Tibet Mountain Bike Tour

from $3,803 NZD

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23 Days
  • 2013
  • Best time to travel: April - September
  • Availability Guide:
  • Current date selected
  • Plenty
  • Limited
  • Closed or too close to departure (Call Us for options)

Experience amazing highs from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, and the world's biggest and steepest downhill (150 km/4600 m)!

We will ride over 1100 km through Tibet on spectacular mountain passes. Our high point: the North Face Mount Everest Base Camp (5200 m). It's the only trip in the world where you can visit the Base Camp by bike!

This epic mountain bike challenge is also a life-changing introduction to Tibet, and Tibetan mysticism. You'll stay in hotels and tents with world-class provisions.

Kathmandu to Kathmandu

Kathmandu
  • High altitude cycling
  • Grade
  • Group size is a minimum of 4
  • USD 400 single room surcharge
  • USD 455 bike hire
  • We can customise this tour to suit your group. Please contact us for details!
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tibet



Tibet Mountain Bike Tour Fitness and Preparation

The tour is designed to give you plenty of time to acclimatise to increasing altitudes. An experienced crew of guides, cooks and drivers from both Nepal and Tibet provide for a smooth operation. You'll also have the chance to try some Nepalese cuisine. Tours are available from April to October, and feature 15 full days of biking with full logistical support.

You'll need to be fit: this is a difficult biking trip with 5—7 hours of tough biking per day. Be sure you have clothes for all conditions.

A beautiful bonus for many is that this tour brings them into contact with 3 religions: (Buddhism, Lamaism and Hinduism). You'll never forget the friendliness of the Tibetan people, and the culture of daily lives.

Grade 5 - Extreme Tours / High Altitude Tours

Extreme tours with are for those traveling to high altitude destinations. All our tours featuring rides to 4000 metres above sea level are automatically graded Extreme. Theses tours require careful acclimatisation to altitude. The technical difficulty of high altitude trips varies, but most tours offer Grade 3-4 biking. Please enquire about your specific trip.

Fitness required

You will be very fit prior to the trip and even fitter when you get back!

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival Day: Kathmandu (1310 m altitude)

No biking / Hotel accommodation

Welcome to Kathmandu. The name of the city is synonymous with adventure, and this is where your adventure starts. This is Nepal's largest city — in fact, its only city of any real size. We'll pick you up from the airport, and transfer you to your hotel.

Meals: None

DAY 2

Kathmandu

No biking / Hotel accommodation

After breakfast, a day's sightseeing in exuberant Kathmandu. You'll see the glorious temples of Durbar (Palace) Square. Also, Swayambhunath — the city's iconic 1500 year old 'monkey temple' complex; and one of the world's holiest Buddhist chaityas. We'll see Boudhanath, a huge, colourful stupa, said to be the world's biggest. Buddha's all-seeing eyes feature on all 4 sides. Nearby: the Hindu temple of Lord Siva Pashupatinath, with its 2-tiered golden roof. This evening we invite you to a complimentary Welcome Dinner, with a cultural show at a traditional restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 3

Kathmandu to Lhasa

No biking / Hotel accommodation

Today, we take the 9:30 am flight to the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, one of the highest cities in the world, and soar across the highest mountains in the world. You'll be given plenty of time to relax and adjust to the high altitude (3680 m). In the afternoon you can unpack your bicycle and explore this legendary city, the ancient home of the Dalai Lamas. You'll stay at Hotel Himalaya, one of Lhasa's top hotels.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4

Lhasa

No biking / Hotel accommodation

Time to enjoy a full day of sightseeing while we continue to acclimatise. We will visit Jokang Temple — for most people, the most beautiful and sacred temple in Tibet. We'll also explore the famous Jokang market. But the highlight of the day is undoubtedly a visit to the enormous Potala Palace, which dominates the city of Lhasa. This was the residence of the Dalai Lamas, until the present (14th) Dalai Lama fled during the 1959 Tibetan Uprising.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5

Lhasa

No biking / Hotel accommodation

After breakfast we'll visit the monastery of Drepung. In the afternoon you will be free either to explore the city further, or prepare for the next day's biking. In the evening, we can gather for dinner with a Tibetan cultural show.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6

