Go East Young Man Tibet Motorcycle Tour2023-04-04T19:17:19+02:00

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!

Henry I.

Go East Young Man – East Tibet Motorcycle Tour

From the land “south of the clouds” to Tibet: The world’s highest mountains and the Himalayas of Eastern Tibet

Until recently, the way up from Shangri-la in the province of Yunnan to the Tibetan plateau via the eastern Himalayas was off-limits to foreigners. On our new Tibet Motorcycle Tour, you can look forward to the finest views of Everest, the world’s highest mountain, the cultural highlights of Tibet, remote mountain roads, undiscovered wilderness on the banks of the Mekong, snow-covered Himalayan peaks, deep evergreen forests, and of course endless winding roads and beautiful mountain passes.
We also organise the Everest Base Camp Motorcycle Tour, South of the Clouds Motorcycle Tour through Yunnan and the Tibetan Himalayas and the Silk Road Motorcycle Tour.

Read more

Our East Tibet Motorcycle Tour kicks off in Chengdu, where we’ll board a flight into the Himalayas to Shangri-La, the northernmost tip of Yunnan province, a place inhabited by Tibetans. The colorful old town of Shangri-La is the perfect introduction to our East Tibet Motorcycle Tour. In eastern Tibet, you can look forward to remote mountain roads through primeval forests, the “Switzerland of the Orient” in Lulang, and grasslands with grazing yaks. We’ll ride along the majestic Mekong, Salween and Yangtze – the longest river in Asia – and enjoy the rugged sandstone landscapes and deep gorges.

Having arrived on the Tibetan plateau, we’ll start our motorcycle ride to Everest Base Camp, crossing the Roof of the World, following the banks of the sacred, azure-blue Yamdrok salt lake, and visiting the region’s most important monasteries and fortresses. The highest mountain in the world awaits us with spectacular views at sunset. We’ll spend the night at Rongbuk Monastery with a view of Everest. The journey ends in Lhasa, where we’ll explore the new section of the mountain metropolis, as well as its many-faceted traditional quarter with highlights such as the world-renowned Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market. From Lhasa, we’ll return to Chengdu. This tour combines the cultural and scenic highlights of Tibet and the pure riding pleasure of the region’s most beautiful country roads.

Nice roads in Tibet

Endless winding mountain roads and beautiful views! The tour exceeded many of my expectations.

Niklas D.

The organization …

… before the tour was very well coordinated by Tibetmoto. Hendrik supported us with all applications. The tour itself also ran smoothly.

Simone W.

5 stars for …

… the great organization, the nice care and the perfect tour!

Heinrich Z.

Highlights of the East Tibet Motorcycle Tour

  • The old town of Shangri-la and the largest prayer wheel in the world; the beginning of the Tibetan world in the Himalaya foothills
  • The mighty rivers Yangtze, Salween and Mekong in East Tibet
  • The “pass of the 72 hairpin curves” near Zogong, dubbed “Serpent Pass” by locals
  • Ride onto the Tibetan high plateau through gorges and across 5,000 meter high passes
  • Visit of Samye monastery and the first palace of Tibet: Yumbulakhang
  • Dream like views on the mountain giants Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Shisha Panama and of course Mt. Everest – the highest mountains on earth
  • The spectacular 108 road bends on the way to Mt. Everest Base Camp
  • Overnight at Rongbuk monastery at the “foot” of Mt. Everest on 5,200 meters altitude, close to Mt. Everest Base Camp
  • Breaks at Ranwu and Yamdrok Lake, mighty Himalayan salt lakes
  • Sightseeing in Lhasa: the historic Barkhor market, the Potala Palace (former residence of the Dalai Lama), and the Jokhan, the most important temple for Tibetans
  • 5,220 meter high Gyatso La pass and 5,100 meter high Karo La pass
  • Palcho monastery, hosting the largest pagoda of Tibet and the Gyangze fort, the Tashilhunpo monastery
  • The uncharted East Tibet with its winding roads all the way up to the high plateau of Tibet

2023
24.09. – 09.10.

2024
07.04. – 22.04.
28.09. – 13.10.

Shineray X5: 4.990€
BMW 310 GS: 5.490€
BMW 800 GS: 5.990€
Pillion: 3.990€
Single Room: +690€

16 days / 15 nights / 11 riding days

Overnight stays in hotels of the middle class and in guesthouses.

Contact us

Media Library

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.

Adolf S.

Great organization

Thanks to Tibetmoto Tours and Hendrik! Everything went great!

Dieter A.

I will book with …

… Tibetmoto again! Great tour!

Moritz N.

Motorcycle Tour in East Tibet – Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu

Arrival in Chengdu. The first day of this East Tibet Motorcycle Tour begins with a pick-up service at the airport and transfer to the nearby hotel. Group dinner.

Day 2: Chengdu – Shangri-La

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Shangri-La. Our tour starts in the romantic old town of Shangri-La. Its small two-story houses are built entirely of wood and are richly decorated with carvings. In Shangri-La, we’ll visit the 22-meter prayer wheel – the largest in the world – and we should turn it at least three times for good karma.

