Great Bike Tour in Central Tibet

Home > Viaje en Bicicleta de Montaña por el Tíbet

17 Days Private Tour Lhasa - Yangbajing - Xuegula - Margyang - Donggu La - Taktser - Trakdruka (Dazhuka) - Jangdam - Shigatse - Gyantse - Longma - Karola - Baidi - Kampala Pass - Chushur - Tsetang - Samye - Tsetang - Gongga

The cycling route in central Tibet is a “cycling gallery” of Tibetan natural and cultural landscapes. The starting point of Lhasa is 3650 meters above sea level, and the highest point is the Xuegula Pass at 5010 meters above sea level. The great bike tour starts after three nights in Lhasa, which will enable us to acclimate and discover the highlights of Lhasa. We will pass through Yangbajing Basin with widespread geothermal resources, and bike across the Xuegula Snow Mountain that is with rare traveler and is located on the southern slope of the Nyenchen Tanglha Range, and admire the magnificence of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and the tenderness of Yamdrok Lake, one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, and experience the vicissitudes of the Karola Glacier, one of the three major continental glaciers in Tibet, and experience the majesty of Naichenkang Sang Peak (Noijin Kangsang) at an altitude of 7191 meters, one of the four Tibetan sacred mountains.

We will also visit the Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse, a religious holy land in Ü-Qiang region, and visit Tsetang, the cradle of Tibetan civilization that is located in the Qonggyai Valley. Besides, Samye Monastery, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Tibet, and Yumbulhakang Palace, the first palace in Tibet, shouldn’t be missed. The rolling hills and herds of yaks and sheep are scattered in the northern Tibetan grasslands. Herders raise their horses and farmers work in highland barley fields. Besides, monks watch us with a smile by the high walls of the monastery and children are cheering for our arrival. It will be an unforgettable and perfect experience.

Highlights

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Lhasa

Welcome in Tibet – the roof of the world

Today arrive in Lhasa (3650 m), the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. Stay at the hotel for adapting to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Barkhor Street

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
2

Lhasa

Potala Palace – landmark of Lhasa, Jokhang and Barkhor Street

Today short biking in Lhasa for acclimatization. In the morning visit Potala that was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang Monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Potala Palace

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
3

Lhasa

Panoramic view over Potala, Norbulingka, Debate in Sera

Biking and sightseeing in the city Lhasa and its suburb. In the morning visit Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from here you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. It is also one of the six master monasteries of the Gelugpa. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live here. You have the opportunity to experience the famous monks' "Buddhism scriptures debates". Public religious debates are part of the education of monks.

15 km, 4 hours
Overnight at 3*Yak Hotel

Breakfast

Sera Monastery

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
4

Bike Lhasa (3650m) – Yangbajing (4300m)

Yangbajing Hot Spring

With altitude increasing gradually, bike uphill gently along Duilongqu. Enjoy the beautiful landscape along the way. At some times, you can look the train along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway passing by that is the highest railway in the world. As reaching Yangbajing, visit Yangbajing Hot Spring, a geothermal resources wonder.

75 km
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yangbajing Valley

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
5

Bike Yangbajing –Xuegula (4800m)

Bike from Yangbajing to Xuegula Mountain

With the altitude increasing, you bike from Yangbajing to Xuegula Mountain. Have a relaxing as reaching the below of Xuegula Pass at 4800 meters above sea level. Besides, you need bike through highland gravel road, meadow, lake, residences of herdsman on the way.

56 km.
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yangbajing Valley

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
6

Bike Xuegula – Xuegula Pass (5010m) - Margyang (4500m)

Bike over Xuegula Pass

After breakfast, bike over Xuegula Pass that is 5010 meters above sea level, which is the most Snowy Mountain with 5800 meters altitude and Xuegula Glacier can be enjoyed today.

30 km
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Bike Tour in Central Tibet

Foto por Li Chaojun

DAY
7

Bike Margyang – Donggu La (4900m) - Taktser (4200m)

Margyang Village, Taktser Village

Start to bike over Donggu La Pass with 4900 meters above sea level from Margyang Village. And then bike downhill to Taktser Village with 4200 meters above sea level.

53 km
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

DAY
8

Bike Taktser - Trakdruka (Dazhuka) - Jangdam (3800m)

Rela Yonghzongling Monastery, Yarlung Tsangpo Valley

Along Wuyumaqu, bike downhill gently from Taktser Village. As arriving at Yarlung Tsangpo River, turn right into G318 National Highway. And then bike along Yarlung Tsangpo Valley to Jangdam. Visit Yungdrungling Monastery and the natural scenery of Yarlung Tsangpo Valley on the way.

70 km
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yungdrungling Monastery

DAY
9

Bike Jangdam - Shigatse (3840m)

Visit Tashilunpo Monastery

Along Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Valley, bike to Shigatse. All the way is flat. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery, "Mountain of Happiness". Tashilunpo is also one of the six major temples of the Gelug Sect. Shigatse is the seat of the Pantschen Lama. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China.

44 km
Overnight at 4*Mulunlazong Hotel

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Tashilunpo Monastery

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
10

Bike Shigatse - Gyantse (4020m)

Pelkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa (1000-Buddha Pagoda)

Today bike from Shigatse to Gyantse along Nianchu River with flat road. All the way, the elevation is rising gently. As arriving in Gyantse, visit Pelkhor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of which were built in the 15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded that 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world.

