Cycling in Tibet is the best way to explore the country and your Tibet Shamabhala Adventure arranges you the most unique and completely off the beaten track mountain biking trip in Tibet, totally different than other travel agents do. Our Tibetan travel guide welcome you and accompany to the holy Lhasa city. Two full days sightseeing around Lhasa and visiting the cultural center of Tibet including the Potala Palace and Jokang temple which are listed in the UNESCO of the world heritage site. In order to get better acclimatized for your cycling in Tibet, the third day in Lhasa, we will do a different activity of biking to Pabongka and do some hiking around the temple and Sera monastery.
Start the cycling in Tibet and ride for 90km along the Qinghai Tibet highway and side way of Qinghai Tibet railway which is the highest rail way in the world. Passing by some of Tibetan villages who are mostly farmers. Enjoy a beautiful night with a very comfortable bath and swimming in the geothermal hot spring. Cycling in Tibet off the beaten track from Yampachen, crossing Xugula pass with a super view of Mount Jomo Kanggar, a beautiful fertile valley and Tibetan villages all the way to Takdruka ferry where you cross Barhmaputra.Continue to Shigatse through the friendship highway at the distance of 100km and on the way you will pass by Shigatse Heping airport and some of the typical villages in the western Tibet.
During your cycling in Tibet, most of the time, you will follow the off the beaten trail and dusty county side road by following a completely new mountain biking route through Phuntsoling monastery, old Lhatse and more remoter area in the western Tibet. Continue off the beaten trail through mountain passes and zigzag roads along the Barhmaputra and ruins of historical iron bridges along the valley to Chung Riwoche. Chung Riwoche stupa which is one of the largest stupa in the central Tibet and according to the history, the Kubum stupa in Gyantse was built on the basis of the giant Stupa of Chung Riwoche.
Continue cycling in Tibet, tracking in the beaten trail and into very remote area of western Tibet, grassland and mountainous valley of Dingri area. Crossing the pass and biking down in the mountainous valley from which you will have a great view of Himalayan mountain range including Everest and Jow Oyuk. Cycling in Tibet finally reaches to Rongpu monastery at the elevation of 5000m. From Rongpu to Everest base camp is just 8km and your cycling in Tibet enjoy an extremely beautiful view of Everest and Everest base camp. walking to the Everest base camp is another exciting and challenging experience in the high Tibetan plateau. Drive back to old Dingri and all the way to Thongla pass. From there, you again cycle down the valley all the way to the border and continue to Kathmandu.
Day 1 Fly to Gongkar and then transfer to Lhasa, 3650Mts/45Km
You will be met our Tibetan guide and accompany to Lhasa city. There are 60Km from Gongkar airport to Lhasa and you will see yarlung Tsangpo ( the Bharma Putra ), Nyethang stone carved Buddha and Lhasa Kyicu river. Check in the hotel and free afternoon for acclimatization. Hotel
Day 2 Visit Potala Palace and Jokang temple and Bharkor
In the whole morning, visit Potala Palace , the highest palace in the world. It is more than 3,700 meters above sea level. The Palace is dominated by golden roofs and from the top of the golden roofs, you can have a bird-eye view of the whole Lhasa city. In the distance are undulating mountain ranges, the beautiful Lhasa river, tracts of fields, tree-shaded villages and the glistening Jokhang Temple.
Afternoon visit Jokhang Temple , first built temple during the period of Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo in the 7th century, features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, golden sutra streamers. You’ll find many Pilgrims pray in front of the temple. Then sightseeing or shopping at Barkhor Bazaar which is around the temple.
Day 3 Visit Pabongka-Chubsang nunnery-Sera monastery
Biking to Pabongka monastery, visit Pabongka, down hill to Chubsang nunnery, visit nunnery and then to Sera monastery. Do Sera monastery Lingkor and have picnic lunch. Visit the monks debating and then back to Lhasa.
Day 4 Ride from Lhasa to Yambachen hot spring,4150Mts/105Km
Start your tour at 8.3o Am from your hotel and cycling with the whole group towards the gigantic square of the Potala Palace, meet all the groups members in front of the Potala Palace and take group photos on the bike in front of the Potala Palace which will be the most unforgettable and precious souvenirs of your Tibet mountain biking trip. Continue cycling towards Yampachen hot spring along the Qinghai Tibet highway. You will pass by Qinghai Tibet railway which is the highest rail way in the world and some of Tibetan villages who are mostly farmers. Enjoy a beautiful night with a very comfortable bath and swimming in the geothermal hot spring.
Day 5 Ride from Yambachen-Xugula pass-Takdruka,4000Mts/100Km
Start your Tibet travel early in the morning and cycling off the beaten trail towards Shigatse, crossing Xugula pass with a super view of Mount Jomo Kanggar, a beautiful fertile valley and Tibetan villages all the way to Takdruka ferry where you cross Barhmaputra.
Day 6 Ride from Takduka-Shigatse,3950Mts/95Km
After breakfast, Continue to Shigatse through the friendship highway at the distance of 100km and on the way you will pass by Shigatse Heping airport and some of the typical villages in the western Tibet. If the time permits, visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery on the same day.
