Tibet Motorbike Tour, Cost , Itinerary ,Best season

Overview
Itinerary
Inclusion
Trip Info
Reviews

16
Days

Best price guaranteed
Secure & easy online booking
Flexible booking dates
Decades of experience

250 Reviews

Have Questions?

Ask to expert

Whatsapp / Viber +977-9851131287

Meet the Team

At a Glance

Duration

16 days

Destination

Tibet

Trip Difficulty

Difficult

Max altitude

5000m/16404 ft

Group Size

1-10 Pax.

Activity

Trekking,Biking &Sightseeing

Accommodation

Hotel in Kathmandu, lodge & tea houses during the trek.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner during the trek

Vehicle

Private car/bus/jeep ,Motorbike during the trek and flight

Overview of Tibet Motorbike Tour

The Tibet Motorbike Tour can be a lifetime journey. Nature Explore Trekking fulfills every Rider lover’s dream to ride on a Royal Enfield 500 cc/Himalayan motorbike in the beautiful landscapes of Tibet, China.

Lhasa (3,800 mm/ 11,450 ft) one of the highest cities in the world is the second most populous city and administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. The cultural and religious significance of Lhasa includes Buddhist sites such as tranquil Norbulingka, Deprung and Sera Monasteries, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, and Norbulingka Palace includes 100 other monasteries and chorten.

Travelers who are motorbike riders, if they have dream to travel part of the Tibet by motorbike, and they would love this route as they’ll be riding alongside grassland and yaks, with stunning scenery. Another plus point is that you’ll also be learning about the rich Tibetan culture practices, and religion. You’ll also reach the north side of Everest Base Camp which stands at an elevation of 5,150 m offering the beautiful views of Mt. Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma.

Along the way, you’ll cross several peaks over 4,500 m to 5,500 m high passes. As per the road conditions it’s clear, with less chance of traffic, and the directions are very clear. Additionally, a Tibetan guide will accompany you, with backup transportation available in case of any problems, along with mechanics to assist if needed.

Our journey will go through a roundabout 1000 km long friendship highway that ranges above 5,000 m + . After few days sightseeing in Lhasa city tour, our ride will come across Gyatso La pass (5,220 m), beautiful Yamdrok Tso Lake (4,447 m) also known as Turquoise lake, brahmaputra and Yarlung Tsangpo River, Kaso La pass (5,045 m). Gyantse is famous for Kumbum, Gyantse Dong and Palkhor monastery. We will also ride along Nepal-side to the newly opened border Kerung via Saga city then continue the ride back to Kathmandu Nepal.

Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive in Kathmandu, (alt. 1,300 m)

Upon your arrival, our representative will come to pick you in airport and transfer you to hotel. In the afternoon, tour operator/guide will come to brief you about tour. You can spend late afternoon in the street of thamel.

Duration

30 min

Max altitude

1300m/4265 ft

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 02 Sightseeing at Kathmandu valley

After breakfast, you will go on a sightseeing tour of kathmandu. The day begins with a visit to pashupatinath temple, a scared hindu temple dedicated to lord shiva, situated on the bank of bagmati river. Next, you will explore to the boudhanath stupa, one of the largest buddhist stupa in nepal, since back to 5th century.

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 03 Second day of exploring around kathmandu valley

In the morning after breakfast, you will explore to the Durbar square, the historic heart of kathmandu, filled with ancient temples, palaces and courtyards. After that, we will also visit syombhunath stupa and return back to the hotel.

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 04 Trip preparation day

Today, you will prepared for tour including permits checks, bike fitting, and pack required gears. Afterall, you have a short test ride.

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 05 Fly to Lhasa, (alt.13000 ft - 1:30 hrs)

Early morning, we will head to TIA to catch a flight to Lhasa. A 2-hour flight to Lhasa is one of the most beautiful flights in the world flying us above Everest and Kanchenjunga. As we land at the Gonggar International Airport, our local Tibetan crew members will meet us and take us to our hotel in Lhasa.

Since the airport is located 60 km away from the main city of Lhasa, we will have to spend another one and a half hours on the road till we reach our hotel. Please rest and relax throughout the day to acclimatize to the high altitude and temperature.

We will spend another day exploring the beauty of Tibet. Meanwhile, our Tibetan friends will organize a welcome program for us to entertain and learn about the culture of Tibet.

