DAY 1. ARRIVE KATHMANDU.
Transfer you to your hotel where you can relax after your flight. We get together this evening at 6pm in the hotel reception to gather all our paperwork for our Tibet Group Permit application. We can also chat about what lies ahead and meet up with the other riders and team.
DAY 2. SIGHTSEEING IN KATHMANDU.
Our agent will apply for our Tibet Group Permit at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu today which should be delivered to us on Wednesday morning just before we set off. There is much to see and do in this busy and frantic city. Whether you’re barrelling through the traffic-jammed alleyways of the old town in a rickshaw, marvelling at the medieval temples or dodging trekking touts in the backpacker district of Thamel, Kathmandu is an intoxicating, charming and exhausting place.
Take a stroll through the backstreets and Kathmandu’s timeless cultural and artistic heritage will reveal itself in hidden temples overflowing with marigolds, courtyards full of drying chillies and rice, and tiny hobbit-sized workshops.
This endlessly fascinating and sometimes infuriating city has enough sights to keep you busy for a week.
DAY 3. WARM UP RIDE (70km).
We prepare for the long days to come by taking a short ride out around midday into the busy traffic and splendid countryside up around the beautiful forested hill station of Nagarkot. We can grab some hot tea and local snacks while we’re up there. Today also gives you time to get acquainted with your Royal Enfield motorcycle. It’s now yours for the duration of the ride.
DAY 4. KATHMANDU – SYARUBESI – (130km).
Our Tibet Group Permits are now ready for collection. We ride out of Kathmandu for the beautiful and likely challenging route alongside the Trishuli River up towards the Nepal/ Tibet border at Gyirong. We spend the night on the Nepal side of the border in amongst the rich and dense jungle area of Langtang National Park.
DAY 5. SYABRUBESI – NEW TINGRI (367km).
It’s a very early start and today is a long one. After completing our customs and immigration formalities we head on to this evening’s destination. The roads are good and the views are incredible. We head up over our first high pass where we might be able to see Mount Everest if the weather is clear. We ride on a sweeping and starkly beautiful valley with many dips and crests before dropping down to New Tingri. If luck is on our side then we should arrive just before sunset.
DAY 6. NEW TINGRI – XIGAZE (230km).
Todays ride is on good roads and we will be able to cruise in top gear as we take in the picturesque landscape whilst riding through Tibetan villages with snow capped mountain peaks in the distance as far as the eye can see. Keep your eye out for the fibreglass policemen – some holding radar guns, some waving, and some decorated by locals wearing silks scarves and prayer beads.
DAY 7. XIGAZE – LHASA (270km).
This route bypasses Gyangtse and takes us along the main road from Xigaze to Lhasa via the winding Yarlung Zangbo river. We have a leisurely start as the riding is fairly straight forward and should arrive in Lhasa with time to explore a little and hit the town for a good meal.
DAY 8. LHASA (Rest day in Lhasa).
There’s a lot to see and do in Lhasa, one of the highest cities in the world at 3,650 metres. You can visit the famous Potala Palace which we arrange and is included within your package. Some say it’s the icon of Tibet and over the years it’s been home to 14 Dalai Lamas. You may also want to take a trip down to Barkhor Street, spend time at the Dreprung monastery or sample some of the many restaurants whilst chilling out with a cool beer.
DAY 9. LHASA – XIGAZE via YAMDROK LAKE (360km).
Today is a day of jaw dropping scenery as we ride alongside and past Yamdrok Tso turquoise lake. We take on two more 5000 metre plus passes, Karo-La and Kamba-La and ride over a huge glacier before arriving in Xigaze.
DAY 10. XIGAZE – NEW TINGRI (237km).
Back in the saddle today we slowly gain in altitude before an abrupt rise and slow stark descent down into New Tingri. We won’t have a late night as we get ready for the highlight of the adventure.
DAY 11. NEW TINGRI- EVEREST BASE CAMP (107km).
Today is surely what you’ve come for. We ride to one of the most famous places on the planet. We tackle a high pass and over endless switchbacks with more than 117 curves before riding up a wide and dry valley. We arrive in plenty of time to visit Everest Base Camp at an altitude of just over 17,000 feet. (5,200 metres) We have to dismount, leave our motorcycles securely parked and travel the remaining few kilometres to visitors base camp by electric bus. This is due to environmental issues which is a step in the right direction for the long time preservation of this stunning area. The highest mountain on this planet looms majestically just over your shoulder and we spend this evening taking photographs and watching the sun go down over her peak. I can assure you that these moments will stay etched in your memory forever. The next time you’re at this altitude, you’ll likely be on your flight home.
DAY 12. EVEREST BASE CAMP – GYIRONG (405km).
We waken early for a final view of Base Camp and to watch the stunning sunrise over Mount Everest before heading back down towards the highway. We are now leaving the high altitude desert behind and riding back down to our final night’s stay in Tibet at Gyirong.
DAY 13. GYIRONG – KATHMANDU (164km).
We ride out of Tibet and back to the warmth and hospitality of Nepal. An early border crossing should give us plenty of time for the journey back into the hectic city traffic of Kathmandu and hopefully for an early evening arrival. We have our farewell celebration, a few drinks or two, maybe more and reflect on the amazing motorcycle trip we have just completed.
DAY 14. DEPART KATHMANDU.
Leave for airport.
