14 Days Central Tibet Bike Tour

When you arrive in Lhasa by train or flight, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit to welcome you. Then you will be transported to your hotel. You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on the way to the hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Tips: If this is your first visit to Tibet, you will need to acclimatize to the increased elevation, to prevent altitude sickness. This is best done by resting in the hotel and minimizing any physical exertion.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, Thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then tourists will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Gampo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the holiest statue of Buddha. Around the monastery is the famous Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different part of Tibet.

Finally, you’ll taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house and enjoy a welcome dinner at night.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Optional:
After finishing the sightseeing, if time allows, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center. Besides, you can also choose to upgrade your tour to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD).

Today, you will visit two of the three prestigious Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416, Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet. Situated at the foot of Gambo Utse Mountain, Drepung was once home to more than 10000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The highlight is the monk debate held in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan scripture printing house.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, we will cycle eastwards to Ganden Monastery, one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries of Tibet. You may see stunning peak views of Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains on the way if the sky is clear. It will take 3 to 4 hours for us to complete this 53km trip. The most challenging part is climbing through Wanpo Mountain (3800m). After arriving, you can take a kora around Ganden Monastery for one or two hours.

Stay overnight in Ganden Monastery.

Today, we will follow the same road and ride back to Lhasa. Upon arrival, the rest of day in Lhasa is your free time. You can get prepared for our next destination - Namtso Lake.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, we will cycle from Lhasa to Damxung along Qinghai-Tibet highway. The road is well-paved and smooth. We will first arrive in Yangpachen and have a rest there. After lunch, we will go on cycling to Damxung.

Stay overnight at Damxung.

As the road extends forwards, the snow-capped mountain views of Nyenchen Thanglha appear in front of you. The most challenging part of today is climbing over the Mt. Nagenla Pass which is 5190m above sea level. If you need help, the travel bus can take you and your bike to pass the mountain pass.

As long as you pass through the mountain, you could see the green grassland dotted with sheep, yaks and nomad tents by the roadside. As one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, Namsto Lake is the highest salt lake in China, with an altitude of about 5000 meters. 

Stay overnight by the lake.

In the morning, you can trek along the lakeshore towards Tashi dor Island, where you can explore the meditation caves. Then we will cycle back to Yangpachen to have a relaxing time in the hot spring.

Stay overnight at Yangpachen.

Today, we will return to Lhasa from Yangpachen along the same way we came.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, we will start another route towards Samye Monastery, which is 135 km away from Lhasa. Being reputably called the first monastery built in Tibet, Samye Monastery is famous for its sacred mandala design. It is the place the tradition of the Tibetan people and Kings emerges.

Camping around Samye Monastery.

Along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, we continue ride to Tsedang from Samye. It is a short ride of 65 km only. After arrival, you will visit the Trundruk Monastery and Yumbulagang Palace. Trundruk is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Yumbulagang Palace is the first palace in Tibet, built for the first Tibetan King, standing on a hill on the eastern bank of the Yarlung River.

Camping around Yumbulagang Palace.

During the following two days, you will ride back to Lhasa from Tsedang along the well-paved highway. You can have a good rest in the hotel after arrival.

On the last day of your tour, our guide will transfer you to the airport or train station, and help you with checking in and boarding.