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BIKING LHASA TO NEPAL

Breathtaking is perhaps an understatement when describing this bike trip linking two of the world's most exotic capital cities across the most spectacular mountains in the world. After four exhilarating days in Lhasa, which will enable you to acclimate and visit many of the city's beautiful temples and palaces, we start our great biking journey, which passes exquisite monastery villages as we cut a route almost parallel to the towering Himalaya Range rising in the west. At night-time we cam alongside nomad’s encampments, and throughout the course of our journey we negotiate six high mountain passes, reaching elevations of more than 5,000 metres. It all culminates with an unforgettable descent from the barrenness of the Tibetan plateau to the lush green landscape of Nepal.

Highlights of Tour:

• Great roadtrip by bike across the mighty Himalayan range
• Cultural and historical temples of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse
• Spectacular Everest north side and base camp with monastery Rongbuk
• Tibetan bustle of pilgrims in Tibet, and south Asian bustle in Kathmandu
• Camping in the grasslands alongside Tibetan nomads

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa, and settle in. Overnight at the three-star Thangka Hotel

Day 2 – Day 3: Two full days in Lhasa, cycling from sight to sight – we visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street, Drepung monastery and Sera Monastery. We also cycle to the Norbulingka, which used to be the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama.

Day 4: We cycle 60km from Lhasa to Chushur, and camp overnight.

Day 5: We cycle a total of 70km from Chushur (at 3590 metres) up to the Kampala Pass (at 4790 metres), and down to Baidi (at 4,450 metres), which is where set up camp for the night.

Day 6: The road climbs again to Karola (5110 metres), then down to Longma (4200 metres) – clocking a total of 80km. Overnight camping.

Day 7: On this day, the cycle is more rhythmical, doing 70km to Gyantse, where the night is spent in relative luxury at the two-star Jianzang Hotel, with en-suite rooms.

Day 8: Another relatively easy run, clocking 95km to Shigatse, with stops in monasteries along the way. Night spent in a three-star hotel.

Day 9: A long visit to the fantastic Tashilunpo Monastery takes up a chunk of the day, and we only get to do 51km on this day, reaching Jiding, where we camp.

Day 10: The road begins to winds up the slope again, and we do 51km, peaking at 4,500 metres at the Younongla Pass. Overnight camping. 

Day 11: A tough day, doing 70km and negotiating the Gyatsola Pass – at 5,260 metres – then winding down the slope a bit to camp.

Day 12: Another pass – Pang La, at 5,210 metres – and another long day, clocking 83km. Then camping again.

Day 13: After biking from Pang La for 70km, we trek for two hours to reach the spectacular Rongbuk Monastery at 4,960 metres. Then we continue to Everest Base Camp – which is at 5,160 metres – by van, and later return to Rongbuk to camp overnight.

Day 14: Relatively easy day, biking 70km from Rongbuk to Old Tingri, where we camp.

Day 15: We start the descent with 80km biking from Old Tingri to Nyalam, where we camp overnight.

Day 16: Virtually all downhill now, clocking 109km from Nyalam to Milarepa Cave and then on to Zhangmu, a village situated at 2,200 metres. Overnight in the basic Zhangmu Caiyuyan Hotel, which has rooms with attached bathrooms.

Day 17: Morning formalities at the border with Nepal, then ride inside Nepal from Kodari to Dhulikhel, and stay the night in the Dhulikhel Lodge Resort.

Day 18: An easy run to Kathmandu, setting in at the three-star Nirvana Garden Hotel.

Day 19: A free day in Kathmandu, where you can do your own thing.

Day 20: Transfer to the airport.

Tour Dates in 2011: 

10 May – 29 May

6 Sept – 25 Sept

11 Oct – 30 Oct

Tour price May departure: USD1776 per person (single supplement add $306)

Tour price for Sept and Oct departures: USD1904 per person (single supplement add $339)

Tours are all-inclusive.

NOTE: If you form your own group of at least 6 travellers, you can travel in your own private tour based on the itinerary above at the same price per person quoted here.