Adventure Sense specializes not only for Tibet trekking and Tibet Tour but also specializes for Tibet motorbike tour. Driving around Yamdrok and Namtso lake motorbike tour is a completely new and unique Tibet motorbike tour. Arriving in Lhasa, the ancient holy city of Tibet and our Tibet travel guide and driver will welcome you and accompany you to the holy city of Lhasa. Sightseeing tour in Lhasa with a visit of Potala Palace, Jokang temple, Bharkor Bazar and two largest monastic college of Drepung and Sera.
Start your Tibet motorbike tour from Lhasa and ride to the southern part of Lhasa, known as Lhoka in Tibetan and continues the journey along the Yarlung Tsangpo and some beautiful villages of Lhoka and reach Gongkar Chode monastery.Visit GonggarChoede monastery, which was built in 1464, belongs to the Zung branch (meaning grey earth ) of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism and ride off the beaten track through the zigzag pass of Kyarola.
From the top of the pass, you will have a great view of the Yamdrok lake and Karola glacier and enjoy riding along Yamdrok lake and through the remote Tibetan villages. Having beautiful camp night at Yamdrok lake and Ralung monastery, continue your Tibet motorbike tour towards Gyantse and Shgatse by visiting Palchoe monastery, Kubum and Tashi Lhunpo monastery.
The Tibet motorbiking tour continues to Yampachen hot spring ( 4290m/180km) along the Bharmaputra river with a landscape of sandy hills, villages, and Rulak Yungdrung ling at the other side of the river. From Tagdruka, you will leave the main friendship highway and drive off the beaten trail until you reach Yampachen hot spring. Enjoy the landscape of beautiful Tibetan village and nomad camps, great view of Jomo Kanggar snow mountain from the top of Xugu la pass. Have a relaxing bath in the hot spring.Driving through Qinghai Tibet highway and enjoy the landscape of vast grassland, nomad camp and Nyenchen Thangla mountain range.
During the next three nights around Namtso lake, the second largest salty and holiest lake in Tibet, you will enjoy the most beautiful landscape of Namtso lake, great mountain range of Nyenchen Thangla which is the second largest mountain range in Tibet next to Himalayan mountain range, beautiful Tibetan nomad camps and thousands of their Yak and Sheep, grazing on a vast northern high plateau.
This two lakes motorbike loop tour is one of the most beautiful off the beaten trail and off the road motorcycling in the world. After Namtso lake, you will loop your Tibet motorbike tour around Reting and Terdrom hot spring, enjoying more off the beaten track and remoter part of Tibetan world.
Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa by train or air.
On arrival, meet assist and transfer to downtown Lhasa, 3650mts.
Arriving in Lhasa, the ancient holy city of Tibet and our guide and driver will be welcomed you at the railway station and transfer to the hotel.
Rest in the afternoon. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 02: Sightseeing tour in Lhasa
Visit Potala Palace, Jokang temple, Bharkor Bazar.
After breakfast, travel to Potala Palace which will take you 10 minutes from your hotel.
THE POTALA PALACE 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 9th 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. Afternoon, visit Jokang temple and Bharkor.
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 03: Drepung and Sera monasteries
After breakfast, drive to Drepung monastery which will take you 15 minutes drive from your hotel. 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. Afternoon, visit Sera and Norbu Lingka.
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.
Day 04: Lhasa-Gongka – Yamdrok
Ride Lhasa-Gongkar Chode monastery-Kyarola pass-Yamdrok lake-Kangru monastery-Rimpo camp site at Yamdrok ( 4480m/195km)
After breakfast, drive to Yamdrok lake through the tunnel towards southern part of Lhasa, known as Lhoka in Tibetan and continues journey along the YarlungTsangpo and some beautiful villages of Lhoka and reach Gongkarcounty and Gongkar town after one and half hours drive. The road condition for today is very good. We will visit the Choede monastery.GonggarChoede monastery, which was built in 1464, belongs to the Zung branch (meaning grey earth ) of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The principal founder of the Dzongpa Tradition was Dorje Chang KungaNamgyal (1432–1496). The main monastery of the Dzongpa is GongkarChode just south-west of Lhasa on the south side of the Tsangpo River at the distance of 55Km from Lhasa.
In the 16th century, the monastery was beautified with wall paintings of the Khyenri school of Tibetan paintings done by the well-known artist of the times, JamyangKhyentseWangchuk The history of the monastery is traced to the first visit of Jowo-je PaldenAtisha (980–1054 CE), Buddhist teacher from the Pala Empire. During his first visit, Atisha had stopped close to the location of the monastery, prostrated in the direction of the monastery and prophesised that one day a monastery would be built at this location, which would become famous. He had marked the location with a mound of white pebbles in the form of a Mandala (this mound got destroyed during the Cultural Revolution).
