Date:	On request
Price:	On request
Highlights / Route:	Lhasa – Gongbo´gyamda – Mainling – Lanxian – Shannan – Nagarze – Shigatse – Tingri – Everest Basislager – Dinggye – Sakya – Lhasa
Length:	~ 2300 Km
Duration :	14 days
Style / Character:	Adventure Tour with camping and overnight stays in guesthouses and hotels
Media:
Vehicles:	4×4, SUV, Van, Bus

Discover the very best of Tibet: Hilly Nomad grassland, vast lakes, ancient culture, old towns and monasteries, and snow capped mountains at Mt. Everest Base Camp. This adventure brings you to the most stunning cultural and natural highlights of Tibet as well as remote countryside roads, off the beaten track temples, and high altitude mountain passes where the air gets thin. On this expedition tour we will stay every second night in our camp on the grassland, with nomads, near rivers, or on the shores of the great lakes of Tibet.

Google maps only offers a basic overview on the route.
Many smaller roads are not documented.

 

Daily itinerary for Great Tibet Expedition

Day	Route: Desciption
1	First meeting in Lhasa: Fight to Lhasa, transfer to the hotel and first orientation walk.
2	Acclimatization and sightseeing day in Lhasa: we visit the Potala Palace and the Norbulingka summer palace of the Dalai Lama. After lunch we take a walk with hundreds of pilgrims and circumambulate the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most important temple in the heart of the old town. In the afternoon we have time for the bustling traditional Bharkor market.
3	Lhasa – Gongbo`gyamda: On our first riding day we ride through green grassland following the Lhasa river. After the first 50 kilometers we take a break and visit the world famous Ganden monastery, one of the “three great” monasteries of Tibet. Located on top of Wangbur mountain at around 4300 m from here we have a spectacular view on the surrounding rugged landscape.We pitch camp around the town of Gongbo`gyamda. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 6h
4	Gongbo`gyamda – Mainling: On the way to Mainling we pass by small Tibetan farming villages and Nomad camps in the green countryside. We cross several rivers and ride along deep gorges. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 10h
5	Mainling – Langxian: After Mainling we come across the vast Yarlung Zangbo river, one of the most important waterways of Tibet. Here, the landscape starts to get more and more rugged: the villages are build deep into the steep mountain side, overlooking the valley. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 4h
6	Langxiang – Shannan: The area around Shannan has a history of over 2000 years. We visit Samye monastery, the very first monastery of Tibet, and Yungbu Lakhang, the first royal palace. Both sights are in close vicinity to Shannan, where we stay overnight. After arriving at our hotel and taking a break we ride our bikes to there. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 5h
7	Shannan – Nagarze: We continue our journey further along the shores of the Yarlung Zangbo river, its several engulfed streams looking now like a river delta, to its source, the Yamzho Yumco lake. On its green pasture like shores we pitch our camp and enjoy the view. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 4 1/2h
8	Nagarze – Shigatse: From Nagarze we ride northeast to Shigatse, host of one of the largest monasteries in Tibet, Tashilhunpo. We take a lunch break at Gyantse, famous for the largest Chörten (or: Stupa) of Tibet, which serves as a monastery, and the old fort of Gyantse Dzong, located on a hilltop and overlooking the town. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 3 1/2h
9	Shigatse – Tingri: On the way from Shigatse to Tingri we join the Friendship Hwy., which connects Nepal with Tibet. Above Tingri town on a hill the old fort Shekar Dorje Dzong offers great views on Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, and Cho Oyu: four of the six highest mountains on earth. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 4 1/2h
10	Tingri – Mt. Everest Base Camp: From Tingri we continue further south to Mt. Everest Base Camp. The last 50 kilometer, leaving the Friendship Hwy., are still unpaved. We stay overnight around Rongbu monastery. On the next morning we can choose to either take a bus, ride a horse, or hike all the way up to the base camp. From there we have stunning views on the world´s highest mountain. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 5h
11	Mt. Everest Base Camp – Dinggye: Back on the paved Friendship Hwy. we take a turn and ride our bikes on minor roads back north in the direction to Lhasa. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 9h
12	Dinggye – Sakya: From Dinggye we ride through abundant grassland and Nomad territory to Sakya on minor roads, off the beaten track. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 4h
13	Sakya – Lhasa: Sakya is our last overnight stop before heading back to Lhasa. In the ancient temple town, named for its cultural connection to the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism, we have time to say goodbye to the Tibetan countryside. [icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 8h
14	All good things come to an end: our adventure ends after breakfast in Lhasa. Here you have the chance to stay several days more in and around Lhasa by yourself together with a Tibetan guide (as prescribed by law).

 

Included Services:

Overnights stays in hotels and guest houses
English speaking tour guide
Vehicle
Meals (Breakfast, lunch), mineral water
Help with applying a Chinese visa