Mountain Bike (Cycling) Tibet Tour – 18 Days

Day 1: Arrive Lhasa (3660m)

We have options to arrive in Lhasa, or we can join the trip in Kathmandu and fly to Lhasa or arrive at Lhasa from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, or any Chinese City. (Please see option detail in our ‘general information section) we will be met at Gonggar Airport by our Tibetan guide. After immigration formalities take a 1.5-hour drive along a 93 km road leading to Lhasa lying at an altitude of 3660 meters. It’s advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa’s altitude. Drinking a lot of water is also good. Our first overnight on the roof of the world in Lhasa

Day 2: Sightseeing in Lhasa (Potala Palace, Jokhang, and Norbulingkha)

Your tour begins with a visit to Sera Monastery. An experienced tour guide also working as an interpreter escorts you to this preserved monastery of white-washed walls and golden roofs. An equally adventurous and exciting tempo builds up while touring Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site that unravels more deep-seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit to Barkhor Markets can be quite a change from other visits as you roam around the city savoring every tiny detail from stall hawkers coaxing their clients to purchase their goods to exhibitions of Tibetan culture, customs, and tradition. Eventually, the tour for the day concludes as you return to the comforts of your hotel.

Day 3: Continue Sightseeing in Lhasa (Drepung monasteries and Sera monasteries on our mountain bikes)

Like the previous day, you experience invaluable insights during your visits to Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. This 17th-century Potala Palace offers an awesome view of the entire city and also has private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state r, rooms, and chapels. Ancient history has it that Drepung Monastery which was built in the 14th century used to shelter around 10,000 monks but as of now there has been quite a decline resulting in only a few hundred. Tibetans’ respect and belief are immensely knotted with this monastery.

Day 4: Start the journey and ride from Lhasa to Khampa La Pass and overnight in tents (85km) (4794m, 80 km, 6-7 hrs)

Our Mountain biking blitzkrieg begins from Lhasa. Cycling past the history-laden city of Lhasa, you will be biking crossways through barley fields, traditional Tibetan villages, and rising and falling uphill slopes. A few kilometers ahead, a bridge appears across the river leading to the airport. Chinese soldiers can be seen stationed at the mid-point of the bridge. Turning away from the route to the airport, you have to skirt along another direction following the rarely-visited sandy path to Khampa La. Our trail zig-zags through a village of mud-walled houses and pastoral farmlands. You may attempt to interact with local villagers with assistance from your Tibetan guide. This allows you to glimpse into the lives of local villagers. Further ahead, the trail branches into a valley away from Tsangpo and then ascends. You will approach your first campsite on a rocky territory encompassing an area with a width of 30 meters and a height of 100 meters. After cycling for about 6-7 hours, you will eventually arrive at the foot of Khampa La (pass) at an elevation of 4794. At a peaceful site, you will camp for the night under a starlit moonlight sky.

Day 5: Cycle over the pass and ride along Yamdrog Lake. Camp by the Lakeside (70km) (4475m, 72km, 6-7 hrs)

This is a tough climb across the first of six high passes of the trip. If you find it too tough peddling up a 4794-meter high pass you can always get on the support private vehicle. Once you are on the top of the pass you have glittering views of Yamdrog Tso (lake) and the stunning summit of Nanzin Kangsa (7252m). A descent to deep turquoise Yamdrog Tso Lake amidst its exquisite mesmerizing views further accentuates the biking thrill. Nomadic herders and grazing yaks make interesting picture-perfect views en route. After lunch, you will ride along the shore of the lake on sandy roads for about 40km. The trail further continues along ridges in the valley wall with breathtaking views of towering snow-capped peaks as the backdrop. Sooner sheep pastures come into sight. Hereabouts you stop your cycling journey for the day and set up camp after riding for 72 km up to Nagartse village at an elevation of 4475m.

Day 6: Cycle to Gyantse, visit the town, and overnight in a hotel (90km) 3950m, 35 km, 3-4 hrs)

Today it’s a pretty easy and short ride to the top of Simi La at 4375m and then we ride mostly downhill into a wide sandy valley towards Gyantse. The trail crisscrosses barley fields along the flowing river. Here, you will spot several military and religious sites. You can bask in the sheer pleasure of visiting Pelkor Chode Monastery, and Gyantse Dzong. Pelkor Chode Monastery has ancient murals, thangkas, chapels, mandalas, and paintings of 84 mahasidhhas in yogic posture. Gyantse Dzong was constructed in the 14th century and offers a majestic view of both Gyantse and Nyang Chu Valley. Gyantse Kumbum is one of the major attractions of cultural interest in Gyantse. This ancient building houses several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals. You will spend the night at a comfortable hotel in this town.

