrs)
Accommodation: Tent [B+L+D]
In the early morning, we will drive about 70km to Gandan Monastery, one of the three monastic universities in Tibet. Here you can see the extremely delicate murals and sculptures. Our trekking starts from Gandan.
Within the first 1.5hrs, we will reach a saddle marked by a cairn along the gradually ascending road with views of Kyichu Valley. And then we will pass the west side of the ridge from the saddle, a spur surmounted by a cairn and a spring to arrive at the village of Hepu in 2hrs. After 1hr to a small nunnery, Ani Pangong, and another 1hr to Yama Do, we get to the end of our first-day trekking.
Day 05 Yama Do - Tsotup Chu Valley (4-5hrs)
Accommoation: Tent [B+L+D]
Today we will pass the Shug-la Pass (5250m) and then go down gradually into the Tsotup Chu Valley. Then you will see the nomad herders with their yaks, goat and sheep..
Day 06 Tsotup Chu - Herder's Camp (5hrs)
Accommodation: Tent [B+L+D]
Following a small tributary, we will ascend for about 30mins to a large basin, and then start to climb another mountain pass of the route, Chitu-la Pass (5100m) which is marked by several cairns. A short steep descent will bring you into another basin with three small lakes. Before arriving at the valley floor, we will pass several seasonal camping sites.
Day 07 Herder's Camp - Yamalung (5-6hrs)
Accommodation: Tent [B+L+D]
The trail is now wide and easy to follow. We'll spend about 3hrs on such road going through forest of shrubs and rhododendrons. Then forest thins rapidly and we arrive at the first permanent village of Chantan (4020m) since leaving Hepu. After 30-40mins walking, we reaches the turnoff of Yamalung Valley. From the valley floor to the Yamalung Hermitage, it is another 1hr steep climb.
Day 08 Yamalung - Samye (4hrs)
Accommodation: Tent [B+L+D]
It will take about 4hrs for us to arrive at Samye from Yamalung. On the way, we'll pass the villages of Nyango, Wango and Pisha where you can see the entire Samye valley and the golden spires of Samye Monastery.
Day 09 Samye - Tsedang
Accomodation: Standard 3 star Hotel [B]
In the morning, visit the first Tibetan monastery in Tibet - Samye Monastery and then get on our land cruiser to Tsedang. Upon arrival, just free at leisure.
Day 10 Leave [B]
The guide will transfer you to Gonggar Airport and help you board the plane to your next destination. Your wonderful Tibet Gandan-Samye Trekking tour ends. |
