15 Days Ride to Everest: Kathmandu to Lhasa EBC Kathmandu Motorcycle Tour

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, our local guide and driver will be greeting you at the exit gate and offer you a smooth transfer to your hotel in downtown Kathmandu.

You may take some time to rest from your flight or stroll around the lively streets filled with colorful shops, temples, and cafés. In the evening, we will meet for a trip briefing about tomorrow’s tour and the following motorbike ride from Kathmandu to Lhasa.

Kind Reminder: Whether you come with your own motorbike or need motorbike rental service, we can offer a tailor-made motorbike tour accordingly.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Kathmandu Valley
• Kathmandu durbar square at night in Nepal

Today, you will dive into the cultural treasures of the Kathmandu Valley.

In the morning, after breakfast, we will visit Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, which is one of the three durbar (royal palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, which was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, still take place today.

Then, we will tour Swayambhunath. It is one of the most recognizable symbols in Nepal and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all who ascend the worn stone steps. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, and is at the source of the Valley’s mythical beginning.

In the afternoon, the tour group will head to Patan City, which is 15 minutes driving from Kathmandu. Patan's central Durbar Square is absolutely packed with temples: It’s an architectural center point with a far greater concentration of temples per sq. meter than in Kathmandu or Bhaktapur. You may shop around, and finally we will head back to Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Patan Durbar Square
• Swayambhunath stupa is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu valley.

After breakfast, we will have a safety briefing, and then you will enjoy a short test ride from downtown Kathmandu to Nagarkot, one of the best and most accessible places to view the Himalayas.

You will pass small villages, terraced fields, and hilltop viewpoints. Though the road will be a little bumpy. This gives you time to get comfortable with your motorcycle before heading toward the Tibet border the next morning.

Then, we will head back to the hotel and get everything ready, and have a good rest in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• In clear weather the Himalaya range can be seen in Nagarkot.
• Nagarkot is a very popular tourist destination due to the amazing views of the Himalayan mountains.

It is the day when the adventurous motorbike tour officially begins. Today, after breakfast, we drive north by following the zigzag mountain road to Syabrubesi (2,380m), a peaceful village inside Langtang National Park. The road gets bumpier as you get closer to the Sino-Nepal border in the valley. So, do be careful with the ride on the winding road in the mountainous region.

Stay overnight in the guesthouse in Syabrubesi.

After breakfast, we drive from Syabrubesi(2,380m) to the Gyirong border. It covers 20km and takes around 45 minutes. After you go through the customs, we will keep driving to Gyirong county (2,700m) and spend one night there for better acclimatization before moving higher to New Tingri. In the afternoon, you may go to visit the Padmasambhava cave.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

• Ride the motorbike across the Gyirong Port to China's Tibet side
• Immersed in the local way of life here in Gyirong Valley.

After breakfast, we are about to leave forested Gyirong for New Tingri (4,300m). The road ahead is smooth and the landscapes will gradually change from the deep valleys to imposing Himalayan peaks in the distance.

We’ll climb our first high pass, and if the skies are clear, we might even catch a glimpse of Mount Everest! Just make sure you pack a few extra warm layers. Then, we’ll ride through a sweeping valley full of ups and downs before arriving at the New Tingri (Shegar, 4,300m), a small town known as the gateway to Tibet Everest Base Camp.

Tips: To avoid acute mountain sickness, we will ride to the Tibet Everest Base Camp on our way back from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in New Tingri.

• Majestic Mt. ShishaPangma
• Catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest in the distance

After breakfast, we will ride east across sweeping highland roads to Shigatse (3,850m), Tibet’s second-largest city. On the way, you will pass enchanting Tibetan villages and lofty Himalayan mountain ranges.

After you reach Shigatse City, you will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the most famous Gelugpa monasteries in Tibet and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama (Great Scholar in Tibetan Buddhism). Inside, you can admire the world's largest statue of Maitreya Buddha and meditate in the assembly hall, and more.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

• Ride straight to Shigatse City
• A stunning bird’s-eye view of Shigatse city unfolds from the top of Tashilhunpo Monastery.

After breakfast, we will ride straight towards Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Lhasa (3,650m). Rather than passing through Gyantse, we will follow the main road from Shigatse to Lhasa alongside the serene Yarlung Zangbo River.

Today’s ride is easy and unhurried, so we can take it slow. We will arrive in Lhasa with plenty of time to wander around, enjoy the local atmosphere on vibrant Lhasa streets, and treat ourselves to a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Yarlung Tsangpo River in autumn
• Arrive in Lhasa, the Holy City in the Tibet Plateau

After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace, and the extraordinary treasures it holds. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities.

In the afternoon, you will head to the heart of Tibetan religion - the Jokhang Temple. Inside, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Next, follow your guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. Sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as your guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Potala Palace is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.
• A Tibetan pilgrim is worshipping Jokhang Temple

Awake to a day of brilliant sunshine. After breakfast, let’s head to Drepung Monastery for a 3km leisurely hike/kora. The Drepung Monastery is one of the great three Geluga monasteries founded by a disciple of Tsongkhapa called Jamyang Chöje.

As you follow the pilgrim route towards Loseling College, you will see the iconic huge rock paintings depicting Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluga Sect, and Buddhist mantras.

You can gather junipers and burn them as an offering to Buddha, drink refreshing mountain springs, or meditate alongside the local pilgrims beneath the rock face. At the mountaintop, the sweeping view of the enchanting Lhasa Valley will take your breath away.

In the afternoon, you will explore Sera Monastery, the second-largest Gelug monastery next to Drepung. You can appreciate the exquisitely made sand Mandala and admire Buddhist paintings.

