Lhasa, Gandan & Samye trek - Tibet Gandan to Samye trek 13 Days/ 12 Nights Trekking route:lhasa - Hebu Village Hebu - south Base of Jookar La - Sukhe La - Yemalung Hermitage - Nyengo Village - Samye Valley - Tsetang We start our trip in Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal); taking in a day sightseeing to some historical sites of the Kathmandu city. At one time, the Kathmandu Valley was a huge lake. Legend has it that the hill on which the Monkey Temple stands was an island. There is evidence that the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka visited the site 2,000 years ago We fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu over the spectacular snowcapped Himalayan Mountains with great views of Mt Everest on a clear day. This tour offers impressive Tibetan Monasteries which has colourful traditional architecture, the famous 7th century Potala Palace in Lhasa and the bustling Barkhor bazaar. This is an excellent trek, combining the historical and religious sites with the natural beauty of the high nomadic areas. This trek offers lakes, beautiful alpine forests, meadows and connects the two major religious centers of Tibet-Ganden and Samye monasteries. The trek is graded medium to difficult and attains highest altitude of 5,250m at Shuga La. Tsedang is the gateway town to the ancient Yarlung Valley civilization. We will take an extra day in Tsedang to visit the Tibet s first palace-yambulakhang, Tradruk Temple and other highlights. Vote with your feet and come walk with me 1
Trip Overview Day 1: Kathmandu 1,400m Day 2: Kathmandu Lhasa - 3,640m Highlights Nepali Cultural dinner & traditional dancing Day 3: Lhasa -acclimatisation sightseeing - 3,640 m Day 4: Lhasa -acclimatisation sightseeing - Day 5: Lhasa to Gandan Monastery Hebu Village Day 6: Hebu Village - Jookar La pass Day 7: Jookar La pass - Shukhu La Day 8: Shukhu La Yemalung Hermitage Nyengo Village Day 9: Nyengo Village Samye Valley - Tsetang Day 10: Samye Monastery Tsedang Day 11: Traduk Temple Day 12: Lhasa to Kathmandu Day 13: Kathmandu Cultural sites of Kathmandu Himalayan flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa Potala Palace Gandan Monastery Sera & Drepung Monastery (Lhasa) Samye Monastery Opening your tent door to a vista of mountains Impressive mountain passes Nomadic locals Bath in sacred mountain lakes. Yemalung Hermitage (Tibetan pilgrimage site) Pasmasambhava s meditation Cave Chingbuk Caves Detail trip itinerary Day 1: Kathmandu - 1,400 metres We meet for a team briefing hand over our passports to our leader for the final arrangements of Tibet / Chinese visas then depart for some sightseeing. We will meet in the early evening for a welcome group dinner and Nepalese cultural programme (included in the price). Beverages at your own expense Accommodation: Sacred Valley Inn Includes: dinner Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa (1,400 metres 3,680 mt) - 70km Early morning transfer to the airport for the hour-long flight to Lhasa - Tibet. This spectacular flight, on a China Southwest Airlines Boeing 757, takes us right across the main Himalayan range and provides us with magnificent mountain views. After landing at Gongar Airport and meeting our Tibetan guide, it is a further 45 minute drive on the new road to Lhasa enjoying the view of the Yarlong Tsangpo River (the longest river in Tibet). It is important to spend a few days in Lhasa for acclimatization and rest before embarking on our trek.we will go on a short walk to Barkhor Square to stretch our legs and follow the crowds into the square which gives us the sensation of slipping into a medieval carnival. Lhasa's old market is an area full of vendors selling their wares, yak butter wafting in the air and hundreds of people moving in a clockwise direction around Jokhang Temple. Then there will be free time to explore Barkhor Street which surrounds Jokhang Temple. You could take a visit to the 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple, which commemorates the 2
marriage of Tang princess Wencheng to King Songtsen Gampo. It is reputed as the first Buddhist temple in Tibet and as the Sacred Temple of all Tibetan Buddhists. This is one part of Lhasa that has resisted any invasion of the modern world where ancient way of trading is still practiced. Day 3: Acclimatisation day - Lhasa (3,680 mt) - full day sightseeing We will visit Sera Monastery which is one of Lhasa s great monasteries that survived the Cultural Revolution better than most. We can get up close and personal to a Debate where the monks will try and outwit their colleagues with questions on religion. Sera Monastery is smaller and more serene. After lunch we will visit the famous Potala Palace an (UNESCO). Once the residence of the Dalai Lama, and seat of the Tibetan government, the 13-story building is currently converted into a museum, which is comprised of over 200,000 statues, temples, shrines, and historical Tibetan articles. The Potala Palace is great to view in the evenings from either the rooftop of our hotel or by taking a stroll to the front of the Palace.. Includes: Breakfast Day 4: Acclimatisation day - Lhasa (3,680 mt) - full day sightseeing 25km No visit to Lhasa would be complete without a visit to Drepung monastery is situated 25km to the west of Lhasa. This will further help us to acclimatize and adjust to the climate. Drepung Monastery the largest of the monasteries out of the great Gelugpa monasteries was home to around 10,000 monks during the Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1951... Includes: Breakfast Day 5 Lhasa Gandan Monastery Hebu Village - 