Tibet Mountain Bike
journey across Tibet from Lhasa to Kathmandu
journey across Tibet from Lhasa to Kathmandu
This mountain bike tour
offers one of the world's longest and steepest descents - a non-stop
downhill that begins on the Tibetan Plateau and winds 1500 kms down to
the fertile rice fields of Nepal (an unbelievable 4600m descent!). This epic mountain bike challenge is also a life-changing introduction to Tibet. Tours are available from April to October and are fully supported.
We
will ride more than 1,100 km through Tibet on crushed stone roads tar and
over spectacular mountain passes.
The high point of the journey comes when we arrive at the monastery of
Rongbuk and see Mount Everest Base Camp (5200m).
This is the only trip
in the world where you can visit Everest Base Camp with a bicycle!
This mountain bike experience will also bring you into contact
with three religions (Buddhism, Lamaism and Hinduism) and act as an
introduction to the mysticism of Tibetan culture, the friendliness of
the people and the daily culture in villagers' lives.
Distances travelled per day will vary, between 40 and 100km.
It is important to remember that this route is over mountain passes at
high altitude. As such, cyclists must be fit and have undergone
training. You'll need to be fit: this is a challenging biking trip with 5—7 hours of riding per day at high altitude.
Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu
Day-2: Full day Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.
Day-3: Half day cycle
Day-4: Half day cycle
Day 5: Kathmandu to Lhasa (3660m)
Day-6: Lhasa
Day-7: Lhasa
Day-8: Start the Lhasa Kathmandu Bike Trip!
Day-9: Kamba Pass
Day-10: Karo Pass
Day-11: Karo Pass to Gyantse
Day-12: Shigatse
Day-13: Gyachung Monastery
Day-14: Lhatse
Day-15: Shegar
Day-16: Pang Pass
Day-17-18: Rongbuk Monastery Everest Base Camp
Day-19: Tingri
Day 20 Cycling to before Peokutso Lake (BLD)
Day 21: Cycling to upper Kerong (Gyirong ) (BLD)
Day 22: Cycling to Kerong border (BLD) (BLD)
Day 23: Morning cycling till Syburbesi DRIVE to Kathmandu (140 KM)
Day 24: Kathmandu. Free at leisure for shopping, etc
Day 25: Final Departure from Nepal.
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Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu and transfer
Day-2: Full day Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.
Day-3: Morning cycling
This morning we drive to Mutku and then cycle to Budanilkantha, where we are collected and driven back to Kathmandu. Here we do a gear check and collect our passports from the embassy.
Day-4: Kathmandu to Lhasa (3660m)
Transfer to the airport for the hour-long flight across the main Himalayan range. Afternoon at rest to acclimatise to Lhasa's high altitude.
Day-5: Lhasa
We will visit Lhasa's many monasteries and sites, such as the Sera Monastery, and the Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama.
Day-6: Lhasa
We visit the Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery founded in the 14th century, and once the largest in the world, with a population of around 10,000 monks. The afternoon, is a time to relax or further explore the area.
Day-7: Start the Lhasa Kathmandu Bike Trip!
Finally, your trans-Himalayan biking adventure begins. Our journey towards Everest starts with the Friendship Highway as it heads out across the plateau. We leave Lhasa and cycle along the Tsangpo River to foot of the Kamba Pass (3700 m). When you arrive at the camp you will find tents, latrines, shower tent and facilities ready. Accommodation in tents [Mountain Bike distance: 85 km].
Day-8: Kamba Pass
Our first mountain pass. A strong uphill climb along a tar road of several switchbacks, reaches a summit lavishly adorned with prayer flags (4794m). After descending we continue alongside Lake Yamdruk, at the far side of which we set camp (4490m). Overnight in tents. [Mountain Bike distance: 55 km]
Day-9: Karo Pass
Leaving the beautiful lake behind, we cycle along the Friendship highway which soon becomes a gravel roadway, through a ravine and up to the foot of the Karo Pass (4750m), where our tented village will be prepared for the night. Accommodation in tents. [Mountain Bike distance: 54 km]
Day-10: Karo Pass to Gyantse
A significant time on the tour, as we have to get up early to climb the high Karo Pass (5010m). Around us we can see glaciers stretching down to 6000m and beautiful lakes. You are rewarded for your effort with a night in Gyantse (3980m). Hotel. 
