25 Days Tibet Yunnan Cycling Tour from Lhasa to Lijiang

Tour Overview

This 25 Days Tibet Yunnan Cycling Tour from Lhasa overflows with stunning scenery, and the route itsef involves part of Sichuan-Tibet highway and part of Yunnan-Tibet highway, with highlights...

Code of Tour: YCT0000000542

Length of Travel: 25 Day

Destinations of Tour: Lhasa - Medrok - Gunkar - Gongbu - Jiangda - Basomtso lake - Bayi - Bome - Ranwo lake - Basu - Bangda - Zuogong - Mangkang - Yanjing - Shangarila-Lijiang

Departure City: Lhasa

Price of Tour: Request

Type of Tour:

Features of Tour: Hiking Culture Landscape Cycling

More Map & Picture

This 25 Days Tibet Yunnan Cycling Tour from Lhasa overflows with stunning scenery, and the route itsef involves part of Sichuan-Tibet highway and part of Yunnan-Tibet highway, with highlights of both highways perfectly combined. Besides, you will first visit the city highlights of Lhasa, experience the unique Tibetan Buddhism culture in the famous monasteries and palaces such as Potala palace and Jokhang temple. And end up the cycling tour after visiting the top attractions of Shangri-La and Lijiang including Meili Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge.

In conclusion, you will start your cycling tour from Lhasa and go downhill all the way, which greatly reduces the difficulty of the ride but with attractive scenery. Passing by small villages, sacred lakes, ancient cities, grand glaciers, continuous snow-capped mountains, vast prairie, grand canyons, flowing stream, lush forest, and other natural and cultural landscapes on the way. It is bound to be a significant bike tour!

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Lhasa Arrival
• Day 2: Lhasa
• Day 3: Lhasa
• Day 4: Lhasa-Riduo
• Day 5: Riduo-Songduo
• Day 6: Songduo-Gongbujiangda
• Day 7: Gongbujiangda-Basum Lake
• Day 8: Basum Lake-Bayi
• Day 9: Bayi-Lulang
• Day 10: Lulang-Bomi
• Day 11: Bomi-Rawok Lake
• Day 12: Rawok Lake-Basu
• Day 13: Basu-Bangda
• Day 14: Bangda-Zuogong
• Day 15: Zuogong-Dengba
• Day 16: Dengba-Zhuka
• Day 17: Zhuka-Yanjing
• Day 18: Yanjing-Feilaisi
• Day 19: Feilaisi-Benzilan
• Day 20: Benzilan-Shangri-La
• Day 21: Shangri-La
• Day 22: Shangri-La-Tina’
• Day 23: Tina’-Shigu Town
• Day 24: Shigu Town-Lijiang
• Day 25: Lijiang Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Lhasa by Train or by Flight

Sightseeing and Activities:arrive in Lhasa
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:None

Transfer to your reserved hotel after arriving in Lhasa airport or railway station. Have a good rest so as to adapt yourself to the high altitude of Lhasa. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 2 Lhasa

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

In the morning, cycle to visit the famous Potala Palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapel. We will appreciate its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the holist 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. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 3 Lhasa

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

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 oncehome of 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous as it was the government centre during the fifth dalai lama and later moved to the famous Potala palace during the fifth dalai lama.

After having lunch, we will continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive is its Buddhist Scriptures debating held in the courtyard mostly around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 4 Lhasa – Meldro Gungkar – Riduo (cycle 70 km, vehicle 55 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa River and Mozhuma Qu River
Accommodation:Riduo
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Start cycling today. It will be easy as we have vehicle support for the uphill climb to Riduo. We will have a chance to view the fabulous scenery of Lhasa River and Mozhuma Qu River en route. Stay overnight in Riduo guesthouse.

Day 5 Riduo – Mila Mountain pass – Songduo (cycle 52 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:sightseeing on the way
Accommodation:Camping
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

We have to overcome our first high-pass at MiLa Mountain Pass (5013m), an ascent of 700 m over 24 km upslope. The road is in good condition, but you need to push your bicycle to the pass. Stay overnight in Songduo (tents, camping).

Day 6 Songduo – Gongbujiangda (cycle 96 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:sightseeing on the way
Accommodation: Gongbujiangda
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Continue to ride on the bituminous macadam for 96 kilometers to Gongbujiangda, but it is mainly composed of paved road and generally downhill. Stay overnight in Gongbujiangda.

Day 7 Gongbujiangda – Basum Lake (cycle 98 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Basum Lake
Accommodation:Camping
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

The paved road is generally flat. Go uphill during the last 50km from Bahe to Basum Lake. Stay overnight by Basum Lake (tents, camping).

Day 8 Basum Lake – Bayi (vehicle 50km, cycle 90 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Bahe to Bayi
Accommodation:Bayi
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Vehicle-support up to Bahe town. Paved road and generally downhill to Bayi. Stay overnight in Bayi.

Day 9 Bayi – Lulang (vehicle 36 km, cycle 25 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Segy-la Mountain
Accommodation:Caming
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Vehicle-support up to Segy-la high-pass, following by an easy 25 km downhill to Lulang. Stay overnight in LuLang (tents, camping).

