9 Days Lhasa to EBC Motorcycle Tour: Conquer the Himalayas on Two Wheels

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, our Tibetan guide will be greeting you at airport or train station with auspicious white Hada. Then you will be transferred to hotels in Lhasa.

The guide will briefly introduce the itineraries and remind you about other dos and don’ts for new comers. To quickly get acclimatized to Tibetan plateau, it’s better to have a good rest in the hotel.

Tip: If you ride your motorcycle to Lhasa, our guide will be meeting you at the designated place. If you plan to enjoy the ride from Kathmandu or Kashgar to Tibet, we can also arrange your motorcycle tour to EBC and Lhasa as well.

Our first stop is to visit the Potala Palace, the UNESCO world heritage site and the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Walking slowly along the long stone steps to the White and Red Palaces, you can explore the former residence of Dalai Lama and his meeting room and religious chamber.

You can see the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. A bird's-eye view of Lhasa city and Lhasa valley from the top of Potala Palace will take your breath away.

After we have lunch and then we will head to holy Jokhang Temple. It’s the most sacred Buddhist site in Tibet. Outside the temple, you will witness pious Tibetan pilgrims, young and old, prostrating themselves in front of Jokhang and long lines of Tibetans following the Barkhor circuit.

Inside, travelling in dim butter light, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibet Buddhism. You may reach the top of Jokhang Temple to enjoy the panorama of old Lhasa city and great vista of Potala Palace.

Then we may do the kora by circling the Barkhor Street with pilgrims and locals and buy the some souvenirs. Never miss the chance to enjoy the tasty sweet tea in local tea house and visit Tromzikhang , the famous farm produce market.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism.
• Tourists can do kora (circling the Barkhor street) with pilgrims and locals and buy the souvenirs.

To further ensure your safety and test your motorbike, before we officially hit the road for Mount Everest, on day 3 we will ride the motor cycle to visit Ganden Monastery, one of the Three Great Gelugpa Monasteries in Lhasa.

Situated 50km northeast of Lhasa, Ganden Monastery is built on Wangbur Mountain and is the the first Gulgpa Monastery founded by Tsongkhapa. Riding your motorcycle along the winding road offers an incredible vantage point for viewing enchanting Lhasa Valley.

While visiting the monastery, you can enjoy scenic Ganden kora around the mountain. Later, we will drive back to hotel and prepare your supply and fix bike for the tomorrow’s ride to Gyantse. You can stroll around or have a good rest.

Tips: When we enjoy the motorcycle tour, an extra vehicle and staff will follow us providing back-up service.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Ride the motor cycle to visit Ganden Monastery
• A trekking around Ganden Monastery

Today, we begin the motorbike tour and head westward. Shortly after leaving Quxu county, we will pass the turquoise Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the holiest lakes in Tibet.

You can enjoy the motorcycle along the zigzag road with turquoise lake and snow-capped Mt. Nojin Kangtsang accompanying you right beside. We will stop at Gangbala Pass(4790m) to enjoy the panorama of Yamdrok Lake. You can also take photos with lovely Tibetan mastiffs.

After having lunch at Nagarze, we will keep riding to Karola Glacier. You can park your motorbike right beside the highway and closely enjoy the massive icy glaciers and white stupas before.

Then, we follow the road to pass Simila Mountain pass. You may hang an auspicious hang prayer flag on the mountain pass and view manla reservoir.

Finally we will arrive in historical Gyantse town. The first sight that comes to your sight would be the awe-inspiring vista of Gyantse Fortress. We will make a visit to Palcho Monastery. It’s the only Tibetan monastery that three different religious sects coexist in one monastery.

The Nepali-style Kunbum stupa is the star attraction inside the religious compound. You can climb the nine-story stupa and visit Tsulaklakang Monastery right beside.

Stay overnight in Gyantse

• Bathing in sunshine, Yamdrok lake is dispalying its dazzling beauty to visitors both home and abroad.
• A great view of Palkhor Monastery

In the morning, we will take leisurely stroll in the old street in Gyantse and have a visit of the monument of Gyantse Fortress. It tells the heroic war against the aggression of British troop in 1904.

Then, we will keep moving from Gyantse to Shigatse. We about to visit prestigious Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. The monastery was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama and it remained the traditional throne of the Panchen Lamas.

You can see the world’s highest future Buddha statue and see monks doing their chores, and chanting the Buddhist mantra. The massive well-preserved monastery gives you an insight in the glorious history of Tibetan Buddhism. Later we can enjoy the Tashilhunpo Kora route and see the vista of Shigatse Dzong at sunset.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

• Tashi Lhunpo monastery, at the foot of Drolmari moutain, is the largest monastery in southern Tibet.
• Nowadays, there are still over 800 monks living and studying in Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Today, we will cover a long ride to Rongbuk Monastery and trek 4km to EBC. Rise early to begin the ride, we will venture into the soaring Himalayan Region. On the way we will pass three famous mountain passes, i.e. Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass (4528m) and Gawu La Pass (5198m).

We will stay longer at Gawu La Pass to enjoy the stunning world’s top 4 highest peaks along Himalayan Range, namely, Mt. Everest (8844.43m), Cho Oyo(8201m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8463m).

Then we keep travelling to Rongbuk Monastry, the highest Buddhist site in the world. And check in the guesthouse of Rongbuk Monastery. Later we can explore Rongbuk Monastery and trek 4km to EBC (5200m) to get a closer view of Mt. Everest and finally trek back to the guesthouse.

Tips: Due to the extreme altitude, do walk slowly and do not exert yourself to avoid acute altitude sickness. EBC can get extremely cold at night and daybreak, do wear enough clothes when enjoying the twilight of Everest. Our well-trained guide will monitor each tourists’ health condition along the way.

Stay overnight in the guesthouse of Rongbuk Monastery

• Stop at Gawu La Pass to admire epic Himalayan Range, including Mt. Everest
• The View of Rongbuk Monastery

In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will ride motorcycle back to Shigatse.

Tips: if you prefer to continue your journey further to Kathmandu, Nepal. We can also arrange the motorcycle tour to Nepal from EBC.

• It will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take photos against Mt.Everest.
• Drive Back to Lhasa by Motorbike

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally we will drive back to your hotels in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.