Friendship highway motor bike tour begins in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal and home to the world’s largest stupa of Boudhanath stupa and the great Himalayan Mountain ranges. This Tibet motor bike tour itienrary is for those who are interested in both adventure travel and sport activity. It is one of the most memorable and adventurous motor biking tours in Tibet, driving through the most beautiful Himalayan Mountain ranges including Everest, the world’s highest mountain and it is an ideal for the adventure travelers and motor bikers to drive to the basecamp of Mt Everest.
During your friendship highway motor bike tour, you will see beautiful Tibetan villages and their unique Tibetan traditional architect, raising beautiful and colorful Tibetan prayer flags onto the rooftop of the houses in order to gain good luck for the New Year. Drive continuously your Tibet motor cycle tour through some of the highest mountain passes in the world and enjoy seeing beautiful view of the entire Himalayan range and the colorful prayer flags onto the top of the passes which wish you a safe motor biking tours in Tibet. Driving through Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet and visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the largest monastery in the western region of Tibet and it is the seat of the Penchen Lama.
Penchen Lama is the second highest Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. Continue driving to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet along the Brahmaputra river ( Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan ), beautiful landscape of desert land, Yarlong Tsangpo gorge, beautiful Tibetan villages surrounded by gorgeous green fertile valley where they grow Barley, wheat etc.
The first part of the Friendship highway motor bike tour is to reach Lhasa after driving on the bike for around 1000km from Nepal. Lhasa is the ancient town of Tibet where you can visit some of the most sacred and famous Buddhist temples and Palaces with more than thousand year’s history and have been listed in the UNESCO world heritage site so they are a must see scenic sights when you travel to Tibet.
During the sightseeing tour in Lhasa, you are not riding the motor bikes because of the traffic and difficult to park the motor bikes so you will be doing sightseeing tour by tourists vehicle, visit the most highlight sites of the Lhasa city including a visit to the Potala Palace and Jokang temple. Both of them have more than a thousand year’s history and can be seen lots of old statues, antique, giant stupa built by gold, different kinds of stone.
Day 01: Kathmandu border-Kyirong town
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi border-Kyirong town(2800Mts/ 168Km from Kathmandu, 8-9 hours ride/ Syabrubesi to Kyirong town, 20km, 1 hour ride)
You will start very early in the morning from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi border and continue to Kyirong. On the way, you will enjoy seeing beautiful forest gorge, adventure ricky hill and beautiful Nepali villages. Our Tibetan guide and driver will pick you up at the border and make the necessary immigration paper work and then continue driving to Kyirong town at the distance of 20Km.
Day 02: Kyirong
Acclimatization in Kyirong town and make the necessary motor bike overland permits
After breakfast, you will be walking around the Kyirong town and visit Jowo temple which is the oldest temple in Kyirong. According to the history, the temple was built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo when he invited his princess Bhrikuti Devi from Nepal. Walk around the local market and see Tibetan traditional things there. After lunch, you will be driving to Milarepa cave which will take you around 30 minutes to the side and then hike to the cave for around 40 minutes. Visit the cave and back to Kyirong border.
Day 03: Kyirong-Pekutso-New Tingri
Kyirong-Pekutso-New Tingri, known as Shegar. ( 4050Mts/270Km, 6 hours ride )
You will start your tour at 9 Am and on the Nepal Tibet friendship high way via two big mountain passes, known as Thongla pass,5120mts from which you can have a fantastic view of first Himlayan mountain range and mount Shisha Pangma,8000mts and Lalung la pass,5090mts and finally reach Old Dingri with a view of mount Everest and Joyo. Old Dingri is one of the popular places to stop a night in order to view mount Everest for tourists especially for those who are unable to go to Mount Everestbecause of altitude problem.
Day 04: Shegar-Shigatse ( 3900Mts /240Km, 6-7 hours ride )
You will start your tour at around 8.30Am from Shegar and drive through one big mountain pass, Gyatso la 5220Mts and some beautiful villages. You will take unusual route from Lhatse to Shigatse through old Lhatse and Phuntsoling monastery where you have less traffic and more off the beaten trail. Visit Phuntsoling monastery.