Day 10 Lulang – Tongmai – Bomi (cycle 62 km, vehicle 90 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Lulang to Bomi
Accommodation:Bomi
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Cycle to Tongmai. The part of the route near Tongmai can be tricky and dangerous. 90 km vehicle-support to Bome. Stay overnight in Bomi.

Day 11 Bomi – Rawok Lake (cycle 127 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Bomi to Rawok Lake
Accommodation:Camping
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

This is probably the toughest day! Be rewarded with the scenic Rawok Lake. Stay overnight by Rawok Lake (tents, camping).

Day 12 Rawok Lake – Basu (cycle 85 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Rawok Lake to Basu
Accommodation:Basu
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After yesterday’s tough ride, it will be an easy downhill ride of 85 km today! Stay overnight in Basu.

Day 13 Basu – Yela pass – Bangda (vehicle 66 km, cycle 33 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Basu to Bangda
Accommodation:Bangda
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

A vehicle-support for 66 km, and start to cycle the last 20 km up the Yela Pass all the way to Bangda Town. Stay overnight in Bangda.

Day 14 Bangda – Zuogong (cycle 106 km)

Sightseeing and Activities: Cycle from Bangda to Zuogong
Accommodation:Zuogong
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

It is generally a flat ride. Stay overnight in Zuogong.

Day 15 Zuogong – Dongdala pass – Dengba (cycle 55 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Zuogong to Dengba
Accommodation:Dengba
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Tough 34 km up to the Dongdala high-pass! Enjoy the last 21km downhill cruise to Dengba. Stay overnight in Dengba.

Day 16 Dengba (small-pass) – Zhuka (cycle 58 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Dengba to Zhuka
Accommodation:Zhuka
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Easy ride to Zhuka hotspring. Stay overnight in Zhuka.

Day 17 Zhuka – Mangkang – Tibet border – Yanjing (vehicle 118 km, cycle 58 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Zhuka to Yanjing
Accommodation:Yanjing
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Vehicle-support up to Hongla pass. Cycle to pass the Tibet-Yunnan border post to Yanjing. Stay overnight in Yanjing.

Day 18 Yanjing – Feilaisi (vehicle 42 km, cycle 40 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Yanjing to Feilaisi
Accommodation:Feilaisi
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

It is uphill all the way. You will see Meili Snow Mountain and Lancang River (Upper Mekong). Stay overnight in Feilaisi.

Day 19 Feilaisi – Baima pass – Benzilan (vehicle 50 km, cycle 66 km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Feilaisi to Benzilan
Accommodation:Benzilan
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Vehicle-support up to Baima Snow Mountain. Cycle on paved road and go downhill to Benzilan. Stay overnight in Benzilan.

Day 20 Benzilan – Nixi Pass – Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Benzilan to Shangri-La
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Ride to Nixi Pass and then to Shangri-La. Stay overnight in Shangri-La.

Day 21 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, ride to visit Songzanlin Monastery, 5km north of the old town center. The Songzanlin Monestary (constructed in 1679) is the largest Tibetan Monestary in Yunnan and is nicknamed the “Lesser Potala” due to its resemblance to the magnificent structure in Lhasa. We’ll visit for 2 hours until lunch at a local restaurant. 

After lunch, we’ll cycle over to a small hill to visit Napa Lake about 6km away. The Napa Lake Nature Reserve is the country’s largest grassland and most scene area of the plateau. We’ll have time to walk around and take everything in, enjoy the Tibetan culture and take lots of photographs before riding back to Old Town.

Day 22 Shangri-La-Tiger Leaping Gorge

Sightseeing and Activities:Cycle from Shangrila to Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation:Tiger Leaping Gorge
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Ride from Shangri-La to Qiaotou Town, visit the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, continue the riding to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, arrive at Tinas Hostel for over night.

Day 23 Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shigu Town

Sightseeing and Activities:Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking, Shigu Village, the First Bend of Yangtze River, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument, the Iron Chian Bridge
Accommodation:Shigu Town
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, hike from Tina’s Hostel to Bendiwan Village, Hike down to the lower road and start the cycling tour along Tiger Leaping Gorge back to Qiaotou Town; After lunch, continue the riding along Jinsha-Yangtze River to Shigu Town. On the way, enjoy the grand view of the First Bend of Yangtze River. Pay a visit to the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument  and the Iron Chain Bridge. Stay at local guesthouse in Shigu Town.

Day 24 Shigu Town-Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Lashihai Lake, Zhiyu Monastery, Baisha Ancient Town
Accommodation:Baisha Holiday Resort Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Ride to Lijiang via Xionggu Slope, you will have a nice stop to enjoy the panoramic view of Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as well as Yangtze River Valley from Xionggu Slope Viewpoint. Ride to Lashihai Lake, visit Zhiyun Monastery, Ride to Baisha Ancient Town in the late afternoon. Stay at Baisha Holiday Resort Lijiang.

Day 25 Departure from Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Lijiang
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast

Enjoy your free time before transfer to the airport for the departure flight to next station.

Recommended Hotels

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Accommodation with breakfast as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
• Service charge & government taxes;
•  Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
• Two bottles of mineral water each day.

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel insurance;
• All optional programs;
• Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.