Duration

1 hour and 30 min

Max altitude

13000 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 06 Exploration day at Lhasa, 2 hrs bike riding practice and city sightseeing, (alt. 3,656 m)

Have a leisurely breakfast in the morning enjoying the calm atmosphere and incredible landscape of Lhasa. Now, it’s time to go on a full exploration of Lhasa with our experienced Guide who also works as a translator. We will visit Sera Monastery known as the most important monastery and university of Tibet.

we will take a tour to Jokhang Monastery which is another important pilgrimage point of Tibetian Buddhism. It houses a buddha statue created during the life of Shakyamuni buddha. The most important statue in the temple is over 2,500 years old and was consecrated by the buddha himself.

Duration

2 hrs motorbike riding practice

Max altitude

3,656m/11994 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 07 City sightseeing in Lhasa on Motorbike, (alt. 3,656 m, 4-5 hrs, 40 km)

After a morning breakfast, we will walk along the streets of Barkhor Market enjoying every little detail from street vendors enticing their clients to buy their goods to exhibitions of tibetian culture, customs, and traditions.

Our next destination is the 17th century potala palace- the winter residence of the Dalai lama. The potala palace was built on the morpo ri hills, 130 m high. From the hill, there is a beautiful view of whole of lhasa. After visiting, we will return back to the hotel.

Duration

4-5 hours

Max altitude

3,656m/11994 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 08 Sightseeing tour in Lhasa on Motorbike, (4-5 hrs, 50 km)

Today also we will visit Norbulingka Palace – the summer residence of the Dalai Lama and the most famous garden in Lhasa. The complex is different from most of the monasteries you will see in Tibet. There are several palaces in the park, where the most interesting is the 13th-century Temple of the Dalai Lama.

Next, we will explore Drepung Monastery – the largest monastery in Tibet, founded in the 14th century. Before the construction of the Potala, Drepung Monastery was the residence of the first 5 Dalai Lamas. During the heyday of Buddhism in Tibet, up to 10 thousand monks practiced in the monastery. Today the number of monks has dwindled to a few hundred (about 600), but Drepung Monastery still shows signs of its former glory.

Duration

4-5 hours

Max altitude

3950m/12959 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Day 09 Ride to Gyantse via Yamdrok so Lake, (alt. 3,950 m, 6-7 hrs, 261km)

In the morning after breakfast, we will ride to Shigatse/Xigatse via Gyantse. The asphalt road goes along the huge turquoise mirror of Lake Yamdrok (at 4300 m) and then rises to the Karo La pass (5010 m), where there is an impressive glacier. From here, we are just 90 km away from Xigatse taking us only one and a half hours.

Duration

6-7 hrs

Max altitude

3950m/12959 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 10 Ride to Shigatse, (alt. 3,840 m, 3-4 hrs, 90 km)

In the morning, we will start our ride to shigatse from Gyantse. Enjoying the ride and after reached to shigatse, we will take some rest in hotel.

After some rest, we can go to visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery – the residence of the Panchen Lama. Here we can see the relics of Shakyamuni, the Maitreya Hall, and a stunning collection of thangkas.

Duration

3-4 hrs

Max altitude

3900m/12795 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 11 Ride to Shegar, (alt. 4,300 m, 6-7 hrs, 244km)

After Breakfast, we will start our ride from Shigatse to Shegar across the vast Tibetian Plataeu. The route offers wide-open landscapes and dramatic Himalayan views. We will stay at night in shegar.

Duration

6-7 hours

Max altitude

4050m/13287 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 12 Ride to Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk then return back to Shegar, (alt. 5,200 m, 6-7 hrs, 200 km)

Early morning, we will start our ride to EBC (Everest Base Camp) at Rongbuk Monastery, which is world’s highest motorable route. After enjoying close up views of Everest’s North face with motorbike, we will return back to shegar for overnight stay.

Duration

6-7 hrs

Max altitude

5000m/16404 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 13 Ride to Saga, (alt. 4,640 m, 5-6 hrs, 181 km)

After breakfast, we head to Saga our overnight destination for today. Riding across the pristine Himalayan countryside through the Tibetan plateau.

Upon arrival in Saga, we will check in the hotel and spend the night after a delicious Tibetan dinner.

Duration

5-6 hrs

Max altitude

4400m/14435 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 14 Ride to Kerung, (alt. 2,700 m, 7-8 hrs, 270km)

We will start our ride after breakfast to reach kerung our overnight destination for today. We will descend from high-altitude plateau into greener valleys with experiencing a dramatic change in landscape and climate.

Duration

4-5 hrs

Max altitude

2700m/8858 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 15 Ride to Kathmandu via Kerung border, (7-8 hrs, 150 km)

Today, we will cross the kerung border and return to Kathmandu by road. We will complete immigration formalities, Enjoying the views and scenarious and celebrate the successful completion of the ride at afternoon in kathmandu.

