Lhasa to the Everest Base Camp Biking Tour

When you arrive in Lhasa, our staff will pick you up at Lhasa Airport/ Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel. From the airport, it takes about 1 hour. From the train station, it only takes 20 minutes. Afterward, it's better to relax and take it easy on the first day to get acclimatized to high altitude and alleviate the jet lag. You might go to the local market and wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it is a museum and world heritage site. 

In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the old Lhasa city. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today’s first attraction is Drepung Monastery. Drepung means "piles of rice" in Tibetan, which symbolizes prosperity. It's the world's largest monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Also, It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect. After lunch, you will continue to visit the Sera Monastery, the most beautiful Tibetan monastery in Lhasa. The Buddhist scripture debating is the highlight of Sera Monastery.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

The fourth day commences our journey towards the Everest Base Camp. The first leg of the tour will be between Lhasa and Mt. Kangba La Pass. On both sides of the road, we will surely see awesome sceneries. We will see fantastic views of the rural parts of Tibet. We will likewise see the lovely Yarlung Tsangpo River along the foot of the Kangba La Pass (4,990m). At Kang La Pass, we will camp overnight.

This 55-km ride offers an awesome view of the idyllic countryside of Tibet. The first part of the route requires us to surmount the primary mountain pass of Kangba La Pass, which includes a strong uphill climb on a tar road replete with intermittent turns and hairpin bends. Reaching the summit of this route is comparable to surmounting a great hurdle, and the reward is a fantastic view of the Yamdrok Valley. Afterward, we will descend to the banks of the Yamdrok Tso Lake, the largest freshwater lake along the Tibetan Plateau. This lake is considered as one of the three holy lakes of Tibet. Here, at the bank of the lake, we will camp for an overnight stay.

This stage of the biking tour is definitely significant because we will see along the way the famous glaciers that stretch down from 6 thousand meters above. This part of the tour also requires enough stamina to surmount the arduous road to Karo La Pass (5,010 m). You will surely enjoy the majestic view of the Karola Glacier at the Karo La Pass. There, we will stay overnight at a hotel.

After breakfast, we will leave early for Gyantse. The route to Gyantse requires us to move around the lake via the Friendship Highway. The flat paved road from Karo La Pass will soon give way to gravel road. We will pass by ravines and many villages before arriving at Gyantse. There, we will stay overnight at a hotel.

After reinvigorating ourselves with a goodnight's sleep in a hotel, we can visit the significant site of Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery in the morning. Soon after, we will be moving to Shigatse—the second largest city of Tibet. The road to Shigatse is a 94-km stretch. This road stretch is tarred and flat. We will be reaching Shigatse by the afternoon. At Shigatse (3,860 m), we will be billeted to a hotel to relax and freshen up after a grueling biking trip.

Shigatse is a thriving Buddhist city and the traditional seat of Panchen Lama. Here, you can visit the Panchem Lama's Palace and the resplendent Tashilhunpo Monastery which was built in 1447. You can use the rest of the day to explore the culture and way of life of the local villagers of Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

After breakfast and sightseeing, we will once again hit the road and pedal towards Gyachung Monastery. The route to Gyachung requires us to drive through two small passes and across several Tibetan villages. The scene along the way is surely idyllic until we reach the Gyachung Monastery wherein we are going to stay overnight.

After breakfast and a short rest, we will be off to a 95-km ride to Lhatse. Here, we will slither along the winding roads like tiny dots of pilgrims as we move along the great valleys towards Tso-La which is 4520 meters above sea level. There, we will rest and have our lunch. Afterwards, we will pass the hot springs and camp at a place 10-kilometers away from the town of Lhatse.

The route to Shegar is replete with mesmerizing views of the countryside. Moreover, along the way, we will be rewarded with the first great view of Mount Everest. This route ends at Shegar, also known as Pelbar. Shegar is a very popular stopover for those who are heading to the Everest Base Camp. At Shegar, we will pitch our camp for an overnight stay.

The 13th day is marked by a tough ride on rough road conditions. From the flat highway going to Shegar, we will move on to winding rough roads outside of Shegar in our quest for the EBC. We will pass by the Border Check Point and will eventually tackle a rigorous 20-km uphill climb filled with treacherous bends to reach the Pang Pass' summit at 5,150 meters above sea level. There is a total of 42 hairpin bends along the way. The end of this route, however, offers a very rewarding view of the magnificent Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks like those of Shishapangma(8012m), Makalu(8,463m), and Lhotse(8,516m). Afterwards, we will brace ourselves for a 20-km downhill ride to the Rongbuk Valley at 4,200 meters below sea level. There at that valley, we will camp overnight.

Here, at the Rongbuk Valley, we will get the chance to visit the Rongbuk Monastery. From here, we can see nearby Everest Base Camp. The Rongbuk Monastery is famous for being the highest monastery in the world. It is located around 16,349 feet above sea level. From this monastery, you can have a dramatic glimpse of the northern face of the majestic Mt. Everest. There is a restaurant adjacent to the monastery wherein you can dine. Near the Rongbuk Monastery, you can spend the whole day whiling away your time, cycling or trekking. Stay overnight at the Rongbuk Monastery.

After breakfast, you can take your final look at Mt. Everest, for soon after, we will be leaving Rongbuk Monastery and will return to Shigatse. We will not be pedaling back to Shigatse, but instead, we will be riding in a car. The travel back to Shigatse usually takes around 7 to 8 hours by car. Hence, it will almost be a whole daytime trip. Upon arrival in Shigatse, you will be billeted to a hotel for a much-needed rest.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

After breakfast, we will once again hit the road back to Lhasa. By now you may still be raring to see the countryside of Tibet and behold the roadside views you missed when you first passed this road. Shigatse to Lhasa is a 5-hour drive along Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley. Upon arrival in Lhasa, you can return to your hotel or while away your time visit some other sites at Lhasa that you've missed previously.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

After breakfast, you can spend the rest of the day visiting other significant places in Lhasa you’ve missed in the earlier days of your tour. You can likewise end the night with a visit and exploration of the night markets of Lhasa like those of Barkhor Night Market and Tianhai Night Market. There, you can buy lovely souvenirs for your family and friends. Afterward, you need to go back to your hotel to repack your things and rest for tomorrow’s return trip.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Your tour ends today. Our guide and driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.