TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Wednesday After arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to hotel in Thamel, the tourist center of Kathmandu. Thamel is busy, full of restaurants, cafes and shops. In the afternoon, we sort out the bikes and over dinner, there will be a tour briefing and collect passport for Tibet visa. O/N Hotel.

Day 2: Thursday Kathmandu to Nagarkot via Bhaktapur (38km with 650m altitude gain)
After an early morning breakfast in Kathmandu, we ride due east to the medieval town of Bhaktapur. This is an ancient city, full of Newari culture. There are many temples and squares here that we will explore. From here we head northeast to Nagarkot on an excellent and quiet tarmac road. We gradually climb 20km to Nagarkot, on the valley rim, passing steeply terraced farmland and houses that seem to be clinging to the hillside. When we reach the summit we will be able to see the Himalayan mountain range and on a good day, mount Everest too. We stay in a guesthouse on the ridge.

Day 3: Friday Nagarkot - Shanku - Boudhanath - Kathmandu via Sleeping Vishnu
(34 - 40km with 650 m. descent)
The day starts with an exciting descent on Jeep tracks. We pass through many rustic villages, Himalayas in the right on clear day! We reach the beautiful ancient village of Shanku. From here we are on tarmac road towards Boudhanath Stupa, here we will have lunch and then ride back to Kathmandu or ride towards  Sleeping Vishnu temple (Budhanilkantha) and then to Thamel.

Day 4: Saturday Fly Kathmandu to Gonggar Airport and drive 95 Km to Lhasa.

Day 5: Sunday Drepung Monastery, Summer Palace and Bharkhor Kora.

Day 6: Monday Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Jokhang Monastery.

Day 7: Tuesday Lhasa to Sumdo via Medro Gongkar
Sumdo is a small village and most people here are nomads. 160 Km. Altitude is 3470m.

Day 8: Wednesday Gyamda is an area of stunning natural beauty. Verdant alpine forest and clear running streams abound. There are incredible landscape views and lakes. 110 Km. Altitude is 3200m.

Day 9: Thursday Draksumtso, this is the island lake of Draksumtso. There is a small monastery on the island and it is said to have been made by demons headed by ling Gear's (ancient Tibetan King) enemy Dud Achong Gyelpo in the past. 90 Km. Altitude 3469m.

Day 10: Friday Bayi, this country, which once occupied strategic site, has been completely absorbed by the recent urban development. The current population, largely Chinese exceeds 25,000. Here the bridge spans the Nyangchu River. 75 Km. Altitude is 2900m.

Day 11: Saturday Menling is the name currently given to the old district of Longpo and Lower Kongpo. Way from Bayi to Menling, visit Buchu Sergyi Lhakang, one of the most ancient Buddhist shrines in the Kongpo and one of four 'border taming' temples built by King Srongtsen Gampo in the 7th century. Lamaling monastery, the main seat of the late Dudjom Rinpoche (1904-87), head of the Nyingmapa school. 167 Km. Altitude is 3100m.

Day 12: Sunday Nang is the name given to present administrative division of Eastern Dakpo, the principal gateway to the sacred mountain of Tsari, and the region through which the, Brahmaputra River cuts it's way through an un-navigable 33km horse-shoe gorge it flows towards Longpo and Kongpo. 70 Km. Altitude is 3390m.

Day 13: Monday Gyastsa lies at the heart of Western Dakpo region of Southern Tibet renowned for it's walnuts and apricots on the southern side of the the Brahmaputra. The capital is located at Drumpa, alongside the Dakpo Dratsang Monastery, also known as Dakpo Sheldrupling, was originally a Karma Kargyu Monastery belonging to Sharmapa. In 1589 Sharmapa, the sixth Chokyi Wangchuk (1584-1635) was enthroned here. Later in the 17th century, this establishment, like many other Karma Kagyu monasteries in Tibet, was converted to the Gelukpa tradition by Mongol armed force. Many of the original buildings including main temple have survived intact, and there is a recently restored debating courtyard. 78 Km. Altitude 3980m.

Day 14: Tuesday Chusum is the modern name for the ancient principality of Eyul Lhagyari whose inhabitants have long claimed descent from king Srongtsen Gampo. This broad valley is formed by the arid gorge of the Sechu river, which rises near the Portang La pass, Altitude is 5030m and flows north-west to enter the Brahmaputra downstream from Rong. 65 Km. Altitude 3750m.

Day 15: Wednesday Tsedang is one of Tibet's largest cities and the capital of Lhoka district of the Tibetan autonomous region, exercising direct control over the affairs of 13 countries. The capital is located at Nedong, which as seat of the Phamudrupa Dynasty functioned as the capital of the whole of Tibet from 1349 until it's eclipse by the Ringpung freedom in 1435. Tsedang valley kingship and agriculture were first introduced. The first place is at Yambu Lhakang and the first Buddhist temple at Tradruk. Tradunk temple is located on the south side of the Yarlung valley, only 7km south of Tsedang this temple is the earliest of Tibet's great geomantic temples apart from Jokhang. Altitude 3400.

Day 16: Thursday Tsedang to Samye and back to Tsedang.
Samye Monastery is one of first monasteries in Tibet. It was constructed mostly between 775 and 779 AD. Tibetan King Trisong Deutsen invited Padmasambhava of Oddyana Modern swat to subdue the hostile elemental force of Tibet and make them amenable or subservient to Buddhism. Padmasambhava traversed the enter plateau, transforming negative force into Buddhist protectors, and introducing the highest Tantras and their teachings to his fortunate disciples. 100 Km.

Day 17: Friday Tsedang to Gonggar airport 100 Km. Altitude 3400m.

Day 18: Saturday Take an early flight to Kathmandu.

Day 19: Sunday Departure.

BIKE RENT: You need a mountain bike in a good working order with helmet (both available for hire in Kathmandu). We have big stock of bikes with front suspension e.g. Trek 4400 with genuine parts

GROUP SIZE: Min 4pax, plus Nepali guide-medically trained and experienced, drivers, Tibetan guide and extra Nepali MTB guide if numbers dictate.

TOUR COST: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

ROUTE MAP