Lhasa Sightseeing

No biking

We take the opportunity for a final day of sightseeing and acclimatization in Lhasa before tomorrow's first day on the bike.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7

Lhasa to Tsangpo River at foot of Kamba Pass

Biking: 85 km / Camping

Today, your trans¬Himalayan biking adventure begins in earnest. We leave Lhasa and cycle along the Tsangpo River to the foot of the Kamba-la (Kamba Pass) at 3700 m. When you arrive you will find sleeping tents, latrines, a shower tent and facilities ready. We'll stay here overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

Kamba Pass and Lake Yamdrok

Biking: 55 km / Camping

Time to tackle your first mountain pass. A strong uphill climb reaches a summit lavishly adorned with prayer flags (4794 m). You may see sanscrit writings and Buddhist imagery on the rocks along the way. After descending among spectacular views, we continue alongside Lake Yamdrok, a large, sacred mountain lake with turquoise waters. At the far side of the lake we'll set up our camp, at 4490 m.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

Lake Yamdrok to Karo Pass

Biking: 54 km / Camping

Leaving the beautiful Lake Yamdrok behind, we'll cycle through a ravine and up to the foot of the Karo Pass (4750 m). Then we'll prepare our tented village for our well-earned rest tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

Karo Pass to Gyantse

Biking: 79 km / Hotel accommodation

A significant biking day lies ahead. By now you'll be feeling in good physical condition at this altitude, so we'll get up early to climb the high Karo-la (5010 m). Around you, you'll see 6000 m glaciers and beautiful lakes. Then, of course, a beautiful downhill. You'll be rewarded for your cycling efforts with a night in a top hotel in the city of Gyantse (3980 m), known for its restored medieval dzong (fort).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11

Gantze to Shigatse

Biking: 85 km / Hotel accommodation

First, we'll visit the Palkhor Monastery and the old part of Gyantse town, before taking to our bikes once more. You'll ride down a paved, flat highway. In the afternoon we will arrive in Tibet's second largest city, Shigatse (3860 m) at the confluence of two rivers. Tonight you'll stay in a hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12

Shigatse to Gyachung Monastery

Biking: 75 km / Camping

Today we leave Shigatse city and head out once more to remote wilderness. We'll ride over two small passes and through several small Tibetan villages. We will cycle past the isolated Gyachung Monastery, and set up our camp at about 4100 m.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13

Gyachung Monastery to Yolong Pass to camp, near Lhatse

Biking: 95 km / Camping

Our route today leads us through picturesque valleys, then the long 'ramp' which leads over the Yulong pass (4520 m). After lunch, we'll descend towards Lhatse (3860 m), a town of a few thousand people near the roads to Mt Everest and Mt Kailash. Just before this town there hot springs where we can soak our weary muscles. We will camp about 10 km out of Lhatse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 14

Camp near Latse to Pelbar (Shegar)

Biking: 75 km / Hotel accommodation

We leave our campsite to climb the 5220 m Lakpa Pass and contemplate the stunning views of its canyon. On a clear day you'll be rewarded with your first view of Mount Everest. After a 40 km ride through flat prairie towns you will arrive in the town of Pelbar, often referred to as Shegar, with its old fort rising behind. This town is another popular stopover for anyone heading to the Everest region. You'll stay overnight in a hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 15

Pang Pass to Rongbuk Valley camp

Biking: 67 km / Camping

It's now time to divert from the Lhasa¬Kathmandu highway and head towards the world's highest peak. First you are faced with 20 km of uphill switchbacks (42 hairpin bends in total!) before you reach the summit of the Pang Pass (5150 m). Enjoy lunch as you gaze over Everest (8850 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Makalu (8463m), and Cho Oyu (8210 m), 4 of the 6 highest mountains in the world. Shishapangma (8012 m) is another breathtaking 8-thousander. Then, a 20 km ride to our camp at Rongbuk Valley (4200 m).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 16

