14 Days 4+2 Biking Tour from Chengdu to Lhasa via Sichuan-Tibet Highway G318

Xindu Bridge

Pasture of Xinduqiao

You will cycle from Zhetuo Dyke, climb the Zhetuo Pass and reach Xindu Bridge. After the exciting scenery at Xindu Bridge, you will move on over the Gore Temple Mountain Pass (4412 m), where you have the best view of snow mountains. If weather permits, you will see beautiful natural views of mountains, rivers, highland clouds and fogs and prairies. From the Gore pass, you cycle 37 km along the Yalong River and pass Yajiang to reach a Tibetan village, Xiangkezong.

Stay overnight at Xiangkezong

Litang Monastery

Litang

You will feel like cycling in the cloud as you go from Xiangkezong Village to Jianziwan. Through the 2200 m Jianziwan Tunnel and the 119 Highway Maintenance Squad, you are getting close to the Kalazi Mountain Pass. You will see a much more spacious world - high mountains changing to plains, forests becoming desolate natural plateau pastures. The road becomes flat all the way to Honglong. Tibetan villages scatter on both sides of the road. You ride on through Litang Tunnel and reach the Litang county seat, where high-rise buildings stand.

Stay overnight at Litang 

Haizishan Mountain Pass

Batang

You will leave the world’s highest town - Litang County, and ride ahead on the vast grassland. If in summer, the whole grassland is dyed with colorful flowers. The cycling should stop at the Haizishan Mountain Pass. You will transfer to your vehicle. Before you reach Batang, you will see two turquoise highland lakes named Sister Lake. They lie close to each other, like two emeralds.

Stay overnight in Batang

Jinsha River Bridge

Badang

You drive from Batang and will soon enter Tibet when you reach the Jinsha River Bridge. You will see yaks and sheep grazing on green pastures after you climb over Zongbala and Lawushan Passes. As you descend, beautiful views of Tibetan villages welcome you all the way to Rumei Village. From there the G318 National Road winds its way to Lancang River. You will need to ascend to Juebashan and drive on to Dengba Township. After you climb over the Dongdashan Peak (5000 m), you go down the road for 30 km before reaching Zuogong County, which lies in a long, deep valley, with low altitude, abundand produces, flat river beds. The last stop of Day 5 is Bangda.

Stay overnight in Bangda

Nujiang 72 Curves

Anjiulashan Pass

You leave Bangda early in the morning, drive through the tranquility of Bangda Prairies, and get ready for your riding challenge today. You drive over Yelashan Pass for a bird’s-eye view of mountains below, then you will descend from 4650 m to 3100 m and arrive at the most famous curve on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway - Nujiang 72 Curves. After the Nujiang checkpoint, you drive to Basu and start to cycle for today. The first challenge is Anjiulashan Pass (4475 m), a direct ascent of 1200 m. Then you will ride down to Ranwugou, where you need to pay attention to landslides. The day ends when you get to Ranwu Lake.

Stay overnight at Ranwu Lake

Ranwu Lake

Bome

You will say good-bye to the serene Ranwu Lake and enter the territory of Nyingchi County. The views will change from bare mountains into lush forests. River water will no long be cloudy, but turning emerald. You will cycle through two brooks. Be careful. Rest a little in Zhongba before riding on to Songzong County. You will enjoy views of highland barley fields, Tibetan houses, deep-blue sky and white clouds, before you realize that you have reached Bome the County seat.

Stay overnight in Bome

Tongmai

Lulang

You will cycle through Nyingchi hinterland. You can feel the enchanting Nyingchi known as the “Little Jiangnan of Tibet” - warm climate, dense forests, blossoming spring flowers, oxygen-rich summer, and nomads harvesting scene in autumn. You can also enjoy the "Tongmai Danger", which is known as the most dangerous road section in China. It is both exciting and fulfilling.

Saty overnight in Lulang

Sejilashan Pass

Bayi Town

As you cycle over Sejilashan Pass, you will feel like going through four seasons of the year. If weather permits, you can have a good view of sunrise, sea of clouds, dense forests at the pass. You may also have a distant view of the majestic Mount Namjagbrawa. In April-July each year, Azaleas bloom all over the mountains, forming a spectacular view of flowers. After the Sejilashan Pass, along the Niyang River, you cycle down to Nyingchi Town, where you have a feast of modern agricultural greenhouses lining on both sides of the road. The day ends as you move forward to reach Bayi Town.

Saty overnight in Bayi Town

Gongbo'gyamda

Songduo

You will start your cycling today from Bayi town. You will pass Gengzhang, Baiba and then finish cycling at Gongbo'gyamda. You will have to drive from Gongbo'gyamda, through Jinda, Jiaxing and then get to Songduo.

Stay overnight in Songduo

Milashan Pass

Lhasa

This is the last day before you reach your destination - Lhasa. You can cycle from Songduo to Milashan Pass, the last peak of 5000 m. Then you drive past Riduo, Meldrogongkar and Dazhi , and finally get to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Jokhang Temple

Barkhor Street

The Potala Palace is a majestic and the landmark of Tibet. It is a prominent icon and a structure of massive portions.  After three hours’ visiting inside the palace, drive to a restaurant for lunch. Later this afternoon, visit Jokhang Temple the spiritual center of Tibetans, the house of Tibetan culture and the destination of all the pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek great distances to this place. Next to the temple is Barkhor the oldest street and still a traditional scene of old Lhasa.

Overnight in Lhasa

Drepung Monastery

Sera Monastery

In the morning drive to Drepung Monastery once the world's largest monastery with about 10,000 attending monks. From the hillside enjoy expansive views of the entire Lhasa City against the backdrop of the rugged mountain peaks. After visiting Drepung, drive to Sera Monastery, the second largest monastery in Lhasa and stop for a simple lunch on the way. The main attractions in Sera are the monks’ debating on Buddhist Philosophy, sand mandalas and printing room where monks publish Buddhist scriptures, so you can spend more time on those three sites instead of revisiting the chapels which are 90 percent similar to Drepung.

Overnight in Lhasa

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