Lhasa to Kathmandu by bike
| country: | Nepal, Tibet |
| trip type: | Challenging cycling holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 18 Apr, 20 May, 29 Aug, 29 Sep |
| price: | From US $3760 (28 days) including domestic flights only, as per the itinerary. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This trip is not for the faint of heart! You will be cycling across one of the most romantic regions in the world, the Tibetan Plateau, which has the highest average elevation on the planet. From the Buddhist monasteries of Lhasa to the bustling markets of Kathmandu, this trip will take you over several passes in the vicinity of 5000 meters– a truly inspiring odyssey of over 1000 kilometres by bicycle - and one that has the majestic Himalayas as a backdrop all the way!
Add to that an ascent to Everest base camp, as well as the biggest descent in the world into Nepal, and you have the adventure of a lifetime. It doesn't get better than this!
Highlights include: Mountains, monasteries, temples, Mt Everest, Yaks, butter tea, mountain biking, lakes, camping by rivers, star gazing, Potala Palace, pilgrims, Kathmandu and monks.
Fitness: You will need to have an extremely high level of fitness and determination to participate in this trip. We are cycling up to 100km a day, at 3700-5200m above sea level! This is the Himalayan mountains after all, so expect a lot of long, steep ascents and descents. 80% of the trip will be cycling on unsealed surfaces, with a mix of dirt roads, rocky and very rocky surfaces.
Price details: Includes all accommodation (twin share in hotels & camping), camping equipment, most meals, flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, bike tools, vehicle support, cycling leader & guide and Tibet permit. Travel insurance and bikes are not included in the trip cost; you will need to bring your own. Group size 4-12 people.
Add to that an ascent to Everest base camp, as well as the biggest descent in the world into Nepal, and you have the adventure of a lifetime. It doesn't get better than this!
Highlights include: Mountains, monasteries, temples, Mt Everest, Yaks, butter tea, mountain biking, lakes, camping by rivers, star gazing, Potala Palace, pilgrims, Kathmandu and monks.
Fitness: You will need to have an extremely high level of fitness and determination to participate in this trip. We are cycling up to 100km a day, at 3700-5200m above sea level! This is the Himalayan mountains after all, so expect a lot of long, steep ascents and descents. 80% of the trip will be cycling on unsealed surfaces, with a mix of dirt roads, rocky and very rocky surfaces.
Price details: Includes all accommodation (twin share in hotels & camping), camping equipment, most meals, flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, bike tools, vehicle support, cycling leader & guide and Tibet permit. Travel insurance and bikes are not included in the trip cost; you will need to bring your own. Group size 4-12 people.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Kunming. |
| Day 2: | Fly to Lhasa. |
| Day 3: | Visit Jokhang, Sera |
| Day 4: | Free morning, visit Braille Without Borders |
| Day 5: | Visit Drepung - cycle, free afternoon. |
| Day 6: | Visit Ganden, cycle |
| Day 7-10: | Cycle to Gyantse. (250km cycling over 4 days) |
| Day 11: | Visit Kumbum. Free afternoon. |
| Day 12: | Cycle to Shigatse. (90km cycling) |
| Day 13: | Visit Tashilumpo Monastery. Free afternoon. |
| Day 14-16: | Cycle to Shigar. (250km cycling over 3 days) |
| Day 17-19: | Cycle to Rombuk. (160km cycling over 3 days) |
| Day 20: | Visit Everest Base Camp. |
| Day 21: | Cycle to Old Tingri. (60 km cycling) |
| Day 22-23: | Cycle to Zhangmu. (200km cycling over 2 days) |
| Day 24: | Cross border to Sun Kosi. (60km cycling) |
| Day 25: | Rest day in Sun Kosi Valley. |
| Day 26-27: | Cycle to Kathmandu. (70km cycling over 2 days) |
| Day 28: | Depart from Kathmandu. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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On this cycling trip all of the guides, drivers, mechanics and cooks are from the local region (Tibet and/or Nepal). When we stay in hotels or use restaurants we always endeavour to support businesses that are run and staffed by local people.
We facilitate exchanges between local Tibetans and our travellers in a mutually beneficial manner; for example organising a visit to a family. We prefer to source all the produce and equipment for trips locally. We send out trip information booklets to all passengers on our trips before the trip has started to encourage all participants to start reading and learning about the country and region that you will be cycling through. These booklets include language sheets, cultural information specific to the area, maps, cycling profiles, information on further reading, cycling safety tips, etc.  We collect all non-biodegradable from our campsites and dispose of it in designated areas in townships. We request that all passengers bring biodegradable soaps as we often wash in or near rivers. This trip supports 'Braille Without Borders' in Lhasa. This organisation provides support and education to children in Tibet suffering from blindness. They welcome us to visit the kids at the Centre. If you would like to donate equipment (speakers, art supplies, Braille paper) please let us know when booking. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |