Is a visa on arrival available?

Typically, yes. However, in response to the current Covid situation, rules for arriving visitors may change frequently and sometimes without notice. It may be necessary to obtain a tourist visa in your own country before travel. For updated information on visas, please check the Nepal Tourism Board and the Government of Nepal Immigration websites.

Is quarantine in Nepal in effect for arriving visitors?

In response to the current Covid situation, rules for arriving visitors may change frequently and sometimes without notice. Please check the government travel pages and advisories of your home country and the official website of the Nepal Tourism board here .

Lhasa to Kathmandu Mountain Bike Tour

Best price guaranteed
No booking fees
E-ticket/Mobile voucher

Previous Next

Mountain biking
Mountains
Natural landmarks sightseeing

See Itinerary

duration 23 days
tour type Private
minimum participants 2
age requirement 16+ years old
guiding method Live Guide/Instructor
Trek difficulty Easy

Starts Kathmandu, Nepal
Ends Kathmandu, Nepal

Tour with Flexible Booking Policy

Change dates It is free to change your tour start date within 30 days of departure.
Choose a different tour Select a new tour run by the same tour operator within 30 days of departure.

HIGHLIGHTS

See the north face of Mt Everest. Travel to Everest Base Camp (Tibetan side)
Discover rich Tibetan culture during visits to Potala Palace & Jokhang Temple
Cycle past beautiful lakes and mountains of Tibet
Experience one of the longest downhill mountain biking in the world

Join on on this epic, 23-day, trans-Himalayan bicycle journey that takes you from Kathmandu to Lhasa and back. Prepare for your upcoming bicycle adventure on Day 3 of this trip while riding your bike around Kathmandu. Then fly to Lhasa and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Tibetan capital city before your journey begins.

Ride more than 1,100km through Tibet on gravel roads and over spectacular mountain passes. The high point of the journey is at the monastery of Rongbuk, from where you can see Mount Everest Base Camp (5,200m). You can walk, cycle or take a donkey cart to the base camp. Then enjoy one of the world's longest and steepest descent – a non-stop downhill journey that begins on the Tibetan Plateau and winds 150 km down to the fertile rice fields of Nepal (an unbelievable 4,600m descent).

Stay overnight in hotels and tents during this journey. An experienced crew of guides, cooks and drivers from both Nepal and Tibet will ensure a smooth operation of this trip. Plus, this mountain bike experience will also bring you into contact with two religions (Buddhism and Hinduism) and act as an introduction to the mysticism of Tibetan culture, the friendliness of the people and the daily life in the villages.

Please note that this tour is only available between the months of April and October and features 15 full days of mountain biking with full logistical support.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS ABOUT MAKALU ADVENTURE

5 - Excellent

Based on 34 reviews

Atam
From Turkey
On Aug 07 2019

5 - Excellent

Atam's review for another Makalu Adventure tour

“Everest Base Camp Trek was my dream and I had the chance to live this wonderful experience. It was so amazing to walk in and around the mountains, tents in Base Camp. That was an unforgettable experience for me.”

Axel
From Germany
On Aug 10 2019

5 - Excellent

Axel's review for another Makalu Adventure tour

“We really enjoyed the trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu in 2018. Great landscape, very friendly people, interesting towns and villages with exciting monasteries. Everything went very well on the trip, also because of the great organisation of Makalu Adventure and the tour-guide Shiva. Not to forget the cook Angkami who prepared delicious and daily changing meals.”

René
From Netherlands
On Sep 05 2019

5 - Excellent

René's review for another Makalu Adventure tour

“A challenging tour, with lots of breathtaking scenery and culture. I did this trip in September 2015 and can certainly recommend it. Be aware that depending on the type of road it's partly a hiking trip; for me that made it even more special.”