Duration

7-8 hrs

Max altitude

1350m/4429 ft

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Lodge

Day 16 Depart to your own destination

After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer you to the airport to board your flight back to your homeland or to your next destination.

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Excluded

Tibet visa processing takes time as the rule has been change and we need your physical passport for the process which takes 2-3 days so,in those day we explore the kathmandu or you can also plan to hike near kathmandu valley.

Is this offered itinerary not suitable for you?

Inclusion/Exclusion

What's Included?

Airport pick up and drop.
Hotel in Kathmandu
3 Times meals during the trek(Breakfast,Lunche and Dinner).
Permits
Tibet Visa
Motorbike.
Fuel
First aid box.
Flight to Lhasa
Backup jeep.
Mechanic
Sightseeing and entry fee in Kathmandu and Tibet Lhasa.(Pashupatinath
temple,Swayambhunath temple,Boudhanath).
Tibet side guide and driver.
Backup oxygen cylinder.1
Duffle bag for the trip(to be return after the trek)
Warm down Jacket(to be return after the trek)
Nature Explore T-shirt as a gift.
Hot drinks.
Drinking bottled water.
Fresh Fruits.
All Government Taxes and expenses.

What's Excluded?

International airfare.
Personal insurance.
Extra accommodation in Kathmandu if you stay more than the above mentioned itinerary .
Any additional activities not mentioned in above itinerary.
Extra snacks and drinks.
Tipping for staff.

Trip Information

Tibet Motorbike tour is not only just a ride, its a spiritual and extreme adventure. This tour is perfect for those who want to ride in high altitude, remote beauty, and culture depth. Tibet Motorbike tour cannot be done solo riding, there will one authorized tour group with you while riding. The road condition of tibet is mostly paved highways,and some rough mountain sections. The altitude in this tour reach above 5,000 m. You need an proper planning with a acclimatization days to succeed this tour with the authorized tour organizer, and Nature explore trek is one of them.

For this trek, we need to prepare ourselves to ride bikes 5 to 7 hours daily. We also need the support of Backup vehicle, mechanic, and guide. This support and extra fuel, spare parts,and oxygen cylinder will be managed by the organizer.If you are continuing this tour with your own bikes then temporary chinese number plate and temporary driving license are essential. You should avoid alcohol and smoking during tour for your health and safety. You should drink 4-5 liter water to maintain your body. Required packing list for this tour is full-face helmet, armored Jackets and pants, thermal inner layers, and waterproof gloves. You should carry your personal items: passport copies, power bank & headlamp, sunscreen & lipbalm, and first-aid & medicines.

Permits & Visa

All permits and visas will be managed by the tour operator.

Required documents:

Tibet Travel Permit (TTP)
Alien Travel permit
Temporary Number plate (if own bike)
Temporary chinese Driving License
Military Permit (Border zone)
Chinese Tourist visa (from kathmandu)

Tibet visa processing takes time as the rule has been change and we need your physical passport for the process which takes 2-3 days so, in those day we explore the kathmandu or you can also plan to hike near kathmandu valley.

Difficulty level and Riding conditions

Riding skill & experience

Motorbike guided tours include support vehicles and guides but still assume you can handle gravel, dirt, and remote riding conditions. Some tours like nepal-tibet routes are described as advanced, expecting 2+ years of experience on decent-sized bikes (350-500 cc) and off-road skill. Most tour operators rate tibet motorbike tours as moderate to challenging, not beginner-friendly. Riders should be comfortable with long riding days, varied surfaces, and riding at high altitude.

Physical and health demand

Most of the rides are above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) and higher, which can cause fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, and general tiredness even for experienced riders. Riding long hours 6-8 hrs per day while managing wind, cold and thin air which adds physical strain.

Riding and roads conditions

Smooth paved highways

Major routes like the Sino-Nepal friendship highway or Lhasa-Shigatse road are generally well-paved and comfortable. You can ride comfortably and enjoy fresh air while riding at high speed. It will be so refreshing moment to ride in paved roads.

Gravel & dirt

Many senic detours or mountain passes involve loose gravel, rocky stretches, and dirt tracks. The real journey and fun begans if you are obsessed bikes and travels. Although, It will be uncomfortable to ride in off-roads and loose gravel for most of the riders.

Potholes and rough sections

Even paved roads can have potholes, uneven patches, and poor marking. It can make riders unbalance so you should ride carefully and give full attention while riding to avoid minor accidents and damaging vehicle.

