Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
trip up the side Drak valley to the nunnery and caves of
Drak Yangdzong
, where you can
join pilgrims as they squeeze themselves up wooden ladders and through narrow tunnels.
Next up is
Samye Monastery
, one of Tibet's great highlights and a fine place to
overnight. Take in the morning views from Hepo Ri and then continue to the modern city
of
Tsetang
to pick up permits. Budget a full day to visit the Yarlung Valley via Trandruk
Monastery,
Yumbulagang
and the ruins of Rechung-puk.
Headed back towards Lhasa, the first stop is
Mindroling
, one of Tibet's most important
Nyingmapa-school
gompas
(monasteries) and home to a monastery guesthouse. Nearby
Dranang Monastery
will appeal to art lovers with its important Pala-era wall murals. His-
tory buffs will want to make the short hike to the ruins of Jamapaling chörten, a sobering
monument to the senseless destruction of the Cultural Revolution.
From here Lhasa's Gongkar airport is less than an hour away. Alternatively consider
heading south over the Khamba-la to dramatic
Yamdrok-tso
and then over the Karo-la to
Gyantse
. Continue the next day to
Shigatse
, spending a day at Tashilunpo Monastery and
kora, and then return to Lhasa or the airport via the Bön monastery of
Yungdrungling
.