Mountain Biking on the Roof of the World

20 Days/19 Nights

Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse-Xegar-Rongbuk Everest Base Camp-Nyalam-Kathmandu

Mountain Biking along Tibet-Nepal friendship Highway, through one of the most remote regions in the world, is quite possibly, a ‘life changing’ journey through time, spirits, scenery and physical demands. We visit the major Buddhist monasteries and temples, meet the villagers and experience the Tibetan culture and traditions. Undoubtedly, this is the most rewarding bike journey of the world! Nothing in the Alps, nothing in the Pyrenees, nothing in the world even compares. This expedition is for adventurous cyclists wishing to immerse themselves in the rawness of this vast plateau and the spirit of local Tibetans at a deeper level.

Starting in Lhasa at 11,300 feet, we traverse 1,000 kilometers over six panoramic passes exceeding 14,500 feet, finishing in the Kathmandu Valley-the capital city of the Himalayan country of Nepal. We follow the southern Friendship Highway that runs westwards, parallel to the great Himalaya chain forming the border with the territories of Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal. Throughout, the road traverses a high and dry plateau-land, which is punctuated by the spectacular monastery towns of Gyantse, Shigatse and Shegar, as well as several smaller settlements and nomadic Drogpa encampments.

On the detour away from the main route towards the Rongbuk Monastery, the road climbs through almost fifty hairpin bends to reach the Pang La, which offers splendid views of the Himalaya, and of Mt. Everest itself. Standing before the exposed and shear North Face of Mt. Everest, at its base camp at 5,500m/18,044ft is a memorable experience that many of us can just imagine. We will spend a night at Everest Base Camp before riding 70 km back to the Friendship Highway.

Back on the main road, we ride to the summit of Tibetan Plateau as we cross the 5,124m high Lablung La from where begins the mind-blowing descent of 4500 m, via the border town of Zhangmu, to the valley of the Sun Kosi River in Nepal.