The Dzong was under the stewardship of Dorje-denpa Kun-gaNamgyal also known as Dorje Chang KungaNamgyal (1432–1496), who was a well-known Guru who had received training in the Sutra, Tantra and Tantric rituals from masters of all traditions. He was the holder of the Dzongpa tradition of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Bhuddism. When he was sitting on the roof of his house in the GongkarDzong, while reciting the religious scripture, the Vajradhatu, a leaf of the scripture was flown away by wind and it fell at a location where the present GongkarChoede Monastery is located.
It is mentioned that between Gongkar and Tsetang there are seven gompas of the Sakyapa sect, including the GongkarDorjeden, known as GongarChoede, the pillar of Sakyapa power, to the south of the Tsongpo valley. GonggarChoede monastery is three storey’s high and the assembly hall is dedicated to the old paintings and three big statues of SakyaPendita, Shakyamuni and Guru Rinpoche. The monastery survived many beautiful old wall painting date back to the 16th Century.
It is worthwhile to spend some time with torch to explore the wall painting both in the main assembly hall and on the second floors. The Gongkar Monastery also became famous because it was here that the artistic Central Tibetan painting of Kyenri originated. After visiting the monastery, we will continue our journey to Yamdroklake through some beautiful villages and Kyarola pass, 4900Mts on the top of the pass.
From the top of the pass, you can have a beautiful view of another arm of Yamdroklake which usually rarely are seen by other tourists and a beautiful village called Drilung located near by the lake. It will take only half an hour to get down to the campsite from the top of the pass. Continue riding along the Yamdrok lake and passing some beautiful villages. Reach our campsite at Rimpo and late afternoon, short ride to Kangru monastery, visit the monastery.
Day 05: Yamdrok – Ralung
Drive Yamdrok lake east-Phurma Yumtso lake-Taklung-Karola glacier-Ralung monastery (4550mts/130Km )
Drive along the Yamdroklake and enjoy many beautiful villages. Just before reaching Taglung, We will drive further to the south by crossing a small pass. Visit Phurma Yumtso lake and then drive back to Taglung. Visit Taglung monastery. Continuously drive to Ralung monastery. Ralung is a beautifully located Kagyupa monastery and it has a very beautiful campsite in the summer time.
Day 06: Ralung-Gyantse-Shigatse. (3900mts/ 190Km )
You will start your tour at around 8.30Am from the campsite and then drive towards Gyantse. You will reach Gyantse by lunch time. Visit Palchoe monastery and Kubum Pagoda stupa. Continue Tibet holiday to Shigatse by passing one of the biggest farming land in Tibet where people grow barley, wheat, different kinds of vegetables.
Day 07: Drive from Shigatse to Yampachen hot spring ( 4290m/180km)
After breakfast, drive along the Bharmaputra river with a landscape of sandy hills, villages, and Rulak Yungdrung ling at the other side of the river. From Tagdruka, you will leave the main friendship highway and drive off road until you reach Yampachen hot spring. Enjoy the landscape of beautiful Tibetan village and nomad camps, great view of Jomo Kanggar snow mountain from the top of Xugu la pass. Have a relaxing bath in the hot spring.
Day 08: Yampachen to Namtso lake-Tashido hermitage
Drive from Yampachen to Namtso lake-Tashido hermitage ( 4718m/160km)
Drive around 3km distance and reach the Qinghai Tibet highway. Enjoy the landscape of vast grassland, nomad camp and Nyenchen Thangla mountain range. From Damxung county, you will take off from the main road and drive to the west, crossing Lagen la pass with a great view of Namtso lake from the top of the pass. Arrival at Namtso lake and walk around Tashido hermitage.
Day 09: Tashido hermitage-Gorchung monastery, 4560m/76km, walk 4 hrs.
After breakfast, start your journey by riding motorcycle from Tashido hermitage and start Namtso lake take round pilgrimage trip by taking a dirt road. The road condition is ok and you will be driving along the south side of Namtso lake at the distance of 71 Km total. The total duration of driving will be around two hours and half. Enjoying a fantastic view of the whole Namtso lake from the south shore and a great closer view of Nyenchen Thangla mountain range. We will be camping at Gorchung monastery which is almost to the basecamp of Gurchen snow peak at the elevation of over 6000m. There is also a big nomad camp nearby the monastery.
You can visit a nomad family and experience how the Tibetan nomads’ living standard is. While you will be visiting a small Gorchung monastery and listen to the monks life story there if the monks did not go to the town to read scripture for the nomads. In the mean time, our cooking team will prepare and ready your lunch.
Have lunch and afternoon, you will trek to the base of Gurchen snow peak, takes you around 2 hours up, take a rest at a glacier lake, enjoying a fantastic view of Gurchen snow peak and the lake. Continue your trek around a beautiful mountain called Amitsegu clockwise, crossing a small pass and then come down the valley to the campsite for around 2 hours. You will have a tremendously beautiful view of whole Namtso lake and Nyenchen Thangla mountain range from the top of the Amitsegu small pass.
