Lhasa - Mt. Everest

Lhasa - Mt. Everest
12 Days
Chengdu
Southwest
Lhasa
Tibet
2,100 km

Overview

Your Tibet Adventure – Culture, High-Altitude Thrill & Himalayan Magic

Get ready for an unforgettable motorcycle journey through the heart of Tibet – where ancient spirituality meets breathtaking natural beauty. This carefully curated route takes you from the colorful buzz of Chengdu straight into the spiritual highlands of the Himalayas.

Along the way, you'll encounter unique cultural highlights: the sacred Jokhang Temple in Lhasa’s old town, the imposing Potala Palace, once the residence of the Dalai Lama, the historic Ganden Monastery, and Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Each day is designed to immerse you deeper into Tibetan culture, religion, and daily life – with enough time to acclimatize and truly take it all in.

Whether you're riding along the turquoise shores of Yamdrok Lake, visiting the Yumbulakhang Palace, or navigating the Karo-La Glacier Pass, this tour brings the magic of Tibet to life on two wheels. The grand finale: a spectacular visit to Mount Everest Base Camp. With clear skies, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the world's highest peak – a moment you’ll never forget. (Note: the final stretch to Base Camp is done via eco-shuttle for environmental reasons.)

You'll ride remote high-altitude roads, explore vibrant local markets, and cruise at elevations of over 4,500 m (14,700 ft) – reaching passes above 5,400 m (17,700 ft). This tour is adventurous, spiritual, and visually stunning. Get ready for a journey that will challenge, inspire, and leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

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At A Glance

Category Details
Best Travel Time May to September – ideal climate for high-altitude motorcycle tours with clear visibility and stable conditions.
Start/End Lhasa (Tibet) / Lhasa (Tibet) – perfect route into the heart of the Tibetan Plateau.
Duration 12 days | 11 nights | 10 riding days – a well-balanced mix of riding, exploration, and acclimatization.
Total Distance Approx. 2,100 km / 1,300 mi through the Himalayas and Tibetan highlands.
Daily Rides 110 to 350 km (70–215 mi) per day – varying by altitude, scenery, and cultural stops.
Roads Mainly asphalt, with occasional short gravel sections during mountain pass crossings.
Motorcycles Yamaha Fazer 250cc, CFMoto 450MT (pillion-friendly). Larger bikes available upon request and extra fee.
Rider Requirements Solid riding experience on paved roads. No off-road skills necessary. Perfect for solo riders and pillion teams.
Group Size Typically 6–10 riders. Passenger space always available in the support vehicle.
Accommodation Hotels, guesthouses, and monastery lodgings (3–4 star standard).
What's Included
  • All meals, water at meals and en route
  • 11 nights accommodation in hotels and guesthouses
  • German-speaking tour guide throughout
  • Local English-/Tibetan-speaking guide
  • Support vehicle with driver & mechanic
  • Flight Chengdu – Lhasa
  • Assistance with international flight and visa arrangements
  • Temporary Chinese driving license
  • All required Tibet permits and local entrance fees
  • Fuel, spare parts, all transfers
Highlights Lhasa, Mount Everest Base Camp, Yamdrok Lake, Ganden Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Tibetan culture & Himalayan panoramas.
Important

Chinese visa required (Tibet permit arranged by us). As of 2024: EU citizens may be eligible for 14-day visa-free entry to China.

International Driving Permit (IDP) per 1968 Vienna Convention required to obtain a temporary Chinese motorcycle license. When applying, specify it's for China, not the 1949 Geneva version.

Tour Guides Experienced crew: One foreign guide (German/English/Tibetan) and one local guide (English/Tibetan/Chinese).

ITinerary

Your Day-by-Day Itinerary – Tibet Everest Motorcycle Tour

Day Description
Day 1 Your adventure kicks off in the vibrant city of Chengdu. After a short domestic flight, we land in mystical Lhasa. From the airport, a scenic 90 km ride takes you to the hotel. In the afternoon, ease into the altitude (3,600 m) with a relaxed stroll through the old town and around the Jokhang Temple – a deep dive into Tibetan culture from the very beginning.
Day 2 Today you’ll receive your temporary Chinese driving license – now you're ready for two-wheeled adventures! Afterward, take in Lhasa’s sacred core with laid-back sightseeing around the Jokhang Temple and the lively Barkhor Kora pilgrimage circuit.
Day 3 We continue acclimatizing with a gentle warm-up ride to the dramatically located Ganden Monastery (around 4,000 m). A great chance to get used to your bike and the Tibetan road rhythm. Fun fact: Ganden is the mother monastery of the Dalai Lama’s Gelugpa school – the famous “Yellow Hats.”
Day 4 We cruise along the Lhasa River and later the mighty Brahmaputra into the legendary Yarlung Valley, home of Tibetan civilization. Our destination is Tsetang, and along the way, we visit the spectacular Yumbulakhang Palace perched on a ridge.
Day 5 Get ready for your first true mountain pass: Kamba-La (4,794 m). After a lunch stop, we climb to Karo-La (5,010 m), where a glacier nearly touches the road. We then ride along the shimmering turquoise Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse.
Day 6 Before leaving Gyantse, we explore Pelkor Chöde Monastery and the walkable Kumbum Chorten – one of a kind in Tibet! After lunch in Shigatse (Tibet’s second-largest city), we continue our ride to Sakya.
Day 7 Back on the legendary Friendship Highway (G318), we conquer the Gyatso-La Pass (5,220 m) – pure Tibet! Then we roll down into Shegar for the night.
Day 8 Mount Everest awaits! We start early and ride to the official park boundary – the final stretch to the base camp is completed by eco-shuttle. Get your cameras ready – the views are breathtaking. We return via Shegar and overnight in Lao Tingri.
Day 9 We cross the Gyatso-La once more and ride back to Shigatse. There, we visit the majestic Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama – its golden roofs and giant Buddha statue glisten beneath the deep-blue Tibetan sky.
Day 10 We follow the Brahmaputra River on an 80 km ride along the northern section of the Friendship Highway. Then we take a rarely traveled backroad, climbing a wild 5,400 m pass to reach Damxung.
Day 11 From Damxung, we ride to legendary Namtso Lake – the highest saltwater lake in the world. Later, we return to Lhasa for our final night in Tibet.
Day 12 Farewell, Tibet – or maybe you’re up for an extended stay?
Extension How about a few extra days in magical Lhasa? Or take the world’s highest train back to Chengdu! In Sichuan, pandas, temples, and epic street food await.

