Lhasa To Kathmandu Bike Tour

Today, following breakfast, we will embark on a guided tour to explore some of the ancient and sacred sites in Kathmandu. Several of these locations have earned recognition as World Heritage Sites, such as the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambunath), and the Buddhist shrine (Buddha Nath), which boasts one of the world's largest stupas.

Early in the morning, we board a flight to Tibet. This flight offers a magnificent experience, lasting about an hour, as we soar over the majestic Himalayas, keeping a lookout for the towering Everest. Upon reaching Gongkar airport, we'll be transferred to our accommodation in the picturesque Tibetan district of Lhasa. After settling into our lodging, we'll explore the Barkhor Square, a spiritual hub in Tibet known for its vibrant market where you can find unique souvenirs.

To kick off our tour, we begin with a visit to SERA MONASTERY. We are joined by a knowledgeable guide who also assists with translation as we explore this well-maintained monastery adorned with white walls and golden roofs. The adventure continues with a visit to NORBULINGKA, the summer residence of the Dalai Lama. JOKHANG TEMPLE is another important spiritual site that offers insights into Tibetan Buddhism. Our journey also includes a stop at BARKHOR MARKETS, where we can browse items related to Tibetan culture and traditions. Finally, the day's tour concludes as you return to the comfort of our hotel.

Although the day is free, we choose to keep discovering the extraordinary experiences in this remote and sacred place. The stunning landscapes, cultural traditions, and the kind-hearted people of Lhasa bring us a sense of wonder and joy.

We acquire valuable insights during our visits to the Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. The 17th-century GRAND PALACE offers a breathtaking view of the entire city and includes the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, along with numerous grand halls and places of worship. In the past, LARGE MONASTERY, built in the 14th century, was a home for around 10,000 monks, but over time, the number has dwindled, and today only a few hundred remain. The Tibetan community holds this monastery in deep respect and faith.

We start our day after breakfast by making our way up the 25km climb to reach the Kamba La pass. This demanding ascent will require 3-4 hours of effort, but the views from the summit, adorned with prayer flags and standing at 4794m, are truly magnificent. Afterward, we descend to the beautiful Yamdrok Lake, where we stop for lunch. Following our meal, we enjoy a leisurely and scenic drive to the small town of Nagatse.

After breakfast, we commence our journey, beginning with our first, and thankfully, lowest high pass at 5045m, the Karol La. This ascent will take roughly 3 hours, and the subsequent descent, twice as long, leads us down over 1000m to the town of Gyantse, nestled in the Yang Chug Valley. During this part of the trip, we visit the Palcho Monastery and the remarkable Kumbum Stupa, a one-of-a-kind tiered structure in the Buddhist world. We also catch a glimpse of Gyantse Dzong, strategically situated, where Lt. Col Francis Younghusband established his initial stronghold in 1904.

Our ride today covers a scenic 94 km route through beautiful plains with a stunning mountain backdrop. At the midpoint, we break for lunch, then continue across the plains to Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city, known for the controversial Panchen Lama, traditionally associated with the Tashilunpo Monastery.

We rest in Shigatse, and during our stay, we work on obtaining the necessary permits for our visit to Everest Base Camp.
 

Today's ride commences with a gentle journey through rolling terrain across the Shigatse Plains. A gradual but long climb takes us to the double passes of Tra La (4050m) and Tsuo La (4520m). A fantastic descent follows, leveling out before we reach our guesthouse in Lhatse.
 

Today is the ultimate test for our legs! We leave Lhatse and ride to the base of the Gyatso La before ascending to the pass's 5248m summit. This is the highest pass on the Friendship Highway and requires a steady effort to conquer. The hard work pays off as we are treated to a looming view of Everest as we approach the Himalayan range.

After the initial smooth road from the hotel, we turn south and venture off-road for the next few days. For the fittest among us, there's another pass, this time the 5200m Pang La, where we can feast our eyes on extensive views of the Himalayas. On a clear day, the scale of the mountain views is unparalleled. The descent from the pass is fast and twisty, leading us down into the Rongbuk Valley and our overnight stop in Tashi Dzong. This leg is 90% off-road.

Cycling on a vehicle-width jeep trail today, we are in full view of Everest's North Face as we approach both the mountain itself and the Rongbuk Monastery. Having lunch in the airy tranquility is a highlight of the trip. After lunch, we continue a short distance to our overnight accommodation at the Ja-Rongbuk tented camp. The rest of the afternoon allows for acclimatization to the high (5200m) altitude. The stunning views of Everest from our campsite hopefully make up for the thin air. This portion is 100% off-road.

In the morning, we cycle from Rongbuk and head down the rough road toward Chamda, also known as Old Tingri. Only a short section of the road is well-paved, while the rest is entirely off-road. Taking a shortcut into the mountains, we navigate several steep climbs and descents. Another bumpy trail takes us over a canyon before reaching Old Tingri (4,400m/14,436ft), where we head to our guesthouse for the night.
 

Our journey starts with cycling after breakfast in Old Tingri, pedaling along an undulating and fairly flat road toward Lake Paiko (also known as Peiko Tsho). This lake is situated at 4,591m/15,062ft, south of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. On a clear day, we may catch glimpses of Mt. Shishapangma, Mt. Everest, and Mt. Cho Oyu as we pedal. Riding through a landscape dotted with monasteries, ancient fortresses, and mountain rivers, we continue on the highway before turning westward and descending to a point just before reaching Lake Paiko (4,591m/15,062ft). Here, we set up camp for the night. Our crew will prepare meals and pitch tents for our overnight stay.

Leaving the lake behind after breakfast, we face the biggest challenge of the entire cycling tour. Crossing two high passes located at 5,000m/16,404ft and 5,253m/17,234ft involves navigating a very long series of twists and turns, including a 40km uphill stretch and about 30km of downhill until we reach the base of the Gontola Pass at 4,750m/15,584ft, situated in Gyirong County, known as the backyard of the Himalayas. This area falls within the upper Gyirong region of the Tibetan Plateau. Our crew will cook lunch for us and set up tents for our overnight stay. Dinner will also be prepared by the crew, and we will retire for the night in the tents.
 

Gyirong County is located 70km south of the county seat Zongga, on the bank of the Gyirong Zangbo River, a tributary of the Trishuli River in Nepal. This part of the border between Nepal and China was opened in 2014 and nd is considered a more dependable route than the one through Zhangmu.

After having breakfast in the Upper Kyirong region, we begin cycling toward the border area of Nepal and Tibet. In this region, you'll encounter many descendants of the Nepalese Gurkha army, known as Daman people. Today's ride takes us downhill, bringing us reasonably close to the border point at Kyirong. We set up our tents in a beautiful campsite for the night. Our crew will cook lunch and dinner in the tents. Upon arriving early at our campsite, we will have lunch, and afterward, you can explore the surrounding area or take a short ride to explore the beautiful surroundings.

In the morning, after breakfast, we embark on the final leg of our cycling tour. It's a 45 km ride from the border entry point to Syabrubesi. Here, we have lunch and then board a private vehicle for the 140km drive to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in the Nepalese capital, you will receive a warm welcome and be transferred to a comfortable hotel. In the evening, you are free to explore the town, do some last-minute shopping, or visit a nearby pub to enjoy a few bottles of Nepali beer.