Day 7: Cycle to Shigatse and overnight in hotel (90km) (3900m, 90km 4-5 hrs)

After b/fast, today’s ride takes us on a tarmac highway following the Nyang Chu River to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. En route, you will encounter several trucks, cabs, and pedestrians hurrying along the busy streets of Shigatse. There are internet cyber café, many well-resourced shops, restaurants, etc. Tashilhunpo monastery, being one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet, is a major attraction of Shigatse. Our Overnight here will be in a comfortable hotel.

Day 8: Visit Tashilumpo Monastery and rest.

On this day we explore around and rest. We explore the local market and Tashilhumpo Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. This is where we haul up for the night after a pretty cool day.

Day 9: Cycle to the bottom of Tsola and camp (80km) (4290m, 106 km, 8-9 hrs)

The road down here is lumpy and bumpy, loose and dirty, and the ride hereabouts can be relatively challenging. Following the Friendship Highway, you will gradually climb to the foot of Tso La where you stay the night in tented camps as we prepare for supper and some well-earned rest.

Day 10: Cycle to Gyatso La via Lhatse and camp (90km) (4630m, 70 km, 5-6 hrs)

After a pretty comfortable eight kilometers ride, you get to the top of the Tso La from where you will have a clear view of the main Himalayan range. A brief stoppage at the top of the pass follows a thrilling downhill ride to the small town of Lhatse. After lunch at the riverside, the biking trail gains a gradual climb to the foot of Gyatso La at 4630 meters where you camp for the night.

Day 11: Cycle over the Gyatso La Pass (5220 meters) and overnight in Shegar (4050m, 65 km, 7-8 hrs)

The Gyatso La at 5220 meters is located approximately 15 kilometers from the campsite and is the highest pass of this biking adventure. The trail to the top of the pass passes through steep and rough slopes. From the pass, it is a steep downhill ride amidst stunning views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse & Cho Oyu. Riding past small Tibetan settlements, nomadic herdsmen make your journey even more eventful. We arrive at the small Tibetan Town of Shegar after peddling a few kilometers and reach our camping site for the night.

Day 12: Cycle to Ronbuk, overnight in tents (90km) (5000m, 24 km 3-4 hrs)

The trail cuts across the banks of a river for the first few kilometers which are fairly easy as you head toward Rongbuk Valley. This ride gets quite enjoyable as your eyes relish the breathtaking view of the glaciated valley. Yak-skin tents and grazing yaks can be viewed on the other side of the valley. Within a few hours along Rongbuk Glacier, the North Face of Everest becomes visible flaunting its unparalleled beauty. Rongbuk Monastery lies ahead 8 kilometers below Everest Base Camp at an elevation of 5000m, at the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier.

Day 13: Free day in Ronbuk and visit Everest Base Camp – (5200m, 8 km each way)

After enjoying our well-deserved rest, you can indulge in the exoticism of exploring the mystiques of Rongbuk glaciers. It is an 8 km each-way walk along the dirt road to the base of Mt. Everest. You ascend to the moraine and shortly encounter a nunnery ruined during the Cultural Revolution. A small hermitage is nestled in the vicinity. A few hours of ascent eventually brings you to the Everest Northern Base Camp. No matter how many difficulties and challenges you may face along the trail, once you see the mighty Mount Everest your tiredness gets washed away and you feel so blessed as you savor this blissful sight. After your video cam has worked overtime and explored enough, you retreat to your camp.

