Tsurphu to Yanbachen Trek

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3650m).

Settle in to your hotel to relax and adjust to high altitude.

Day 2: Lhasa (Visit Potala Palace & Jokhang Temple).

In the morning, we’ll visit the Potala Palace, the greatest wonder of Tibetan architecture. The Potala was built in the mid-7th century by the famous Tibet King, Songtsen Gampo. It is 130m and 13 stories high, and commands a view of all Lhasa. The Potala has been residence to the Dalai Lama Lineage for hundreds of years. After lunch, we’ll visit the Jokhang Temple, also known in Tibet as the Tsuglhakhang, is the most important temple in Tibet. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to Lhasa from every corner of the Tibetan plateau to visit Jokhang Temple. This temple was built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, and is more than 1300years old. From the roof of the Temple, there is a wonderful view of Potala Palace and the bustling Barkhor.

Day 3: Lhasa (Drepung monastery & Sera monastery).

After breakfast, you’ll meet your guide in the hotel and he or she’ll lead you to visit one of the three most famous monasteries in Tibet. Drepung monastery, literally translated as “rice heap”, and was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa called Jamyang Choje, Once it was home to as many as 10.000 monks. Ganden Palace was established by the second Dalai Lama, this Palace was home to the Dalai Lamas until the fifth Dalai Lama built the Potala. Afterward, we’ll visit Sera Monastery, where you can watch monks debate Tibetan Buddhist philosophy in the debating courtyard.

Day 4: Lhasa—Tsurphu Monastery 4480m) / 70kms / 2 HRS.

Now we’ll drive to Tsurphu Monastery, Tsurphu is the seat of the Karmapa, one of the four orders of Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa are also Known as the “Black Hat”, the hat is said to be made from the hair of Khandroma. Tsurphu was founded in 1187 by the first incarnation of Karmapa and used to be the home of 1000 monks. If time allows we’ll take a Kora to the monastery, which will take about 2 hours to complete. Afterward, prepare for the amazing trekking to Yangpachen Hot Spring. We’ll spend the night in Monastery Guesthouse.

Day 5: Tsurphu—Leten 12kms / 5 HRS / Hiking.

Today you begin your amazing trek heading up the valley; this trail passes through the high plateau where small nomadic communities camp in the herding months. You will have the chance to visit nomads along the trail and meet herders. We’ll hike up to grassy valleys and cross clean mountain streams. The scenery is beautiful and very impressive in the classic Nomad lifestyle. At Leten we’ll look for a flat area for camping.

Day 6: Leten---Bartso 15kms / 7 HRS / Hiking.

You’ll hike your first small pass, the Damchen Nyingtri, and descend into a magical valley of lichen-coated boulders meandering streams. Later you will cross the Lasar La and descend into the Yangpachen valley, with its wide open plateaus and head towards Bartso. The views of Brize (translated to mean female yak herder) and Tarze (horse keeper) are superb, you’ll camp near Bartso, a drokpa (nomad) village of five or six houses, surrounded by the juniper used for incense all over the Tibetan world.

Day 7: Barso—Dorje Ling Nunnery 15kms / 6 HRS / Hiking.

Today we’ll head towards a wide trail leading across the valley and over another ridge, from where you will be rewarded with views of Nyenchen Tanghlha (7111m), the holiest mountain in central Tibet. We’ll emerge at Tajung village, crossing through a lovely grassy hillside to Dorje Ling Nunnery, near which you will set up your camp. The nuns are very friendly, and you can pay a visit to their houses and have some yak-butter tea with them.

Day 8: Dorje Ling Nunnery -- Yangbachen hot spring — Lhasa 100kms / 3 HRS.

Now we’ll head for Yangpachen Gompa through a grassy valley, to the old Kagyupa Monastery. Your driver will come to the monastery to pick you up, and then drive you to the hot spring at Yangbachen and then drive back to Lhasa.

Day 9: Depart from Lhasa.

Leave for your next destination by air or train.

Map coming soon...