Day-11: Shigatse
First we will visit the Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. The Dzong is a fort dating from the 14th century and the Kumbum, a large gold-domed stupa with several small chapels, containing an impressive collection of Tibetan Buddhist murals. We then drive on the highway towards Shigatse. Although this involves a longer distance, the highway is tarred and flat. In the afternoon we will arrive in Tibet's second largest city, Shigatse (3860m). [Mountain Bike distance: 94 km]
Day-12: Gyachung Monastery
We leave Shigatse and ride over two small passes and through several small Tibetan villages. We will cycle past the isolated Gyachung Monastery and camp. Accommodation in tents at around 4100m. [Total cycle: 75 km]
Day-13: Lhatse
The route lead us through picturesque valleys before the long route begins which leads over the Tso-La (4520m). After lunch we head towards Lhatse past the hot springs and camp about 10km outside of town. Accommodation in tents. [Total cycle: 95 km]
Day-14: Shegar
We view the stunning canyon of the 5220m Gyatso-La. On a clear day you will be rewarded for your effort with your first view of Mount Everest. After a 40 km ride through flat prairie towns, you will arrive in the town of Pelbar, often referred to as Shegar. Shegar, is a popular stopover for anyone heading to the Everest region. This is a long and grueling ride through the canyon. [Total cycle: 75 km]
Day-15: Pang Pass
Just outside of Shegar, we will divert off the main Lhasa-Kathmandu highway and head towards the world's highest peak, Everest. After passing through the border control point, you will be faced with 20km's of uphill switchbacks (42 hairpin bends in total!) before you reach the summit of the Pang Pass (5150m). Your reward will be some of the most magnificent views of Everest and her surrounding peaks. Enjoy lunch as you gaze over Makalu (8463m), Shishapangma (8012m), Cho Oyu (8210m), Lhotse (8516m), Everest (8850m) and several other breathtaking peaks. Then a 20 kilometer downhill follows to the Rongbuk Valley (4200m), where we camp. Overnight accommodation in tents. [Total cycle: 67 km]
Day-16-17: Rongbuk 
onastery Everest Base Camp
Now you should be at peak fitness and excited about the approach of Everest Base Camp. A bumpy road winds up through the Rongbuk valley until the majestic Mount Everest appears before you. We will camp beside the monastery with the unforgettable sight of the 8848m peak in front of your eyes. We will stay here for two days. One your second day, you can either read a book or get even closer to Everest by taking a walk, cycling or hopping on a donkey and cart ride to Everest base camp, which is 8km from the campsite. Accommodation in tents (5150m). [Total cycle: 35 km]
Day-18: Tingri
Leaving Rongbuk, we drive back down the bumpy road and then take a "short-cut" into the mountains. Another bumpy trail takes us over a canyon and down into Tingri (4340m). Overnight in tents. [Total cycle: 86 km]
Day-19: Cycling to before Paiku-Tso Lake (BLD)
After breakfast in Tingri we will then start our ride to the Paiku-Tso Lake. Paiku-TsoLake is a lake at 4,591 meters on the Tibetan Plateau at south of the Yarlung River. The lake is 27 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide at its narrowest. It is surrounded by mountains reaching 5,700 to 6,000. Streams fed by glaciers cascade to the valley floor. Today is a long day of cycling but the rewards of the lake are worth ever second . Overnight accommodation in tents [Total cycle: aprox 95 km]
Day-20: Cycling to upper Kerong (Gyirong)
Today we cycle mainly downhill to Gyirong Town at 2,700 meters. It is an important town in the cross-border trade between China and Nepal and serves as the border between China and Nepal. Overnight accommodation in tents). [Total cycle: 100 km]
Day 21: Cycling to Kerong border
After breakfast in Gyirong we will start cycling to the Kerong border and camp for the night. It is a beautiful scenic campsite and you can use the rest of the day to explore the area. Overnight accommodation in tents). [Total cycle: 70 km]
Day 22: Morning cycling till Syburbesi DRIVE to Kathmandu (140 KM)
After the breakfast, we will start cycling until around midday when we should reach Syburbesi where a vehicle will be waiting to transfer back to Kathmandu Overnight accommodation in hotel).
Day 23: Final Departure from Nepal.
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