It is possible to head up the valley directly behind Samye Monastery to the Yamalung Hermitage(聂玛隆圣洞), around 20km from Samye. It’s really too far to hike there and back in a day, so best to build this into your itinerary so your driver can take you there. The recent upgrading of the road to Yamalung might bring regular transportation along this road.
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