Lhasa Kathmandu Mountain Biking Tour – 21 Days

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport (KTM), you will be greeted by a representative from Ama Adventure. After completing customs formalities such as visa and luggage collection, look for the representative holding an Ama Adventure display board. You will then be escorted to Hotel Manaslu.

After check-in, we will visit the Ama Adventure office to meet your trekking guide and other participants and complete the final preparations for the trip. In the evening, Ama Adventure will organize a welcome dinner at a traditional Nepalese restaurant with a cultural program and a Nepalese meal.

After breakfast today, we will begin a guided tour of some of Kathmandu’s most important historical and spiritual sites. The tour includes landmarks recognized as World Heritage Sites, such as the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath), and the Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, one of the largest in the world.

At dawn, we take a morning flight to Tibet. The one-hour flight offers spectacular views over the Himalayas, including a chance to see Everest. After landing at Gongkar airport, we are escorted to our hotel in Lhasa’s Tibetan Quarter. After check-in, we take a walk around Barkhor Square, the spiritual heart of Lhasa, where a lively market offers opportunities for souvenir shopping.

Our tour begins with a visit to Sera Monastery. An experienced guide, who also acts as an interpreter, will escort us through this well-preserved monastery with its white-washed walls and golden roofs. Next, we visit Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, which offers an engaging and lively experience. We then explore Jokhang Temple, an important sacred site that reveals the depth of Tibetan Buddhist traditions. The day concludes with a visit to Barkhor Market, where we can see and experience Tibetan culture, customs, and traditional goods, before returning to the hotel for rest.

Even though the day is free, we take the opportunity to explore and experience the unique charm of this remote and sacred land. The scenic views, rich cultural traditions, and simple, warm-hearted people of Lhasa make the day truly memorable.

During our visits to Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery, we gain a deep understanding of Tibetan history and culture. The 17th-century Potala Palace offers magnificent views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama along with numerous grand state rooms and chapels. Drepung Monastery, built in the 14th century, once sheltered around 10,000 monks, though today only a few hundred remain. The monastery continues to hold a central place in the faith and respect of the Tibetan people.

We begin cycling towards Kathmandu heading out to the Drepung Monastery on the outskirts of Lhasa. After 45 minutes or so of cycling through the busy roads, we are now out of Lhasa and on the Freedom Highway that leads us down the Lhasa Valley. Following the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known as Brahmaputra in India, all the way down we reach our guesthouse in Chusul at 3,650m/11,980ft, where we spend the night.

After breakfast, we begin the 25 km climb to Kamba La Pass. This challenging climb takes about three to four hours, but the views from the summit at 4,794 meters, decorated with prayer flags, are breathtaking. From there, we descend to the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake for lunch. Afterward, we enjoy a gentle and scenic drive to the small town of Nagatse.

After breakfast, we have the chance to climb the first and fortunately the lowest of the high passes, Karol La, at 5,045 meters. The climb takes about three hours, followed by a longer descent of over 1,000 meters down to Gyantse in the Yang Chug Valley. Along the way, we can visit Palcho Monastery and the impressive Kumbum Stupa, a unique tiered structure in the Buddhist world. We will also see Gyantse Dzong, famously held by Lt. Col Francis Younghusband in 1904, perched in a beautiful location overlooking the valley.

We rest in Shigatse and visit the large Tashilhunpo Monastery complex. While in Shigatse, we also complete the necessary procedures to obtain permits for visiting Everest Base Camp.

We stay overnight in Shigatse and visit the vast Tashilhunpo Monastery complex. During our time there, we also complete the required permit process for visiting Everest Base Camp.

Today we begin with a gentle ride across the rolling terrain of the Shigatse Plains. A long but steady climb follows, taking us over the passes of Tra La at 4,050 meters and Tsuo La at 4,520 meters. Afterward, we enjoy a rewarding descent that gradually levels out as we reach our guesthouse in Lhatse.

Today truly tests our legs. We leave Lhatse and ride to the base of Gyatso La before climbing steadily to the summit at 5,248 meters, the highest pass on the Friendship Highway. The effort is demanding but rewarding, as the first views of Everest appear while we draw closer to the Himalayan range

After a short stretch of smooth road from the hotel, we turn south and begin several days of off road riding. For those with strong fitness, there is another challenge at Pang La, reaching 5,200 meters, where wide Himalayan views unfold in every direction. On clear days, the scale of the mountains is unmatched. The descent is fast and winding, leading down into the Rongbuk Valley and onward to our overnight stop at Tashi Dzong.

Today we cycle along a jeep trail with Everest’s North Face in full view as we move closer to the mountain and Rongbuk Monastery. Lunch in this quiet and open setting is one of the highlights of the journey. After lunch, we continue a short distance to our overnight stay at the Ja Rongbuk tented camp. The rest of the afternoon is free for acclimatization at the high altitude of 5,200 meters. From the campsite, the views of Everest are truly breathtaking.

In the morning, we cycle out from Rongbuk and follow a rough road toward Chamda, also known as Old Tingri. Only a short section is well paved, with most of the route being off road. Taking a shortcut into the mountains, we ride through several steep climbs and descents. Another uneven trail leads us across a canyon before reaching Old Tingri at 4,400 meters, where we check in to our guesthouse for the night.

After breakfast in Old Tingri, we begin cycling on a gently rolling and mostly flat road toward Lake Paiko, also known as Peiko Tsho, located at 4,591 meters south of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. On clear days, we may catch views of Mount Shishapangma, Mount Everest, and Mount Cho Oyu along the way. The route passes through a landscape dotted with monasteries, old fortresses, and mountain rivers. We continue along the highway before turning west and enjoying a final downhill ride to our stopping point near Lake Paiko. Here, our crew will prepare meals and set up tents for our overnight stay.

After breakfast, we leave the lakeside and take on the toughest day of the entire cycling journey. The route crosses two high passes at 5,000 meters and 5,253 meters, involving a long series of winding bends with nearly 40 kilometers of uphill riding followed by around 30 kilometers of descent. The ride brings us to the foothills of Gontola Pass at 4,750 meters, in Gyirong County, often called the back garden of the Himalayas. This region lies in the upper Gyirong area of the Tibetan Plateau. Our crew will prepare lunch and set up the tents for the night. Dinner will also be cooked by the crew before we settle into our tents to rest.

Gyirong County is located about 70 kilometers south of the county center of Zongga, along the banks of the Gyirong Zangbo River, a tributary of Nepal’s Trishuli River. This border route between Nepal and China was opened in 2014 and is considered more reliable than the route through Zhangmu

After breakfast in the Upper Kyirong region, we begin cycling toward the Nepal Tibet border. This area is home to many descendants of the Nepalese Gurkha army, known locally as the Daman people. The route today is mostly downhill, bringing us closer to the Kyirong border. We set up camp at a scenic campsite where we spend the night. Our crew will prepare lunch and dinner at the campsite. After arriving early and enjoying lunch, there is time to cycle around the area or explore the beautiful surroundings near the camp.

After breakfast, we begin the final stage of the cycling tour. We ride about 45 kilometers from the border entry point to Syabrubesi. After lunch there, we board a private vehicle for the 140 kilometer drive to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in Nepal’s capital, we are transferred to our hotel and welcomed warmly. The evening is free to explore the city, do some last minute shopping, or relax at a local pub and enjoy Nepali beer.

Today our Himalayan adventure comes to an end. A representative from Ama Adventure will transfer us to the airport about three hours before our flight. If time allows, there is an opportunity for some shopping or a visit to Kathmandu’s heritage sites. On the way home, there will also be time to start planning your next adventure with Ama Adventure.