DAY 1. ARRIVE IN 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. 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 now start to prepare for the long days to come by taking a short ride around midday into the busy Kathmandu traffic. We’ll head into the 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 challenging route that runs alongside the Trishuli River. We’re heading towards the Nepal/ Tibet border at Syabrubesi. 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. SYARUBESI – GYIRONG - (70KM).
It’s an early start today as crossing the border from Nepal into Tibet with our foreign registered motorcycles is slow and complicated. Our support vehicles on the Nepal side are not permitted to enter Tibet. So, everything is unloaded by hand, carried across the bridge that separates the two countries, and reloaded on the Tibet side. But, we know how to do it and have allowed the time. We’ll do our best to get to the front of the queue. It’s a unique experience and is all part of the adventure. After completing our customs and immigration formalities, we’ll ride on to this evening’s destination.
DAY 6. GYIRONG – NEW TINGRI (305KM).
The roads are good and the views are incredible. A top up of fuel will be required and a few more extra warm layers needed. We head up over our first high pass where we might be able to see Mount Everest if the weather is clear. We ride a sweeping and starkly beautiful valley with many dips and crests before dropping down to New Tingri.
DAY 7. NEW TINGRI – XIGAZE (230KM).
Today’s ride is on good roads again. We’re able to cruise in top gear as we take in the picturesque landscape whilst riding through remote and sparsely populated Tibetan villages. There are snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance, as far as you can see. Keep your eye out for fibreglass policemen – some holding radar guns, some waving, and some decorated by locals wearing silks scarves and prayer beads.
DAY 8. 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 straightforward. This allows us to arrive in Lhasa with time to explore the town a little, sample the culture and head out for a good meal.
DAY 9. LHASA (REST DAY IN LHASA).
There’s a lot to see and do in Lhasa. It’s one of the highest cities in the world at 3,650 metres. We visit the famous Potala Palace which is included in 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 and spend time at the Dreprung monastery. Or sample some of the many restaurants whilst chilling out with a cool beer.
DAY 10. 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 11. XIGAZE – NEW TINGRI (237KM).
It’s back in the saddle today as we slowly gain in altitude before an abrupt rise and slow stark descent, back down to New Tingri. I don’t suppose it will be a late night as we get ready for the highlight of the adventure.
DAY 12. NEW TINGRI- EVEREST BASE CAMP (107KM).
Today is what you’ve come for. We ride to one of the most famous places on the planet. We tackle a 5,200 metre high pass and 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 Visitor’s Base Camp by local transport. This is due to environmental issues and for the preservation of this sensitive area. The world’s highest mountain now looms majestically in front of you. We spend this afternoon and 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 be on your flight home.
DAY 13. EVEREST BASE CAMP – GYIRONG (405KM).
It’s a chilly start to the day as we wake very early for a final view of Base Camp and to watch the sunrise over Mount Everest. Another high pass and it’s back down towards the highway. We are now leaving the high altitude desert of the Tibetan Plateau behind and riding to our final night’s stay in Tibet at Gyirong.
DAY 14. 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 down the valley into the hectic city traffic of Kathmandu. And all going to plan, for an early evening arrival. We’ll have our farewell celebration, a few drinks or two, maybe more, and reflect on the amazing motorcycle adventure we have just completed.
DAY 15. DEPART KATHMANDU.
Leave for airport.
