11 Days Nepal-Tibet Motorbike Tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa

Tour Overview

This Nepal-Tibet Motorbike Tour is designed for those travelers who are adventurous and want to explore the natural paradise to Tibet on a bike. We organize this motorbike tour to...

Code of Tour: YCT0000003282

Length of Travel: 11 Day

Destinations of Tour: Zhangmu – Tingri – Lhatse – Shigatse – Gyantse – Lhasa.

Departure City: Kathmandu

Price of Tour: Request

Type of Tour:

Features of Tour: History Minority Landscape Cycling

More Map & Picture

This Nepal-Tibet Motorbike Tour is designed for those travelers who are adventurous and want to explore the natural paradise to Tibet on a bike. We organize this motorbike tour to Tibet. It takes 17 to 24 days, if you want to start and conclude the whole tour on a bike ride.  So, this tour is best to conclude the tour in 11 days. You will drive from Kathmandu after your arrival here in Kathmandu and finally return Kathmandu by Lhasa – Kathmandu Himalayan flight. You will cross the Nepal – Tibet border through Kodari road and  follow the route to Kerung – Tingri – Lhatse – Shigatse – Gyantse – Lhasa. Guided sightseeing in Lhasa for full two days and catch up your return flight to Kathmandu.

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Kathmandu-Kerung
• Day 2: Kerung-Tingri
• Day 3: Tingri-Rongbuk-Tingri
• Day 4: Tingri-Lhatse
• Day 5: Lhatse-Shigatse
• Day 6: Shigatse
• Day 7: Shigatse-Gyantse
• Day 8: Gyantse-Lhasa
• Day 9: Lhasa
• Day 10: Lhasa
• Day 11: Lhasa Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kathmandu to Kerung (2,800M)-165 KM

Sightseeing and Activities:Drive from Kathmandu to Kerung
Accommodation:Kerung
Meals:None

Early morning scenic drive to KODARI (Nepal – Tibet border) through the beautiful Nepalese country.After necessary border formalities both at Nepalese and Chinese immigration, Drive to Kerung Overnight at Hotel.

Day 2 Kerung to Tingri (4300M)-225 KM

Sightseeing and Activities:Drive from Kerung to Tingri
Accommodation:Tingri
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Tingri via Lalungla pass.from where you can enjoy the Beautiful view of Mt Shishapangma (8212m) and Mt. Cho-oyu (8201m) and continue Journey to Tingri. Stay overnight at Tingri.

Day 3 Tingri – Ronbuk (4980m) – Tingri (4300m) 180Km

Sightseeing and Activities:Rongbuk Monastery
Accommodation:Tingri
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Ronbuk through the beautiful Tibetan countryside, Explore Ronbuk Monastery (highest monastery in the world) Excursion Everest Base Camp and Drive back to Tingri. Overnight at Tingri.

Day 4 Tingri to Lhatse (4350 m) 25 km.

Sightseeing and Activities: Drive from Tingri to Lhatse
Accommodation:Lhatse
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Lhatse. Enjoy the view on the way.

Day 5 Lhatse – Shigatse (3900m) 225km

Sightseeing and Activities:Drive from Lhatse to Shigatse
Accommodation:Shigatse
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Shigatse Crossing over the Gyanchula pass (5200M) continue Journey to Shigatse. Overnight at Shigatse Hotel.

Day 6 Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities:Tashilompu Monastery
Accommodation:
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Panchen Lama’s Tashilhunpo Monastery and Free Market. Overnight at Shigatse Hotel.

Day 7 Shigatse to Gyantse (3950m) 90 km

Sightseeing and Activities:Tashilhunpo Monastery, Kumbum Stupa, Pelkhor Monastery
Accommodation:Gyantse
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

AM: Visit Panchen Lama’s Tashilhunpo Monastery and drive to Gyantse, and visit Kumbum Stupa and Pelkhor Monastery. Overnight at Gyantse Hotel

Day 8 Gyantse to Lhasa (3650m)-261km

Sightseeing and Activities:Yamdrok Lake, Korala Glacier, Kambala
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to Lhasa via Yamdrok Lake, and high passes Korala Glacier(5010M) and Kambala (4794M). Overnight at Lhasa.

Day 9 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It has been used since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collection is the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

After you take lunch and then head to Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibet Buddhism. Around the temple Barkhor Street where you can do kora (circling the Barkhor street) with pilgrims and locals and buy the souvenirs. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 10 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung Monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace is used as Dalai lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

Afternoon, Sera Monastery—It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The Most attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 11 Lhasa Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Depart from Lhasa
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast

Departure Transfer to Gonggar Airport and Fly to Kathmandu.

Recommended Hotels

Service Included:

• Two supporting  jeep;
• All necessary tibet travel permit and e.b.c. Permit and bike permit;
• English speaking tibetan guide;
• Accommodation on two double and four single room basis;
• Sightseeing and monastery entrance fees as per our itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Chinese driving licence;
• Mechanic group from kathmandu;
• Fullboard basis for nepali mechanic ( accommodation with three meals); 
• Motor bike drop back to kathmandu by truck.

Service Excluded:

• Meals not listed in the itinerary;
• Fuel , maintenance and part replacement charge;
• Bike hiring charge;
• Nepal re-entry visa fee;
• Insurance  of any kind;
• Nature and political problem which is beyond of our control;
• Personal expenses such as a drink, guide tips & etc.

Travel Tips:

1. Tibet Permits

There are several permits required to visit Tibet. Tibet Entry Permit, issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, is the most important one which has to be obtained before your trip because you must have it to take your flight/train to Tibet. To get the permit, you have to book a Tibet tour with us, and send us your passport and Chinese visa about 20 days in advance, and then let us apply for the permit (all Tibet permits can only be applied by travel agency). If you travel to other prefectures like Shigatse, Nyingchi, Shannan, etc, you also have to obtain an Alien Travel Permit. If you travel to Mount Everest, you have to obtain a Border Permit. (Tibet Discovery, with office in Lhasa, has always kept up with the latest news on Tibet Permits. Traveling with us, all your permits are guaranteed as long as you are qualified to the requirements.)

2. Available Months to Visit Tibet

Generally speaking, May to early October is the best time to for a Mount Kailash trip. July and August are the peak season and rainy season. It may be too cold to travel in Kailash area from November to March. There is usually heavy snow. The conditions in Namtso Lake and Mount Everest area are quite similar with Kailash. While other places like Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are suitable for travel all year around.

3. High Altitude Sickness

The average altitude of Tibet is about 4000 meters above the sea level (Lhasa: 3700m; EBC: 5200m; Namtso: 4718m). You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival at Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay.

4. How to Go to Tibet

Basically you have two options – flight and train. Currently, you can take a flight to Lhasa from Beijing(4.5hrs), Xian(3.7hrs), Chengdu(2.5hrs), Chongqing(3hrs), Kuming(3hrs), etc. Among all these cities, Chengdu and Xian have more frequent flights to Lhasa. Kathmandu also has several flights to Lhasa each week.

If you a train travel, you can take a train to from Beijing(40.5hrs), Xian(32hrs), Chengdu(43hrs), Shanghai(47hrs), Chongqing(42hrs), Lanzhou(25hrs), Xining(22hrs), Guangzhou(54hrs).

5. Packing and Wearing Ideas

Firstly you can’t forget your passport and Chinese Visa. A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also bring the necessary medicine you need. Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block are recommended. As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Down jacket is necessary in Spring and Autumn. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is necessary.