Samye Extension (4 Days)
You can extend your trip to include Samye, Tibet’s first monastic institution, situated on the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo (river) and the sights of the Yarlung Valley, home to Tibet’s first kings. The Yarlung Valley shelters a wealth of history and legend. It was from their fortress/palace of Yambulagang that the 33rd Yarlung King, Songsten Gampo, moved his capital to Lhasa and first conceived a Tibetan state. He lies buried, along with both his ancestors and descendents, in the royal tombs at Chongye.

Across the Yarlung Tsangpo stands Samye, Tibet’s first monastic institution and one of its most beautiful. Dating from the 8th century, it was built in the form of a mandala representing the Buddhist universe.