Day 14: Cycle to Tingri (hot springs) and overnight in the guest house – (4350m, 75 km, 6-7 hrs)

Since it takes a lot of time on a bicycle to reach the top of Pang La, it is best to drive up to this pass and bike down to Tingri. The trail leading to Pang La is extremely rocky and bumpy. Soon after arriving at Pang La, you collect your cycling gear and start peddling down the steep trail. Shortly, a boulder comes en route and the trail gets rougher as it follows a rock-strewn path. The trail descends to a series of sandy ridges which cut along the edge of a river gorge. Further down, you will meet a stream. This adrenaline-fueled ride continues past pristine hamlets and lush barley fields. After coming close to Tingri, if you look back you can catch a stunning sight of majestic Everest and Cho Oyu. The dirt road turns into a paved road as you will enter the small town of Tingri which is an unsheltered and windy settlement nestled underneath the enchanting Cho Oyu. Your overnight camp will be at a small village where you can take a refreshing bath in a natural hot spring and chill out before having supper and going to bed.

Day 15: Cycle to Tonla Pass and camp – (5200m, 67 Km 5-6 hrs)

A six-kilometer downhill ride and a further seven kilometers uphill climb bring you to the top of the second pass, Thang La at 5200 meters. If you find it too much to peddle uphill you have an option of getting on the support 4WD Land cruiser. We spend the night in camps.

Day 16: Cycle to Kerung and overnight in guest house (70km) (3750m, 3-4 hrs)

After spending some heavenly moments at the top of the pass you begin what we call ‘the world's longest downhill’ biking adventure. A long pleasant downhill ride amidst superb mountain scenery brings you to a village near Nylam where you camp for the night at 3750 meters.

Day 17: Cycle to Zhangmu and overnight in a hotel (30km) (900m, approx 1 hr)

Heading away from Kerung, you ride along the steep road dropping down through the gorge. The trail meets a glacial stream and turns back crossing the river. A further 15 kilometers of cycling brings you amidst the verdant vegetation and a little further ride brings you to the Chinese border town of Zhangmu at 2300 meters. We crash out here for the night in a hotel

Day 18: Cross over Friendship Bridge and depart for Kathmandu (114 km) 7-8 hrs by bike, there’s also the option to drive to Kathmandu

Making your way through traffic and modern concrete block buildings perched on the slopes, you will head towards Chinese customs where you are required to handle re-entry formalities to return to Kathmandu. Once you are done with this official procedure, you advance towards a 12 km descent to the river and the bridge to Nepal. The trail that follows from this point onwards is muddy, steep, and rocky. You may encounter several jeeps on the way. After bidding your Tibetan guide and driver farewell, you will descend to the river valley. Initially, the trail gets rocky but later eases when it enters a paved road after 20 kilometers of descent. Utmost careful safety measures should be adopted as there are chances of washouts occurring at any time while riding along this steep muddy trail. Further down, a village springs into the picture. As you make your way to the entrance of the town, you will experience many speed breakers. The trail then opens into the rich verdant valley with rice terraces surrounded by green hills. From there, we have the option of riding our bikes or driving down to Kathmandu if we are really tired. Overnight in the valley of the gods Kathmandu.

Visa Information
Flying out to Tibet requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit which can both be acquired in Kathmandu with the help of a travel company (Tibet via Nepal). A valid visa for China isn't the same as a Tibet Travel Permit. Those with a Chinese traveler visa will at present need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. The permit is still required for remote foreign travelers traveling to Tibet from the territory of China. To obtain the permit you have to book a guide for your whole trip and pre-organize private transport for trips outside Lhasa. The trip outside Lhasa likewise requires extra permits which are arranged by the travel agent you are going with.

 Passport

All who intend to enter Tibet must hold at least 6 months' valid passport.

Passport - valid for 6 months

Chinese Visa — you can apply for one from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights (who entry from China)

Group Visa — entry from Nepal to Tibet after the Tibet tour traveler can visit China mainland with a valid group visa.

Individual Visa will be canceled when we apply for group visa (if a visa is in the passport)

Tibet Entry Permit — it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is an absolute necessity for outsiders entering Tibet.

A few people who wish to travel to specific areas in Tibet must also obtain:

Travel Permit — it is required when you are planning to move to closed areas in Tibet. These are issued after you land in Tibet.

Military Permit — it is acquired to travel to some militarily sensitive regions.

Weather Information
The weather in Tibet is similar to that of Mainland China, though with lower temperatures due to higher altitudes. Summers have warm days with strong sunshine and cool nights, but summer days can even be chilly at higher elevations. Winters are cold but there isn't all that much snow. Lhasa enjoys a lot of sunshine even in winter. Most Tibet experiences frost at least 6 months of the year. Some high lakes are frozen from October to March. The weather varies a lot from region to region. Lhasa is an ideal destination because it is in a valley area of lower elevation.

