Footloose Adventure Travel: Tibet Garden Trek

Lhasa -Ganden Trek (revised 13 days)

The Ganden to Samye trek route has proved to be one of the most captivating of all Tibetan treks with rich variety of scenery from high snowy passes to lush alpine meadows to the desert like environs of the Samye monastery. Camping along the way is excellent. There are secluded valleys inhabited by nomads and yaks This pilgrimage route is well-used by Tibetans who combine a visit to Ganden, The principal monastery of yellow hat sect with a hard but reasonably direct walk to Samye , the first monastery of Tibet.

Day 01: Starting early in the morning you will drive the 114 km from Kathmandu to Zhangmu, a bustling trading point on the Tibet side of the border. Continue to Nylam (3780 meter), a distance of 33 km from Zhangmu It's an old trading post on the Lhasa -Kathmandu caravan route. Overnight at Guest House at Nylam.

Day 02: Drive through the Lalung Leh with some beautiful views of Mt. Everest, Shisapangma and some other peaks. The drive will continue to Tingri, old village and continue Shigatse. Overnight Xigatse Hotel.

Sightseeing of Xigatse. Xigatse at an elevation of 3810 m. Xigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and the capital of the province of Tsang. The rulers of this province had domonion over all of Tibet prior to 1642 AD. At Xigatse you will visit Tashilunpo Monastery which is the seat of the Panchen Lama who is second in spiritual importance only to the Dalai Lama. The monastery was built in 1447 by Gendun Drup and once housed upward of 3400 monks. Of particular interest at Tashilunpo is a nine story gilded statue of Maitreya - the "Future Buddha".

Day 03: Morning departure for the short drive of 95 km to Gyantse at an elevation of 3810 m. Sightseeing of Gyantse. After the sightseeing tour drive to Lhasa via Yamdrok Tso (the Turquoise Lake). Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04: Today will be spent exploring palaces. First on your list will be the Potala Palace. The palace of the Dalai Lama a treasure of Tibetan culture was, till 1965, the seat of both religion and politics in Tibet and quite possibly, the singularly most important building in all Tibet. It was built in the seventh century by Tsongtsen Gampo as a fort and later renovated by the fifth Dalai Lama in the seventeenth century to its present specifications. Your next stop will be Norbulingkha the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, which was built, in the eighteenth century.

Day 05 Today you will visit the Drepung monastery. This is the largest monastery in the world and once housed 10,000 monks and nuns. It was built in 1419 and the second , third and fourth Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here. A visit to the kitchen of this monastery is a must. Look out for the washing machine in which the monks mix their butter tea! Your next stop will be the Jokhang Temple. This is the holiest shrine in Tibet and houses a golden statue of the Buddha which was brought to Tibet by the Chinese princess "Wen Chen". You then stop off at Barkhor Bazaar outside the Jokhang monastery. This is a bustling flea market and is, generally, the place to buy souvenirs and meet other tourists.

Day 06: Drive eastward to about 72 kms. To Ganden, one of Tibet's three major monasteries, and on to Gyama, overnight camp near village of Jogsumba

Day 07 Today you will begin the trek from the Ganden complex This is also the beginning of the Ganden circuit and you will most likely meet pilgrims on their way to circumambulate the monastery. Arriving at a fork take the lower left which contours along one side of the Wangku Ri. The upper Hebu valley can be seen below, to the left of the ridge. It branches into two side valleys. A village stands near the entrance of the nearer one. The path down from the saddle passes this village. Walk from the saddle to Hebu village. After passing a steep cliff face, camp.

Day 08: Starting early for the hard day ahead. from the nomad camp, continue up the Hebu valley. The path heads due south by following the river's right bank . Past the entrance of two side valleys opening to the right and left continue climbing to Jooker la. From the top of Jooker la you can see a grand panorama of mountain ranges. There is a long waterfall ahead. From the pass walk down slopes strewn with rocks zigzagging along the higher stretches of the ridge before straightening out once the trial becomes distinct. Next to the entrance of a side valley may be Nomad tents and across the valley are stone enclosures for animals. The path to Samye turns right up this side valley, following the west bank of the river.

Day 09 From the first side valley walk up to Sukhe La, which is lower and easier than the Jooker la. Climb gradually except for a short steep section near the top of the pass and descend past two glacial lakes ringed by large rock formations. Beyond this the valley narrows into a gorge before opening to grassy meadows, a lovely section of the walk. Camp.

Day 10: Head southwestward by descending the valley to the right of a junction and crossing a log bridge follow the left bank of the river. The trail leads to dechen and lhasa via the gokar la pass.

Day 11 Today you will reach the Samye Monastery, which is the oldest monastery in Lhasa. Sightseeing and camp.

Day 12: Today you will cross the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brhamaputra) River by Ferry, followed by a short drive to Tsetang.. Sightseeing of Tsetang. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13: Early morning transfer to airport and fly out to Kathmandu.

Prices Based on B&B basis but while camping on full board basis.
The current visa fee is US$48.00 which is also included in the price.