Lhasa Kathmandu Cycling

Important Note

Your safety is of paramount concern while traveling with Namaste Adventure. Please note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather conditions, health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.

DESCRIPTION

Cycling Lhasa to Kathmandu is one of the most adventurous rides a mountain biker can do. It is a real classic and if you want to make your trip even more adventurous and even more challenging, we can in-corporate a four day round trip away from the main Lhasa - Kathmandu road, to visit Rongbuk Monastery and the North Base Camp area of Mt. Everest.Throughout the ride your state of the art bicycles will be a source of great interest to the local people. As they will not have seen anything more sophisticated than their basic Chinese-made boneshakers, there are great opportunities to share a laugh with the local people! There are six major passes to be negotiated on the main Lhasa to Kathmandu route as it runs westwards, parallel to the Great Himalaya Chain, which forms the border with the territories of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal. Throughout, the road traverses a high and dry plateau-land, which is punctuated by the spectacular monastery towns of Gyantse, Shigatse and Shegar, as well as several smaller settlements and nomadic Drogpa encampmentsOn the detour away from the main route towards the Rongbuk Monastery, the road climbs through almost fifty hairpin bends to reach the Pang La, which affords splendid views of the Himalaya, and of Mt. Everest itself. Everest Base Camp is a 'not to be missed' inclusion to this ride. Standing before the exposed and shear North Face of ChomolungmaEverest Base Camp (5500m /18044ft) is a memorable experience that few ever forget.We will spend a night at Everest Base Camp before riding 60 km back out to the main Kathmandu route. Back on the main road, we reach the edge of the Tibetan Plateau as we cross the 5200m high Thang La Pass, and begin a mind-blowing descent of 4600 meters, [15000 ft.] via the border town of Zhangmu, to the valley of the Bhote Kosi River . A final, easy day's cycling brings us back to civilization in the form of Kathmandu!All along the way we have the support of our Sherpa staff, our 4 WD land cruisers and our support truck. This tour guarantees to be a high point in more ways than one] in any mountain biker's life.

INQUIRY

Cost Starting Form

US$ 2300/-

  • Trip operates through out the year
  • Have a big group? We can help.
  • For family and friends we customize the trip as per your need.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing and Preparations

Day 3: Flight to Lhasa, Transfer to hotel and free evening

Day 4: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Day 5: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Day 6: First Day cycling to Dagar - 70 km flat.

Day 7: Dagar to Nangartse over Kamba La Pass 4800m. 90km. 1200m climb.

Day 8: Nangartse to Gyantse. 100km. 600m climb.

Day 9: Gyantse to Shigatse over Karo La Pass 5045m 90 kms.

Day 10: Rest day and sight seeing in Shigatse

Day 11: Shigatse to Sakya Turn off. 120 kms.

Day 12: Sakya to Lhatse. 30km.

Day 13: Lhatse to Baipa 75 kms. 1200m climb over Gyatso La pass 5220m

Day 14: Baipa to Tashi Dzom 60km. 900m climb over Pang La Pass 5200m

Day 15: Tashi Dzom to Rongbuk 40km. 800m climb.

Day 16: Rongbuk to Everest Base Camp 5200m 40km

Day 17: Rongbuk to Tingri. 70km. 500m climb and off road down till Tingri.

Day 18: Tingri to Ritz Gh 70km

Day 19: Ritz Gh to Nylam 90km. 700m climb over Lalung-Leh Pass 4850m.

Day 20: Nylam to Last Resort. 4000m downhill!!! 70 km

Day 21: The Last Resort - Kathmandu

Day 22: Departure to final destination.

INCLUDES

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • All ground transfers as per our given itinerary.
  • Hotel in Kathmandu (including breakfast and all taxes).
  • Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu (including all entrance fees).
  • Welcome Dinner with live Nepalese culture show at one evening.
  • Guided sightseeing in Lhasa with all entrance fees included.
  • Hotels in Tibet (including breakfast and all taxes) as per our mentioned Itinerary.
  • All Camping Equipment (such as Two-Man Tent, Dining Tent, Kitchen Tent, Shower tent, Toilet Tent, Tables, Chairs, Mattresses, etc.
  • Support Truck to carry your luggage and a Land Cruiser for assistance. (while in Tibet).
  • Three hot, fresh meals per day while camping, prepared by our very professional kitchen crew.,
  • Daily wages and insurance for staff and guides.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

  • Mountain Bike hire cost if you don't have.
  • Airport Tax
  • Airfare: Kathmandu-Lhasa.
  • Tibet travel permit, Visa fee, All monastery entrance fees wherever applicable.
  • Expenses of a personal nature, Lunch/dinner in the Hotel; Bar bills; Laundry bills; Telephone bills; Tips, etc.
  • Personal Medical & Travel insurance.
  • Rescue & Evacuation - If necessary.
  • Nepal re-entry visa fee.
  • Excess baggage charges.