The biggest highlight is to watch the dramatic monk debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). By clapping hands, jumping, yelling, and rolling a Buddhist mala, the standing monk furiously debates with the other monk sitting on the ground about Buddhist philosophy.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Drepung Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelug monasteries of Tibet
• Monk Debate is a highlight of Sera Monastery

Today, we begin the motorbike tour and head westward. Shortly after leaving Quxu county, we will pass the turquoise Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the holiest lakes in Tibet. You can enjoy the motorcycle along the zigzag road with the turquoise lake and snow-capped Mt. Nojin Kangtsang accompanying you right beside. We will stop at Gangbala Pass(4790m) to enjoy the panorama of Yamdrok Lake. You can also take photos with lovely Tibetan mastiffs.

After having lunch at Nagarze, we will keep riding to Karola Glacier. You can park your motorbike right beside the highway and closely enjoy the massive icy glaciers and white stupas before. Then, we follow the road to pass Simila Mountain pass. You may hang an auspicious Tibetan prayer flag on the mountain pass and view Manla Reservoir.

Your adventure continues to the enchanting Gyantse County. The first sight that comes to your sight would be the awe-inspiring vista of Gyantse Fortress. We will visit Palcho Monastery. It’s the only Tibetan monastery where three different religious sects coexist in one monastery. The Nepali-style Kunbum stupa is the star attraction inside the religious compound. Finally, you will ride to Shigatse to call it a day.

Stay overnight in Shigatse. 

• Ride through the turquoise Yamdrok Lake
• The Karola Glacier is so close that you will appreciate a spectacular view of the white glacier contrasted with blue sky.

After breakfast, we ride back west toward New Tingri (4,300m). On a clear day, the views become even more spectacular, and you may spot some of the great Himalayan peaks, like Cho Oyu and Shishapangma, rising proudly in the distance.

Once we reach New Tingri, we’ll take time to rest and adjust to the altitude, as tomorrow’s ride to the Tibet Everest Base Camp (5,010m) will be the ultimate highlight of your Nepal-to-Tibet motorbike adventure!

Stay overnight in New Tingri. 

• Ride the motorbike to New Tingri for acclimatization
• Mount Everest gradually comes into view

Today marks the highlight of the entire motorbike tour! After breakfast, hop on your motorcycle for the Mt. Everest (Qomolangma in Tibetan) National Nature Preserve. First, you will pass Gyatsola Pass (5280m). At the Gyatsola Pass viewpoint, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest. Hidden behind the mountain range, the Everest resembles a budding lotus flower, a captivating sight along the roadside.

Then, you will ride through a series of 108 thrilling hairpin bends on the way up to the famous Gawu La Pass (5,198m). We will stay longer at Gawu La Pass to enjoy the world’s top 5 highest peaks along the Himalayan Range, namely, Mt. Everest (8848.86m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,463m), and Shishapangma (8,012m).

After we reach the Zhaxizong Village, you will park your motorcycle at the designated parking lot and transfer to an ecobus to reach the Tibet EBC in around 45 minutes. Upon reaching Everest Base Camp, the colossal white pyramid peak of Mount Everest stands towering before you.

You can spend this afternoon and evening taking photographs of the unobstructed north face of Mount Everest and watching the sunset as it paints the summit of Mt. Everest in a golden hue. At night, you can enjoy the amazing Milky Way stretching above the peak of Mt. Everest. It will definitely be an adventure of a lifetime to remember.

Stay overnight at Everest Base Camp.

Insider Tips:
1. Travelers need to transfer to the designated eco-bus to Tibet EBC, as it is a mandatory government policy to protect the fragile ecosystem at the heart of the Everest region.
2. Due to the extreme altitude, do walk slowly and do not exert yourself to avoid acute altitude sickness. Our local experts will monitor our guests’ health conditions along the way.
3. During the winter season, typically from November to March, the tent hotels at Everest Base Camp close. Therefore, if you’re traveling in winter, your accommodation options are limited to the village near EBC.

• Stop at Gawu La Pass to admire epic Himalayan Range, including Mt. Everest
• Riders posing with Mt. Everest at Tibet EBC

After breakfast in the morning, before leaving the Tibet Everest Base Camp, you will visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest monastery, where nuns and monks live together at 5154 meters above sea level.

Then, bid farewell to the lofty Mount Everest and enjoy the rollercoaster ride west across high passes and winding mountain roads to Gyirong. Along the way, you will marvel at the evolving scenery, from snow-capped peaks towering over 5000 meters to the lush forests and canyon vistas at around 2800 meters above sea level.

As you pass by Mt. Shishabangma (8027 meters), one of the world’s highest mountains over 8000 meters, you can enjoy a close view of the three main peaks of Shishabangma, as well as the golden glow of Pelku Tso Lake beneath the peaks.

Afterward, the altitude drops dramatically. You’ll be mesmerized by forests, waterfalls, and bottomless canyons as you enter the edge of the Himalayas.

When you arrive in Gyirong Valley, what you will see is the dense forest and the snowy peaks above the forest. In Gyirong town, you can breathe in the abundant oxygen.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

• Rongbuk Monastery, the higest monastery in the world
• Ride down to the forested Gyirong Valley

After breakfast, you will say goodbye to your Tibetan tour guide and cross the Gyirong Port to Nepal. Our Nepali staff at the Nepal border port will warmly welcome you, assist you in applying for a Nepal visa, and you will ride the familiar but adventurous mountain roads back to Kathmandu.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future. Tour service ends.