94 km
Overnight at 3*Yeti Garden Hotel

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Palkhor Monastery

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
11

Bike Gyanste - Simila Pass (4345m) - Longma (4400m)

Overlook the Manla Reservoir

After slowly biking uphill about 20 kilometers from Gyanste, continue to bike on ups and downs road about 5 kilometers to Simila Pass at 4345 meters above sea level where you can overlook the Manla Reservoir. Then bike downhill rapidly about 4 kilometers to Manla Reservoir. Finally, bike on ups and downs road about 10 kilometers to Longma Village. The landscape along the Niandui River is very beautiful.

70 km
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Manla Reservoir

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
12

Bike Longma - Karola Pass (5110m) - Nagarze - Baidi (4450m)

Karola Glacier, Noijin Kangsang Peak

Biking uphill from Longma Village, bike over Karola Pass and visit Karola Glacier that is one of the three major continental glaciers in Tibet and that is the east source of Nianchu River. On the way, you can watch Naichenkang Sang (Noijin Kangsang) Peak, one of the four Tibetan sacred mountains. Then bike downhill all the way to Nagarze. Finally, bike along the road by Yamdrok Lake to Baidi.

81 km
Camping

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Karola Glacier

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
13

Bike Baidi - Yamdrok Lake (4442m) - Kampala Pass (4790m) - Chushur (3590m)

Kampala pass, Yamdrok Lake

Bike on ups and downs road by lake from Baidi to Kampala pass. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Yamdrok Lake. Then reach Kampala Pass at the altitude from 300 meters to 4790 meters. You can overlook Yamdrok at observation platform that is the most classic place to take photo. Take a break and then bike downhill to lakeside of Yarlung Tsangpo River with altitude decreasing quickly. Bike along Yarlung Tsangpo Valley to Chushur Bridge and then continue biking to Daga Town, Chushur County at the other side of the river.

70 km
Camping or overnight at guesthouse

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yamdrok Lake

Foto por Mr. Zeng

DAY
14

Bike Chushur - Tsetang (3500 m)

Cycling to Tsetang

After breakfast, bike down the Yarlung Tsangpo River with flat road all the way. Arrive at Tsetang via Gongga Airport.

123 km
Overnight at 4*Tsetang Hotel

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

YarlungTsangpo

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
15

Bike Tsetang - Samye Monastery - Tsetang

Samye Monastery

Bike across Yajiang Bridge at Tsetang to Samye Monastery and visit Samye Monastery. Located on Habori Mountain, 38 km from Tsetang, the Samye Monastery was founded in the middle of the 8th century. The location of the monastery was determined by the great master Padmasambhava. According to the blueprint, Trisung Detsan laid the foundation stone of the monastery and took over the Buddhist abbot after its completion. He invited highly educated monks from inland and India to translate the sutra in the monastery and also ordered seven boys from the noble families of the Tubo Dynasty to shave their hair and let them to be monks, which Made the Samye Monastery to be the first monastery in the history of Tibetan Buddhism with a combination of three essential elements of Buddhism - the worship of the Buddha, respect for the Dharma and the creation of a monastic order. The Samye Monastery is famous for the architectural elements in the main building, which from India, Tibet and the Inland style. After visiting Samye Monastery bike back to Tsetang.

30 km
Overnight at 4*Tsetang Hotel

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Samye Monastery

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
16

Bike Tsetang - Gongga (3570m)

Trandruk Monastery, Yumbulhakang Palace

Bike to visit Trandruk Monastery and Yumbulhakang Palace. Located at the southern foot of the Gongri Mountain, two kilometers outside the southern suburb of Tsetang Town, Trandruk Monastery was built by Songtsan Gambo and is one of the oldest temples in Tibet. Yumbulhakang Palace is located on Tashi Cishan Mountain, 11 km away from Tsetang Town. "Yumbu" means "doe", named after the Tashi Cishan Mountain resembling a doe. "lhakang" means "shrine". Yumbulhakang Palace is the first palace in Tibetan history.

87 km
Overnight at 2*Gongga Airport Hotel

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yumbulakhang Palace

Foto por Liu Bin

DAY
17

Leave Tibet

Travel to next destination

Departure from Gongga airport to the next destination.

Breakfast

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This trip can also be tailor-made, please let us know your travel idea: travel date, duration, number of travelers, child (2 - 12 years old), baby (0 - 2 years old), other travel destinations, meals, accommodation category, boutique hotel, special interest ...

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Private travel, great experiences! Please contact us for your tailor-made travel offer.

With individual China Tibet travel, you can decide when, where and how you go on tour by yourself. What's more, you can choose the length of travel and whom you go with.

Information

Hotel, program and itinerary are subjected to change with prior notice.
We must point out that you counter a basic tourism infrastructure in this region. You stay overnight mostly at simple hotel/guesthouse and in tent. Long biking on bad roads, on high altitude and delays require good physical fitness, resilience and flexibility of the participants. Program and route changes due to unforeseen events are expressly reserved. If you desire the unknown and have an understanding of contingency, this is the right trip for you.

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