Day 7 Ride from Shigatse to Phuntsoling monastery and visit the monastery ,4030Mts/120Km
Biking off the beaten track and cycling to Phuntsoling monastery through some beautiful Tibetan farmer’s villages and old Phuntsoling monastery. You will have less traffic along this road and more authentic experience of Himalayan mountain biking.
Day 8 Ride from Phuntsokling to Ngamring county,4150Mts/100Km
Continue cycling on a dusty small road and pass by old Lhatse town and Lhatse monastery. The villages are beautiful and the people who live in those villages live on farming. They grow barley, potatoes, radish and some vegetables. They also rear some cattle.
Day 9 Ngamring county to Dope,4180Mts/ 110Km
Take turn off from the main highway to the Far West Tibet and Mount Kailash and take another off the beaten trail towards Chung Riwoche Stupa. Crossing a high pass and cycling through zigzags and Barhmaputra river.
Day 10 Ride from Dope to Chung Riwoche, Visit 4200Mts,70Km
Ride through dusty country road along the Barhmaputra, beautiful Tibetan villages and ruins of historical iron bridges which have more than thousand years history, built by a famous Tibetan master and Yogi called Thangtong Gyelpo who also created Tibetan opera. Reaching Chung Riwoche stupa which is one of the largest stupa in the central Tibet and according to the history, the Kubum stupa in Gyantse was built on the basis of the giant Stupa of Chung Riwoche.
Day 11 Ride from Chung Riwoche to Tongtrol Ling monastery, 4280Mts/ 80Km
Continue tracking in the beaten trail and cycling into the very remote area, grassland and mountainous valley of Dingri area. Crossing the pass and biking down in the mountainous valley. If the weather is clear, you will have a great view of Himalayan mountain range including Everest and Jow Oyuk.
Day 12 Ride from Tongtroling monastery to Gurtso and then to Old Dingri,4350Mts/80Km
Ride from Tongdroling to Gurtso where you meet the junction to Dzangmu border through friendship highway. Ride towards old Dingri, enjoy another beautiful view of Mount Everest from Gurtso village in a distance.
Day 13 Ride from Old Dingri to Rongbuk monastery,5000Mts/70Km
Cycling off the beaten trail through Lungjang valley with a fantastic view of Jow Oyuk snow mountain and the Nampala pass. Nampala pass is a trading route between the people from Dingri and Sherpa from Namche Bazzar in Nepal. Crossing Pangla pass at the elevation of 5000m. Biking down the valley and reach the river from Rongpu monastery and continue to Rongpu monastery where you will see an absolutely beautiful view of Mount Everest.
Day 14 Explore Everest base camp and back to Ronbku
You will visit the world’s highest monastery, Rongbuk. Explore Everest Base Camp by taking a conservative bus to the Everest base camp or by walk. If you walk to Everet base camp, it will take you to two hrs to get there. On the way you can visit a miraculous cave of Padmasamvawa . After two hrs trek, you get to the Everest base camp. It is the best point of enjoying the world’s highest mountain and taking photos of it. When the sun sets, you will have a fantastic view of Mount Everest in the red colored sun shade.
Day 15 Drive from Rongbuk to Thongla pass (5120m)-Cycling to Dzangmu border, 2500Mts/80Km
Drive back to old Dingri by vehicle and get to the friendship highway again. Continue driving along the friendship highway around 100km more to Thongla pass. From the top of the Thongla pass, you will enjoy your final great view of the Himalayan mountain range including Shisha Bangma and Labchigang. From Thongla pass, cycling down the valley with a very good paved road all the way to Dzangmu, passing some Tibetan villages and Mila Repa cave, beautiful dense forest gorge and beautiful stream water.
Day 16 Dzangmu – Friendship bridge-Kathmandu ,1500mts, 128Km
Cycling down to Friendship bridge at the distance of 8km, do the necessary paper work at China custom and Nepal immigration. Riding through a narrow gorge, passing villages on the hill side and Barabisi town and finally reach Kathmandu valley.
| City | Nights | Hotels / Camps |
| Lhasa | 03 | Shangri La |
| Yambachen | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Takdruka | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Shigatse | 01 | Mangareva Hotel |
| Phuntsoling | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Ngamring | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Dope | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Chung Riwoche | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Tongtrol | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Old Dingri | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| EBC | 02 | Rongbuk Monastery |
| Zhangmu | 01 | Zhangmu Hotel |
– 15 nights accommodation as mentioned in the program.
– All entry fees to the sites and monasteries mentioned in the Tibet tour program.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– All necessary Tibet tour entry and road permits.
– All necessary special mountain biking permits.
– 1 Local Tibetan English speaking travel guide.
– Tibet tour transportation by one good conditioned mini van or bus according to the group size.
– Yamdrok lake conservation fee.
– Karola glacier conservation fee.
– Tibet Everest conservation fee for all members, guide and vehicle.
– Tibet Everest basecamp conservation fee for all members, guide.
– All camping fee.
– Different kinds of snack like biscuit, cheese, dried and fresh fruit, chocolate during the camp.
– Cook and assistant with all utensil.
– Mountain biking China custom entry fee.
– Oxygen in case needed.
– All taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.