Remote patches

Highways and roads can quickly turn rough or unpaved, so you need a good bike control and attention while riding.

Weather and Seasonal Riding

Best season

Spring (april-june) and Autumn (sep-oct) are the best and most recommended seasons. These seasons offers clear skies, mild temperature and generally stable roads to make your journey comfortable. This season are best season to ride over tibet and success your ride .

Weather challenges

Monsoon (june – august) and winter (nov – march) are the season which is not recommended for touring tibet. In monsoon, rains can make gravel and dirt sections muddy and slippery, increase landslide risk, and slow progress. In winter season, weather is very cold, with snow and ice. Many routes are are closed and unsafe during these seasons.

High-altitude weather

Weather can change quickly in higher altitude. You can experience sun, rain, snow, and wind all on the same day. Strong winds on plateaus like near Namtso or Yamdrok Lake can make controlling the bike harder. So, you need to practice bike riding before the tour.

Tibet Motorbike Tour FAQ'S

How long is the 16-day motorbike tour?

The motorbike tour is 16 days total, starting from kathmandu (Nepal) riding across the border and exploring across High-altitude destinations Everest Base Camp, Kailash, Shigatse, Gyantse) and ending in Lhasa or back in nepal.

What is the total riding distance of the tour?

Around 1,000-1,500 km is the total riding distance of the tour depending on the exact route and side tours.

How many hours do we ride each day?

We ride each days approximately 4-8 hours depending on the itinerary and side trips.

What is the highest altitude reached during the tour?

The highest altitude is above 5,000 m crossing the passes like Gawu La (5,200 m) and others in the Everest/Kailash regions.

Is prior high-altitude riding experience required?

This is not beginner-Level trip. So, prior high-altitude and mountain riding experienced is required.

What type of motorbike is used on the tour?

The Royal Enfield’s bike is used on the tour:

Royal Enfield Himalayan 411/450 cc
Royal Enfield 500 cc

Can I bring my own motorbike?

Yes, you can bring your own motorbike but its complex. Your bike must registered with chinese customs and need a chinese temporary driving license and number plate. So, riders prefer to rent a bikes from the tour operator due to its logistics.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

No, this tour is not suitable for beginners due to long daily distances, mountain roads, High-altitude conditions. If you have some experiences then you can join as apart of group but not solo.

What is the best season for an 16-day motorbike tour?

The best season for an 16-day motorbike tour is Late april to early october. In spring and autumn, this seasons are ideal with ope passes, clear weather, and stable conditions. Mid-winter is not preferred due to snow, closed all passes and road are blocked.

What documents and permits are required?

The most of the paperwork will handle by the tour operator if informed well in advance. Required documents and permits:

Temporary chinese driving license
Tibet travel permit
Valid passport
Chinese group visa
Temporary chinese number plate (if own bike)

Are Tibet permits included in the tour package?

Yes, most tour package include Tibet Travel Permit & Chinese Group Visa processing. Some package also includes road permit & other local permits.

What type of accommodation is provided?

Accomodation is usually comfort varies with location, city hotels in lhasa/shigatse and similar lodging in the remote areas.

Are meals included during the tour?

Meals are included during the tour as per provided itinerary or on your own depending on itinerary.

How do you handle altitude sickness and acclimatization?

We designed tour itineraries with gradual acclimatization and rest days. We also provide support vehicles which carry oxygen cylinders and first aid/medical kit. If riders feel unwell then they can ride in support vehicles.

Is there a backup or support vehicle during the ride?

Yes, there is a backup/support vehicle during the ride which carry first aid/medical kit, spare parts, oxygen cylinders, tools, and mechanic typically follows the group.

What happens in case of a bike breakdown?

In case of a bike breakdown, then mechanics and a support vehicle assist. If major repairs needed then you can continue your tour in a support vehicle.

Is travel and medical insurance mandatory?

Yes, travel and medical insurance is mandotary. Insurance specially cover motorcycling/adventure activities. May also recommend evacuation coverage.

What is the group size for this motorbike tour?

The group size is typically small to medium, about 2-12 riders plus guides and support staff.

Are sightseeing and cultural visits included?

Yes, most of the tour includes cultural visits, monastery entries and local sightseeing as apart of itinerary.

Is the 16-day motorbike tour safe?

Yes, we operate tours properly with experienced guides, support vehicle, mechanic, medical supplies, and gradual acclimitazation. But they involve in high altitude travel and challenging terrain, so safety depends on rider
preparedness.