If ever there was a ride of epic proportions, this is it. This cycle adventure was requested by a couple of Irish enthusiasts (aka madmen) and, with their permission, we are opening this up to others who fancy the solidarity found only by a month of suffering on the roof ofthe world with strangers. This is not for the faint of heart.

While we have ridden parts of this route before, we have never ridden this particular route in its entirety. Nor have we ever offered a cycle tour of this magnitude in the past. Distance covered (3000km), number of cycling days (approx. 27), number of mountain passes (6), and maximum elevation enroute (5,250m) is all unprecedented. This means that the itinerary supplied below is approximate. Due to the variables of weather and high altitude, we are forced to provide our best guess as to the total number of cycling days. Distances andelevation of each leg are included in the itinerary below.

A few of the common sights and experiences along the way: visits to ancient monasteries and temples, wandering through bustling markets in rural villages, tea in local homes (or nomad tents!), walks with shepherds to bring in their animals, greeting farmers working in their barley fields, and joining in with a community dance in some of the small towns enroute that gives such a fitting expression to this festive culture.

 

Upon arrival in Lhasa, a couple of days will be reserved to visit the historical sites of this mystical city. At the heart of the city you'll walk through the lively Barkhor Bazaar that surrounds the venerated Jokhang Temple. It is an exotic experience to mix with nomads and religious pilgrims who have converged from all over Tibet. The cultural highlight of any trip to Lhasa is a tour of the 17th century Potala Palace, the former chief residence of the Dalai Lama. With walls as thick as 5 meters and containing over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues, any length of time in this historic engineering wonder is considered an abbreviated tour. You'll also enjoy a stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Norbulingka, meaning "Treasure Park." The central feature of this 89 acre park and gardens is Norbulingka Palace - the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas. Another fascinating experience in Lhasa is found in the foothills north of the city: a visit to Sera Monastery includes the fascinating experience of seeing monks engage in their daily practice of religious debate.

All transport, including airport pick-up and transfers, Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), private vehicle support and driver, plus an excellent English speaking local guide, Lhasa to Chengdu airfare (per the itinerary), all meals, snacks, and bottled water enroute, all accommodation based on double occupancy,all activities and entrance fees enroute (per the itinerary),high quality tents (for nights when there is no better alternative), bicycle repair stand and basic repair tools

International airfare, medical, travel, and trip interruption insurance, passport and visa fees, activities not included on the trip itinerary, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, laundry, items of a personal nature, bicycle, spare tires and/or parts for your bike (recommended gear list available at your request), sleeping bag (for nights when there is no better alternative), energy bars & gels, electrolyte mixes, and other commercial sources of high energy

Day 1: ARRIVE Chengdu

Day 2: Chengdu - Yingxiu, 900m elev. 100km.

Day 3-5: Yingxiu - Danba, 2500m elev. 245km (4500m pass on Day4)

Day 6: REST

Day 7-8: Danba - Bamei, 3450m elev. 85km (3900m pass on Day8)

Day 9: Bamei - Daofu, 3000m elev. 80km.

Day 10: Daofu - Luhuo, 3300m elev. 70km.

Day 11: Luhuo - Ganzi (Garze), 3400m elev. 97km (3950m pass)

Day 12-14: Ganzi - Shiqu, 4200m elev. 310km (4600m pass on Day12)

Day 15: REST

Day 16: Shiqu - Yushu, 3700m elev. 135km

Day 17-18: Yushu - Zhidoi, 4200m elev. 200km (4800m pass on Day18)

Day 19-20: Zhidoi - Qumahexiang, Qumarleb, 4300m elev. 200km

Day 21: Qumahexiang, Qumarleb - G109 intersection, 4600m elev. 160km.

(Drive to Golmud from intersection)

Day 22:  REST

Day 23-25: (Drive from Golmud to G109/S308 intersection). G109/S308

intersection - Tanggulazhen - Yanshipingzhen, 4700m elev. 325km (5250m

pass on Day24)

Day 26-27: Yanshipingzhen - Amdo (Nagqu county), 4700m elev. 185km

Day 28: Amdo - Nagqu (county seat), 4600m elev. 136km

Day 29: Nagqu - Damxung, 5100m elev. 166km

Day 30: REST. Visit NamCo Lake by vehicle.

