Private tour — on your dates
16 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Biking Tour
16 Days $1,090 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Lhasa Yamdrok Lake cycling Gyantse Kumbum Shigatse Friendship Highway cycling Everest Base Camp (5,200m) Cycling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp is the most iconic cycling…
- 16 Days / 15 Nights
- Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake cycling → Gyantse Kumbum → Shigatse → Friendship Highway cycling → Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
- Challenging pace
- Best: April to June and September to October
- No Deposit — Ever
- Cancel Free Before Permit Issued
- Full Refund except $100 Permit Fee
- Bring 7, Your Spot Is Free
- Our Own Office in Lhasa, Since 1999
The trip at a glance
The 16-day format allows genuine acclimatization: two days in Lhasa before cycling begins, a rest day in Shigatse before the highest sections, and a full extra day at EBC for the pre-dawn sunrise that most cyclists describe as the defining moment of their entire journey. Daily cycling distances range from 50 to 120 kilometres on paved road throughout, with the support vehicle carrying all luggage.
This tour is suitable for cyclists with good general fitness and some experience at altitude. It does not require professional or competitive cycling ability — determination and willingness to move at altitude’s pace matter more than raw speed. Arriving at Everest Base Camp under your own pedalling power, after 12 days of cycling across the Tibetan plateau, is a genuinely extraordinary achievement.
- Lhasa → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
- Lhasa → Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
- Lhasa to Chushul (50km)
- Chushul to Yamdrok Lake via Kamba La (60km)
- Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse (70km)
- Gyantse to Shigatse (90km)
Day by day
Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake cycling → Gyantse Kumbum → Shigatse → Friendship Highway cycling → Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
Day1
Arrive Lhasa — Rest
Airport pick-up and hotel check-in. Full rest day for acclimatization.
Day2
Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Explore Lhasa’s iconic cultural sites. Collect and test bikes in the afternoon.
Day3
Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
Morning visit to the Tibet Museum near Norbulingka for exhibits on Tibetan history, traditional arts, and Buddhist culture. In the afternoon, attend Sera Monastery’s famous monk debating session (15:00–17:00, except Sundays). Evening: bike fitting, helmet check, and pre-tour briefing from your cycling guide.
Day4
Cycling Day 1 — Lhasa to Chushul (50km)
First day of cycling south through the Kyichu River valley to Chushul.
Day5
Cycling Day 2 — Chushul to Yamdrok Lake via Kamba La (60km)
Ascend the Kamba La pass (4,794m) for the dramatic first view of Yamdrok Lake — one of Tibet’s most iconic vistas. Descend to the lake shore.
Day6
Cycling Day 3 — Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse (70km)
Cycle the spectacular Yamdrok Lake shore then past the Karola Glacier into Gyantse. Visit the famous Gyantse Kumbum.
Day7
Cycling Day 4 — Gyantse to Shigatse (90km)
Cycle along the Nyang River valley to Shigatse — an enjoyable and relatively flat day of riding.
Day8
Shigatse Rest — Tashilunpo Monastery
Rest day. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery — seat of the Panchen Lama — and explore Shigatse’s old town.
Day9
Cycling Day 5 — Shigatse to Lhatse (120km)
Long ride west along the Friendship Highway. The plateau opens up into vast, empty vistas.
Day10
Cycling Day 6 — Lhatse to Tingri (80km)
Cycle south-west with increasingly dramatic Himalayan views. Everest appears in the distance.
Day11
Cycling Day 7 — Tingri to Rongbuk Monastery (65km)
The iconic day — cycling toward the world’s highest mountain. Everest’s north face dominates the horizon as you approach.
Day12
Cycling Day 8 — Rongbuk to Everest Base Camp (8km)
Cycle the final 8km to EBC (5,200m) — a moment of profound achievement. Explore the base camp area.
Day13
EBC — Sunrise and Exploration
Wake before dawn for the spectacular Everest sunrise. Spend the morning at base camp then return to Rongbuk by bike.
Day14
EBC — Shigatse (by support vehicle)
Drive by support vehicle from EBC back to Shigatse.
