Gandan To Samye Monastery Trekking

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Lhasa, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Lhasa)

Day 2

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Kechu Hotel

- Potala Palace (1 hour): Former winter home of the Dalai Lama, a vast, awe-inspiring maze of corridors and stairs leading through countless rooms of richly decorated statues, tombs, murals and antiques. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. Note: you need to be fit for climbing up the long stairways.
- Jokhang Temple (2 hours): Smaller and more manageable than the Potala, this 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a rich and living Tibetan Buddhism. Many locals pray here regularly; the Temple is surrounded by Barkhor Street and thronged with pilgrims and visitors. Yak butter lamps burn in front of rich statuary that includes the Sakyamuni Buddha brought to Tibet by Princess Wen Cheng in the 7th Century.
- Barkhor Street (2 hours): Built about 1,300 years ago, The Barkhor (pilgrims' circuit) is found in the heart of Lhasa encircling the Jokhang Temple. In the past, it was a designated circumambulation circuit, "a saint's road" in the eyes of Tibetans. Many people call the Barkhor "the window of Tibet" as it exhibits typical Tibetan life. Watch the pilgrims, wearing their local dress from many different parts of Tibet, as they circle clockwise around Jokhang Temple with prayer wheels, or prostrate them near the front gate. Join the locals and visitors to shop for local goods at the colourful stalls, or relax in a coffee shop or tea house to enjoy the passing parade.
- Kechu Hotel : Located near Jokhang Temple,The Kechu hotel and restaurant has a beautiful garden and provides Tibetan and Nepal food.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Lhasa Kitchen

- Sera Monastery (3 hours): Located in the northern suburbs of Lhasa, The Sera Monastery is a complex of 4 structures; the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang (1355–1435), a disciple of Tsongkhapa. 'Sera' means wild roses and was called this because the monastery was surrounded by wild roses. One of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place.
Tips: Every day (except Mondays) at 15:00, there is a debate about Buddhist doctrines among the monks at Sera Monastery. The debating is held in the grounds and is a necessary way of learning sutras and scriptures. Visitors can watch the debate, but it is advised to keep quiet.
- Norbulingka (2.5 hours): Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". Constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama, it later served the whole government administration. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both administrative and religious purposes.
- Drepung Monastery (3.5 hours): Drepung Monastery lies in west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse, clustered round by the black mountain, its white grand buildings shining under the sunlight. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect in China. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). The grand Shonton Festival is held in the early part of August every year. That is the busiest day there with crowds of people. It is an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of this festival.
- Lhasa Kitchen: Lhasa Kitchen is near the Jokhang Temple. It is decorated by merging Tibetan style with Indian, Nepalese, Chinese and Italian architecture. It serves a variety of styles of food.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Gandan Monastery, Ganden Monastery to Ani Pangong valliage trkking
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

- Gandan Monastery (3.5 hours): The monastery has extremely delicate and fine murals and sculptures. It also keeps an armor decorated with gems, which was worn by Emperor Qianlong and was bestowed to the monastery as an offering to Tsong Khapa.
- Ganden Monastery to Ani Pangong valliage trkking (2 hours): In the morning we drive about 90 minutes from Lhasa to visit the Ganden Monastery. After sightseeing, we'll continue an hour to the village of Dupshi. One hour of moderate hiking transports us to Ani Pangong — the site of a former nunnery. Total hike: Three miles, two hours.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Yama Do to Tsotup Chu Valley trekking
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

- Yama Do to Tsotup Chu Valley trekking (4 hours): Two hours of steep hiking leads us along to Shug-La Pass where we make the final steep ascent to the rare air of 17,220 feet! The route continues across Shug-La Pass following a cairn–lined trail. We descend gradually, reaching the valley in ninety minutes from the pass. We cross the Tsotup Chu, a long stream winding along the valley floor. Nomad herders with their yaks, goat and sheep dot the landscape. Tonight camp is near a stream crossing. Total hike: Six miles (4-5 hours).

Day 6

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Tsotup Chu Valley to Chitu-La Pass trekking
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

- Tsotup Chu Valley to Chitu-La Pass trekking (5 hours): From the Tsotup Chu Valley, we follow along a small tributary entering from the southwest. Our path rises steeply for 30 minutes, finally reaching the mouth of a large basin. The terrain ahead is not particularly difficult as we reach Chitu-La Pass (16,728 feet), marked by several large cairns. A short steep descent leads us into a basin holding three small lakes. Our trail is not always clearly marked and passes seasonal campsites before finally reaching the valley floor and our well–deserved camp. Total hike: Nine miles, about five hours.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Tsotup Chu Herder's Valliage to Yamalung Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

- Tsotup Chu Herder's Valliage to Yamalung Valley (6 hours): Our trail is now wide and easy to follow — meandering through forest of shrubs and rhododendrons for three hours. We amble through a series of meadows before reaching Gen Do, a stone structure in ruins. The forest thins rapidly and we reach the first permanent village of Chantan (13,776 feet) after leaving Hebu. In 30-40 minutes we arrive at the trail fork for Yamalung Valley. The Yamalung Hermitage is another one hour steep climb from the valley floor. Total hike: Nine miles, about five – six hours.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Lhasa to Tsetang
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from Lhasa to Tsetang, Samye Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

- Samye Monastery (3.5 hours): Samye Monastery is one of the oldest Tibetan Monasteries. It was built a little later than Jokhang and the main monastery built during the first flourishing period of Tibetan Buddhism which is of great significance in the development of Tibetan culture. The monastery was once ruined by Lang Darma (Lang Darma was an ancient Tibetan King who banned Buddhism and destroyed Buddhist temples). It has been damaged throughout repeated wars and remains the present scope, which should be well cherished. Located at the foot of Mt. Hepo Ri, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River of Zharang County, Samye Monastery is about 38 kilometers from Tsedang.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Tsetang to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Yumbulagang Palace, Our guide and driver will escort you from Tsetang to Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Yumbulagang Palace (2 hours): Tibet's first palace. It's worthy of a visit for those Tibetan history fans. The palace was built for the 1st Tubo King Niechi in the Yalong River Valley. It is also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall". It perches on the summit of the Jormo Zhaxi Ceri Mountain on the east bank of the Yarlung River, about five kilometers in the south from the Tradrug County.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Depart Lhasa, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lhasa)
Meals: Breakfast