3,680-4,570 metres (drive 70km - 1 ½ hrs plus 4 ½ hrs trekking) We drive from Lhasa to Gandan Monastery which we will visit before starting our trek. Gandan Monastery was built in 1409 by Tsongkhapa and was the first monastery in the Gelugpa sect. Then drive to Dupshi where we start trekking and follow the trail which rises to the village of Hebu and cross the river and camp near nomads. Day 6 Hebu Village Shugar La Balang Tsoto - 4,570 5,180-4,765 metres 6 hours Today is an early start trekking up to Shugar La pass which takes approximately four hours. We then take another two hours following a steep trail down to some pristine meadows. This is the hardest day but the views from our campsite at Balang Tsoto are well worth the effort. Day 7 - Balang Tsoto Shukhu La Pass Tsotup Chu valley 4,765-5,145 6 7 hrs trekking Today's trek begins by walking up the cairn lined track to Shukhu La & Chitu La pass at 5,200 meters, which is much easier than yesterday s pass. We descend gradually through a narrow short gorge to open meadows, reaching the valley in 1 ½ hrs from the pass. We pass more nomad tents to reaches a junction of two streams where we will camp for the night at Yemalung. Nomad herders with their yaks, goat and sheep dot the landscape. Day 8 Sukhe La Yemalung Hermitage Nyengo Village metres 6 7 hrs trekking This morning we visit Yemalung Hermitage, a major pilgrimage site for the followers of the Pa sect, and Padmasambhava Meditation Cave. This cave is an Indian sage Guru and is said to have transmitted Tantric 3
Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet. Now it is a very popular place with Tibetan pilgrims. The trail begins in a plain below the hermitage, alongside the crumbing remains of stone throne, once used by the visiting Dalai Lama. Crossing a wooden bridge, the trail ascends through thick rosebushes and honeysuckle on a series of switchbacks, which periodically offer fine views of Mount Hepori in the distance to the south. The first cave on the route is one where Padmasambhava stayed (at present inhabited by monks from Zhang Zabulung). We then climb steeply to a small clearing where prayer-flags cover a stupa and may see pilgrims walking clockwise. A narrow trail leads to west towards an old burial ground, and a sacred spring that emerged when Padmasambhava conferred a long-life empowerment on King Trisong Detsen. There is also a narrow rock tunnel called Bardo Trang which pilgrims crawl through to test their degree of preparation for the intermediate state after death. The cliff-top cave of Padmasambhava (4,200m) contains a new image of the master himself, and rocks marked with his foot and handprints. We then transfer from Yemalung to Samye Monastery to camp in the monastery garden. Accommodation: camping Day 9 - Samye Monastery 4,750 metres We visit Samye monastery which was built in the 8th century by the Indian Buddhist master Padmasambhava, Tibetan King Trison Detsen. Samye was designed on plan of Odanphuri temple, covering a total of 25000 square meters of land. Tibetan people believe that the souls of the dead will not be incarnated unless the deceased has reached Samye before.in the afternoon we visit Chimphu Cave which was also used for mediation by Padmasambhava. Currently there are 60 hermits at Chimphu, the majority from East Tibet. Most of caves, which are accessible from this temple to northwest, are clustered around 15m high Zangdok Pelri rock. Day 10 Samye Monastery Tsetang 4,750-4,620 metres We depart Samye and on a senci drive to Tsedang (approx. 50km) and check into our hotel. lunch we'll visit Tibet's oldest building the Yumbu Lagang which was the first palace in Tibet. The palace was built by the first King of Tibet ( Nyatri Tsenpo) in 247 BC. Sacred texts are said to have miraculously fallen on the palace roof heralding the first appearance of Buddhism in Tibet. Overnight in Tsedang. Day 11 Tsetang -4,620 metres Today we will visit Traduk temple and the tomb of the Tibetan king. Tradruk temple, is the earliest of Tibet's great geomantic temples apart from the Jokhang temple, and Tra means falcon. Druk means dragon. It was reputedly constructed by King Songtsen Gampo on left shoulder of the supine ogress, symbolizing the rigors of Tibet terrain. Your afternoon is free to wander and savour the last day in this fascinating area of Tibet. Day 12 Lhasa to Kathmandu 4,620-4,750 metres (306 km drive) Drive to airport for your departure to Nepal. The afternoon is free to explore Kathmandu. We will meet in the evening for a farewell dinner with our new found friends. Includes: Breakfast Day 13 Kathmandu 1,400 metres After breakfast and checking out of the hotel the trip will end. 4
Includes: Breakfast Local porters: The guides used are all experienced. You will be expected to carry your own day pack which should be large enough to carry all you will need throughout the day e.g. raincoat, water bottle, camera, spare clothing, snack food, etc. Guide to Tipping: It is customary to tip the tour leader, local guides and support crew at the end of your trek please allow US$40. Gifts: Guides and porters also appreciate any discarded warm clothing, shoes, and packs. Accommodation All accommodation as detailed in this itinerary is in hotels/ guesthouses on a twin/triple when in hotels in Kathmandu/ Tibet and twin when camping. Extra accommodation can be reserved for you in Kathmandu before and after your tour at a discounted price. Visa: A visa may be obtained for Nepal at point of entry into Kathmandu at a cost of approx USD$40 for 30 day multiple entry. This will be at you own cost. Your visa for Tibet will be