20-Day 4+2 Great Tibet Tour from Lhasa to Ali via Southern Route and Return via Northern Route to Lhasa

Jokhang Temple

Barkhor Street

After your delicious breakfast, you will start your Tibetan Buddhist journey today. Certainly, the Potala Palace, reputed as the landmark of Tibet, must be the first site. It is enclosed with the White Palace and the Red Palace ancillary buildings of the Potala Palace which rise from Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley (3700m). The most valuable burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet are housed inside.

Having a lunch, you will continue to visit the "spiritual heart of the city" and the most sacred monastery in Tibet - the holy Jokhang Monastery. The monastery is located at Barkhor Square in Lhasa, in general, considered as the most important and sacred monastery by Tibetan. In fact, it is packed with pilgrims from four corners to pray. Therefore, not only will you see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, also the pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple.

After visiting the monastery, you can stroll along the Barkhor Street surrounding the monastery where you can take part in the pilgrimage to do kora, a religious circle around a building or mountains, or wandering to buy some Tibetan handicrafts and so on.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Drepung Monastery

Sera Monastery

Today, you will go on basking in Tibetan Buddhism. Drepung Monastery, as the beginning site of today’s journey, is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. It is founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples, also the biggest monastery among Tibetan Buddhist buildings. Here, we will offer you an opportunity to visit the biggest monastery kitchen, and enjoy the rock paintings, then, the tour guide will lead you to see Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung Monastery.

In addition, after your meal, continue to visit another Gelug monastery in Tibet - Sera Monastery. As we all know, the highlight of touring Sera Monastery is to watch an excellent Monks Debate lasting from 3 pm to 5 pm. Then, you can explore the Choding Khang which is the hermitage located just behind the Great Assembly Hall (on the hill slope of Sera Utse).

(Notes: Due to the ticket reservation of Potala during the peak season, the Sightseeings on “Day2 and Day3” need to be switched sometimes.)

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Karola Glacier

Yamdrok-tso Lake

Highlights: Yamdrok lake, Karola Glacier, and part of Himalayan Range(if the climate permits).

Your 4+2 adventurous tour starts, there are two sections of biking today:
1. From the top of Kampala Pass(4800m) to Nagarze County along the beautiful Yamdrok Lake(48km).
2. Nagarze Town to Simik La Pass(4500m)(10km) via Karo La Pass(5050m)(65km).

Starting from Lhasa with a vehicle to the top of Kampa La Pass, about 100km, you will be accompanied by beautiful scenery of countryside and junction of Lhasa river and the Brahmaputra from Chushur County. Then, ascending 1200m through zigzag road to the summit of Kampala from where you can see a panoramic view of Yamdrok Lake with mount Nyenchen Kangsang (7,200m). After stopping for photography, start with your mountain bike descending 400m to the lakeside and continuously ride along the lake with gorgeous scenery surrounding, enjoy a picnicking lunch nearby Kungmotso a small branch lake of Yamdrok close to Nagarze. Taking 20km by a vehicle after lunch, start biking again towards Karola Pass, 600m slide ascending. It will be one of the nicest rides during your trip, only 400m distance from the glacier, Mount Nyenchen Kangsang at the right side and branch of Himalayan Range to the left side, flocks of mountain sheep, nomad's tents, and yaks. After riding 60km via the beautiful valley, you will meet your guide and driver at Simik La side or before it. A short stop at the pass where you will see a special geographic feature as in the Mars and Manak Dam in the valley down, even though it’s an artificial lake, many tourists are attracted by its beautiful color, then drive to Gyangtse 30km.

Stay overnight in Gyantse

Gyantse Fort

Tashilunpo Monastery

Highlights: Palchoe Monastery, Gyantse Ancient Town and Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse.

It is not interesting to make a cycling from Gyantse to Shigatse and the road is also very dangerous with big lorries and too many local tractors. Therefore, make a small riding in the morning to Palchoe Monastery, cross the famous ancient town of Gyantse, visit Palchoe Monastery, and Kubum Stupa with its unique architectural design and old murals, then we will drive to Shigatse via beautiful valley of Nyangchu, the largest agricultural area in Tibet. After lunch in Shigatse, visit Tashi Lhunpo, the largest monastery in the western part of Tibet and home of the successive Panchen Lama.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Friendship Highway

New Tingri

Highlights: Tibetan village houses and natural sceneries.

Today the biking tour will be divided into two sections:

Section 1: From Narthang Village to the monument of 5,000km since the Friendship High Way starts from Shanghai (60km).
Section 2: From the top of Gyatsola Pass(5,245m) to New Tingri, the destination of today(43km).

