Biking Ganden Monastery - Tibet

Tibet is one of those places on earth that is a must-visit at some point. A land of obscurity and mystique, with a colorful history and beautiful landscapes, a Tibet trek is absolutely worth the not-insignificant hoops that generally must be jumped through to gain access to the region.

Entering the Ganden Monastery complex

Beyond the oft-visited tourist sites, there are a wealth of unique and superb treks and day-trips that would certainly afford once-in-a-lifetime memories. One such pursuit is a day-long bike ride to Ganden Monastery (sometimes written Gadan), one of Tibet's "great three Gelukpa monasteries."

The monastery is just over 30 miles from Lhasa, making it every bit of a rigorous one-day ride, not to mention the final approach up the mountain, an elevation gain of 2,000ft.

Pass by Tibetan villages and towering mountains as you ride

All that notwithstanding, the ride is beautiful and straightforward. The first 30 miles, from the city to the base of the mountain, are flat and pass through the beautiful central Tibetan countryside, surrounded by mountains on all sides.

Swithbacks carry you high
above the Lhasa River

Once you arrive at the turnoff for the monastery at the base of the mountain, begin climbing the grueling collection of switchbacks, rising ever closer to your goal. As you ascend, your view of the Lhasa River, the valley floor, and the adjacent mountains gets increasingly breathtaking, until you reach Ganden and a commanding view of the surroundings.

A walk through the monastery complex and a rudimentary meal in the monastery cafeteria make for a fine respite before heading down the mountain and back to Lhasa.

Dine alongside monks in the monastery cafeteria

See Guides We Trust to help arrange your Tibet trek.