Dates & RATES

September 6, 2027
September 17, 2027
12 Days

TIBET / Lhasa – Mount Everest / September 2027

  • Rider with CFMoto 450 MT: € 4,290
  • Rider with YBR 250cc: € 3,890
  • Pillion Rider: € 3,790‍
  • Single Room Supplement: € 490
Questions about this tour? Message us on WhatsApp
Deposit: €300 on booking (€400 if a domestic flight is included), balance due 6 weeks before the tour starts. Cancellation fees: up to 60 days before departure 30%, 60–30 days 50%, 30–15 days 80%, after that 100%. Full details in our Terms & Conditions.

Map

Gallery

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Notice: in preparation
More questions? See our General FAQ
Do I need an international driving license?
Is my international driving permit valid in Tibet/China?
How many kilometers do we cover per day?
What clothing and gear should I bring for the tour?
Which motorcycles do we ride in Tibet?
Cash or card? How to spend money in Tibet?
Can I get a local prepaid SIM card in Tibet?
Can I freely take pictures in Tibet/China?
Can I smoke in China/Tibet? What about e-cigarettes?
Can I use WhatsApp in Tibet/China?
Cash, Cards & Payments — What You Should Know
Which visa and entry requirements apply for China and Tibet? Is my driving licence valid?
Can I fly my drone in Tibet/China?
What are typical souvenirs from Tibet?
What vaccinations are recommended for China/Tibet?
Which clothes to bring for Tibet/China?
Any tips for respectful behavior in Tibet?
How to deal with the altitude in Tibet/China?
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Discover it with your own eyes

What people are saying

Cher Shankar.
J'ai le plaisir de te dire que mon voyage au Népal a été un vrai régal. C'est vrai que tout était fait pour avoir un beau voyage à moto enfield. La météo nous a été favorable, les lieux que tu as choisi pour nous héberger sont accueillants et propre et partout la nourriture est merveilleusement présentées et colorées, on y mange tellement bien.
Les routes sont comme je le recherchai terribles et caillouteuses. Les changements paysages et de climats sont grandioses, quel beau souvenir.
Ce voyage sans toi n'aurai pas eu la même saveur. Tu es joyeux et communicatif. Tu nous emmène dans des endroits encore authentiques vers une population accueillante. Chaque matin on pouvait t'entendre nous décrire le déroulement de la journée avec carte géographique. Aux arrêts tu as souvent une anecdote ou une histoire pour compléter ce qu'on regarde. Le soir aussi tu as de quoi nous en apprendre plus sur ce pays le Népal. Mon voyage prochain sera aussi avec toi en 2025. A bientôt

2025-02-06

Dear Heinrich.

A happy New year.
Last year I tried Edelweise Bike-Tour in NZ.
And Japanese one in Spain&Portugal.
I realized your tour is the best.
I hope everything is fine with you.

Kazuo Yamashita

2012-10-01

Dearest Heinrich:
Steve and I wanted to “THANK YOU” for such a wonderful trip through Shangri-La, China! We had such an incredible time – our heads are still spinning from all of the wonderful culture we experienced. As I mentioned to you many times, I only wish we would have had helmet cameras to capture all of the sights, sounds, animals and cultural dress we saw as we traveled through all of the different villages. It was a once in a lifetime experience and you and your crew made the trip so easy – we could have never experienced that on our own. All of the stories about your travels were so interesting and your knowledge of the area was very captivating. You are PERFECT at what you do. It’s very clear you love your job or can you even call it a job? We really enjoyed the fact you were right with us on the whole trip from breakfast to late evenings sharing a glass of wine.
We watched “Seven Years in Tibet” (as you recommended) and that kind of put it all together about the Tibetan culture and what happened to them. They are such a happy, warm group of people. I feel like we saw terrain from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to Baja Mexico. The bikes were perfect for the trip. Being on a dirt bike made it a lot easier navigating on some of the roads.
I only hope we can make it on another one of your trips in the near future – we would love to go to India. It says a lot for your business when you have repeat customers come back and do other trips as well. You are always welcome to come visit us in California – we could do our own little trip through Baja.
We wish you all the best in your travels! If ever you write a book – please put us on the list. I believe this was the best way to see the country – on the freedom of a motorcycle.
THANK YOU FOR AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME……..
Sincerely,

Shelly & Steve Morefield
shelly & steve, L.A

2011-08-26