Lhasa to Kathmandu Mountain Biking Tour

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Trip Facts
  • Duration 18 Days
  • Destination Tibet
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
  • Max Altitude 5150
  • Trip Start and End Kathmandu-Kathmandu
  • Best Season July - September

Lhasa to Kathmandu 1200km Mountain Biking Tour

Trip glimpse: Lhasa - Gyangtse - Shigatse - Lhatse - Everest Base Camp - Rongphuk - Gyirong – Kathmandu

Overview
Lhasa to Kathmandu over 1200 km mountain biking tour is for an adventure lover and also a preferred choice of mountain biking trip in Tibet. You need to get well acclimatized of high altitude in Lhasa for two days, where you can visit Potala palace, Jokhang temple, Drepung monastery, Sera monastery and other famous monasteries and palaces. You can then prepare your riding equipments and ride to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake and ancient Gyantse. After visiting the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the residence of Panchen Lama, you will ride southwards along Sino-Nepal friendship Highway, and arrive in Mt. Everest base camp - the highest peak in the world via Lhatse and Tingri. You can appreciate the sunset and beautiful night sky of Mt. Everest. Afterward, continue to ride southwards and view Mt. Shisha pangma with an altitude of 8012 meters along the way. Finally, you will arrive in Kyirong town – Sino-Nepali Border – the newly opened port and pass the border then enter the lush green Rasuwa valley, which leads you to Kathmandu.

 

Itinerary

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  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsB

 Transfer to Hotel   

  • Accommodation Kyichu Hotel
  • MealsBB

In the morning, you can visit the famous UNESCO Heritage sights of Potala Palace and explore the grandest of its myriad chapel. You will appreciate its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial Chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and a tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.
In the afternoon, you can visit the holiest temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during Songtsen Gonpo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkor Kora. Overnight stay in Hotel
Notice: the sequence of sightseeing might be changed based on the reservation of Potala Palace
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

Visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It was once the home to 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous as it was the government center and later moved to the famous Potala palace during the fifth Dalai lama.

After having lunch, continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive Buddhist Scriptures debating held in the courtyard mostly around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Lhasa.
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

The first riding day is very short and easy. Your journey towards Everest starts with the Friendship Highway as it heads out across the plateau. The road is in good condition and quite flat.
Leave Lhasa and cycle along the beautiful Tsangpo River to the foot of the Kamba La Pass (3700 m).
Distance: about 85km
 

 

  • Accommodation Guest House
  • MealsBB

 Prepare yourself physically and mentally ready to attempt the first mountain pass of this trip. A strong uphill climbing along a blacktop road of several switchbacks, we will reach the summit which is festooned with prayer flags with prayer flags
After descending we continue to go along Lake Yamdrok Tso, (4490m). The dazzlingly turquoise green Yamdrok-Tso Lake is one of the three great holy lakes in Tibet. We continue to ride towards Namkastze
 

  • Accommodation Guest House
  • MealsBB

After breakfast, we'll begin our journey and will ride along the Friendship Highway, which soon turns into a dirt roadway. Passing through a gorge, we'll head towards the foot of the Karo La Pass. From there, our cycling journey continues towards Gyantse.
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

In the morning we 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, contains an impressive collection of Tibetan Buddhist murals.

Then we head out to another long day through Friendship Highway towards Shigatse, the highway is blacktop neat and clean flat road. We arrive in Tibet's second-largest city, Enjoy one another more night with a hot shower in your hotel
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

Your will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, where you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world. The monastery itself is an abiding place for the successive Penchen Lamas.
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

Keep riding along the friendship highway. The route leads you through picturesque valleys before the long route which leads over the Tso-La (4520m). After lunch, head towards Lhatse, Just before this town there is a hot springs.
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

Ride over the 5220m Gyatso-La with a stunning view. You will be rewarded with the first view of Mount Everest on a clear day. After a 40 km ride through flat prairie towns, you will arrive in the town of Pelbar, often referred to as Shegar. This town is a popular stopover for anyone heading to the Everest region.
 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

Today is a little tough for cycling as the road condition is not as good as that of the past days. You will divert off the flat highway just outside of Shegar, then head towards Everest base camp.
After passing through the border control point, you will face 20km's of uphill switchbacks before reaching the summit of the Pang Pass (5150m). You will have magnificent views of Everest and surrounding peaks as Makalu (8463m), Shishapangma (8012m), Cho Oyu (8210m), Lhotse (8516m), Everest (8850m) and several other breathtaking peaks.

