The Tibet Tour …
… is something special. Snow-capped mountains and a long view. With Tibetmoto I had a very nice adventure to Mt. Everest. Thank you!
Go East Young Man – East Tibet Motorcycle Tour
From Yunnan to Tibet: An adventure through the eastern Himalayas to the world’s highest peaks, the Everest Base Camp & Lhasa
Until not too long ago, foreigners were barred from traveling the roads from Shangri-La in Yunnan province to the Tibetan plateau along the eastern Himalayas. With our new Tibet Motorcycle Tour, we’ve unlocked this route. On this journey, you’ll be treated to spectacular vistas of the world’s highest summits, including the awe-inspiring Mount Everest. But it’s not just about the heights; you’ll also discover Tibet’s rich cultural heritage, remote mountain passes, pristine nature along the Mekong, the snow-clad peaks of the vast Himalayas, dense pine forests, and, of course, countless thrilling bends and breathtaking passes.
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Our adventure begins in Chengdu, from where we ascend into the Himalayas and explore the picturesque Tibetan old town of Shangri-La, located in the northernmost part of Yunnan province. Encircled by towering peaks and resting on the edge of the Tibetan expanse, Shangri-La is a true gem. Its vibrant and colorful old town sets the perfect stage for the start of our motorcycle journey. On our first day, the landscapes of the Himalayas envelop us. We’ll rest for the night in a Tibetan homestay at the foot of the majestic Kawa Karpo, which, at 6,770 meters, stands as the highest peak in the eastern Himalayas. Here we gain a genuine insight into the daily life and traditions of the Tibetan people.
Our route weaves its way through the East Himalayas, tracing the majestic courses of the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween rivers, within the UNESCO-protected “Three Parallel Rivers” region. As we ride, untouched forests and areas often dubbed the “Switzerland of the East” unfold before us, offering magnificent panoramas of sandstone landscapes and deep canyons. We eventually reach Ranwu Lake, its beauty accentuated by snow-covered summits.
Upon reaching the Tibetan plateau we continue riding to Everest Base Camp where we witness the majestic mountain from up close and spend the night near Rongbuk Monastery. Throughout our route, numerous vantage points on winding roads reveal breathtaking views of the world’s highest mountains: Makalu, Shisha Pangma, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and, unmistakably, Mount Everest. As we approach Lhasa, we’ll experience the mesmerizing blue Yamdrok Lake, ride across the icy Karo La Glacier Pass, and explore some of Tibet’s most significant monasteries and fortresses. The tour’s crowning moment is exploring the mystic city of Lhasa, letting the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and bustling Barkhor Market captivate our senses.
This tour is organized in conjunction with our partner, Tibetmoto Tours. As experts and direct providers of Tibet motorcycle tours, boasting their own motorcycle fleet, a base in Shangri-La, and a dedicated Tibetan team, they ensure you experience Tibet, its culture, and its people up close and personal.
Nice roads in Tibet
Endless winding mountain roads and beautiful views! The tour exceeded many of my expectations.
The organization …
… before the tour was very well coordinated by Tibetmoto. Hendrik supported us with all applications. The tour itself also ran smoothly.
5 stars for …
… the great organization, the nice care and the perfect tour!
2025
12.04. – 26.04.
27.09. – 11.10.
2026
12.04. – 26.04.
16.08. – 30.08.
11.10. – 25.10. (booked out)
BMW 310 GS: 5.990€
BMW 800 GS: 6.490€
Pillion: 4.490€
Single Room: +690€
15 days / 14 nights / 11 riding days
Overnight stays in hotels of the middle class and in guesthouses.
The tour was …
… a lot of fun and went very well to drive with a pillion. The roads were mostly paved and the motorcycles ran good.
Great organization
Thanks to Tibetmoto Tours and Hendrik! Everything went great!
I will book with …
… Tibetmoto again! Great tour!
Motorcycle Tour in East Tibet – Itinerary
Questions & Answers
All our itineraries give you a good overview what you will experience and discover when booking with tibetmoto. The itineraries are nevertheless best understood if they are seen as a suggestion rather than as a 100% planned and a thousand times done way of traveling. We like to keep every tour, every adventure, every trip unique and special. We are proud to say that we have never done a trip two times exactly the same way. Our team does not like to offer mainstream tourism tours, and we believe that people enjoy their time best when they have freedom and possibilities to choose from. Freedom and flexibility are very good ingredients to cook an exceptional discovery or adventure, to meet unusual people and visit off-the-beaten-track places.
After arriving at the camp ground we pitch up the tents, our team will set up the mobile kitchen, the electricity generator is being started and we can think of having a cold beer. All supplies and the luggage is carried by our supply truck. We do not have always pre-chosen camp grounds which are always frequented by us, since every expedition is different. Depending on the time in the afternoon we start looking for “the perfect spot”. Perfect spots have a water source such as a river or a lake and a flat piece of land for the tents. Some spots we use more frequently since they are so perfect that the location is hard to beat. Camping together with nomads offers an opportunity to experience their way of live, culture and habits. Sitting in the evening together in a nomad tent somewhere on the Tibetan grassland and listening to Tibetan nomads` songs is a truly genuine experience.
