11 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Motorcycle Expedition

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. In fact, whether you come with your own motorbike or need motorbike rental service, we can arrange the tour accordingly.

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.

• Potala Palace
• Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism.

In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.

In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• The spectacular vista of Drepung Monastery
• Monk Debate is a highlight of Sera Monastery

To further ensure your safety and test your motorbike, before we officially hit the road for Mount Everest and Kathmandu, on day 4 we will ride the motorcycle 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 panoramic view of Ganden monastery from a higher place

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

• Welcome to Yamdrok Lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet.
• Visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum

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

• The view of Shigatse city with Tashilhunpo Monastery at the background.
• Tashilhunpo Monastery, the home of Panchan Lama

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

• Ride on the vast and rugged Tibetan Plateau
• The View of Rongbuk Monastery

In the morning, you can see the incredible sunrise over the peak of Mt. Everest if weather permits at the lodging area. After breakfast, we are about to head northwest to Old Tingri. The entire travel route overlaps the classic trekking route from Old Tingri to EBC. The graveled and dusty road can be bit challenging for you. Yet, as the majestic vista of Mt. Everest accompanies your travel, you can enjoy the incredible Himalayan ranges to your heart’s content. After crossing Pangla(5350m) and Rachu Valley, you will safely arrive in Old Tingri.

Stay overnight in the guest house of Old TIngri 

• If the weather is good, you can shoot the magnificent Mt. Everest.
• Old Tingri

Don’t drive too fast as you follow the rollercoaster ride down to Gyirong County. With the quick descent, you regain more oxygen than the previous tour. Along the ride, the lofty peak of Mt. Shishapangma (8012m) and tranquil Pekutso Lake bring a visual feast to your eyes. By following the winding road across Kuntanglhamo Pass(5236m), we reach the Gyirong county, which is extremely close to Sino-Nepal border.

Stay overnight in the guesthouse in Gyirong 

Unlike the barren mountains in Everest region, you may see many greenery in Gyirong and enjoy the warm moist air. After breakfast, you will go through the customs and cross Friendship. Our staff on Nepal’s side will travel with you to Syabrubesi inside Langtang National Park to spend one night there.

Stay overnight in Syabrubesi

Follow the final part of ride to Kathmandu. Entire tour service ends in Kathmandu.