Lhasa Mountain Bike Adventure
Lhasa Mountain Bike Adventure – 22 days
The ultimate mountain bike holiday takes you to Tibet, the ‘Roof of the World’ – a place of spiritual myth and mystery inhabited by ever-smiling people. In this remote landscape, within the most isolated of Himalayan ranges, discover a world of timeless splendour, unique tradition and breathtaking scenery:
- Centuries-old caravan trails
- Artistic monasteries
- Ancient Buddhist culture
- Rustic peoples untouched by modern civilisation
- Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Your ride will mainly take you along vehicle-width dirt roads, which may be smooth, gritty, rocky, rutted, loose or hard-packed – rising and falling over undulating and mountainous terrain. Single-track riding will not be included in the main itinerary, although optional routes are often possible.
This 22-day adventure is designed for riders who are physically fit and have some mountain bike experience. Other physical challenges you may enjoy include our 21-day trek, the Annapurna Circuit Adventure, or our formidable 19-day Island Peak Climb.
Lhasa Mountain Bike Adventure – 22 days
DAY 01 Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
You will be met at Kathmandu airport. Later in the evening we’ll treat you to a welcome dinner and cultural programme at an excellent, traditional Nepalese restaurant. Overnight in hotel.
Includes dinner (D)
DAY 02 Kathmandu: Sightseeing
A free morning followed by a tour to the main sights, such as Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath), Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Bhoudanath. Overnight in hotel.
(B, L, D)
DAY 03 Fly to Lhasa (3,650m/11,972ft)
This morning we fly to Lhasa; there will be time this afternoon to set up our bikes.
Overnight in hotel.
DAY 04 Lhasa: Guided sightseeing
Easy ride around Lhasa to visit Norbulinka, Jokhang and Sera monasteries.
Overnight in hotel.
DAY 05 Lhasa: Free day
Overnight in hotel.
DAY 06 Lhasa: Guided sightseeing
Visit Drepung Monastery and the Potala Palace. Rest of the day free to explore Lhasa.
Overnight in hotel.
DAY 07 Lhasa – Chusul (Max alt 3,600m/11,808ft; Cycle distance 97 km; Sleeping alt 3790m/12,430ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 08 Chutsu – Nakartse (Max alt 4,775m/15,660ft; Cycle distance 74 km; Sleeping alt 4410m/14,465ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 09 Nakartse – Lungmar (Max alt 5,045m/16,548ft; Cycle distance 59 km; Sleeping alt 4,420m/14,500ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 10 Lungmar – Gyantse (Max alt 4,330m/14,200ft; Cycle distance 50km; Sleeping alt 3,990m/13090ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 11 Gyantse – Shigatse (Max alt 3,990m/13,090ft; Cycle distance 96 km; Sleeping alt 3,864m/12,674ft)
Overnight in hotel.
DAY 12 Shigatse: Rest day
Overnight in hotel
DAY 13 Shigatse – Tso La (Max alt 4,250m/13,940ft; Cycle distance 85 km; Sleeping alt 4,250m/13,940ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 14 Tso La – Lhatse (Max alt 4,520m/14,825ft; Cycle distance 65 km; Sleeping alt 4,050m/13,280ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 15 Lhatse – Shegar (Max alt 5,220m/17,121ft; Cycle distance 64 km; Sleeping alt 4,600m/15,090ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 16 Shegar – Pang La (Max alt 5,150m/16,890ft; Cycle distance 84 km; Sleeping alt 4,150m/13,610ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 17 Pang La – Rongbuk (Max alt 4,920m/16,140ft; Cycle distance 42 km; Sleeping alt 4,920m/16,140ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 18 Rongbuk: Everest Base Camp, Rest Day (Max alt 5,050m/16560ft; Sleeping alt 4,920m/16,140ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 19 Rongbuk – Tingri (Max alt 5,000m/16,400ft; Cycle distance 86 km; Sleeping alt 4,320m/14,170ft)
DAY 20 Tingri – Lalung La (Max alt 4,850m/15,910ft; Cycle distance 77 km; Sleeping alt 4,650m/15,250ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 21 Lalung La – Nyalam (Max alt 4,650m/15,250ft; Cycle distance 88 km; Sleeping alt 3,700m/12,140ft)
Overnight camp.
DAY 22 Nyalam – Nepal (Kodari) – Kathmandu (Max alt 3,700m/12,140ft; Cycle distance 58 km; Sleeping alt 1,750m/5,740ft)
Overnight hotel.
What we’ve included
- 4 nights in a hotel in Kathmandu
- 3 nights in Lhasa in a 3-star hotel, 2 nights in Shigatse
- All meals in Kathmandu and in Tibet
- Kathmandu to Lhasa flight ticket
- Tibet travel permits and Chinese visa costs and arrangements
- •All Tibet permits and entrance fees
- Sightseeing in Kathmandu
- An English-peaking guide
- Mini bus for the Lhasa portion of trip
- One or two land cruisers with carrier out of Lhasa
- Support truck
- All camping equipment and services such as tent, food, cooks, etc.
What isn’t included
- Nepal visa
- Mountain bike rental
- All drinks (water, cold drinks, alcoholic drinks) during the trip
- Tips for the staff
- Cargo cost from Kathmandu to Lhasa
The trekking group
We can run the Lhasa Mountain Bike Adventure for a minimum of 2 people.
Fitness and experience
To enjoy the Lhasa Mountain Bike Adventure, you need willpower, a high level of fitness and good health. It is vital that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Himalayan Adventures at the time of booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccination and other medical requirements for your trip. Himalayan Adventures reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.
Accommodation
The tours include hotels, simple guest houses on a bed-and-breakfast basis and tents.
Meals
Food is generally good and mostly Tibetan-style, such as noodles and Tibetan bread. The tour does not include soft/hard drinks, lunch, dinner. Please note that in Kathmandu hotels are on a room-only basis.
Acclimatisation and AMS
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a medical condition caused by going up to high altitudes too fast – and it can prove fatal. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. During this bike ride, for example, the highest altitude is over 5,000m, where there is 50% less oxygen than at sea level. It is absolutely essential to allow sufficient time for acclimatisation because our bodies need a few days to adapt safely to this lower-oxygen environment.
Himalayan Adventures does it’s best to minimise the risk of AMS through an acclimatisation-focused itinerary. However, it is important to remember that some people can be more vulnerable to AMS than others, so we advise guests with known heart, lung or blood conditions to consult their doctor before travelling.
Mild headaches, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders are symptoms of AMS. Read more about it in “Altitude Illness” by Dr Jim Duff.
Your guides
There will be one experienced and medically-trained Nepali guide, drivers, a Tibetan guide, and an extra Nepali mountain bike guide, depending on the number of riders.
What to pack
For cycling across stunning vistas, sightseeing in ancient sites and exploring off the beaten track – check out our list of essential gear.
When to go
April to October is the best season for cycling. There isn’t much rain in Tibet as it’s a plateau behind the Himalayan range, but it rains to some extent during July and August; the rest of the season is fine, with clear skies. If it rains during April and at the end of October, it may fall as snow in the high passes. Temperature ranges 0–15°C, depending upon altitude and weather.
The bulk of the trip is crossing the arid Tibetan Plateau, which lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas and does not receive much annual precipitation. Our departures are timed to miss the monsoon season in Nepal, and we should be guaranteed clear, dry weather for the last leg into Kathmandu. The weather on the Tibetan Plateau during the day will be surprisingly mild and warm, while nights will be clear and crisp. Temperatures will range from 20˚C during the day to well below freezing at night. As on any of our routes, storms can occur at anytime, along with a sprinkling of snow.