In the morning, drive 23km away from the messy traffic from Shigatse to Narthang village then start cycling the first section along the Friendship Highway, not many things to see at that part but you will have a nice experience riding on Friendship Highway. After having packed lunch nearby Tsola Pass(4,500m), continue the tour by the vehicle about 110 km via Lhatse County reaching Gyatsola Pass(5,245m), and it is also entry to the Qomolangma Natural Reserve Zone.

From here you ride the second section of the day all the way to New Tingri, 1,000m descend. Very interesting riding down the valley, but very beginning from high altitude with snowy sometimes, very windy and cold, once you get down to lower part of the valley then it will get much warmer and some parts you will also see the Mount Everest and its ranges from the distance if the weather is clear.

Stay overnight in hotel or guest house of New Tingri

Rongbuk Monastery

Everest Base Camp

Highlights: panoramic view of Himalayan Range, EBC and Rongbuk Monastery.

Driving around 40km, 900m ascending from new Tingri to Gyawula Pass(5,190m) where you will see a stunning view of Himalayan Range and its five major peaks. Cycling from the rooftop of Gyawula Pass descending 1,200m down to Tashi Zom Village through the incredible twisted and curved road. It will be a very exciting and a good experience for you with marvelous scenery around.

After biking 40km, you will reach a village called Basum from where take the vehicle for 30km ascending 900m to Rongbuk Monastery and guesthouse. After taking a short break at Rongbuk, you can ride continuously to the tourists’ Base Camp(4km).

(Notes: there are two options to sleep. 1. Rongbuk Guesthouse(4,800m). Doms with 3/5 persons available. 2.Tent Guesthouse at tourists camp(5,000m). 8/10 persons in one tent. It’s warm when there is a fire in the stove, but getting cold after the fire is gone in the midnight. So if you decide to sleep at Rongbuk Guesthouse, then you can do a round trip cycling 4km up and 4 km down.)

Old Tingri

Pelkuk Lake

Highlights: close view of Chowuya, close view of Shishapangma and Pelkuk Lake.

Your first part cycling of today is from Namla Pass(5,000m) which is 35km driving from Rongbuk, 400m descend and 500m ascend. Cycling from the pass all the way to Old Tingri(35km), descend 600m. This is also your first and the only off-road riding during the whole trip, very rare traffic, very bumpy via trekking trail, very close view of Chowuya and Nongjiang Valley will make your riding even more exciting.

Having a quick lunch in Old Tingri, drive to Menbu Village, 60km away from Tingri, then start biking again along the Shishapangma grassland and gorgeous range of Shishapangma at the left side of you about 50km till you get to Pelkuk Lake. After Pelkuk Lake, drive 130km to Saga.

Stay overnight in Saga guesthouse or Hotel

Yarlung Tsangpo River

Paryang

Highlights: grassland, wild lives and the origins of Yarlung Tsangpo River.

Drive to Saga Pass(4,900m), only 15km from Saga main town, start your daily cycling for about 40km to a village called Lhaktsang, soon after Lhaktsang, there is another pass called Thogyud La to cross with the elevation of 4,290m and about 500m ascend. So drive again 70km to Old Drongpa where you can have a simple lunch in local Tibetan restaurant . After Old Drongpa, you can try to ride the remaining 90km to Paryang with beautiful scenery of the grassland in western Tibet, so many wild lives such as wild ass/Kyang and black necked crane and etc. Riding on the Paryang desert, pass though the head of Barmaputra River and Western Himalayan Range.

Stay overnight in Paryang Guesthouse

Mayum La Pass

Lake Manasarovar

Highlights: Gung Gyud Lake,Manasarover Lake and Mt. Kailash.

Today you can make cycling from the beginning by Paryang till Mayum checkpoint about 50km with a very fine road, nice scenery, and very fresh air, then go back to the vehicle and drive to Barkha Village. Driving two hours through Mayum La Pass(5,211m) and Gung Gyud Lake, you will reach to the village called Barkha not far from Tarchen/Kailash, you can make your last cycling of the day to Manasarover Lake about 27km. It will be a nice riding again with gorgeous view surrounding, Mt. Gurla Mandata(7,700m) from Himalaya which is in front of you, to the left side of you is the Manasarover, to the right side is Rakshas Tso/lake and back of you is the Mt. Kailash.

Stay overnight at Lake Manasarover

Tholing Monastery

Tsaparang Monastery

Highlights: stunning view of Zangda Earth Forest and Tholing Monastery.

Today you are back on the road, driving about 150km to the entry of Earth Forest. 500m ascending and 1,000m descend, then start biking all the way down to Zangda valley “the world's largest distribution area, the most typical of the Neogene formation of soil forest,” via forest like earth some part you may feel like in Arizona. Visit Tholing Monastery in Zangda county which is one of the most famous and oldest monasteries is in Ali/Nagri. After visiting Tholing Monastery in the late afternoon, you can ride to Tsaparang/Guge 18 km with the incredible landscape the whole valley turns into golden color during the sunset. People are very hospitable, you can taste the real Tibetan homemade food, experience real Tibetan lifestyle, and you can even cook on your own using their fresh veggies growing in the yard.