Day15
Shigatse — Lhasa (by vehicle or train)
Return to Lhasa by tourist bus or train along the Friendship Highway.
Day16
Lhasa Departure
Transfer to airport or train station. End of your Lhasa to EBC cycling adventure.
Meals: Breakfast Tibet Permit — Required for All Visitors Every visitor to Tibet must hold a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. It is mandatory, cannot be obtained on arrival, and differs by nationality. We handle the full application once you book — please allow at least 15 days before your departure date.
Common Questions What fitness level is needed for the Lhasa to Everest Base Camp cycling tour? What is the total elevation involved in cycling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp? Can I actually cycle all the way into Everest Base Camp itself? What type of bicycle is provided? Can I return from Shigatse to Lhasa by train? Yes — the Lhasa-Shigatse railway operates regular passenger services and is a convenient option for the return journey (approximately 3 hours). Your guide can arrange the train ticket in advance. Alternatively, the support vehicle drives you back along the Friendship Highway, which allows one final look at the plateau scenery from the road.
What is included
Included
- Tibet Entry Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit
- All entrance fees for tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking guide and cycling support driver
- Support vehicle for luggage transport throughout the ride
- High-quality mountain bike rental
- Helmet, basic cycling safety gear and spare parts kit
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Flights or trains to/from Tibet
- Meals not specified in the itinerary (approximately USD 3–15 per meal)
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal cycling equipment (padded shorts, gloves, cycling shoes)
- Bicycle repair parts beyond normal wear
Photos from this route
Questions travellers ask
What fitness level is needed for the Lhasa to Everest Base Camp cycling tour?
Good general fitness is sufficient — this tour does not require professional or competitive cycling ability. You should be comfortable cycling 60–90km per day and have some experience with hills or multi-day rides. The main challenge is altitude rather than technical difficulty: all roads are paved, gradients are manageable, and the support vehicle is always with you. Most participants are recreational cyclists with a sense of adventure and determination.
What is the total elevation involved in cycling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp?
The route covers approximately 900km with multiple passes over 4,000–5,000m, culminating at Everest Base Camp at 5,200m. The Kamba La Pass (4,794m) on Day 5 is the first major ascent, offering the famous first view of Yamdrok Lake. The Gyatso La Pass (5,250m) near Tingri is the highest road pass on the route. Total ascent across the full tour is approximately 10,000m.
Can I actually cycle all the way into Everest Base Camp itself?
Yes — the final 8km from Rongbuk Monastery to EBC is a cycling route open to permit holders. You cycle at approximately 5,200m above sea level on an unpaved but manageable track. This is consistently the moment that participants describe as the most memorable of the entire tour.
What type of bicycle is provided?
We provide high-quality 21-speed mountain bikes with front suspension, appropriate for Tibet’s plateau roads and the unpaved EBC approach track. Helmets and a basic repair kit are included. If you prefer to travel with your own bicycle, contact us in advance to discuss transport and any adjustments needed for the specific route.
Can I return from Shigatse to Lhasa by train?
Yes — the Lhasa-Shigatse railway operates regular passenger services and is a convenient option for the return journey (approximately 3 hours). Your guide can arrange the train ticket in advance. Alternatively, the support vehicle drives you back along the Friendship Highway, which allows one final look at the plateau scenery from the road.
Before you send your inquiry
- No deposit — ever. Your dates are held with a free inquiry, and nothing is due until we confirm. On fixed group departures, book early to secure your seats.
- Cancel free before your Tibet Travel Permit is issued — full refund, every dollar.
- After the permit is issued: the USD $100 permit fee is non-refundable, everything else is refunded. Refunds within 7 business days.
- Bring a group of 7 and your spot is free (7+1).
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Tell us your dates and route on the form below — you will have a written itinerary and an item-by-item quote within 12 hours, with no obligation to book.
- Prices depend on group size, hotel standard, season and how you travel into Tibet, so we quote each trip individually rather than from a price list.
- Hotel details — the exact hotels we use — come with your quote. Ask below for the standard you would like and we will match it.
- A Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator since 1999 — our own guides, vehicles and office in Lhasa, 7,200+ travellers from 40+ countries, 4.9★ on TripAdvisor.
