Most foreign visitors travel with a hired vehicle and guide, arranged through the tour agency that organised their Tibet Travel Permit — independent travel within Tibet is not permitted for foreigners. This works out reasonably well for Shannan: the main sites (Yumbulagang, the Chonggye Tombs, Tradruk Temple) are strung along the Yarlung valley and can be covered in a single long day with a driver, or more comfortably in two days.
Samye Monastery is a more involved trip. It lies on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo, requiring a river crossing either by a local ferry or via a bridge further downstream. The drive from Tsetang takes around two hours each way, so most people treat it as a full-day excursion or spend a night at the monastery guesthouse.
Tsetang town itself is small enough to walk. The central market area, a few temples within town, and most guesthouses are within 15 minutes of each other on foot. Bicycles can sometimes be hired through guesthouses and are useful for exploring the flat valley floor near town.
Roads are generally paved on main routes but can be rough on tracks to smaller sites. Distances are deceptive at altitude — allow more time than maps suggest.