Read more Makalu Adventure reviews

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1: Kathmandu arrival & transfer to hotel
Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing tour
Day 3: Mountain biking around Kathmandu
Day 4: Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa
Day 5: Lhasa: Full-day sightseeing tour
Day 6: Lhasa: Full-day sightseeing tour continues
Day 7: Start your bicycle tour
Day 8: Cycle through the Kamba Pass
Day 9: Karo Pass
Day 10: Cycle to Gyantse
Day 11: Cycle to Shigatse
Day 12: Cycle to Gyachung Monastery
Day 13: Cycle to Lhatse
Day 14: Cycle to Shegar
Day 15: Cycle through Pang Pass
Day 16: Cycle to Rongbuk Monastery
Day 17: Cycle to Everest Base Camp
Day 18: Cycle to Tingri
Day 19: Cycle to Peokutso Lake
Day 20: Hundred kilometre downhill cycling to Upper Kerong (Gyirong)
Day 21: Cycle to Kerong border
Day 22: Cycle to Syabrubesi & Drive to Kathmandu (140km drive)
Day 23: Kathmandu departure

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All ground transfers as per the above itinerary, including pickup and drop-off on the first and the last days of the tour
Hotel in Kathmandu (including breakfast)
Hotels in Tibet (including breakfast) as per the Itinerary
All group camping equipment like two-man tent, dining tent, kitchen tent, shower tent, toilet tent, tables, chairs & mattresses
Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu including all entrance fees wherever applicable
Guided sightseeing tour in Lhasa
A support vehicle to carry your luggage and a Land Cruiser for assistance. These vehicles are available at all times while in Tibet
Welcome and farewell dinner in Kathmandu. Other meals as per the itinerary (we offer hot, fresh meals three times a day while camping. These meals are prepared by our professional kitchen crew)
Daily wages and insurance for staff and guides.

OPTIONAL ADDONS (Available during check-out)

Kathmandu to Lhasa Flight
Chinese (Tibet) Visa

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Airfare: Kathmandu-Lhasa (available as an addon)
Tibet travel permit & visa fees
Nepal re-entry visa fees
Travel insurance with high-altitude rescue & evacuation
All monastery entrance fees in Tibet wherever applicable
Expenses that are personal in nature like phone calls and laundry
Lunch/dinner while staying in hotels both in Kathmandu and Tibet
Bar bills
Tips

Why Book with Bookmundi

Excellent customer service. Our travel experts are ready to help you 24/7.
Best price guaranteed.
No credit card or booking fees.
100% financial protection.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Read more reasons to book with Bookmundiless

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

Excellent

4.68 Average 348 Reviews

Anonymous

We booked our trip just over two months ahead of the date of tra... Read more

Verified Purchase 1 week ago

Nathan

We had a tour package booked for our honeymoon in March 2020 in ... Read more

2 weeks ago

Gaidys

Bookmundi has been very helpful during these difficult times!

2 weeks ago

Anonymous

Sarah and Emma were exceptionally professional, prompt, friendly... Read more

Verified Purchase 1 month ago

Anonymous

My recent tailor made trip to Colombia was absolutely fabulous t... Read more

Verified Purchase 1 month ago

Ramakrishnan

Everything Perfect

Verified Purchase 1 month ago

Jeff

Great company! Gave refund when their itinerary changed.

Verified Purchase 2 months ago

Margherita

Very happy with all the time in helping us with the planing of o... Read more

Verified Purchase 2 months ago

Anonymous

Excellent customer service, responsive and always ready to assis... Read more

3 months ago

Martin

Easy to use, informative website. Fast and helpful replies to qu... Read more

Verified Purchase 3 months ago

Douglas

I had a complaint about the website and booking discount, which ... Read more

Verified Purchase 3 months ago

Heba

Easy and professional. Fast reply to inquiries.

Verified Purchase 3 months ago

Victoria

Overall it was very easy and quick to book with Bookmundi! I ran... Read more

Verified Purchase 4 months ago

Christine

So user friendly! All the pertinent info clearly visible, no re... Read more

Verified Purchase 5 months ago

Tamera

Enjoyed our tour of the garden district and french quarters in N... Read more

Verified Purchase 5 months ago

Lynne

Sarah Thomsen is a major representative for Bookmundi. All my e... Read more

Verified Purchase 5 months ago

Jill

Our trip last year was cancelled due to Covid-19 so we recently ... Read more

6 months ago

Anonymous

I needed to get a refund on a trip due to COVID-19 restrictions,... Read more

Verified Purchase 6 months ago

Jennifer

Very easy! Can't wait for our trip.