Day 05: Shigatse – Lhasa (3650mts/ 280Km/5-6 hours ride )
Am Visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery which is the seat of the Penchen Lama and the largest Gelukpa monastery in Tsang region. After the lunch, ride along the Yarlung Tsangpo river which is started from the western part of Tibet near Kailash and it flows through the Tsang region, Nyingtri, the easten forest region of Tibet and finally it flows in to the bay of Bengal. There is a beautiful landscape on the way with sand done.
Day 06: Visit Potalal Palace, Jokang temple and Bharkor Bazar
After breakfast, you will start Lhasa sightseeing tour. Morning, visit Potala Palace. The Potala is considered one of the great wonders of the world. It is held sacred by Tibetans as the former residence of successive Dalai Lamas, and is one of Tibet ‘s most holy pilgrimage sites. A palace was originally built in the 7 th century by King Songtsen Gampo, and was believed to have been nine stories high, but around the 9 th century it is believed to have been destroyed by a big fire. The present Potala Palace was constructed by the great fifth Dalai Lama in the 17 th century after he became ruler of Tibet . The Potala Palace is divided into two sections, the White Palace (completed in 1653) and Red palace (completed 1694).
It has more than one thousand rooms and is thirteen stories high. The White Palace was secular in nature and mainly used for government administration, whilst the Red palace was mainly used for religious functions and still has numerous chapels, including those containing reliquary stupas of the successive Dalai Lamas which are richly decorated in gold, silver and semi-precious stones. JOKANG TEMPLE the Jokang is Tibet ‘s most sacred temple, the main point of pilgrims from the entire Tibetan plateau. Located at the heart of the ancient town of Lhasa , it was built in the 7 th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo’s queen Bhrikuti on a site identified by Queen Wencheng according to her geomantic calculation. The temple is 3 stories high and it is constructed with enormous chapels including the most sacred statue of Budhha Shakyamuni, enshrined.
It has around 70 monks nowadays. ANCIENT BHARKOR STREET is the most sacred pilgrimage site in Lhasa and it is full of pilgrims from down till dusk. There are four huge prayer flags situated in Bhakor street which surrounds the Jokang, known respectively as Gadhen Dharchen in the northeast, Juyak Dharchen in the west, Kelsang Dharchen in the southwest and SharKyaring Dharchen in the southeast. The Bharkor street is the most active market in all Tibet and it is possible to purchase traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, modern goods, books, music, clothing, spices, fresh meat and vegetable.
Day 07: Visit Drepung & Sera monasteries
After breakfast, drive to Drepung monastery which is located to the west side of Lhasa city. DREPUNG MONASTERY is the largest monastery in Tibet , built in the 15 th century by Jamyang Choeje who is one of Tsongkapa’s foremost disciple. The monastery is beautifully located up in a hill at the distance of 7 Km from the old section of the city and it is the biggest monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery has four main colleges with numerous small chapels and house chapels, known as Khangtsen in Tibetan.
There are around six hundred monks nowadays. SERA MONASTERY was founded in around 15th century by Jamchen Choeje who is another famous disciple of Tsongka pa and it is the second largest monastery of Tibet. There are three big colleges with numerous chapels and house chapels. The most attraction to visit this monastery is to see the monks debating which hold from 3-5Pm everyday apart from Sunday. Hotel
Day 08: Lhasa-Yamdrok lake-Gyantse (3950mts/270Km/6-7 hours ride )
You will start the tour at around 9Am from your hotel and then ride towards Gyantse through 3 big mountain passes, Kampa La, Karo La, Simila respectively. Karola is the highest pass among them which is over 5000Mts with it’s most beautiful glaciers, beautiful Yamdrok lake emerged as coral color from the top of Khampala pass. You will have your lunch at Nakartse country which is just between the Yamdrok lake and Karola glaciers.
Day 09: Gyantse-Shigatse-Sakya (4050mts, 240Km/6 hours ride )
Ride from your hotel to Palchoe monastery which is just 5 minutes, Park all the motor bikes at the entry gate of the monastery while you are visiting the monastery. Our driver will take care of the bikes there. Palchoe monastery is one of the second largest monastery in the Tsang region and it has more than 700 hundred years history, built by local chieftain called Rabten Kunsang. Within the monastery, you will also visit Kubum stupa which is the largest stupa in the central Tibet , also built by Rebtan Kunsang.
