Yamdrok and Namtso biking tour is a tremendously beautiful Tibet bike tour. This Tibet bike tour explores amazing highs across the ‘roof of the world’ and take a cycling loop around the two most beautiful Tibet’s holy lakes of Yamdrok and Namtso. Yamdrok lake has eleven arms and it spreads all over Yamdrok region and Namtso lake is the second largest lake in Tibet. Our Tibet bike tour will be started in Lhasa city and you will be warmly welcomed by our Tibetan travel guide and accompany you to the holy city of Lhasa along with the view of Bharmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan and Kyichu river.
This Tibet bike tour includes two full days sightseeing tour around Lhasa in order to see the most famous cultural site of Tibet and getting acclimated to the high altitude gradually. Cycling in the southern part of Tibet, known as Lhoka, passing by Barhmaputra, Do valley and some beautiful Tibetan villages and monasteries in the remoter area of southern Tibet. Cross Trila pass at the elevation of 4890m and make a wish where there is a prayer flag for a successful and safe mountain biking in Tibet. While biking around Yamdrok lake, you will enjoy a view of the most beautiful part of Yamdrok lake, the beautiful Kurla Gangri, which is over 7000Mts peak, bordered to Bhutan. Riding within the beautiful villages of Yamdrok lake and a stunning view of Nojing Kangsang snow mountain in a distance, taking photos of the villages people who are indeed in Tibetan traditional dress, being not influenced by the modern lives. You can really enjoy the beauty of the Tibetan culture and their way of living in those remote area which gives more authentic experience of the best Tibet bike tour.
Driving from Samding monastsery to Gyantse by van and continue to Shigatse, visit the cultural center of the western Tibet or known as Tsang region in Tibet. Continue driving through the friendship highway at the distance of 100km and Leave the vehicle behind and cycling off the beaten trail and crossing Xugula pass with a super view of Mount Jomo Kanggar, a beautiful fertile valley and Tibetan villages. Cycling through a vast valley of Tibetan high plateau, dominated by snow-covered mountain and Tibetan nomad villages and crossing Lagenla pass (5000m with a beautiful panoramic view of Namtso lake from the top of the pass. Continue cycling along a beautiful grassland, passing by nomad camp and finally to Taashido hermitage. Walk around Tashido hermitage and along the shore of Namtso lake, surrounded by the Nyenchen Thangla mountain range.
Tibet bike tour takes a super off the beaten track along the entire Namtso lake, enjoying a fantastic view of the whole Namtso lake from the south shore and a great closer view of Nyenchen Thangla mountain range. Gorchung monastery and Gurchen snow peak at the elevation of over 6000m and beautiful Tibetan nomad camps and Jyado Gompa at Langchen Namgo from which you will enjoy a great view of whole Namtso lake and some beautiful rocky hills along the lake shore. From Lagenla pass, you will be driving back to Lhasa by van along the Qinghai Tibetan highway.
Day 01 Arrive Lhasa, 3650Mts/65Km
You will be warmly welcome by our Tibetan guide and driver and accompany you to the holy city of Lhasa along with the view of Bharmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan and Kyichu river.
Day 02 Sightseeing, Potala Palace, Jokang temple and Bharkor Bazar
After breakfast, walk to Potala Palace. 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 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 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 Visit Drepung, Sera monasteries.
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.
Day 04 Ride from Lhasa to Namgyel shol and then to Gyangshong village,3850Mts/120Km drive/25km bike ride
After around 70Km drive from Lhasa, you will reach Chedeshol village. You will meet our crew with the bikes and all camping equipment. From Chedeshol village, you will turn left from the main road to Gongkar airport and start your biking. The village of Chedeshol itself is an old town and it is worthy to bike through the town to see how the old town of Tibetan looks like. There is also a monastery called Dopu Chokor monastery. After Chedeshol you will bike through several beautiful villages and reach Namgyle shol town. You will have lunch before Namgyel shol village and then continue to Gyangshong village. The road for biking today is not very difficult as most part of the road is paved. You will pass by the Gyangshong reservoir and dam.
Day 05 Biking across the pass, very nice view of Yamdrok lake-bike down to Dangdha xiang and then to Karmaling grassland, 4471Mts/ 6-7hrs bike
Early morning, enjoy your morning tea and breakfast and then start your biking through Drila pass which is around 4890mts above sea level. Today, the most part of the road is a dusty road and it is a steep up until you cross the pass through several zigzag road. You will reach the top of the pass after around 3hrs and half biking. From the top of the pass, you will enjoy the most beautiful part of Yamdrok lake, the beautiful Kurla Gangri, which is over 7000Mts peak border to Bhutan. The beautiful prayer flag is waving and you can wish for the good luck of your journey and for all your family from the top of the pass. Ride down to Dangdha village, there is also a monastery called Dangdha monastery.