Dinner is being served in a large dining tent where we have tables and chairs to comfortably sit together, eat and drink. The separate, smaller, sleeping tents are designed to accommodate each two people, but if you choose the “single room” option (you will find that option below each expedition itinerary) you will have your own tent. Our tents are army tents where you can almost stand upright. The sleeping “hard wear” is a foldable army field bed, which puts your body about knee height away from the ground. We provide you with the entire hard wear, plus blankets and insulation mats. The only item you should bring along is your personal sleeping bag. If you don´t want to bring your sleeping bag all the way to China we can provide you with a new sleeping bag for a reasonable price.
The hotels in which you stay have a decent, but typical three to four star standard. All rooms have a private bathroom, with the exception of the Rongbuk Monastery.
Vaccinations are not required for the Tibet Motorcycle Tour.
Oxygen:
Starting from Lhasa we will provide medical oxygen. This can support a person with oxygen for up to 24 hours. Before starting the Tibet Motorcycle Tour, you should also contact a doctor who will prescribe a Diamox. Diamox is a drug that can be taken prophylactically against altitude problems. As a result, groups that take Diamox hardly or not at all experience altitude-related symptoms. For a smooth running of the Tibet Motorcycle Tour, the personal health and well-being of each participant is important. We therefore strongly recommend that you consider taking Diamox.
You will need your passport, a pass picture, national driving license, international driving license and flight ticket. Please be sure to make photocopies of all of your important travel documents and carry them separately. They can be invaluable in an emergency.
We also need a scan of the Chinese visa six weeks before the tour starts.
All scanned documents should be sent to us on an A4 sheet of original size
A home stay is an opportunity to get access into another culture by joining the host family for dinner and breakfast and sleep under their roof, as their guest. Most families live together in a several generation house, from children to old grandparents. A lot of home stays are semi-farms with at least a few cattle such as chicken and cows around the house. Often are fields attached where family member go to work after breakfast. Here, local family and work life can be experienced as it is instead of “only” observing it from the outside.
We believe that joining a home stay is on of the best ways to get in touch which what surrounds you in a foreign country.
For the Tibet and China motorcycle tour you need a valid national and international driver’s license.
In China, the currency is the CNY (Chinese Renminbi). The exchange rate is around 1€ to 7.56 CNY (as of 05/2020). The CNY is not a freely convertible currency, so you cannot get it at every bank in Europe. The exchange rate, which is determined by the Bank of China, can be observed under the following link: http://www.boc.cn/sourcedb/whpj/enindex.html
However, we recommend withdrawing a larger amount of CNY from an ATM with all major credit cards or debit cards after arriving in China. Our on-site tour guide is happy to help. Due to the often very poor exchange rate for the CNY in Europe, it is not worthwhile to exchange significant amounts of CNY in Europe. There are also many ATMs in Lhasa where you can withdraw money. Our experience shows that the majority of our participants spend around 20€ a day.
The luggage will be transported in the support vehicle. Don’t forget that on domestic flights, the pastries usually cannot exceed 20 kg!
For a motorcycle tour you should bring motorcycle clothing including a helmet. Of course you also should pack warm clothing (as layers or as undersuit). It can get cold! You should also bring gloves and a rain suit.
The roads on the motorcycle tour are mostly paved (with a few exceptions). Due to the new asphalting of road sections, it can temporarily lead to a poor condition of the road. The paved roads are mostly in good condition. However, there may be isolated potholes or gravel lying on the ground. The route on the motorcycle tour also includes sections with new asphalt, on which you can enjoy European standards or even better. These routes are wonderful to ride! Due to moisture and the difficult to see oil or diesel traces, however, extreme caution is always required!
Deposit for a rental motorcycle (partial cover):
The following cash deposits are required:
Shineray X5 400: EUR 500
BMW G 310 GS: EUR 1,000
BMW F 800 GS: EUR 1,500
If the participant/motorcyclist causes damage during the Tibet motorcycle tour, the deposit is the maximum amount.
Entry/Visa:
Many nationalities can enter China visa free for up to 15 days. Those include:
Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Some other nationalities need a visa to enter China.
Should the duration of the stay exceed 15 days, you must apply for the visa yourself or hire an agency to do so. Due to frequent changes in the application procedure, we recommend using an agency. Although you can apply for the visa yourself, it is only slightly more expensive to hire an agency and often saves a lot of work. The visa for China costs approximately EUR 300. More detailed information on the visa can be found in a specific appendix after booking upon request.
Included Services:
- English speaking guide on own motorbike
- English speaking local Tibet guid
- Mechanic service
- Service vehicle for luggage and spare motorbike
- 15 overnight stays in mid range hotels, one simple accommodation at Rongbuk Monastery
- Motorcycle of choice, insurance with partial cover
- Petrol
- Breakfast, lunch snack, dinner, soft drinks, free water during the tour
- All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
- Provisional Chinese driving license
- All airport transfers (beside airport transfer on day 16)
- Domestic flights Chengdu – Lhasa and Shangri-La – Chengdu