After the sightseeing, ride to Shigatse and on the you can see huge farming land with flocks of villages on both side of the road. They grow lots of different kinds of crops and vegetables so it is one of the biggest farming lands inTibet . Drive continuously to Sakya through Tsola pass, 4500m at the distance of 150km with a very good road condition.
Day 10: Sakya-Drangthang-Shegar-
Drive from Sakya-Drangthang-Shegar-Chozom conservative bus entry checkpoint. ( 4950Mts/260Km, 7-8 hours ride ) Rongbuk monastery ( 5000m/20km )
If the time allowes, make a quick visit to Sakya monastery and then start your Tibet motor bike tour and drive through Drila pass 5000Mts from which you will have a fantastic view of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Makalu respectively which are over 8000Mts. Continue driving through beautiful wilderness landscape with the view of Himalayan mountain range, reaching Shegar, crossing the checkpoint and continue to Chozom by bike by passing Pangla pass. From the top of the Pangla pass, you will have a great view of Mt Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Shisha Bangma, Jo Oyu etc.
Continue driving to Chozom conservative bus checkpoint entry gate and from there the motor bikes are not allowed to ride to Rongbuk monastery so you need to leave the motor bikes here and go to Rongbuk monastery by national Everest conservative bus at the distance of 20km. You can walk to the new Everest base camp ( 5000m, 10 minutes walk) and will enjoy the most beautiful view of Mt Everest from the base camp. When the sun sets or sun rise, don’t miss to see the most beautiful view of Mt Everest.
Day 11: Rongbuk monastery and enjoy the best view of Mt Everest
Explore around Rongbuk monastery and enjoy the best view of Mt Everest
Morning, enjoy seeing a fantastic view of Mt Everest with sun rise. Walk to Everest base camp from Rongbuk monastery which is just nearby Rongbuk monastery, take photos nearby the stone pillar of Everest base camp mark. Visit Ringbuk monastery which is the world’s tallest monastery.
Day 12: Drive from Rongbuk to Kyirong town. ( 2800m / 270Km, 6 hours ride )
Morning, enjoy having a great view of Mt Everest from Rongbuk monastery and by around 10.30 Am, you start riding and drive through a rough road for 65Km until you get to the friendship high way where Old Dingri is located. Old Dingri is one of the popular places to stop a night in order to view mount Everest for tourists especially for those who are unable to go to Mount Everest because of altitude problem. You will drive through the last pass after Pekutso.
From the top of those places, you will say final good bye to the beautiful Himalayan range including Shisha Bangma mountain which is also over 8000Mts and popular to the mountain climbers.
Day 13: Kyirong – Syabrubesi border- Kathmandu (By Road)
Drive to Syabrubesi border ( 20Km, one hour ride ) and then continue to Kathmandu. (1300Mts/150Km )
Drive for 20km distance from Kyirong and meet by our representative from Nepal , clear immigration procedure and obtain your Nepali visa & transfer to Kathmandu . Driving up and down in the forested mountain with beautiful villages on the slops of the both side mountains.
| City | Night (s) | Hotels / Camps |
| Kyirong | 02 | Tourist Lodge |
| Shegar | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Shigatse | 01 | Mangareva Hotel |
| Lhasa | 03 | Tourist Lodge |
| Gyantse | 01 | Yeti Garden |
| Sakya | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| EBC | 02 | Rongbuk Monastery |
| Kyirong | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
– 12 nights accommodation as mentioned in the program.
– All entry fees to the sites and monasteries mentioned in the program.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– All necessary Tibet tour entry and road permits.
– All necessary Tibet motorbike permits.
– Temporary motorbike driving license.
– Temporary motorbike plate number and license.
– One local English speaking Tibetan 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 conservative bus fee for all members, guide.
– Royal Enfield motorbikes.
– China custom motor bike permits.
– Motorbike fuels.
– Motorbike mechanic.
– 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.