Tibet Ganden - Samye Monastery Trek
trip info
Duration
10
Max Altitute
Shug La Pass 5250
Difficulty
Difficult
Starts from
Gongar Airport Tibet
Trips Ends at
Kathmandu
Tibet Ganden - Samye Monastery Trek Overview
The Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek is considered one of the best trek adventures in the world. The route from Ganden to Samye Monasteries, two of Tibet's largest and most revered monasteries known for their distinctive Buddhist legacy and Tibetans' overall sense of spiritual importance takes this trekking journey to a different level. The route is dominated by distinctive topography with rugged terrain, the lunar landscape, and unique culture.
This 10-day journey offers you a genuine sense of highland adventure in Tibet as well as an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism. You have the chance to watch both the city Tibetan and nomadic Tibetan lifestyle up close and experience the true Tibet as you travel along the 80 km walking track that surrounds barley farms and nomadic pastureland.
Ganden to Samye Monastery trek is ideal for anyone who is interested in Tibetan theology as the journey includes visits to historic monasteries as soon as you land in the land of Tibet. You will be escorted on a scenic tour of Lhasa which includes visits to the famed and significant monasteries like Sera and Drepung Monasteries, Potala and Norbulingka Palaces, and Jokhang Temple before beginning the walk from Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery.
This enthralling journey also through barley fields, nomadic grasslands, and small Tibetan settlements with welcoming people with a great sense of hospitality. The route leads you to some of the highest passes including Shug La (5250 m), and Chitu La (5100 m) along with Tsotup Chu Valley.
The Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek is unquestionably one of the best experiences whether you seek Tibetan culture, religion, and spiritual side or the nature side. It is best to say that this trekking journey is a great combination and one of that breathtaking adventures where you get a chance to travel through a wilderness of ridged hills, cloud-covered monasteries atop faraway peaks, and the expansive panorama along with a profound understanding of Tibetan Buddhism only Tibet can offer.
Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek Highlights
- One of the best treks in Tibet, Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek
- The beauty of the countryside of Tibet
- Visit the renowned Ganden monastery ruins, one of Tibet's most significant Buddhist monasteries
- Views of lakes, valleys, alpine forests, meadows, snow-capped passes, and mountains
- Breathtaking traditional Tibetan villages and monasteries
- Samye Monastery, which is located on the banks of the Yarlung River
- A peek at nomadic groups and their flocks of sheep and yaks
- Discover the fabled Yumulhakang castle
- Chance to explore the famous monasteries of Lhasa including three UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek Difficulty
Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek is considered a moderate to difficult trekking journey in Nepal that can also be conquered by beginners if physically and mentally fit. The only biggest concern for this trek in Tibet is the altitude sickness as the trekking railway from Ganden to Samye is above 3500 meters above sea level on average.
Altitude Sickness can attack anybody despite of any experience, age, or physical fitness if you are above 3000 meters. We would be passing over two or more mountain passes over 5000 meters during this trekking journey, with Shuga La at 5250 meters and Chitu-la at 5100 meters being the two highest. Hence, we should always be aware of it. If you feel any early symptoms of altitude sickness such as losing appetite, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, dizziness, confusion, persistent headache, weakness, fatigue, heavy legs, breathlessness, breathing irregularity, etc., you are always advised to inform it to your guide as soon as possible.
Then the guide will lead you to the lower altitude because the first thing to do is stop ascending. Also, acclimatization plays a pivotal role when traveling to higher altitudes. Hence, our itinerary includes extra days in Lhasa. On the other hand, you need to hydrate yourself continuously, eat a balanced diet, sleep properly, etc. during the high-altitude trek. Also, carrying altitude sickness medicines proscribed by the doctor could come in handy in case of any mishaps.
Best Time to do Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek
Tibet is best visited during the spring to autumn seasons. Similarly, the months from April to October are the finest time to do the Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek as the interval of time had fairly pleasant daytime temperatures. The skies are clear and the routes are dry and stable except on the days of rain during monsoon. Generally, the rainy season is avoided for any treks but you can do this Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek is monsoon too because the rains are not intense and normally do not fall during the daytime. July and August are the rainiest season but only receive sporadic nighttime showers which can make the nighttime temperature below freezing. Other than this challenge, everything fits perfectly for the trekking journey. Also, the mountains are at their greenest and the alpine meadows are adorned with wildflowers.
The off-season wintertime is not recommended for Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek as the weather is too chilly and windy. Similarly, snow can block the trekking route making it hard to trace them. However, if you want to experience the trek in winter and challenge the season, you should be an experienced trekker and only proceed with proper guidance and equipment.
Permits to do Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek
Trekkers are required to obtain the following permits to do the Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek.
1. Tibet Travel Permit
Tibet Travel Permit is issued by Tibet Travel Bureau (TTB) in Lhasa. It takes around 2 weeks to obtain it. You need to first confirm the Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek with an authorized travel agency like us. Then, your scanned passport copies and required documents will be submitted to TTB. After the permit is obtained by your travel agency, it will be handed to you once you arrive in Tibet.
2. Alien’s Travel Permit
A special permit named Alien’s Travel Permit is mandatory for Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek as the journey covers some restricted areas of Tibet. The permit can be obtained once you are in Tibet after showing your original passport and Tibet Travel Permit.
Itinerary Map
Itinerary Detail
What is Included / Not Included
- Airport transfers on a private vehicle
- All necessary Travel Permits to travel in Tibet
- 3* standard category hotel accommodations in Lhasa & Tsedang
- Guesthouse/Tented camp accommodations during the trek
- All meals during the trek
- Pack animals during the trek
- All Camping equipment during the trek with a cook
- All ground transportation comfortable vehicle
- Professional English-speaking Tibetan guide
- All entrance fees, tickets to the attraction sites, and monasteries are outlined in the itinerary
- First Aid Kit
- Oxygen supply
- Welcome/farewell dinner
- Applicable Government Taxes
Accommodations During Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek
Himalayan Trekkers generally offers 3* standard category accommodations in city areas for any travel packages. So, for this Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek, during your stay in Lhasa and Tsedang, you will be spending the nights at a 3* standard category hotel on a twin/double sharing basis. However, if you want to upgrade the hotel category or want to have a single supplementary service, we can manage them for you at an additional cost and prior information.
Once you start the trekking journey, we will be spending the nights at the tented camp on the nice and scenic campsites every night. There are monastery guesthouses in some places but spending the nights at those places could high the price of the package as we will be already renting the camping equipment on daily basis.
Meals During Ganden to Samye Monastery Trek
While all breakfasts are included in the package, the lunches and dinners are on your own when in cities like Lhasa and Tsedang as you will find plenty of places to dine in your favorite dishes or western, continental, Chinese or local cuisines.
Then once the journey begins, you will be served the freshly prepared meals by the tent cooks. You could enjoy freshly cooked vegetable dishes, pasta, salads, cereal, porridge, omelet, fried or scrambled eggs with bread, Tibetan bread, fried rice, etc. If interested you can opt. for the Tibetan breakfast that includes Yak Butter Tea with Tsampa (roasted buckwheat flour). Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are also available. Sometimes, you might get the chance to drink yak butter tea and eat Tsampa at herder’s camps if they invite you over.