Add the mother monastery of the Gelug school to the classic sights of Lhasa. The 5 Days Lhasa & Ganden Monastery Tour (4 nights / 5 days) gives you three unhurried days among the palaces, temples and monasteries of the Tibetan capital and a spectacular excursion to Ganden Monastery, perched at about 4,300 m on Wangbur mountain above the Kyichu valley. Fly in from Kathmandu, Beijing or Chengdu; the Tibet Travel Permit, China visa service, 3-star hotel with breakfast, private air-conditioned vehicle, English-speaking Tibetan guide and entrance fees are included.
After a day to acclimatise, you explore the Potala Palace – built as a fort by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century and rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th, the seat of religion and government in Tibet until the 1950s – the gardens and pavilions of Norbulingka, summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, and the Jokhang Temple with its Barkhor pilgrim circuit. Next come Drepung, once home to 10,000 monks, and Sera, with its lively afternoon debates.
On day four you drive about 60 km east to Ganden, founded in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa, the great reformer whose golden tomb stands in the main assembly hall. Rebuilt after its destruction in the 20th century, the monastery spreads like an amphitheatre across the hillside, and its ridge-top kora path offers breathtaking views over the Kyichu valley – one of the most beautiful walks near Lhasa.
Why choose this tour?
- Lhasa’s great sights plus the spectacular Ganden Monastery.
- A gentle pace with a full acclimatisation day.
- Tibet permit, China visa service, hotel, guide and entrance fees included.
Who is it for?
Culture lovers, photographers and Buddhist pilgrims. The grade is easy, but altitude reaches about 4,300 m at Ganden. Best from April to October.
Leave a Reply