Tsurphu to Yangpachen Trekking Tour

This is the first day in Tibet. Your guide will greet you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport/Railway Station and transfer you to your hotel. It usually takes around 1 hour to drive from Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa and takes about 20 minutes from Lhasa Railway Station. Tourists could have a look at the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the largest and longest river in Tibet on their way to the hotel. After check-in, you can have a good rest first. And if you feel like going out, you can wander around the city. But just remember that don't take too much stuff, try to go with a light pack. Meanwhile, drink some more water, and do not move strenuously. It’s really useful to get acclimatized to the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today your Lhasa tour starts with the world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After you visit the temple, you'll have time to walk around the Barkhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa since the early days. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.

In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

It takes several hours to drive to Tsurphu Monastery from Lhasa, including 2 hours of bumpy road from the main road to Tsurphu. The altitude will be up to 4300m and it takes half a day to acclimatize for the following trekking.

Tsurphu Monastery is the main temple of the Karma Kagyu sect. The reincarnation system of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism was first created here and was later promoted by other sects in Tibet.

Camp outside of the village under the monastery

(4hrs/ 11km/ 500m ascent)

Today is the first day of hiking. There is a fork in the path about 1 kilometer after starting from Tsurphu Monastery. You should continue walking to the right. The following is the most difficult part of this hike. It is a standard goat path so the travel speed is slower. Following the Baima Qiongzong Canyon, you will pass a small village at 4 kilometers. You can cross the Tsurphu River there and after hiking about 2 kilometers, you will see an ancient Mani Stone piles. There are two trails, both of which can lead to tonight's Campground, but the road on the left is a little easier to go. After crossing a mountain pass, you can see a small village with white Tibetan-style houses dotted on the grass like stars, which is "Leten Village".

Camp at Leten Village

(5hrs/ 15km/ 300m ascent/ 600m descent)

The trail from Leten Village to Bartso Village is also a goat road in the standard sense. About 6 kilometers from Leten Village, you will reach the highest point of the route, Lasar-la Pass, with an altitude of 5,300 meters. From Lasar-la Pass, you can see the Nyainqentanglha Mountains towering on the northern Tibetan grasslands, which is very spectacular. This breathtaking beauty will make you believe that all the hardships you have put in along the way are worth it! After descending the mountain pass and reaching the grassland, we will camp at the second small village, Bartso Village.

Camp at Bartso Village

(4hrs/ 15km/ 150m ascent/ 150 descent)

After starting from Bartso Village, you will cross a river, follow the mountain trail, bypass the pasture, and climb over the mountains. In front of you on the right is the endless Qiangtang grassland and small villages. Continue climbing along the slope on the left until you reach the top of the mountain and then descend back down. A river flows through the valley, with a few scattered houses. Over the mountains beside the river is the path to Dorje Ling. Snow-capped mountains, green grass, sheep, cattle, folk houses, and temples, all of these will make you feel relaxed and happy today.

Camp at Dorje Ling

(4hrs/ 14km/ mostly level)

In the morning, pack up the camp and personal equipment, set off after breakfast, and arrive at Yangpachen Monastery at noon. This temple has a history of nearly 500 years and is the main temple of the Karma Kagyu Red Hat Line of Tibetan Buddhism. After sightseeing at Yangpachen Monastery, your 4-day trek officially comes to an end. Your vehicle will be waiting here to transfer you to the nearby swimming pool-sized Yangpachen Hot Springs which is great to ease your aching limbs, after which, transfer back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Your tour ends today. Our guide and driver will collect you from your hotel to transfer to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.