TIBET / Lhasa to Mt. Everest
At a Glance ...
Best travel time | May to September |
Start/Finish | Chengdu / Lhasa |
Duration | 12 days | 11 nights | 10 riding days |
Distance covered | Around 1,300 mi / 2,100 km |
Day rides | 70 - 215 mi / 110 - 340 km |
Roads | Mainly tarmac, some gravel and dirt |
Motorcycles | CFMoto 450 MT or Yamaha YBR250cc |
Rider's requirements | OFF-ROAD experience not necessary. Our bikes aren't heavy. This is a high-altitude tour! |
Group size | Generally 6 to 10 riders. There is always room for pillion riders in the support vehicle. |
Accommodation | Hotels, guesthouses, and monastic lodges (3 to 4 stars) |
What's included |
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Highlights | Tibetan people and culture, Lhasa, Himalaya, Mt. Everest (Base Camp), Gyantse Kumbum, Tashilunpo, and many more monasteries. |
Important | VISA for China. Tibet Permit will be arranged by the tour operator. China's new visa policy allows a 14-day visa-free travel through China. |
Tour Guides | Two experienced guides: one local guide (who speaks English, Tibetan, and Chinese) and one foreign guide (who speaks German, Tibetan, and English) |
Magical Mystery Tour - Touring the Roof of the World!
Day 1 | Begin your adventure by arriving in the vibrant city of Chengdu, China. After a brief stopover, you'll fly to the mystical city of Lhasa, Tibet. From the airport, enjoy a scenic 90 km bus ride to your hotel. In the afternoon, acclimate to the high altitude of 3600m with a gentle walk through the old town surrounding the Jokhang Temple, experiencing the deep faith of the Tibetan people. |
Day 2 | Today, obtain your Chinese driver's license, preparing you for the days ahead. Ease into the high altitude with leisurely sightseeing in Lhasa's old center. Visit the sacred Jokhang Temple and stroll around the Bakhor Kora, the bustling market and pilgrimage path around Tibet's holiest temple. |
Day 3 | Continue acclimatizing to the altitude with a warm-up ride to Ganden Monastery, situated at around 4,000 m (13,120 ft). This tour helps you get familiar with your motorcycles and the local traffic. Ganden Monastery is the founding place of the Gelugpa "Yellow Hat" sect of the Dalai Lama. |
Day 4 | Enjoy a relaxing ride along the Lhasa River, then the Yarlung (Brahmaputra) River, to reach Tsetang. While Tsetang is a modern town, the Yarlung Valley is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Visit the Yumbulakhang Palace just outside of Tsetang. |
Day 5 | Depart the Yarlung Valley and ascend to Kamba La (4,794 m / 15,720 ft). After a lunch stop, continue to Karo La pass (5,010 m / 16,430 ft), where a glacier almost touches the road. Ride along the turquoise waters of the holy Yamdrok-Tso Lake to Gyantse. |
Day 6 | Before leaving Gyantse, visit the Pelkor Chöde Monastery and the unique Kumbum Chorten, the only walk-in stupa in Tibet. Have lunch in Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city, before heading to Sakya. |
Day 7 | Return to highway 318 and cross the Gyatso-La pass (5,220 m / 17,125 ft) on your way to Shegar. |
Day 8 | Rise early and, depending on regulations, either ride or be driven to the Mt. Everest Base Camp. Ensure your camera is ready for stunning photos! Return to Shegar for the night. Overnight in Lao Tingri. |
Day 9 | Cross the Gyatso-La pass again, heading back to Shigatse. Visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, home of the Panchen Lama, and marvel at its gold-covered roofs and gilded Buddha statue. |
Day 10 | Travel 80 km back to Lhasa via the northern leg of the Friendship Highway along the Brahmaputra. Then, turn north onto a rarely traveled road through rural Tibet, crossing the highest pass at 5,400 m (17,716 ft) to reach Damxhung. |
Day 11 | From Damxhung, ride up to Namtso Lake, the world's highest and Tibet's second-largest saltwater lake. Later, return to Lhasa for your final night in Tibet. |
Day 12 | Bid farewell to Tibet or embark on post-tour extensions. |
Extensions | Consider extending your trip with a few options: Spend extra days in the enchanting city of Lhasa. Take the world's highest railway from the Roof of the World back to Sichuan's capital city, Chengdu. Explore Sichuan province, cuddle with panda bears, and savor some of China's best cuisine. |