Sichuan → Tibet · On-road · Rental or own bike
From Chengdu, west to Lhasa - the most iconic ride in China. Twelve days across the Tibetan plateau, over five passes above 4,000 m, on the legendary G318 highway.
The ride
The G318 is China's Route 66 - except it climbs from the Sichuan basin to the roof of the world. You start among teahouses and bamboo at 500 m, and twelve days later ride into Lhasa at 3,650 m, having crossed some of the highest driveable passes on Earth.
Between them: the hairpins of Zheduo Shan, the grasslands of Litang - one of the highest towns anywhere - the deep gorges of the Nu, Lancang and Jinsha rivers, the forests of Nyingchi, and the turquoise of Basum Tso. It is sealed tarmac the whole way, which makes it the perfect first plateau ride: hard enough to mean something, safe enough to enjoy.
We ride it as a private tour with a local travel guide, a road captain, a mechanic, and a support vehicle carrying your luggage, spare fuel, tools, and oxygen. We've run it more than forty times.
Where it goes, and how high you sleep
The blue line is the road as actually ridden. Click a stop to open its day.
Chengdu
Arrive in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan and home of the giant panda. Collect your temporary Chinese driving license, then unwind in the Kuanzhai Xiangzi lanes and a teahouse in People’s Park - the unhurried Chengdu welcome before the plateau.
Chengdu · Yaan · Kangding
Collect the bikes and ride the old G318 to Kangding, gateway to the Tibetan region of Kham. Visit the Bifengxia Panda Base on the way, then cross the Erlang Mountain tunnel - the historic border between Han and Tibetan country.
Kangding → Zheduo La → Xinduqiao → Yajiang → Litang
Climb the switchbacks of the Hengduan range over Zheduo Pass (4,298 m) - on a clear day, Mt Gongga (7,508.9 m) fills the horizon. Through Xinduqiao, the photographers’ paradise, to Litang at 4,014 m, one of the highest towns on earth and homeland of the 7th Dalai Lama.
Litang → Litang Monastery → Batang
Visit Litang Monastery (Gelug, 1580) and the 7th Dalai Lama’s residence, then ride through the heart of the Hengduan mountains past the Sisters Lakes down to Batang, near the Sichuan–Tibet border.
Batang → Jinsha River → Markam → Zuogong
Cross the Jinsha (upper Yangtze) into Tibet at Markam and enter the Three Parallel Rivers country, riding over three passes - Joba (3,880 m), Lawu (4,358 m) and Dongda (5,130 m), the high point of the whole ride.
Zuogong → Bangda → 72-turn → Baxoi → Ranwu
Over Yela Mountain (4,618 m) and down the famous 72-turn - the most tortuous road in Tibet - to the crystal-blue Ranwu Lake, ringed by snow peaks.
Ranwu → Midui Glacier → Bome → Tongmai → Lulang
The most beautiful stretch of the ride: past Midui Glacier - the lowest-elevation glacier in China - along the Parlung Tsangpo through primeval forest, past Guxiang Lake and over the Tongmai bridge to the natural oxygen bar of Lulang.
Lulang → Sejila Pass → Linzhi → Basum Tso
Through Lulang Forest and over Sejila Pass (4,515 m), with spectacular views of Gyala Pelri (7,150 m) and Namcha Barwa (7,782 m). Down the Niyang valley to the holy Nyingma lake of Basum Tso and its island monastery.
Basum Tso → Mi La Pass → Gandan → Lhasa
Over the Mi La Pass (4,865 m) and down to Lhasa (3,650 m), visiting Gandan Monastery - founded 1409 by Tsongkhapa - on the way. Return the bikes; you’ve crossed the plateau.
Potala · Jokhang · Barkhor
The Potala Palace (built 637 by Songtsen Gampo) and the Jokhang (647), Tibet’s holiest temple. Walk the Barkhor pilgrim circuit among prostrating pilgrims from across the Tibetan world.
Parla Lupu · Norbulingka · Sera debate
Parla Lupu cave shrine for a Potala panorama, then Norbulingka - the Dalai Lamas’ summer palace - and the famous monks’ debate at Sera Monastery.
The fine print, in plain words
See it to believe it
Photography by Liu Bin · Greatway field archive
Dates & enquiry
Private departures on your dates, roughly April to October. Tell us when you're free and how many are riding - our motorbike travel consultant will get back to you within 24 hours.
Free itinerary design · Customized for your group
We've opened your email app with everything filled in - press send there and it's on its way.
Our motorbike travel consultant will reply within 24 hours.
Nothing opened? Copy your enquiry below and send it to hello@chinamotorcycletravel.com.
