Tibet · On-road · Rental or own bike
The classic Tibet loop from Lhasa - to the foot of the highest mountain on Earth at Rongbuk, and the sacred blue of Nam Tso. Ten days, the biggest views on the planet.
The ride
From Lhasa you climb west across the Friendship Highway, over a series of high passes with the whole Himalaya laid out on the horizon, until the road tips you down to Rongbuk - the highest monastery on Earth, and the classic north-face view of Qomolangma (Everest) at 8,848.86 m.
Turn back east and the route saves its second jewel for last: Nam Tso, the "heavenly lake," a vast turquoise sheet at 4,718 m ringed by snow peaks. Yamdrok, Karola Glacier and Gyantse's great stupa fill the days in between. The definitive first Tibet ride.
Run as a private tour with a local travel guide, a road captain, a mechanic, and a support vehicle with luggage, fuel, spares, and oxygen.
Follow the journey, day by day
Lakes, rivers and boundaries from the supplied 1:7,400,000 vector map. Route connections and stop positions are illustrative, not navigation tracks.
See how the elevation changes, and where the high passes come into the ride.
Elevations shown are itinerary reference figures. Points show destinations or visits, not sleeping elevations; connecting lines are schematic, not continuous terrain. Day 10 is departure from Lhasa.
Arrive Lhasa
Arrive in Lhasa at 3,650 m. Take it easy, drink water, and let your body begin to adjust - the plateau is not to be rushed.
Motorcycle license · Sera debate
Collect your temporary Chinese motorcycle license in the morning. In the afternoon, the monks’ debate at Sera Monastery (founded 1419), one of the great Gelug seminaries.
Jokhang · Barkhor · Potala
The Jokhang (647), Tibet’s holiest temple, and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit. Then the Potala Palace, and a sunset panorama of it from the Parla Lupu cave shrine.
Lhasa → Kamba La → Yamdrok → Karo La → Gyantse
The ride begins. Over Kamba La (4,796 m) for a first view of turquoise Yamdrok Lake (4,441 m), past the Karo La glacier (5,010 m) to Gyantse and its incomparable Kumbum stupa - 76 chapels of 15th-century murals.
Gyantse · Sakya
A shorter day to Sakya and its great grey monastery (1073), founding seat of the Sakya school - a fortress of Tibetan learning on the road west.
Sakya → Shegar → Jiawu La → Rongbuk → Everest BC
Past Shegar and over Jiawu La (5,210 m), where five 8,000-meter peaks line the horizon - Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Nuptse, Cho Oyu. To Rongbuk, the highest monastery on earth, and Everest Base Camp at 5,154 m. Sunset on the north face.
Rongbuk → Everest sunrise → Shigatse
Everest at sunrise, then ride to Shigatse, Tibet’s second city, and Tashilunpo Monastery (1447) - seat of the Panchen Lama, home to the world’s largest gilded Maitreya.
Shigatse → Yungdrung Ling → Xuege La → Dangxiong
A rarely-traveled, beautiful stage: the Bon monastery of Yungdrung Ling, the towering Qiongmugangri (7,048 m), over Xuege La (5,411 m) past Yangbajing to Dangxiong.
Dangxiong → Lhachen La → Nam Tso → Lhasa
Over Lhachen La (5,190 m) to Nam Tso - the ‘heaven lake’ at 4,718 m - and the Tashi Dorje peninsula beneath sacred Nyenchen Tanglha. Then the long ride back to Lhasa and the bikes returned.
Lhasa · airport / railway station
Transfer to the airport or railway station. A lifetime's ride behind you - Everest and the heaven lake, on two wheels.
Before you ride
This is a high-altitude journey through remote country. Several riding days cross passes above 5,000 metres, weather can change quickly, and some stages are long even when the road surface is good. Accommodation becomes simpler near Everest and in smaller plateau towns. Our route pacing, local team and support vehicle are designed around these conditions, but safety, permits, weather and road access may require us to adjust a stage. We confirm the current plan, motorcycle, accommodation and support arrangements with every rider before departure.
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
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