Rongbuk Valley: Rongbuk Monastery, near Everest Base Camp

Biking: 35 km / Camping

A defining day today, as we head to Everest Base Camp. A bumpy road winds up through the Rongbuk valley until the majestic Mount Everest appears before you. We will camp beside the famous Rongbuk Monastery, with the unforgettable sight of the 8850 m Mt Everest right before your eyes. You'll stay overnight in tents, at 5150 m. We will stay in this area for 2 days. By now you'll be feeling at peak fitness, and well acclimatised to this altitude.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 17

Everest Base Camp

Biking: optional / Camping

A day to relax. However, you will definitely want to get as close as you can to Everest. Everest Base Camp is 8 km from your camp site. This is the only trip in the world where you can visit Everest Base Camp with a bicycle! You can also walk there, or even take a donkey and cart ride. It was here on the North Face that Reinhold Messner began his successful solo ascent of Everest in 1980.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 18

Rongbuk Monastery camp to Tingri

Biking: 76 km / Camping

Leaving Rongbuk, we head back down the bumpy road, and then take another road into the mountains. Another bumpy trail takes us over a canyon and down into the town of Tingri (4340 m), a popular base for mountain climbers. We'll stay overnight in tents.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 19

Tingri to Lalung Pass

Biking: 75 km / Camping

This day begins with a 40 to 50 km flat ride before lunch. Then we tackle the gradual incline of the Lalung Pass (4990 m). From here you will feel like you are as high as the peaks around you, including Shishapangma (8012m). Our overnight accommodation is in tents in a valley between 2 passes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 20

Thang Pass + The Ultimate Downhill to Zhangmu (2300 m)

Biking: 117 km / Hotel accommodation

This morning, get ready for one last kick uphill, climbing Trang Pass (5050 m). You will be treated to breathtaking views of the Himalayan chain as you freewheel down. Stop and pat yourself on the back, because from here on down to the Nepalese border it's all downhill. From the town of Nyalam, you will notice that the scenery is starting to turn green again. Spiral on down past countless waterfalls to the border town of Zhangmu (2300 m). Surprisingly, this town has a humid, subtropical climate. This is our last night in Tibet, and we'll stay in a hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 21

Zhangmu to Dhulikhel

Biking: 97 km / Hotel accommodation

From Zhangmu, we pass through customs and back into Nepal. Once you are in the Nepali town of Kodari, the downhill continues for the next 50 km. Suddenly it is tropical and humid and green again. After the town of Dolalghat is a climb up to Dhulikhel (1600 m). You'll stay in a hotel/lodge in interesting Dhulikhel town, with its Old Town and temples.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 22

Bhaktapur and Kathmandu

Biking: 35 km / Hotel accommodation

What a wonderful way to end this trip — a big breakfast at sunrise and the spectacular panorama of the Himalayas. The last few km of biking is a freewheel to Bhaktapur. Here we'll stop to see some of the town's famous old temples before riding into busy Kathmandu. In your remaining time in Nepal's capital, you can relax, shop or sightsee. In the evening, we invite you to a complimentary farewell dinner at Rum Doodle Bar, which has been popular with mountain-goers for decades.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 23

Departure Day: Kathamdu

No biking

Today marks the end of your epic high altitude tour of Nepal and Tibet. We will transfer you to Kathamdu Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Hi, I'm Sandy

Call me if you have any questions.

Sandy

+64 (0)3 982 9933
NZ - 0800 829 933

Email: reservations@globaladventureguide.com

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • Airport transfers
  • Accommodation: hotels (3 star) and camping as per itinerary
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Experienced mountain bike guide(s), cook and helpers
  • Support by 4WD land cruiser and truck
  • Flight Kathmandu to Lhasa
  • Entrance fees and tours as per itinerary
  • Tibet travel permit
  • Camping equipment

Tour Excludes:

  • International air tickets/airport taxes
  • Nepal visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks and personal items
  • Tips for the guide(s)
  • Bike hire: Hire bikes are very basic, heavy and below standard, so we recommend you bring your own

Tour Video

A trip through Tibet by mountain bike is simply stunning! This short movie gives an insight of what you will experience on a Global Adventure Guide mountain biking tour.