Private tour — on your dates
15 Days Central Tibet Biking Tour
15 Days $1,298 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Lhasa Yamdrok Lake Gyantse Shigatse Friendship Highway cycling Everest Base Camp (5,200m) The Central Tibet cycling tour follows the legendary Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway…
- 15 Days / 14 Nights
- Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → 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
Road conditions are excellent throughout. Daily cycling distances are calibrated to be challenging without being punishing (50–120km), and a fully equipped support vehicle carries all luggage and provides mechanical backup. Rest days in Shigatse allow recovery and cultural exploration before the high-altitude Himalayan sections begin.
This is the definitive Tibet cycling experience — long enough to feel the full scope of the plateau, varied enough to include lake scenery, mountain passes, ancient monasteries, and the world’s highest mountain. Good general fitness and altitude tolerance are required, but not professional cycling experience. The ride to Everest Base Camp at the end of 12 days of cycling is one of the great personal achievements available to any traveller.
- Lhasa Sightseeing → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple
- Lhasa → Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
- Lhasa to Chushul (50km)
- Chushul to Kamba La Pass (60km)
- Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse (70km)
- Gyantse to Shigatse (90km)
Day by day
Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse → Friendship Highway cycling → Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
Day1
Arrive Lhasa — Rest
Airport pick-up and hotel check-in. Full day of rest and acclimatization.
Day2
Lhasa Sightseeing — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple
Visit Lhasa’s iconic sights and collect your bike. Short test ride 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: final gear preparation and briefing for the long cycling tour ahead.
Day4
Cycling Day 1 — Lhasa to Chushul (50km)
First day of cycling south from Lhasa to Chushul along the Kyichu River valley. Warm-up day with gentle gradients.
Day5
Cycling Day 2 — Chushul to Kamba La Pass (60km)
Cycle up to the Kamba La Pass (4,794m) for the first breathtaking views of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake below. Descent to the lake shore.
Day6
Cycling Day 3 — Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse (70km)
Cycle around the southern shore of Yamdrok Lake with stunning views at every turn. Continue past the Karola Glacier to Gyantse. Visit Gyantse Kumbum.
Day7
Cycling Day 4 — Gyantse to Shigatse (90km)
Cycle from Gyantse to Shigatse along the Nyang River valley — a relatively flat and enjoyable day of riding through fertile farmland and small Tibetan villages.
Day8
Shigatse — Rest — Tashilunpo Monastery
Rest day in Shigatse. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery — the largest monastery in western Tibet and seat of the Panchen Lama.
Day9
Cycling Day 5 — Shigatse to Lhatse (120km)
Long cycling day westward along the Friendship Highway through classic plateau scenery to Lhatse. The road is mostly flat with long open views.
Day10
Cycling Day 6 — Lhatse to Tingri (80km)
Cycle south-west toward the Himalayan range. The first distant views of Everest and Cho Oyu appear on the horizon as you approach Tingri.
Day11
Cycling Day 7 — Tingri to Rongbuk (65km)
The most dramatic day of the tour — cycling toward the world’s highest mountain. The road climbs gradually as Everest’s north face grows ever larger ahead. Arrive at Rongbuk Monastery.
Day12
Cycling Day 8 — Rongbuk to Everest Base Camp (8km) and Rest
Cycle the final 8km to Everest Base Camp (5,200m) — one of the most iconic cycling finishes in the world. Spend the day exploring EBC.
Day13
EBC — Shigatse (by vehicle)
Drive by support vehicle from EBC back to Shigatse, recovering after the epic cycling achievement.
Day14
Shigatse — Lhasa (by vehicle)
Drive back to Lhasa along the Friendship Highway.
Day15
Lhasa Departure
Transfer to airport or train station for departure.
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.
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
How large will my group be?
Join-in departures run with a minimum of 3 travellers — usually 3–8 pax, and never more than 16. You choose the departure date, the starting point and the itinerary length that suits you; guests on different day counts travel together on the shared legs, and each group leaves when their own itinerary ends. If you prefer, this route can also run as a private tour for your own party only. A 3–8 group costs a little more per person and is quieter, with more freedom to change the day on the road; a 3–16 group costs less per person and gives you more people to travel with.
Which permits does this tour need?
We arrange all required Tibet permits for you as part of the booking — you only need a valid passport. Depending on the areas visited this can include the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), the Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB), the Frontier Pass and, for sensitive areas, a Military Permit.
How do I get to the starting point of the tour?
The tour starts in Lhasa. You can reach it by flight or by the Qinghai–Tibet railway — either way we meet you on arrival. Many travellers fly in and take the train out (or the other way round) to see both faces of the plateau. We are happy to advise on flights and train tickets as part of your booking.
Can this tour be customized?
Yes — every tour on this site can also run as a private departure with your own dates and pace, arranged by our own office in Lhasa. Send us your dates, group size and interests and we will adapt the itinerary around you.
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.
