Details
Arrival in Lhasa
Lhasa gathering → Arrival pick-up → Hotel rest to adapt to the altitude → Welcome dinner
Upon arrival in Lhasa you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day resting and acclimatizing to the high altitude (Lhasa is about 3,650 m / 11,975 ft). In the evening there will be a welcome dinner to meet the team and go over the trek plan.
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Lhasa Susheng Guizang Manor Hotel
Lhasa Airport
Lhasa Railway Station
Downtown Lhasa: Potala Palace — Jokhang Temple — Barkhor Street
In the morning, you will visit the Potala Palace, the highest ancient palace-style building complex in the world, the residence of the Dalai Lamas of all generations and the center of political and religious power in Tibet. It contains the golden stupa that holds the Dalai Lamas of all generations and a large number of precious murals, thangkas and Buddha statues, which are the concentrated embodiment of Tibetan culture.
After lunch, you will visit the Jokhang Temple, the earliest Buddhist temple built during the Tubo Dynasty. The temple enshrines a twelve-year-old life-size statue of Sakyamuni that accompanied Princess Wencheng into Tibet. It is the most sacred and effective Buddha statue in the hearts of Tibetan people. Here you can see the piety of the people in worship, and you can also turn the prayer wheel and pray with the people.
Friendly Tips: When entering a Tibetan temple, remember to remove your hat and sunglasses. Refrain from smoking, touching Buddha statues, turning pages of Buddhist scriptures, or ringing bells and drums. Other Buddhist artifacts, such as beads and amulets, should not be touched casually. Some temples prohibit photography; please adhere to these regulations.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lhasa Susheng Guizang Manor Hotel
Tourists at the Potala Palace in Lhasa
Jokhang Temple
Lhasa → Ganden Monastery → Heibu Village (overnight camp at 4,400 m)
Lhasa to Ganden Monastery, then trek to Heibu Village (elevation 4,400 m)
Driving distance: about 60 km / approx. 2 hours by vehicle. Trekking distance: about 17 km / approx. 6 hours on foot.
Today is a full trekking day of approximately 17 km and about 6 hours of walking. After an early breakfast the vehicle departs Lhasa and drives toward the sunrise, climbing for many kilometers along a winding mountain road with numerous hairpins. The vehicle will deliver you to the trekking start point at Ganden Monastery (Ganden).
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Ganden Monastery — One of the great Gelug monasteries founded by Je Tsongkhapa’s followers; its lofty perch marks the beginning of our trek. After visiting Ganden we begin the hike. Luggage will be transported by pack yaks so trekkers carry only day packs.
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The trail takes roughly 4–5 hours to reach Heibu Village, followed by another hour’s climb to tonight’s campsite at about 4,400 meters.
Expect open alpine landscapes, prayer flags, and the occasional yak grazing on the slopes.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Camp
Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery
Camp → Shuga-la Pass (5,284 m) → Descent → Camp (approx. 5,100 m)
Trekking distance: about 10 km / approx. 7 hours. The altitude rises by more than 800 meters.
Today’s stage is harder than yesterday. After breakfast you will trek for about 4 hours to cross the Shuga-la Pass (5,284 m). Before the final climb you will cross a stretch of broken rocky trail. At the pass you will see mani stone piles — devotional cairns and stacks of carved stones placed by pilgrims. The descent from the pass is much easier: you follow the mountain path downward toward a bright river below that reflects the late sun in golden light.
The descent brings you into a tranquil alpine meadow at the valley floor — a peaceful, quiet grassland dotted with grazing yaks. From a distance you will see a high mountain lake; that lake is beside tonight’s campsite. This day features classic high-plateau scenery: harsh rocky ridgelines above and soft, flowered meadows below.
Meals: \
Accommodation: Camp
Shuga la pass in Tibet
Tent at 5000 meters
Camp → Chitu-la Pass (5,228 m) → Foothill camp (3,700 m)
Trekking distance: about 14 km / approx. 7 hours.
After a simple camp breakfast you follow the valley for about an hour and reach Chitu-la Pass(5,228 m). Once you cross Chitula Pass you will be rewarded with the sight of three high mountain lakes joined in sequence. Continue across and descend along a long stretch of loose scree and rocky trail, with magnificent high-altitude views all the way down.
As elevation falls the vegetation gradually becomes denser. You follow a small river downstream until you arrive at the lower foothill camp at about 3,700 meters. Expect changing landscapes today — from stark high pass scenery to greener valley flora as you descend.
Meals: \
Accommodation: Camp
Chitu-la Pass
Morning view on the river
Camp → Changda Village → Longguo Village → Samye Monastery
Trekking: about 4 hours on foot; then tractor ride and bus transfer.
Today’s walking is relatively easy — about 4 hours along a flat, verdant river valley. The river water is milky with glacial silt and the valley scenery is lush. After roughly four hours on foot you arrive at Changda Village.
It takes about an hour by car from Changda to reach Longguo Village, marking the end of this hike. From Longguo you transfer by tourist bus to Samye Monastery.
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Samye Monastery (Samye) — Located on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) in Samye Town, Zhanang County (Shannan/Lhoka region). Samye is traditionally regarded as the first Buddhist monastery established in Tibet, founded during the Tibetan Empire in the 8th century by the order of King Trisong Detsen (Trisong Detsen) and constructed under the guidance of Indian tantric master Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
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Samye’s architectural layout is designed to reflect the Buddhist cosmos; its central assembly hall blends Tibetan, Han Chinese, and Indian architectural styles — which is why it is often called the “Three-Style Temple.” The monastery remains an important spiritual center where resident monks continue rituals and teachings.
You will have time at Samye to visit the main halls and appreciate its unique architecture and historical importance.
Meals: \
Accommodation: Samye Monastery Hotel
Shannan Samye Temple
Samye Monastery Monks
Samye Monastery → Return to Lhasa
Samye Monastery is situated at the foot of Habu Mountain, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Zhanang County, Shannan Prefecture. Founded in the 8th century during the Tibetan Empire, Samye is one of the birthplaces of Tibetan Buddhism and served as the first monastic institution for ordained monks in Tibet. Its unique tri-style architecture (Tibetan, Chinese, Indian) gives it a special place in Tibetan cultural history.
This morning you can further explore Samye’s temples and surrounding landscape. In the afternoon you transfer back to Lhasa by road. On the way back you may choose to rest, photograph the scenery, or simply enjoy the drive through the high plateau.
Meals: \
Accommodation: Lhasa Susheng Guizang Manor Hotel
Potala Palace at night
Barkhor Street
Lhasa → Airport
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. This completes the itinerary.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: \
Fee Description
Friendly Tips
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