Safety Guidelines
We recommend you go through our following safety guidelines and stay tuned with the latest happening.

• Have at least 2 copies of the Tibet Permit.
• Keep your belongings properly.
• When you feel uncomfortable due to altitude change or have any troubles, report to your guide promptly.
• Never rush to visit attractions shortly after you arrive in Lhasa.
• Shop around but avoid undue bargaining with street vendors and never buy wildlife and unknown Tibetan herbal medicine and fake products.
• Take your money and important belongings with you all the time.
• Spend a few days in Lhasa for acclimation and always follow a gradual ascent when traveling to higher places to avoid altitude sickness.
• Refrain from heavy drinking and smoking.
• Respect the religion, and customs and avoid taboos in Tibet.
• Pay special attention to the unique alpine climate (such as sunburn, dramatic temperature change, etc.)
• Keep necessary medicines at the consult of your doctor.
• Never travel alone at night or venture into unknown places without informing your guide.
• In most places, cash is only accepted. Do prepare enough and small changes.
• If an emergency arises, report it to your guide promptly.
• Don’t carry any documents or papers related to Dalai Lama or free Tibet.
• We also recommend not carrying any guidebook to Tibet.

1. Where is Tibet?

Tibet is situated toward the southwest of China, likewise bordering India, Nepal, Burma, and Bhutan. Tibet's three original provinces are U-Tsang, Kham, and Amdo. The general population in these locales all thinks about themselves as Tibetan, although everyone has a solid identity and diverse tongues of Tibetan is used.

Under China's occupation, Tibet has been partitioned up, renamed, and joined into Chinese territories, with little reference to the original borders between Tibet's areas. At the point when China refers to Tibet, it implies the Tibet Autonomous Region or TAR, which incorporates just U-Tsang and part of Kham. The rest of Kham was isolated amongst Sichuan and Yunnan Chinese areas. Amdo was partitioned between Gansu, Sichuan, and Qinghai territories. The region covers a region of around 1.22 million km2, which represents 12.8% of the aggregate of China. The pristine snow-capped view and inescapable Tibetan Buddhism environment and simple access to its neighboring nation Nepal make Tibet rank high on the movement travel bucket list. Its unmistakable geography and land area enable it to share the world's most amazing mountaineering and trekking asset with its neighbor nation Nepal.

2. What is the time difference in Tibet?

Tibet  Standard Time ( IST ) is 0800 hours (6 hours) ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8).

3. How can I obtain a Visa?

Flying out to Tibet requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit which can both be acquired in Kathmandu with the help of a travel company (Tibet via Nepal). A valid visa for China isn't the same as a Tibet Travel Permit. Those with a Chinese traveler visa will at present need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. The permit is still required for remote foreign travelers traveling to Tibet from the territory of China. To obtain the permit you have to book a guide for your whole trip and pre-organize private transport for trips outside Lhasa. The trip outside Lhasa likewise requires extra permits which are arranged by the travel agent you are going with.

 Passport

All who intend to enter Tibet must hold at least 6 months' valid passport.

China Visa or Tibet Group Visa

To enter Tibet using Mainland China, right off the bat, you have to apply China visa for entry to China. Tibet is a part of China, under the Chinese Central Government's Sovereignty. Therefore to travel from China to Tibet, you need to acquire a China Visa at the first stage before all are followed up. Visas for individual travel in China are very easy to get from most Chinese embassies. Most Chinese embassies and consulates will issue a standard 30-day, single-passage visitor visa in three to five working days (an 'L' Visa means to travel). If you are lucky, some embassies abroad may give you 60 or even 90 days. However, in Hong Kong it is very easy to get a 90-day visa; most agencies can organize it in one day. If you need greater adaptability to enter and leave China a few times, most Chinese embassies will issue a double-entry visa. Indeed, for individuals who are to work, study or live temporarily in China, you may require other related China Visa, for example, an "F" Visa, "X" Visa, or "Z" Visa, and so on. All these sorts of visa holders can go to Tibet with Tibet entry permits and other travel permits which can be obtained by neighborhood travel agencies in Tibet with strict and serious procedures.

4. How to enter Tibet?

By Road: There are five main highways in Tibet, to be specific:

Sichuan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, and Lhasa.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway – it runs between Xining, the capital city of Qinghai, to Lhasa.