Day 10: Gorchung monastery-Dokya Gompa-Rarila or Langchen Namgo
Gorchung monastery-Dokya Gompa-`Rarila (5640m)-Jado Gompa or Langchen Namgo-before village Number five, 4570m/140km.
After breakfast, you will start your journey around the Namtso lake, drive along a spacious grassland on the Jangthang plateau, seeing a beautiful green plateau with snow capped mountain in a long distant mountain view from the northern Tibetan plateau. After around two hours drive in a vast plateau, you will reach Dokya Gompa which is a small monastery located to the east shore of the lake.
From the monastery view point, if the weather is clear, you will see a very clear view of Gorchung snow peak as well some beautiful Nyenchen Thangla mountain ranges. Continue your journey and cross Rirala pass which is just a very small pass of over 5640m, driving through several nomad camps and villages, reaching Jado Gompa or Langchen Namgo ( Elephant head ).
We will drive to Langchen Namgo from the main dirt road at the distance of 500m, enjoy a great view of whole Namtso lake and some beautiful rocky hills along the lake shore. From Langchen Namgo to our campsite is only around 15Km which will take you half an hour drive. You will arrive at our campsite by around 3.Pm, have some snack and tea and then walk along the lake shore for around 2 hours. From our campsite, you will have the most beautiful view of the lake Namtso with a full landscape view of Nyechen Thangla mountain range.
Day 11: Village No five-East Namtso lake-Damxung county ( 4200m/160km)
After breakfast, enjoy the most beautiful morning from the north side of Namtso lake shore. The other side of the lake is full of snow capped mountain, looks like a white scarf blowing around the lake Namtso.
It is extremely a beautiful morning. Start your journey and pass by a couple of Tibetan nomad villages, after 36Km of bumpy road, you will reach a junction where the road goes to the south east to Damshung at the distance of 82Km and to the north west at the distance of 118Km to Bang Ga county. We will drive along a narrow paved road for 56Km to reach Namtso Xiang or the foot of Lagenla pass, then join the main road between Namtso lake and Damxung.
Day 12: Drive from Damxung to Reting monastery (4100m/120km)
After around 10 Km distance from Damxung county, you will turn left side from the Qinghai Tibet highway. Take a green valley with a beautiful stream water and take off the beaten track to Reting monastery. late afternoon, visit Reting monastery which is one of the important Gelukpa monastery with a very sacred cave of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelukpa school. The monastery is beautifully located in a Juniper tree forest.
Day 13: Drive from Reting to Terdrom hot spring (4325m/121km)
After breakfast, start your journey to Terdrom hot spring via some beautiful villages, living on both farming and nomad. Drive directly to Drigungthil monastery which is just around 6km from the junction where you are turning left for the narrow gorge of Terdrom nunnery and hot spring. The best thing that you can enjoy in Tridom nunnery is the hot spring which is believed to be blessed as holy spring by Guru Rinpo Che so people take bath in the hot spring in order to cure their illness including bone broken illness . It is one of the cleanest natural hot spring in Tibet so please do not miss taking a bath in it since it is within the nunnery.
Day 14: Drive Terdrom-Ganden monastery-Lhasa (3650m/170km)
After breakfast, drive to Lhasa along the Lhasa river dominated by beautiful Tibetan villages and flocks of yaks grazing on side mountain of Ganden monastery. After an hour drive, you will reach Ganden monastery. Ganden monastery is one of the six biggest Gelukpa monasteries and it is the mother monastery of the Yellow hat school.
Day 15: Drive to Lhasa Gongkar airport
Departure transfer to Lhasa airport for flight to onward destination.
| City | Night (s) | Hotels / Camps |
| Lhasa | 03 | Shangri La |
| Yamdrok | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Ralung | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Shigatse | 01 | Mangareva Hotel |
| Yampachen | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Namtso lake | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Gorchung | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Jado Gompa | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Damxung | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Reting | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Terdrom | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Lhasa | 01 | Shangri La |
– 14 nights accommodation as mentioned in the program.
– All entry fees to the sites and monasteries mentioned in Tibet motorcycle tour program.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– All necessary Tibet tour entry and road permits.
– 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.
– Namtso lake conservation fee.
– All necessary Tibet motorbike permits.
– Temporary motorbike driving license.
– Temporary motorbike plate number and license.
– Motorbike insurance.
– Royal Enfield motorbikes.
– Motorbike permits from China custom.
– Motorbike fuels.
– Motorbike mechanic.
– All camping equipment except sleeping bag.
– All camping fee.
– Cook and assistant with all utensils.
– Different kinds of snack like biscuit, cheese, dried and fresh fruit during the camp.
– 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.