Tibet Weather and Climate

Geographically Tibet plateau is known as roof of the world or third pole of the earth, with average altitude of 4950m above the sea, the Tibet plateau is bounded by two mighty ranges, where Himalayan range consist of the world highest peak Mt.Everest situates from south to west and Thanggula ranges in the north, alpine terrain conditions severe, dry and continental climate in Tibet, with strong winds, low humidity, a rarified atmosphere and a huge fluctuation in annual and summer daytime temperature. The Tibetan plateau is exposed to an unhampered cool artic air from the north; while the southern tropical and equatorial air masses barely penetrate the Himalayan barrier into Central Asia. The strong heating of the earth surface during the summer months and the freezing in winter produces clear seasonal variations in atmospheric circulation and enhances the role of local centers of atmospheric activity.
The atmosphere is severely dry for nine months of the year, and average annual snowfall is only 18 inches, due to the rain shadow effect. Western passes receive small amounts of fresh snow each year but remain traversable all year round. Low temperatures are prevalent throughout the western regions, where bleak desolation is unrelieved by any vegetation beyond the size of low bushes, and where wind sweeps unchecked across vast expanses of arid plain. The Indian monsoon exerts some influence on eastern Tibet. Northern Tibet is subject to high temperatures in the summer and intense cold in the winter.

Health and Experience Requirements

It's not necessary to be in extremely good shape to enjoy this trek. If you can have fun walking for 3-6 hours with a few 20 minute breaks mixed in, you can accomplish this trek. Prior to joining our group, please see your doctor and obtain the necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for travel in extremes of altitude, and also for exotic locales. On our application form we ask you to inform of us your condition, previous illnesses, health and medical situations we should know about, what medications you are taking, etc. Please help us to be informed by being honest and fully truthful when you complete it. Thank you.

Best time to Travel

Generally speaking, from April to October are the best time to visit Tibet, as in these months, we have a warm and beautiful sceneries. However, having a winter tour from November to February can be pleasant if you are interested to experience local activity and culture. by travel Tibet during the winter, you can avoid the tourist crowds and costs are comparatively much cheaper. Nevertheless, you can experience the mass of local pilgrims around the monasteries and temples, because winter is a best travel season for Tibetan pilgrims. Choosing the best season to travel to Tibet mainly depends on the tour you are interested in. If you are interested in Mt.Everest Tours, the best time to visit would be in May, June, the beginning of July, September and October. In these months, EBC is warmer and clear, blue skies allow you to view the mighty peak of Mt. Everest clearly. If you are interested in Mt. Kailash and far Western part of Tibetan plateau, then May, June, July and September is the best time to travel. In these months it is warm and you will have no rain during your Kailash trekking days; you will also have the opportunity to see local pilgrims doing the Kora (trek). If you are interested in experiencing Tibetan festivals, then August is the best time to travel, in which there are numbers of popular festivals both ritual and cultural celebrated in Tibet. and best time for Trekking in Tibet is from May to Sept.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Independent travelers

Independent travel has been prohibited in Tibet since 2008, so all the travelers should come part of an organized tour group or a private tour from a local Tibet based agency, because all foriegn travelers should have the Tibet travel permit to travel into Tibet, so only the local Tibet based travel agencies has the authority to obtain the related permits that issues from the Tibet Tourism Bureau and other corresponding departments.

How to book a Tibet Tour

In order to make it ease, we have categorized three way to book a tour based on your requirements.

1. Those who don’t enough knowledge of Tibet or not very sure what to do in Tibet, then we have Tailor-made Form that require to fill some basic information and we will customize a tour that meet your interest.

2. Those who know little about Tibet and having a rough travel plan, we have Design Your Own Tour Forms, from where you can choose different destinations and activities, then we will emend it in the best way to achieve your requirement.

3. Those who have clear Tibet travel plan can choose one of our well designed Tibet Private Package Tours and summit it to get a quote.

What should I concern during my stay in Tibet

Tibetan people are very kind and friendly, but there are some things that you should be aware of:·

  • Do not take photos of anyone without their permission; always ask permission first!
  • Do not discuss sensitive topics like political matters!
  • Do not wear hats or caps when you enter a chapel!·
  • Do not touch Buddha statues or ritual offerings inside of a monastery!·
  • Do not kiss or hug in public places, especially in monasteries!·
  • Do not step across someone’s feet, cups or cooking gears!

How to get to Tibet

There is only one international flight to Tibet, which is from Nepal (Kathmandu), but China domestic flights are available from most of the major cities in mainland China like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Zhongdian(Shangrila), Xian and so on.
If you like to take the Qinghai - Tibet train, then trains are available from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Xian, Lanzhou, Chongqing and Xining, but trains from Xian are comparatively harder to get because it is not an originating station and all trains passing through are in transition, so from Xining is comparatively the easiest and shortest train ride.
If you are interested in Overland Tours in Tibet, you will only be able to travel from Chengdu, Qinghai and Yunan from within China or from Kathmandu in Nepal. The overland drive takes longer but can add an element of adventure. When you decided your traveling dates, please check with us regarding the availability since parts of the Chengdu-Tibet and Yunnan-Tibet routes are frequently closed due to political sensitivity and landslides during the monsoon season.

What should I bring for the Plateau weather

Tibet's high altitude and clear atmosphere allow solar radiation to strike the earth with unusual intense radiation. It's very easy to get sunburnt here so bring sunscreen with a high SPF, a good quality pair of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Calamine lotion is great for a mild sunburn. Having a good moisturizer is also helpful as the dry air may cause your lips and the tissue in your nostrils to crack. A detailed Packing List can be found in the logistic guideline that we will send you before your trip.