Aku Tonpa to Samye Trekking Tour

A short flight to Tibet gives you a panorama of the snowy Himalayan ranges, or the day’s train ride over a high plateau by crossing the mighty Thangu la ranges gets you to Lhasa. With beautiful scenery along the route, upon your arrival at the Gonkar airport or the Lhasa Train Station. You will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver, then transferred to your hotel in Lhasa city. From the airport, it is about 70km to Lhasa and it takes 1:30 hours, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half an hour, check in the hotel, and meet with other travelers in the group. Take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimate and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions: Jokhang temple and bustling Barkhor Street, and Sera monastery.

Today is your first day on the high plateau, and some of you may have a little headache ach which is very common for travelers due to the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is recommended. In the morning, our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang Temple is one of the most sacred temples in all of Tibet, and it has always been bustling with earnest local pilgrims since its early days. After that, you have time to walk around the Barkhor street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa.

During the old days, it was the most famous local market, but now it has changed to a tourist gift shopping center.“ The amazing day will end with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening every day in the afternoon except Sunday. Continue to acclimate and alleviate jet lag for the rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions: Potala Palace and Drepung monastery.

Today we will visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and later, in the 17th century, rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama. Since then, it has been home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Walking through the long steps is quite challenging, but it is worthwhile to leave your footsteps in the spiritual palace of God of compassion, which was listed as a world heritage site in 1994. And in the afternoon, we will visit the Drepung monastery, once the world’s largest monastery that housed for more than 10,000 monks, it was resident of the Dalai Lama before Potala Palace, but several destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots of things to see by walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lane through the monk’s apartments is thrilling. Continue to acclimate and alleviate jet lag for the rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

Today we will drive from Lhasa to Ganden monastery to visit the monastery, and then later in the afternoon, we will drive to Akutonpa Nomad Camp, which is located deep in a small valley of Taktse county. You will be amazed by the nomadic camp with traditional black tents and herds of Yaks. Tonight, you will be going camping and exploring around the camp. The campsite is about 4000m high, and you may need to go short hike there to prepare for the trek.

Today is the first day of the trekking, we will leave from the Akutonpa campsite into a small valley, today’s day trek is about 10 km, and it will take around 5 hours, tonight our campsite is about 4800m high. On your arrival our cook will prepare some tea and coffee to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Today we will cross the Ghukyu Wama la pass with an altitude of 5400m, then climb down by passing by the Nyenpotso lake, then continue for bout one and a half hours trek to the campsite, overnight camping at Shergo campsite, tonight our campsite is about 4800m high. (Ngako Dingka).

Today, the trek from Shergo campsite to Gunye Thako is all downhill and follows the stream through the trees. Then, overnight at Gunye Thako campsite, which is about 4500m high.

Today we will trek from Gunye Thako to Shodral with total distance of 16 km all downhill, we will pass through few nomad families from the Samye region, continue the trek along the stream to our Shodral campsite, the campsite is about 4400m high.

Today it is an easy trek to Nyego village at the end of the valley, then our car will meet you there, and it is time to say goodbye to our Yakmen and Yaks as they will track the trail back to their home. Then it is a short drive to Samye monastery, and explore the Samye monastery later in the afternoon.

Today, your guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station, and it is time to say goodbye and depart to your next destination. Before your departure, we would appreciate it if you could spend a short time evaluating our services either by filling in the feedback form or simply sending us an email. The trip ends