 

  • Accommodation Basic GH
  • MealsBB

We reach the Rongbuck Base Camp, starting beside the Rong chu river with views of Everest ahead. A bumpy road winds up through the Rongbuk valley until the majestic Mount Everest appears in front of you.

  • Accommodation Basic GH
  • MealsBB

Today we excursion to 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 Basic GH
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Today we will bike back to the Tingri to the main road leaving the Rongbuk monastery and the Everest behind. We definitely would double the spirit after visiting the base camp of "Top of the World" and be ready for another ride to Tingri.

 

  • Accommodation Hotel
  • MealsBB

After breakfast in Tingri we will then start our ride to the Peokutso Lake. The route takes us through the spectacular views of the Shishapangma and many other giant Himalayan peaks. Shisha Pangma is the 14th highest peak on the planet. The Peokutso lake is situated at 4,591 meters on the Tibetan Plateau at the south of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River. It is surrounded by mountains reaching 5,700 to 6,000 meters.

 

  • Accommodation GH
  • MealsBB
  • Accommodation Guest House
  • MealsBB

Today is the last day of the biking tour. After break your driver and guide will lead you to the border crossing. For some uncertain reason, all of your bags will need to be inspected before you can leave Tibet. If you have any guidebooks on Tibet or anything with pictures of the Dalai Lama, it will most likely be taken.
At the Tibet side immigration, you will say goodbye to your guide and driver as they will not be crossing the border with you. Be sure to leave them a good tip, as is customary, to get you safely across Tibet!

After customs formalities you will notice that the scenery starts to turn into a lush green valley to Bhute Koshi valley with countless waterfalls and pine trees line roads to Syabrubesi. You can choose to complete the remaining journey to Kathmandu either biking or on a vehicle. Kathmandu is 140 km from the border.

 

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    Included
    • Transportation as per the itinerary by necessary vehicle.
    • Nepal: Airport/hotel/airport in Kathmandu by private car/van/bus as per group size
    • Accommodation on BB basis
    • English speaking Tibetan Guide.
    • Tibet Travel permits.
    • All entrance fees.
    • All necessary entrance permits.
    • Emergency mineral water in the vehicle.
    • Service of Porterage while crossing Friendship Bridge into Nepal (Nepal-China border).
    • Trip briefing by Tibet expert & entertain question.
    • Gift pack (prayer flag or string of flag & paper prayer Lungta).

    Note: Offer Prayer flag or Lungta (string of prayer flag) in high passes, temple for good fortune or long life.

     

    Excluded
    • Hotel in Kathmandu
    • Tibet Visa Fee (Acceptable in US$ cash only)  Visa costs  $ 85 Per person for European   & $175 per person for US Citizens
    • Airfare: Kathmandu – Lhasa (Fare as per availability).
    • Lunch and Dinner in Lhassa
    • Mountain bike and its spare tools
    • All personal equipments such as sleeping bags, biking tools, phone calls, laundry etc…
    • Travel insurance
    • Expenses during any rescue operation
    • Nepal re-entry visa fee You are required 2 passport size photos.Alcoholic beverages &  bar billsGratuity to staff.Services of Porterage and other vehicles in between in case of landslides and other natural calamities beyond our control and expenses incurred during rescue services.
    • Services not mentioned herein.
    Additional Information

    Most of the days of the cycling riding distances are long, if you are unable to ride then you can complete your remaining journey of the day on a supporting vehicle.

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