Day 3: Shangri-La-Feilaisi

Our first day in the saddle of our East Tibet Motorcycle Tour will take us along the canyons of the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia and third-longest river in the world. Here, at “only” 1,900 meters above sea level, we’re at the lowest altitude of the tour. It’s quite warm and cacti grow on the river banks – an incredible contrast to our coming adventures. We’ll ride along the 5,000-meter Mountain of the White Horse to Feilaisi, the “Flying Temple”. The temple is dedicated to the deity enthroned on the peak of Kawa Karpo, the highest mountain of the eastern Himalayas and a unique highlight with its majestic 6,700 meters. We’ll spend the night there, at the foot of the mountain. The temple is dedicated to the deity enthroned on the peak of Kawa Karpo, the highest mountain in the eastern Himalayas and a unique highlight with its majestic 6,700 meters. We’ll spend the night there, at the foot of the mountain at 1,900 meters – in our very own homestay, where we are warmly welcomed by our Tibetan host family who serve us dinner and let us experience Tibetan hospitality and gain an authentic insight into the lives of the Tibetans. More information about our Tibetan Homestay.

Duration: approx. 210 km

Day 4: Feilaisi – Zogang

Two more passes with altitudes of 4,300 and 3,900 meters await us. We’ll ride along the rugged banks and gorges of the Upper Mekong – which is quite unlike the placid river downstream in Thailand – to Zogang. We’ll leave Yunnan and continue to Tibet. A 4,300 meter high pass with sweeping vistas of the valley below will bring us to one of the highlights of our East Tibet Motorcycle Tour: a snaking pass known by the locals only as “the road of 72 curves”.

Duration: approx. 380 km

Day 5: Zogang – Ranwu-Lake

The day begins with a ride along the Salween River, which originates on the Tibetan plateau and descends to Shan State in Myanmar. On the way, we can enjoy spectacular vistas in the gorges through the expansive sandstone landscapes. The quiet mountain roads ascend through gorges and evergreen forests to Ranwu via a 4,400-meter pass. We’ll spend the night directly at the shore of Ranwu – a mountain lake at an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters framed by snow-covered 5,000-meter peaks – in the most beautiful resort of the region, of course.

Duration: approx. 290 km

Day 6: Ranwu-Lake – Lulang

We’ll continue along winding roads through fragrant spruce forests into the “Switzerland of the Orient”, with its wooded mountains and rolling grasslands with grazing yaks. Today is going to be another day for spectacular views on the East Tibet Motorbike Tour. We’ll take the various passes on the road to Lulang and enjoy the fascinating landscapes rolling by. There, in the small town of Lulang, we’ll spend the night.

Duration: approx. 270 km

Day 7: Lulang – Langxian

Today we’ll cross a 5,000-meter pass and reach the town of Nyingtri, where we’ll take a short break. We’ll spend the night in the small town of Langxian.

Duration: approx. 310 km

Day 8: Langxian – Tsedang

We’ll head westward on winding roads close to the Nepalese border. From our vantage point on the Tibetan plateau, Nepal lies far below. On the way, we’ll visit the Thakpo Shedrup Ling Monastery in Gyanltsa and tackle a 4,900-meter pass. Samye Monastery and the 2,000-year-old Yumbulakhang Palace, Tibet’s oldest building, are also on the program. The Yumbulakhang stands on a huge rock overlooking a broad and fertile valley.

Duration: approx. 220 km

Day 9: Tsedang – Xigaze

Throughout the day, we’ll follow the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the life-giving water supply of Lhasa and southern Tibet. The broad, rushing river will accompany us to our destination for the day and captivate you with fascinating vistas. We’ll follow it through fields and gorges to Xigaze. In Xigaze, a comfortable hotel in the center of the town awaits us. There are markets nearby, as well as the Tashilhunpo Monastery, which we can visit in the late afternoon.

Duration: approx. 350 km

Day 10: Xigaze – Rongbuk Monastery

Everest Base Camp, one of the highlights of our tour, is on the program today. We’ll cross Gyatso-La Pass, the highest of the tour at 5,222 meters, and take an incredible road with hundreds of twists and turns and views of the numerous 8,000-meter peaks – a truly memorable experience. The road will first take us to Tingri and wind further up into the Himalayas, where we have a perfect view of the most famous and highest 8,000-meter mountains and their surrounding valleys.

Next up: Rongbuk. The road is closed for motorcycles around 10 kilometers before the monastery. While the Base Camp, which is 2.5 km from Rongbuk Monastery, has been closed since January 2019, we still have a spectacular view of Everest. We’ll spend the night in Rongbuk Monastery’s very basic guest house and enjoy the mountain vistas.

Duration: approx. 330 km

Day 11: Rongbuk Monastery – Sakya

We’re going to tackle two 5,000-meter passes today. We’ll take a remote mountain road past a dry salt lake and arrive in Sakya. The monastery of Sakya was once the most important of its kind in Tibet. The Mongolian architecture stands out in contrast to the other Tibetan monasteries, its walls rising majestically above the grasslands of the valley.

