For a small fee, you can horseback ride on the famous Lhagang grasslands for a few minutes or at least get your picture taken on Khampa style horse. Longer trips to Gyelko Nunnery or to nearby nomadic camps cost a little more than 200 or 300 RMB and make for a pleasant day trip. For the very adventurous, you can also embark on a 3-4 day trip to the hot springs and the beautiful turquoise lake of Zhara Yumtso on the northeast side of Zhara mountain. Visit the Khampa Cultural Center for more information and help in arranging a trip. Also be sure to visit the community-organized horse riding service in front of the Golden Stupa. They offer horse rides on the Lhagang grasslands and to other destinations throughout much of the year. As a community-organized project, all the locals who volunteer a horse for a day share in that day’s profits, irrespective of whether or not one person’s particular horse rode much that day.
The Khampa Cultural Center organizes trips for visitors to stay a night at a nearby nomadic camp. This can be a lot of fun, as well as an eye-opening experience.
After adjusting to the elevation, one of the most rewarding activities in Lhagang is to walk on the modestly sized hillsides that surround the town. Depending on the weather and where you hike, you may catch a glimpse of the soaring Minyak Rapgang snow mountains to the south.
Gyelko is more of a small village than a nunnery and has plenty of things to see and explore if you have a few hours. Be sure to look for the nun driving the small gray van while you are in Lhagang and go for a ride!