Day 06 Bike along the Yamdrok lake and then continue to Samding monastery,4471Mts 6-7hrs biking
Riding within the beautiful villages Chokodrong, Kungposhol and several more vilalges, taking photos of the villages people who are indeed in Tibetan traditional dress being not effected by the modern lives. You can really enjoy the beauty of Tibetan culture and their way of daily lives resembled the one in the olden days. You will ride the bikes along the yamdrok lake with a fantastic view of the lake, some small islands and a long distant view of Noejing Kangsang snow capped mountain in the distance. You will pass by Taklung town and monastery. Taklung monastery is one of the oldest monastery in yamdrok area. Finally, you will be reaching Samding monastery and camp nearby the monastery.
Day 07 Samding monastsery-Gyantse by van, visit Gyantse and then continue to Shigatse (3900m/190km)
You will start your tour at around 9Am from your hotel and then drive towards Palchoe monastery for a few minutes. Visit Palchoe monastery and Kubum Pagoda stupa. After the sightseeing, You will have your lunch and then continue your journey to Shigatse by passing one of the biggest farming land in Tibet where people grow barley, wheat, different kinds of vegetables.
Day 08 Drive from Shigatse-Takdruka ferry (4000m/100km)-cycling to Dorjeling nunnery (4150m/90km)
After breakfast, Continue driving 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. Leave the vehicle behind and cycling off the beaten trail and crossing Xugula pass with a super view of Mount Jomo Kanggar, a beautiful fertile valley and Tibetan villages
Day 09 Cycling from Dorjeling nunnery to Damxung county ( 4200m/125km)
Cycling through a vast valley of Tibetan high plateau, dominated by snow-covered mountain and Tibetan nomad villages. After around 30km cycling, meet the Qinghai Tibet highway and Qinghai Tibet railway, taking the highway to the northern part of Tibet all the way to Damxung county with a beautiful view of nomad camps and Nyenchen Thangla mountain range. Camp to the foot of Lagenla pass.
Day 10 Biking from the foot of the Lagenla pass (5000m )- Namtso lake-Tashido (4718m/50km)
Biking across Lagenla pass at the elevation of over 5000m above sea level and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Namtso lake from the top of the pass. Continue cycling along a beautiful grassland, passing by nomad camp and finally to Taashido hermitage. Walk around Tashido hermitage in the late afternoon and enjoy viewing the entire Namtso lake, surrounded by the Nyenchen Thangla mountain range.
Day 11 Tashido hermitage-Gorchung monastery, 4560m/76km
After breakfast, start biking around Namtso lake from Tashido hermitage and taking a super off the beaten track along the south side of Namtso lake at the distance of 71 Km total, 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.
Day 12 Gorchung monastery-Dokya Gompa-`Rarila (5640m)-lake shore campsite 4570m/90km
After breakfast, continue mountain biking off the beaten track around the Namtso lake, along a spacious grassland or plateau, seeing a beautiful green plateau with snow capped mountain in a long distant mountain view from the northern Tibetan plateau. After around 5-6 hours cycling 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, you will see a very clear view of Gorchung snow peak as well some beautiful Nyenchen Thangla mountain ranges. Continue your biking in the high Tibetan plateau and cross Rirala pass which is just a very small pass of over 5640m. Camp at the other side of the lake near the lake.
Day 13 Rarila-Jado Gompa or Langchen Namgo-next to village Number five 4570m/90km
Biking off the beaten track on a dusty trail through several nomad camps and villages, reaching Jado Gompa or Langchen Namgo ( Elephant head ). We will bike 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, continue biking on the high Tibetan plateau and having the most beautiful view of the lake Namtso with a full landscape view of Nyechen Thangla mountain range.
Day 14 Village number five-junction to Bangga county to the north west and to Lhasa to the east-Lagenla-Damxung county-Lhasa ( 3650m/70km biking-215km drive by van )
Cycling extreme off the beaten track around Namtso lake and pass by a couple of Tibetan nomad villages, 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. Continue driving to Lhasa.
Day 15 Resting and relaxing day in Lhasa
Take your own walk around Bharkor Bazzar or relaxing yourself at your hotel or our Tibetan travel guide can also accompany you if you need any help going around and doing shopping.
Day 16 Depart Lhasa (3600m/45km)
After breafast, drive to Lhasa airport through the Potala Palace square and along the Kyichu valley and crossing a tunnel before reaching Barhmaputra and Lhasa Gongkar airport.
| City | Night (s) | Hotels / Camps |
| Lhasa | 03 | Shangri La |
| Gyangshong | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Karmaling | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Samding | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Shigatse | 01 | Mangareva Hotel |
| Dorjeling Nunnery | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Damxung | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Tashido | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Gorchung | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Rarila Lake | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Langchen Namgo | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Lhasa | 02 | Shangri La |
– 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.
– Namtso lake conservation fee.
– All camping equipment except sleeping bag.
– 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.