Tibet → Nepal · On-road · Rental or own bike
Two capitals, one Himalaya between them. West from Lhasa along the old Friendship road, up to Everest Base Camp, then over the border at Kyirong and down into Nepal.
The ride
Three days in Lhasa first - not padding, but the acclimatisation that makes the rest of the ride safe and enjoyable. You collect your temporary Chinese licence, walk the Barkhor with the pilgrims, and let your body catch up with the altitude.
Then the bikes head west, following the monasteries: Gyantse and its Kumbum, Shigatse and Tashilunpo, the grey fortress-monastery at Sakya. Over Jiawu La at 5,210 m five eight-thousanders line the horizon at once, and the road drops you at Rongbuk - the highest monastery on earth - and Everest Base Camp at 5,154 m.
The last full day is the long one: 366 km past Paiku Tso beneath Shishapangma, down to Kyirong at 2,800 m. Then the border, and the descent off the plateau into green Nepal. Run as a private tour with a Tibetan guide and a support 4×4 carrying luggage, fuel, spares and oxygen.
Five passes crest above 4,000 m. We never gain the whole height in a day - the route is built so your body acclimatises as you climb.
The route, day by day
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 - a booking 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.
A booking consultant will reply within 24 hours.
Nothing opened? Copy your enquiry below and send it to hello@chinamotorcycletravel.com.
