Ganden-Samye Trek, Everest Basecamp trekking, Ebc trek, Ebc Treking, Mt. Everest Base Camp treks

Day 01:

Kathmandu (Arrival day and Transfer to hotel) - 1340M

Day 02:

Kathmandu
In the morning of day 2 a half-day city tour will introduce you to some of the highlights of Kathmandu.

Day 04-06:

Lhasa
With a relaxed pace to allow for the effects of altitude, explore this fantastic city on the roof of the world. The spiritual heart of Tibet is the Jokhang Temple and every morning is full of life as pilgrims bring offerings of butter and barley flour. The Potala Palace rises above the city and, more than any other sight, symbolizes the history and culture of Tibet. Nearby are the huge monastic universities of Drepung and Sera – still active institutions.

Day 07:

Ganden - 4500m
Ganden (4500m) is the seat of the head of the Gelukpa order, the Ganden Tripa. Founded by Tsong Khapa in 1417, the monastery has exercised powerful political influence and perhaps because of this suffered almost total destruction in the 1960s. Rebuilding is well underway, but the extent of the damage is quite evident. The kora, pilgrimage curcuit, here is one of the most fascinating with numerous pilgrims and great views of the Kyi Chu valley.

Day 08:

trek herder's camp 4800m
From the high point of the Ganden kora continue to ascend towards the top of the ridge, marked by a cairn. From here the view is down the Kyi Chu Valley to Lhasa. Pass through Hepu village with its red and yellow protector-deity residence on the edge of the village – the Divine White Yak. The trail continues along the stream as the valley narrows to the site of a ruined nunnery before emerging onto marshy meadowland near Yama Do.

Day 09:

trek Shuga-La Tsotup Chu Valley -5250m
Damp alpine meadows continue to the pass, Shuga La (5250m) where cairns, prayerflags and yak horns mark the summit. Descend past a small lake into the Tsotup Chu Valley, an area of rich pasture supporting yak, sheep and goats. There are often herders camped here and it is an ideal opportunity to get a glimpse of this traditional Tibetan lifestyle.

Day 10:

trek Chitu-La 5100m
trek herder’s camp 4400m
Climbing a wide basin the Chitu-La (5100) is visible as a rocky rampart at the head of the valley. On the far side small lakes dot a shrub area where herders have carved out small level areas for their tents. A narrow gorge leads out onto the wider meadows where there are larger herder's camps along the river.

Day 11:

trek below Chanda -4020m
Scrub willow and rosebush forest become thicker as you descend down the river, into forest of juniper and rhododendron. This is one of the most attractive sections of the trek, especially in May and June when the rhododendrons are in flower and the hillside is a blaze of color. There is a shrine to the protectress of the area, Dorje Yudronma, and further down the valley, the first permanent settlement since Hepu – Chanda. Looking south the mountain range across the Yarlung Tsangpo is visible in the distance.

Day 12:

trek Yamalung 4080m
trek Samye 3800m
A detour leads to Yamalung hermitage where Guru Rinpoche meditated and received empowerment from the Buddha Amitayus. There are several small temples, a sacred spring and numerous carvings; the temple enclosing Guru Rinpoche's meditation cave contains a hand and footprints of the saint. From the tiny hamlet of Pisha you can see Hepo Ri, one of Tibet's most sacred mountains, in the middle of the Samye Valley below. From here the valley is a tapestry of fields, woods and villages contrasting with the sandy river bank. Tiny temples and shrines dot the path down towards the golden roofs of Samye.

Samye, built in the form of a mandala, was the first monastery to be built in Tibet and where Guru Rinpoche subdued many local demons, converting them to Buddhism.

Day 13:

Samye
Today may be spent exploring the village – a typical and fascinating Tibetan farming community, climb to the top of nearby Hepo Ri for magnificent views, wander the willow studded sand dunes along the river, a live with bird life or, for the more energetic, a trek to the Chimphu hermitages. At the head of the beautiful Chimphu valley there is a small ani gompa (nunnery) and the hillside is littered with meditation huts.

Day 14:

Gyantse 3950m
An early morning ferry across the Yarlung Tsangpo is a fitting beginning to one of the most scenically spectacular drives in Tibet. Cross the Khamba La and Kora La (passes), along the shores of Lake Yamdrok Tso to Gyantse. Once an important trading town, Gyantse retains a feel of ‘old' Tibet.

Day 15:

Shigatse -3900m
In the morning visit Gyantse's monastery – Pelkor Choede – and the justifiably famous Kumbum, within the same complex. There may also be time to visit the dzong (fort) that towers above the town. In the afternoon we make the short (2-3 hour) drive along the valley to Shigatse.

Day 16:

Xegar -4050m
Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama, second only in importance to the Dalai Lama. Its numerous halls contain a 21.6-meter wooden statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha and elaborate, jewel encrusted reliquary chorten. In the afternoon we drive to Xegar.

Day 17:

Rhongphu -5000m
Turn off the Friendship Highway for a stunning drive through Qomolangma National Park to reach the tiny Rhongphu Gompa at 5000m. The view from here is utterly spectacular!

Day 18:

Everest Base Camp -5200m
Lao Tingti -4390m
Trek or drive the 7kms to Everest Base Camp (5200m) before heading to Lao Tingri via a rough, yet scenic track crossing small rivers and passes.

Day 19:

Zhangmu -2300m
Another high pass gives a last, spectacular view of the Himalaya before we leave the Tibetan Plateau, descending to Zhangmu – on the China-Nepal border.

Day 20:

Kathmandu 1340m
Completing border formalities the drive back to Kathmandu continues down the Bote Khosi valley.

Day 21:

Full Day sightseeing of KTM Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath & Pasupatinath.

Day 22:

Departure to Airport and Back to Home. Or Join Other Activities with us.