Trekking Tour from Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery

The Ganden Monastery – Samye Monastery route was originally a pilgrimage route explored by the devout Tibetans. It has been the adoption for a large number of foreign tourists interested in Tibet trekking tours after it was introduced on the Lonely Planet. The whole trekking journey between Ganden Monastery and Samye Monastery is about 80 kilometers. Tourists join this trekking tour have to climb over two mountain passes with an altitude of more than 5000 meters. Different natural sceneries will be presented throughout the journey, including the rivers, valleys, hills, forests and deserts.

Tourists planning to choose the trekking tour from Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery are not advised to realize this trip in winter for the consideration of the weather condition. In winter, the mountain passes might be covered with thick snow and it is pretty dangerous to do some trekking activities in the complicated environment. On the contrary, the period between May and October is the best season to trek from Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery. Generally, it takes 4 days to finish this trekking tour. There are villages along this route, but tourists should also prepare the necessary camping equipments, warm clothes and enough solid food and beverage.

Day1, Ganden Monastery – Shuga-la Mountain Pass – Campsite

On the first trekking day, tourists have to trek to Heybu Village from Ganden Monastery (about 3 hours trekking). It is easily to get lost if you don’t have a guide who trekked along this route before. Generally, Tibet Tour will arrange yaks to help our clients to carry the baggage at Heybu Village. Some of the hikers would like to take the first night halt at Heybu Village while the others would like to trek two more hours to the campsite at the foot of the Shuga-la Mountain.

Day2, Shuga-la Mountain Pass – Lakeside

It would be pretty toilsome to hike up to Shuga-la Mountain Pass in the morning of the second trekking day. After about 40 hours trekking, tourists would reach to a soft and humid meadow area. After climbing over the Shuga-la Mountain Pass (5250 meters), tourists will continue the journey to the Lake. The campsite is by the lakeside. On this day, tourists have to trek for about 6-7 hours in total.

Day3, Lakeside – Herdsmen’s Camping Ground

On the third trekking day, tourists choose the trekking tour from Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery will trek to the Herdsmen’s Camping Ground along the lakeside. It takes about one hour to hike to the mountain valley after climbing over the Tsetup-la Mountain Pass (5100 meters). Trekking up along the river valley after crossing the river, tourists will reach to the Herdsmen’s Camping Ground. You will fell well worth to witness the breathtaking valley landscape after around 6 hours trekking.

Day4, Herdsmen’s Camping Ground – Samye Monastery

Today, tourists will have the chance to enjoy beautiful landscapes all the way. The charming villages and ancient monasteries provide tourists the chance to explore the mysterious Tibetan civilization. If you are tired about this trekking trip, you can rent a tractor in the village to Samye Monastery. We will drive back to Lhasa from Samye Monastery