8-Day Motorcycle Riding Itinerary: Riding through Tibet and Pilgrimage to Everest

Route  Map about the Journey

Detailed 8-Day Motorcycle Riding Itinerary along the Tibet

Day 1: Rider Assembly

• Check-in and Test Ride in Lhasa
• Welcome to Lhasa! We’ll begin with a briefing session, where our staff will introduce the itinerary and provide important cycling safety tips. After signing the bike rental agreement, you’ll check into the hotel and then take a short test ride in the afternoon.

Day 2: Lhasa to Gyantse (265km)

• Routes: G318, S307
• After breakfast, the cycling adventure begins! The road to Yamdrok Lake is a winding mountain pass. Upon reaching the Kambala Pass, you’ll have a panoramic view of Yamdrok Lake. After lunch in Langkazi, you’ll ride past the majestic Karo La Glacier. Finally, we’ll pass by the Manla Reservoir before arriving in Gyantse.

Day 3: Gyantse to Tingri (325km)

• Routes: S204, G318
• Today’s ride is more challenging! In the morning, you’ll see the iconic Gyantse Dzong from your hotel, a symbol of this heroic city. After passing through Shigatse, we’ll stop at the 5000 km milestone of the G318 National Highway for photos. After crossing the Gyatso La Pass, we enter the Everest Nature Reserve and finally arrive in Tingri.

Day 4: Tingri to Rongbuk Monastery and back to Tingri (220km)

• Routes: G318, Everest Road
• After breakfast, we’ll head out towards the Everest Base Camp. You’ll pass through the 5,198-meter-high Gawu La Pass. If the weather is clear, you’ll be able to see four of the world’s highest peaks (Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu). After tackling the 99 hairpin turns on the Everest Road, we’ll visit Rongbuk Monastery to admire the world’s highest mountain up close.

Day 5: Tingri to Shigatse (240km)

• Route: G318
• After breakfast, we return to the G318 National Highway via Lhatse. The ride follows the wide valley of the upper Yarlung Tsangpo River. The Lhatse area has long been known as the grain basket of the Tsang region. After enjoying the pastoral scenery, we arrive in Shigatse. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama.

Day 6: Shigatse to Qushui to Shannan (330km)

• Routes: G318, S107
• After breakfast, we’ll depart from Shigatse, following the G318 Highway through Nyemo. We’ll stop for lunch in Nyemo, where you can purchase local specialties like Nyemo handmade paper, incense, and carvings as souvenirs. After passing through Qushui, we’ll arrive in Shannan.

Day 7: Shannan to Gonggar to Lhasa (170km)

• Routes: S107, G318
• Shannan is the birthplace of Tibetan civilization. Here, you’ll find Tibet’s first dynasty, first palace, first temple, first farmland, and first scripture. We’ll visit Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first monastery, and view Yumbu Lakhang from afar. After the tour, we’ll return to Lhasa via Qushui.

Day 8: Departure

• As you board your return flight, you’ll find yourself reminiscing about the unforgettable pilgrimage to Everest, a journey that felt like a dream.

Main Attractions During the Cycling Journey

Yamdrok Lake

• Yamdrok Lake, known in Tibetan as “Swan Lake,” is one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes. It is also referred to as Yamdrok Yumtso, with locals often shortening it to “Yam Lake” since “tso” means “lake” in Tibetan. Geographically, it is located in Langkazi County of the Shannan region. The lake sits at an elevation of 4,441 meters above sea level, with a shoreline stretching 250 kilometers and a total area of 638 square kilometers. The lake’s average depth ranges from 20 to 40 meters, making it one of the largest inland lakes on the northern slopes of the Himalayas. Yamdrok Lake has many branches, resembling coral, which is why it is also called the “Coral Lake Above” in Tibetan.
• Yamdrok Lake is much more stunning when viewed from a distance than up close. After crossing the 5,030-meter Kambala Pass, it takes about 30 minutes to descend to the lakeshore. This route offers an excellent vantage point to appreciate Yamdrok Lake, with several viewing platforms along the way for taking photos.

Karola Glacier

Karola Glacier, a natural wonder hidden between the Shigatse and Gyantse counties of Tibet, is a paradise for nature enthusiasts and a pilgrimage site for film buffs. The glacier served as a filming location for the 1999 movie “The Red River Valley,” which won the Best Picture award at the 20th Hundred Flowers Awards. The film depicted the moving story of the Tibetan people bravely resisting British invasion to protect their land and dignity.

Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery, officially named “Ladui Cha Rongbu Dong Aqulin Monastery,” is a Nyingma monastery in Tibet with a unique local character, where monks and nuns live together. Located at an elevation of 5,800 meters, it is the highest monastery in the world. The monastery sits atop “Jomo” (Tara) Mountain on the eastern side of Rongbuk Valley, at the base of Mount Everest in Basum Township, Dingri County, about 90 kilometers from the county seat. The area is known for its harsh and cold climate, but the breathtaking scenery makes it worth the visit. The most captivating feature is undoubtedly the view of the nearby Himalayas. Climbing experts consider Rongbuk Monastery the best spot for viewing Mount Everest. From the monastery, it takes two hours on foot or just 15 minutes by car to reach the base of the Himalayas. The best time to view the mountain is early in the morning when the scenery is most enchanting.

Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery, often abbreviated as “Tashi Monastery,” means “Auspicious Sumeru Monastery.” Its full name, “Tashilhunpo Baijide Qingchutang Jielenam Bajewa Ling,” translates to “Auspicious Sumeru Gathering of Blessings and Victory in All Directions.” Located at the base of Niseri Mountain in Shigatse, Tibet, Tashilhunpo Monastery is the largest monastery in the region and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Comparable to the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace, it is one of the four great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, along with Ganden, Sera, and Drepung monasteries in Lhasa. These four, along with Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai and Labrang Monastery in Gansu, are known as the six major Gelug monasteries in China. Today, Tashilhunpo Monastery is a nationally recognized 5A tourist attraction.

Inclusions

• Accommodation Booking
• High-standard local hotels for 10 nights in standard twin rooms (2 people per room, with the option to choose your roommate or be assigned by the trip leader; a single room requires an additional fee).
• Meal Arrangements  
• Alternating between regular meals and specialty local cuisine along the route.
• Support Services
• Deluxe group: Accompanied by a support vehicle with food and beverage supplies.
• Luxury group: No support vehicle, but equipped with emergency supplies.

Exclusions

• Personal Expenses
• All drinks, entertainment, and other personal expenses during the trip.
• Vehicle Expenses
• Fuel, tolls, and other expenses for personal or rented vehicles.
• Additional Costs
• Extra entrance fees and other services not included in the main itinerary.
• Vehicle Transport Fees
• Shipping and packing fees for picking up or returning vehicles in different locations.
• Optional Services
• Any additional optional services during the trip.
• (Note: All costs are subject to the terms and conditions of the contract.)