Stay overnight in a home like Tibetan family guesthouse

Zanda Valley

The Caves of Guge Kingdom Ruin

Visiting the white and red chapel, their unique artwork and paintings history back to thousand years are the main attractions, and climbing the stairway up the ruins of King’s Palace to view the panoramic of Tsaparang valley and hundreds of caves where the villagers are used to live in former time are the day’s highlights 10km.

Stay overnight again in this enjoyable family Inn

The Panoramic of Zangda Earth Forest

Scenery along the Way to Ali

Highlights: stunning view of Changtse Valley and Gu-la Pass(5,300m)

Leaving from Zangda by driving along the Changtse Valley to the northwestern direction, the scenery is incredibly beautiful through the valley ascending higher and higher view the whole panoramic of Zangda Earth Forest and its background cover of Himalayan Range. After one hour drive, it turns into off road and you may feel the real adventure. Ascending 1,600m, you will cross a very huge pass called Gu-la (5,300m) and descend 600m steep route by driving, you can start your cycling slide down a beautiful nomadic valley, whole valley with yaks and herders camp, after cycling 30km, you will get back to the main road heading to Ali/Senge Kabap town, from here you can get back into the vehicle until Arrival to Ali because the road between this section is not so interesting to make cycling.

Stay overnight in a hotel at Senge Kabap

Highlights: great grassland of northern route with so many wild lives dwell.

Today is a very short distance to the destination, it’s only 120km, so can try cycling as far as you can through the fine route and marvelous natural sceneries surrounding.

Stay overnight in Gegye Hotel or guesthouse

Gegye

Gertse

Highlights: Tsa-tso, Wonbu  Dangsang Tso and Tarab Tso.

There are more highlights and long distance today so you can’t make long distant cycling. You will make cycling nearby Wombu Dangsang Tso which is one of the most beautiful lakes from the three lakes you will pass through. Total ride will be not more than 30km today, but you can enjoy the most sceneries by vehicle. Some parts, you will see wild lives more than domestic animals.

Stay overnight in Gertse hotel or guesthouse

Tsochen

The Landscape of Tsochen

Highlights: wild lives and Dawa-Tso Lake.

You can enjoy all most the same scenery as you saw last two days by driving, after about two hours in the vehicle, start your daily cycling again. You can ride all the way to your destination Tsochen county 60 km along the beautiful lake Dawna-Tso.

Stay overnight in hotel Tsochen

Zhari Namtso

Dangra Yumtso

Highlights: Zhari Namtso and Dangra Yumtso.

Your most highlighted cycling in the whole tour is about to start.

The whole route from Tsochen to Wombu 260km is an off-road and more than half is the very rough road.

Driving and cycling between these two Great Lakes Need a full day.

Leaving from Tsochen 30km drive in the early morning, you will reach to Zhari Namtso the third largest lake on Tibetan plateau. Driving and cycling over 50 km along the lake with an incredible view. Very quiet and very less traffic, if the road is enough to smooth and you don’t feel tired, you can ride as far as you can besides this beautiful lake. Then drive one more hour through the meadows valley and mountain roads, you will be at the Lake Tangra Yumtso the fourth largest lake on Tibetan plateau and the most sacred lake of Bön religion.

Start your cycling along the lake again with the stunning view of the lake and Mt. Shargo Gangri a holy mountain for Bön.

Over 60km by cycling plus driving, you will get to the destination Wombu south village a beautiful Bön village situated at the eastern bank of Tangra Yumtso. Enjoy the sunset light of the lake.

Stay overnight in a warmly Tibetan Family Guesthouse at Wombu

Nyima county

The Monastery in Nyima County

Highlights: Tangra Yumtso, holy Bön monastery and Damchung lake.

Today you have only a short distance to Nyima, so in the morning you can spend more time to do further exploration from Wombu to the southeastern part of the lake by biking, visit the holy Bön Monastery, Bön Nunnery and holy caves for Bön.

After having lunch in Wombu Village, drive only 120km to Nyima county, on the way, you will also see another beautiful lake called Damchung-Tso.

Stay overnight in hotel at Nyima county

Drive all the way back to Lhasa via main Friendship Highway passing throughput Nyimo Canyon the second deepest Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo river/Brahmaputra. By lunchtime, you will be back in Lhasa and have a free sightseeing in Lhasa after the long trip and enjoy your last day in Tibet!

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport or train station and say goodbye to Tibet. Your trip is successfully end.