Private tour — on your dates
6 Days Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Biking Tour
6 Days $459 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Lhasa Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Sera Monastery Cycling to Ganden Monastery (60km) Kyichu Valley panorama The Lhasa to Ganden ride is the most accessible Tibet cycling route…
- 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Sera Monastery → Cycling to Ganden Monastery (60km) → Kyichu Valley panorama
- Easy pace
- Best: May to early 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 route follows paved road along the Kyichu River valley east from Lhasa, climbing gradually for 45 kilometres before a final steep ascent to the monastery gate. Your support vehicle carries all luggage, so you ride with only a day pack. Two full acclimatization days in Lhasa before cycling give your body time to adjust to the altitude — and give the tour real cultural depth with visits to Lhasa’s iconic landmarks.
This is the ideal introductory Tibet cycling tour: manageable without extreme fitness, extraordinary in its mountain setting, and complete with both cultural richness and high-altitude adventure. If you have never cycled at altitude before, start here.
- Lhasa Sightseeing → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
- Lhasa → Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
- Cycling → Lhasa to Ganden Monastery (60km)
Day by day
Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Sera Monastery → Cycling to Ganden Monastery (60km) → Kyichu Valley panorama
Day1
Arrive Lhasa — Rest and Acclimatize
Airport pick-up and hotel check-in. Rest for the full day and evening to acclimatize to Lhasa’s altitude (3,650m). Light walking only.
Day2
Lhasa Sightseeing — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Cultural orientation day. Visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street pilgrim circuit. Test your bikes in the afternoon.
Day3
Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
Morning visit to the Tibet Museum near Norbulingka — a well-curated gallery covering Tibetan history, traditional arts, and Buddhist cultural heritage. In the afternoon, attend Sera Monastery’s famous monk debating session (15:00–17:00, except Sundays) — a theatrical, animated exchange of Buddhist scholarship that is one of Lhasa’s most memorable cultural experiences. Evening: final bike fitting, helmet adjustment, and pre-tour briefing from your cycling guide.
Day4
Cycling — Lhasa to Ganden Monastery (60km)
Set off east along the Lhasa River valley. The paved road climbs gradually for 45km before a final steep ascent to Ganden Monastery (4,300m) perched dramatically on a ridge. The support vehicle carries your bags. Approximately 4–5 hours cycling.
Day5
Ganden Monastery — Return to Lhasa
Morning visit to Ganden Monastery, founded in 1409 by Tsongkhapa — one of the most historically significant monasteries in Tibet. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Kyichu valley before cycling or driving back to Lhasa.
Day6
Lhasa Departure
Free morning. Transfer to airport or train station for your 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.