Yunnan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Yunnan territory and Tibet.

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway – it runs crosswise over boundless deserts and lofty and steep peaks.

The China-Nepal Highway – it is the main international highway in Tibet

By Air: Flying to Lhasa dependably requires a stopover in either China or Nepal. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is situated around 98 kilometers (around 61 miles) toward the south of Lhasa City. The main international trip to and from Tibet is between Lhasa and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

By Rail: The Gormo to Lhasa railway extends for 1,142 kilometers (710 miles) and serves as a connection between the territory of China and Tibet.

5. How is the weather in Tibet?

Since the country expands at high elevations, usually difficult to predict the climate. It is cold for the most part. Lhasa and around it is a cool, and bright day during the day time however evening, night, and morning will be cold. Need to bring sufficiently warm clothes.

6. When is the best time to visit Tibet?

The Tibetan atmosphere isn't as harsh as we imagine it to be. Tibet's climate is ideal to travel from April to the start of November, and most perfect in August and September. In any case, Lhasa's climate is more clement than the rest of Tibet and is suitable to travel year-round. The sun radiation in Tibet is extremely strong. It's not for nothing that Lhasa is known as the Sunlight City. The months of May, June, and September are the primary tourist season in eastern Tibet.

7. What are the documents necessary for visiting Tibet?

Passport - valid for 6 months

Chinese Visa — you can apply for one from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights (who entry from China)

Group Visa —enter from Nepal to Tibet after the Tibet tour traveler can visit China mainland with a valid group visa.

Individual Visa will be canceled when we apply for group visa (if a visa is in the passport)

Tibet Entry Permit — it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is an absolute necessity for outsiders entering Tibet.

A few people who wish to travel to specific areas in Tibet must also obtain:

Travel Permit — it is required when you are planning to move to closed areas in Tibet. These are issued after you land in Tibet.

Military Permit — it is acquired to travel to some militarily sensitive regions.

8. Can I organize a Tibet visa myself? Can I travel alone in Tibet?

Sadly, because of China's extremely strict tourism policy for Tibet, you can't get a visa independent from anyone else and it isn't conceivable to not possible to travel Tibet on your own. As an authorized travel company we can organize everything; visa, allow to permit, and all other paperwork.

9. Is altitude sickness a problem?

As Tibet is known as the Roof of the World it is one of the highest places on the earth. Due to this many visitors from lower altitude areas may suffer from altitude sickness. Most people endure minor effects of altitude sickness only including loss of appetite, headache, and a propensity to have no vitality until the point when their bodies conform to the high landscape. This adjustment can take place for a few hours and in rare cases for a few days. If visitors do some simple preparations before going to Tibet, most of the symptoms of altitude sickness can be avoided. We recommend you talk to your local physician about AMS pills to help combat altitude sickness. Your guide will be there to assist you and help you throughout the trip.

10. Are there ATM counters in Tibet?

There are ATM facilities easily available in Lhasa and Shigatse; however, it might be difficult to find one in other small towns.

11. What currency do I have to use in Tibet?

The unit of currency is the Chinese Yuan. The Bank of China can exchange all foreign currencies. The bank in Tibet /China is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Traveler’s cheques and credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks, especially outside Lhasa.

12. Is politics a problem? 

Most tourists, who stay with their tour and avoid getting engaged in the politics of the country, will not encounter issues.

13. What vaccination is recommended for Tibet travelers?

The suggested vaccination you should consider for this trip includes the following:

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria & Tetanus Vaccinations
• Hepatitis A The vaccine for Hepatitis A (eg Avaxim, Havrix 1440, or VAQTA)
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza The flu vaccine
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
• Pneumonia A vaccine
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

14.  Will the language barrier be there is the problem?

Visitors to Tibet don't have to worry about the language barrier at all. Every visitor will have an English-talking visit guide, and most of the front work area staff in the big hotels can communicate in English. The main languages used in a part of Tibet are Chinese, Tibetan, English, and Nepali.

15. Is there internet access in Tibet for foreign travelers?

Certainly, there is web access for the foreign traveler in Tibet yet just limited areas like Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse, and Tsedang where some bistro gives web offices. Moreover, hotels in some cities like Lhasa and Shigatse also provide internet facilities to their customers.