OVERVIEW
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Join us for one of the world's great journeys - a trans-Himalaya adventure that takes us from the mystical city of Lhasa in Tibet to the bustling city of Kathmandu in Nepal.
During the course of the 15-day journey you'll cross several 4000+ meter passes, visit the world-famous Everest Base Camp and enjoy the world's longest downhill ride! You'll also pass through a breathtaking scenic mix of alpine plateaus, high mountain ranges and lush jungle. The Lhasa to Kathmandu ride is a grueling 3-week journey if traveled purely by bike, but we include 4WD support transportation. This gives you the best of both worlds - all the sights of a three week tour without having to ride the most grueling uphill sections or some of the less exciting flats, condensed into 15 days. This trip offers cyclists the rare opportunity to truly experience the charm and beauty of Tibet and Nepal. Designed for individuals with stamina and endurance to ride at extremely high altitude, this trip consists of off-road and paved trails through one of worlds richest cultural, spiritual and environmental regions.
Please note: Government issuance of tourist visas has been quite unpredictable in recent months. Access Trips reserves the right to alter the itinerary for this trip if necessary. See itinerary section below.
OUR HIMALAYAN BIKE INSTRUCTION PROGRAM
INSTRUCTION
This trip is as much about riding at incredibly high altitude as it is about taking in the history and culture of a very special region of the world. Biking through a breathtaking and historically rich country like Tibet is enjoyable in itself, but you'll find the experience that much more satisfying as you challenge yourself and improve your biking performance during your travels.
There is so much to learn in order to become a great biker so one of our goals for long-term improvement is to give you all the knowledge and advice that you need to be able to continue to learn from us months after you`ve left us. The flexible and relaxed atmosphere we create is more one of riding with friends than partaking in a lesson. We work hard to select the best possible guides who are advanced bikers with extensive biking experience. Perhaps even more importantly, our guides are fun, open and easy-going people who love to lead bike tours.
Although we want you to maximize your bike performance, our most important goal is that you have a fantastic time and unforgettable experience traveling with us. For this reason we work hard to create a supportive, relaxed and fun atmosphere and to create an itinerary that is unique and full of variety.
Beginners Information
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Intermediates Information
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Advanced Information
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ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE
Pick-up at Kathmandu airport. Hotel.
DAY 2: PREP & WARM UP
Arranging Tibet visas. Warm-up ride through the northern side of the valley surrounding Kathmandu. Equipment checks and re-packing our bikes for tomorrow's flight to Lhasa. Hotel.
DAY 3: FLY TO LHASA & EXPLORE
One-hour flight to Lhasa's Gongar airport. Settle into hotel around 5pm. Explore the 'holy city' of Lhasa's Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, or Barkhor Street. Gracious people, pious pilgrims, red-robed monks, ancient buildings, stunning alpine scenery. Hotel.
DAY 4: BIKE & CULTURE
Acclimatizing to the high altitude air, exploring the city, immersing ourselves in Tibetan and Chinese culture. Hotel.
DAY 5: BIKE & CULTURE
Acclimatizing to the high altitude air, exploring the city, immersing ourselves in Tibetan and Chinese culture. A short ride to the outskirts of Lhasa. Hotel.
DAY 6: BIKE, DRIVE & CAMPING
Full support vehicle. Khamba La Pass (4794m). 7km ride downhill and 38km alongside Yamdrok Lake. Riding on paved roads. First night camping. Includes toilet tent, kitchen/dining tent, and a shower tent with hot water bucket.
DAY 7: BIKE & CAMPING
Hot chocolate delivered to your tent. Hearty breakfast served. Jeep to Karo La Pass (5010m). Downhill ride on a tightly packed winding paved road. 64km journey. Dinner served by Sherpa crew.
DAY 8: SIGHTSEE & CULTURE
Sightseeing in Gyantse. Gyantse Dong, a 14th century castle. Kumbum monastery. Drive 100km, late lunch at Shigaste (second largest city in Tibet). Camping at 3950m.
DAY 9: BIKE & CAMPING
Full day of biking. Top of Tso La Pass (4520m). Downhill on paved road switchbacks. After 70km of riding, camping at 4000m.
DAY 10: BIKE & CAMP NEAR EVEREST BASE CAMP
Drive to the top of Gatos La Pass (5220m). Off-road biking to the summit of Pang La Pass followed by a swift downhill run. Camping in Rongbok (5000m), if weather permits, or stay at a local basic guesthouse.
DAY 11: BIKE & CAMPING
Early morning drive and bike to Everest Base Camp (8km). Breakfast. Technical off-road trails and rough dirt tracks. Dinner with our Sherpas. Camping at 4200m.
DAY 12: BIKE & CAMPING
Full day of biking. Tibetan villages, grasslands, views of ruined forts, and the mighty peaks of the Himalayas. Picnic lunch. After 70km of riding, camping at 4400m.
DAY 13: BIKE & GUESTHOUSE
Cross two cold passes. Magnificent display of prayer flags at the start of our long descent to the border. Stay overnight at a basic guesthouse.
DAY 14: BIKE THE WORLD'S LONGEST DOWNHILL
Descend almost 2000m in less than 40km. In less than two hours go from snowy passes to lush Nepalese rainforest. Cross the Tibet-Nepal border. Jeep back to Kathmandu. Hotel, hot showers, delicious dinner and some cold beers.
DAY 15: DEPART
Drop-off at Kathmandu's airport.
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Duration15 Days
Dates| May - Sep |  |
Prices from| USD 3490 | |
Skill levelBeg - Adv
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Because we have full vehicle support and we drive some of the more taxing uphills, you do not need the usual advanced ability and training required for the Lhasa to Kathmandu journey. Nevertheless, you should be at least an advanced-beginner biker and you should have a high level of fitness. This trip is suitable for those who are accustomed to road biking with some mountain biking experience.
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| * | Bike the world's longest downhill | | * | Expert guiding from knowledgeable local guides | | * | Visit Everest Base Camp | | * | Explore mystical Lhasa & bustling Kathmandu | | * | Visit Tibet's most important monasteries | |
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TrailsPaved roads & off-road trails
Instructor to Guest Ratio1:5
Max Group Size10
Accommodation3 nights in Kathmandu hotel, 3 nights in Lhasa hotel, 7 nights camping, 1 night in basic Tibetan guesthouse
FoodAll breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 dinners included
Travel InfoImportant flight, insurance and equipment information
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Norah (USA), 2x returning guest: I have had two fantastic experiences with Access Trips (New Zealand Snowboard & Ski Roadtrip and El Slavador Surf Tour). I love that the company can be professional while personal.
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