Verified Purchase 7 months ago

Jose

I was a bit skeptical in making a deposit for an international t... Read more

Verified Purchase 7 months ago

Anonymous

Very professional and responsive to my questions

Verified Purchase 7 months ago

GOOD TO KNOW

CANCELLATION

- Free cancellation up to 40 days prior to the tour date.
- 80% of total tour cost refundable up to 25 days prior to the tour date.
- 50% of total tour cost refundable up to 15 days prior to the tour date.
- 100% of total tour cost non-refundable within 15 days prior to the tour date.

Other Practical InformationTHE HIGHEST & THE LONGEST What makes the trans-Himalayan route so special? It is the highest road in the world, averaging an altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level as it traverses the Tibetan Plateau. Secondly, the route boasts the world's longest continuous descent, which of course means that you will face the world's longest uphill if you are heading in the opposite direction. But the best of all is the sense of isolation and awe-inspiring scenery that travelers enjoy despite an onslaught of zigzagging mountain passes and a constant battle against breathlessness. CONDITIONS Expect to cover 70km to 100km per day. Make sure you have clothes for all conditions: Remember that you are above the clouds and days can get sunny. You might also encounter snow, rain, hail and it might get very, very cold at the drop of a hat. WHAT IS THE BIKING EXPERIENCE LIKE? Children carry baskets of yak dung home to be used as insulation and fuel. Yaks are everything out here: Yak skin makes tents and canoes; and yak milk, butter, curd and cheese are a staple. People love yak steak and yak wool makes great sweaters. Even yak urine is used as medicine for exposed cuts. After eight or nine days and 600km of cycling, you should find yourself around the town of Pelbar, the entrance to Everest National Park. It is here that you will probably leave Highway 318 for a few days and head south to Everest Base Camp. By now, you will be suffering from at least half of the following ailments: Knee ligament damage, saddle rash, backache, a very sore backside, cramps in your feet, a runny nose, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, headaches, nausea, dry eyes, a dusty cough, insomnia, lethargy, sunburn, frostbite and altitude sickness, not to mention any injuries you might have incurred from falling off your bike! Fear not! For all these maladies combined cannot stop you now. Behold the Pang La, the mountain pass that rises in front of you! Grit your teeth, meditate and do whatever you have to do to get into the groove, to get that Lance Armstrong vibe and hunker down for the next four or five hours to tackle this monster. MOUNT EVEREST Conquering the Pang La is a divine tribulation that you must deal with before being allowed to witness one of the planet's most stupefying vistas. After no less than 42 switchbacks and a 900m increase in elevation, you finally reach the cairn atop the pass, adorned in colourful Buddhist prayer flags. Suddenly the curtain is pulled back to reveal the row of Himalayan peaks you have been chasing. Mount Everest! You are now feeling physically and mentally drained. After all, those last four or five hairpin bends were accomplished on willpower alone. You might find tears freezing on your weather-beaten cheek as you finally dismount and gaze in awe at the white bowling pins before your eyes: Mount Makalu (8,463m), Mount Lhotse (8,516m), Mount Jachonggangri (7,985m), Mount Cho Oyu (8,210m), Mount Shisapangma (8,012m), and the one that Tibetans have for centuries been calling Chomolungma (or 'Mother Goddess of the World') – Mount Everest. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Over 1,258 bikers from 61 different countries have participated in this Lhasa to Kathmandu mountain bike tour with us since 1998. Our success rate is above 96 percent.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this tour.

Is a visa on arrival available?

Typically, yes. However, in response to the current Covid situation, rules for arriving visitors may change frequently and sometimes without notice. It may be necessary to obtain a tourist visa in your own country before travel. For updated information on visas, please check the Nepal Tourism Board and the Government of Nepal Immigration websites.
Is quarantine in Nepal in effect for arriving visitors?

In response to the current Covid situation, rules for arriving visitors may change frequently and sometimes without notice. Please check the government travel pages and advisories of your home country and the official website of the Nepal Tourism board here.

2 3

Ask a question

NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.

Get help