arranged in Nepal by Trekking 4 Women at a cost and will be included in your cost however there will be an additional charge for US and some European citizens, of approx USD$ 98 /114. Clothing Note While there is no technical equipment required for your trek, you should take warm and appropriate leather walking boots, sleeping gear and clothing as the trek can get very cold in the evenings. This trip is scheduled in the summer time; however it is advisable to take mixture of warm and cool clothing due to it being very warm in Nepal but still very cold in Tibet. Lhasa will still be quite warm during the day. Important Note: You will need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance policy to the briefing on day one to your tour guide before joining the trip. Donations Please note you will be expected to make a donation when entering Monasteries, schools and the hospital. Altitude and acclimatisation To aid acclimatisation there is the need to spend a few days to slowly adapt to the altitude to ensure a safe journey. You could consider a trek in Nepal or other altitude activities which will help you to acclimatise in preparation for your trek. To minimise AMS it is essential to allow sufficient time for acclimatisation which Trekking 4 Women build into the itinerary by staying in Kathmandu & Lhasa before starting our trek. It is advisable if you have any known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult your doctor before booking this trip. Pre departure information: Further to the information provided in this itinerary, a pre departure information booklet will be sent to you. This Pre departure booklet provides you with information regarding visas, joining instructions, clothing/ equipment list, health requirements, vaccinations, extra hotel accommodation, training tips for fitness etc. Please read it carefully to make sure you are fully prepared. Remember if you do not undertake some training before hand and you are found not be fit enough for the trip, this may jeopardise you being able to remain on the trek. (Please read the terms & conditions carefully regarding this). Important note: The enclosed notes are intended as a guide only, indicating a typical itinerary and series of activities and highlights. While every effort will be made to follow the route published on any departure and the distances travelled, driving time and available activities can vary for a number of reasons, in the event of political problems or natural difficulties 5
which are beyond my control and prevent travelling to a particular area, Trekking 4 Women reserve the right to substitute an alternative activity for that section of the trip. Overnight stops may vary on occasions from those suggested Please note that your trek leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; the Gandan to Samye trek is adventure travel in a remote mountain region. Weather conditions and health of group members can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if necessary. Lhasa Gandan Samye trek 13 days/ 12 nights Trip Code: T4W 57 Grade Strenuous - Group Size: 8 12 s/guesthouses and tents while trekking Extra trips before or afterwards Chitwan Safari (3days), Everest Mountain Flight (approx 1 hr.) or the Everest Base Camp 19 days Price: Please check Trekking 4 Women s website for departure dates and prices. Single supplement UAD$200.00 Start : Kathmandu Return flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa are approx. USD$950.00 End: Kathmandu Price includes Price does not include Guide and Support crew salaries & insurance Yak & yak men & cook during the trek Authorised English speaking Tibetan tour guide Leader Ann Young for groups of 8 or more Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu One cultural group dinner in Kathmandu (excluding drinks) as indicated in the itinerary Two nights Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on a twin/triple share bases Ten nights hotel/guesthouse/camping accommodation while in Tibet on twin share Breakfast in some Tibetan hotels Tibet travel permit fee Support vehicle to carry all luggage Support vehicle for clients Two man tents, mattresses Three meals a day while camping All ground transfers as per the itinerary Trekking 4 Women T Shirt Entry visas into Nepal Extra fees for Visa & permit if joining in Tibet & US Citizens. Any tour entrance fees not mentioned in the itinerary Drinks, Guide & Support crew tips, laundry, mineral water and other items of a personal nature. International Flights to Nepal Return airfares Kathmandu to Lhasa ( approx. cost USD$950) Arrival & departure transfers Meals except where indicated as per itinerary Alcohol drinks, soft drinks and tips All personal gear Travel Insurance Rescue & evacuation if needed Extra expenses and/or additional days caused due to unexpected events or delays (porter age landslides, or other natural events) Single supplement (USD$200) All Trekking 4 Women (T4W) trips will be personally lead by Ann Young, (the Director of T4W) or a representative of T4W, to ensure you, the client, of the best possible experience. My passion for travel and desired objective is to offer a unique experience, enrich lives, and encourage personal growth which is fun and affordable. The objective will be to provide sustainable active travel adventures that are beneficial for local communities and the mountains of the Nepal and Tibet. Trekking 4 Women, P O Box 5543, Palmerston North 4441, New Zealand. Phone: +64 6 356 7043, Fax: +64 6 35 67 044, Mobile: + 64 (027) 356 7043 Email: ann@trekking4women.co.nz, web: www.trekking4women.co.nz Updated May 2012 6