Trekking in Tibet - Reading Towards a Pilgrim Soul
What's the most beautiful trek one can take in Tibet with amazing scenery? When you have a chance to visit Tibet, the Tibetan trekking trails near Ganden and Samye Monastery is one of the most important place to see pilgrimage's worshipping on the road. Here locals and nomads from all over prostrate at each and every step. It may seem a little 'odd' when you first see it, however upon understanding their grateful heart and desire to pay their tribute to Buddha to get rid of one's sins.
The Pilgrimage Experience
For every tourist to Tibet, this route is meant to be a pilgrimage route. No matter whether you are going to praise what a beautiful Tibet you shall see, all lies the pure journey in your soul towards the pilgrimage. However, trekking from Ganden to Samye is just the most classical route for years. With a peaceful and grateful spirit, the scripture can be successfully passed into your hands.
Going on the Ganden to Samye trek is more than a physical journey across the breathtaking landscapes of Tibet; it's an immersion into the depths of spiritual awakening and cultural understanding. As pilgrims and tourists alike tread this ancient path, they find themselves walking in the footsteps of centuries of seekers, each step a testament to their quest for enlightenment and connection with the divine.
The trek is not only a journey through the external beauty of Tibet's mountains, lakes, and monasteries but also a profound internal exploration. As you ascend through varying altitudes, witnessing the serene beauty of nature untouched by time, you are invited to reflect on your inner self, your beliefs, and your place in the universe. This path, trodden by monks, nomads, and travelers for generations, serves as a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual, guiding each visitor toward a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings and the essence of human existence.
Starting the Journey
Lhasa
Lhasa is your first destination. Tourists will have 2 days for sightseeing in Lhasa city. You can visit Lhasa’s religious centers, such as the Potala Palace and Jokang Temple. For tourists, the Lhasa sightseeing is to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude, because the altitude in Lhasa is 3,600m (11,810.88 ft), which is just a start for your following trekking experience.
From Lhasa to Ganden Monastery
Wandering in Lhasa is just the start of your trekking. Lhasa has definitely given you the urge to know more about Tibet. Here we start to go to visit the first monastery – Ganden Monastery. We will drive to Ganden from Lhasa along the Kyichu Valley. Ganden in Tibetan means the paradise of the Buddha of the Future.
Exploring Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery is located at the top of Wangbur Mountain, at an altitude of 4,300 m (14,107 ft). It was founded by a monk named Tsongkhapa. Tsongkhapa was a prodigy when he was a child. However, during his way of monastic life, he was dissatisfied with the training of the current discipline. Then he established his own order and had his own disciples. Meanwhile, he founded the Ganden Monastery (Geluk School) in 1409 as the first monastery. Tourists’ pilgrimage to Ganden Monastery can’t miss the three must-see sights – the Serdung, which preserves the golden tomb of Tsongkhapa, the Ngam Cho Khang Chapel, where the great and talented Tsongkhapa taught his students there and the Tsokchen Assembly Hall.
Ganden to Yamalung
Without camping, how can we call it a really wonderful trekking? After you visit the Ganden Monastery, tourists and our guide will camp at a village near Ganden. Leaning beside one of the holy mountains, the water flowing smoothly from the holy lakes in Tibet without anything to stop it and the clouds flying in the sky with nothing holding them, alone lying in the meadows or chatting your feelings with your new friends, all of them can be the most unforgettable experience along your way. Anyway, you can't resist the superb scenery in Tibet.
Actually, the most strenuous time is the 4-day trekking trail from Ganden to Yamalung. This route doesn’t offer you a car or any other mode of transportation. Can’t keep to the end? I don’t think it's a big problem. Along your hiking, you will see beautiful lakes, alpine forests as well as the snowy passes. But I think you should be proud of yourself this time, for the altitude is from 4,500m (14,763 ft) to 5,100m (16,732 ft), and you are walking on one of the highest roads. Hooray for yourself! The mountains are at the greenest during summer and you can see colorful wildflowers along your trekking path. After you arrive at Yarmalung, you will be picked up by the local tractor to bring you to Samye Monastery.
Visiting Samye Monastery and Concluding the Pilgrimage
As you can see on the left, a Tibetan was rolling the scriptures. There were scriptures in the canister. The yellow roof ornaments at the top of the house are Sutra banners. There are various Sutra banners on the roof of the Tibetan-style building, depending on different regions. After visiting Samye, drive to Tsedang for an overnight. You will have a day at Tsedang, where you can visit the Yumbulakang Palace and the cave inside Gongburi Mountain. On the last day drive to Lhasa Gonga airport. It’s time to say goodbye to your guide and the driver. Here a happy ending for our Tibetan trekking trail and your soul towards the pilgrimage became true.
If you decide to go on a different trek adventure, then Tibet might be the perfect destination for that.
There are many trek routes in Tibet, however, the trek from Ganden to Samye is a pilgrimage of the soul, a quest for inner peace and enlightenment. This route, laden with spiritual significance and surrounded by the majestic beauty of nature, offers a unique blend of physical challenge and spiritual nourishment. As travelers tread this sacred path, they engage in a profound dialogue with the past, present, and future, embarking on a journey that transcends the mere physicality of hiking through mountains and valleys.
On this trek you will be witness the extraordinary beauty of this ancient land full of tradition and culture. Trekking in Tibet is a journey that challenges, inspires, and ultimately transforms, offering each pilgrim a glimpse into the profound depths of human existence and the beauty of the natural world. In embracing this journey, one does not simply visit Tibet; they are forever changed by its splendor and spiritual depth.