Duration: approx. 250 km

Day 12: Sakya – Gyangze

Today’s ride continues on the Friendship Highway between China and Nepal toward Gyangze, through tiny hamlets and along endless wheat fields with isolated villages. The ancient Gyangze Dzong fortress towers over the small town of Gyangze. We’ll visit the Buddhist Pelkhor Monastery, also known as the “Monastery of Ten Thousand Paintings”. With its four floors, 108 chapels and over 10,000 murals, it is the largest stupa (pagoda) in Tibet.

Duration: approx. 240 km

Day 13: Gyangze – Lhasa

From Gyangze, we’ll ride the 5.100-meter Karo La Pass that takes us right up to the foot of a mighty glacier. At an altitude of 4,900 meters, we’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the azure-blue Yamdrok Lake and ride the winding roads along the Yarlung Tsangpo River to Lhasa.

Duration: approx. 260 km

Day 14: One Day in Lhasa

In the morning, Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama, is on the program, as well as Barkhor Market, the historical old city and Jokhang Temple, the holiest site in Tibet.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Sera Monastery a few kilometers outside of Lhasa.

Day 15: Lhasa – Chengdu

Morning/midday flight to Chengdu. Overnight stay near the airport. There will be time for optional individual visits to the Chengdu Panda Base.

Day 16: Chengdu

Individual departure from Chengdu. The end of our East Tibet Motorcycle Tour.

Your Most Unforgettable Motorcycle Adventure is just a Click away!

Book your Tour now! Go East Young Man East Tibet Motorcycle Tour

Since our tours get filled up fast, please book the Go East Young Man Shangri-La To Lhasa Motorbike Tour now to avoid disappointment.

Our Next available tours are as follows:

2023
24.09. – 09.10.

2024
07.04. – 22.04.
28.09. – 13.10.

Book now

Included Services

  • English-speaking guide on their own motorcycle
  • English-speaking Tibet guide
  • Mechanic service
  • Support vehicle for luggage and passengers
  • 15 nights in typical mid-range local hotels, one simple overnight stay at Rongbuk Monastery
  • Motorcycle of choice, partial insurance with deductible
  • Gasoline for the motorcycle, wear parts
  • Breakfast, lunch snack, dinner, mineral water throughout the entire tour, non-alcoholic drinks with meals
  • All entrance fees for attractions mentioned in the itinerary
  • Airport transfers except on Day 16
  • Domestic flights Chengdu – Shangri-La and Lhasa – Chengdu
  • All Tibet travel permits (Tibet Travel Permit)

Not included Services

  • International flights
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Tips (optional)

Questions & Answers

Will every tour take place exactly as described in the tour itinerary?2021-01-08T23:13:47+01:00

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.

How does camp life look like on expeditions?2020-11-12T18:02:03+01:00

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.

How is the climate in Tibet?2020-11-11T22:27:20+01:00

The temperature differences between day and night are around 10 degrees or more. Especially in the Himalayan areas it can often get very cool, especially when the sun is not shining. During the travel times of the Tibet motorcycle tour, rain can only occur in exceptional cases. However, you should be prepared for everything and have warm and water-repellent clothing in your luggage.

How are the hotel in Tibet?2020-11-11T22:25:06+01:00

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.

Do I need vaccinations?2020-11-11T22:24:05+01:00

Vaccinations are not required for the Tibet Motorcycle Tour.

Altitude Sickness and Oxygen Supply2020-11-11T22:22:16+01:00

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.

Which documents do I need?2020-11-11T22:35:03+01:00

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

What can I expect from an overnight stay with a tibetan host family?2020-11-12T18:01:15+01:00

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.

How well do I have to be able to ride a motorcycle?2020-11-11T21:59:51+01:00

You should be able to ride a motorcycle safely, especially on winding mountain roads. An uncertainty is common, but you quickly get used to the local traffic. Our tour guide will give the group useful and good tips on riding in China. Before the start of the Tibet and China Motorcycle Tour, there will be an introduction to road traffic behavior.


Do I need a driving license?2020-11-11T21:57:31+01:00

For the Tibet and China motorcycle tour you need a valid national and international driver’s license.

What is the currency in China?2020-11-11T21:56:01+01:00

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.

What about my luggage? Where can I transport it?2020-11-11T21:51:45+01:00

The luggage will be transported in the support vehicle. Don’t forget that on domestic flights, the pastries usually cannot exceed 20 kg!

What clothes should I pack?2020-11-11T22:26:29+01:00

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.

How is the Road Condition?2020-11-11T21:45:13+01:00

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!

What is the deposit for renting a motorcycle?2020-11-11T21:42:45+01:00

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.

Do I need a chinese visa?2020-11-11T21:39:18+01:00

Entry/Visa:

All participants in the Tibet and China motorcycle tours require a visa to enter China. The passport must be valid for another six months. You have to apply for the visa yourself at a service center, the Chinese embassy or on behalf of an agency. Due to frequent changes in the application procedure, we recommend that you use an agency. This is slightly more expensive than filing your own application, but it saves you a lot of work and time.

We will apply for all of the necessary Tibet permits for the motorcycle tour.

Included Services2020-11-11T21:32:33+01:00

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

Tour Concept by RC Hendrik

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