Day 31: Damxung - Yangbajingzhen, 4600m elev. 75km

Day 32: Yangbajingzhen - Lhasa, 3700m elev. 93km

Day 33-34: REST. Visit the main sites of Lhasa

Day 35: Fly to Chengdu (flight included in tour cost)

Day 36: DEPART Chengdu

If ever there was a ride of epic proportions, this is it. This cycle adventure was requested by a couple of Irish enthusiasts (aka madmen) and, with their permission, we are opening this up to others who fancy the solidarity found only by a month of suffering on the roof ofthe world with strangers. This is not for the faint of heart.

While we have ridden parts of this route before, we have never ridden this particular route in its entirety. Nor have we ever offered a cycle tour of this magnitude in the past. Distance covered (3000km), number of cycling days (approx. 27), number of mountain passes (6), and maximum elevation enroute (5,250m) is all unprecedented. This means that the itinerary supplied below is approximate. Due to the variables of weather and high altitude, we are forced to provide our best guess as to the total number of cycling days. Distances andelevation of each leg are included in the itinerary below.

A few of the common sights and experiences along the way: visits to ancient monasteries and temples, wandering through bustling markets in rural villages, tea in local homes (or nomad tents!), walks with shepherds to bring in their animals, greeting farmers working in their barley fields, and joining in with a community dance in some of the small towns enroute that gives such a fitting expression to this festive culture.

 

Upon arrival in Lhasa, a couple of days will be reserved to visit the historical sites of this mystical city. At the heart of the city you'll walk through the lively Barkhor Bazaar that surrounds the venerated Jokhang Temple. It is an exotic experience to mix with nomads and religious pilgrims who have converged from all over Tibet. The cultural highlight of any trip to Lhasa is a tour of the 17th century Potala Palace, the former chief residence of the Dalai Lama. With walls as thick as 5 meters and containing over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues, any length of time in this historic engineering wonder is considered an abbreviated tour. You'll also enjoy a stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Norbulingka, meaning "Treasure Park." The central feature of this 89 acre park and gardens is Norbulingka Palace - the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas. Another fascinating experience in Lhasa is found in the foothills north of the city: a visit to Sera Monastery includes the fascinating experience of seeing monks engage in their daily practice of religious debate.

All transport, including airport pick-up and transfers, Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), private vehicle support and driver, plus an excellent English speaking local guide, Lhasa to Chengdu airfare (per the itinerary), all meals, snacks, and bottled water enroute, all accommodation based on double occupancy,all activities and entrance fees enroute (per the itinerary),high quality tents (for nights when there is no better alternative), bicycle repair stand and basic repair tools

International airfare, medical, travel, and trip interruption insurance, passport and visa fees, activities not included on the trip itinerary, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, laundry, items of a personal nature, bicycle, spare tires and/or parts for your bike (recommended gear list available at your request), sleeping bag (for nights when there is no better alternative), energy bars & gels, electrolyte mixes, and other commercial sources of high energy

Day 1: ARRIVE Chengdu

Day 2: Chengdu - Yingxiu, 900m elev. 100km.

Day 3-5: Yingxiu - Danba, 2500m elev. 245km (4500m pass on Day4)

Day 6: REST

Day 7-8: Danba - Bamei, 3450m elev. 85km (3900m pass on Day8)

Day 9: Bamei - Daofu, 3000m elev. 80km.

Day 10: Daofu - Luhuo, 3300m elev. 70km.

Day 11: Luhuo - Ganzi (Garze), 3400m elev. 97km (3950m pass)

Day 12-14: Ganzi - Shiqu, 4200m elev. 310km (4600m pass on Day12)

Day 15: REST

Day 16: Shiqu - Yushu, 3700m elev. 135km

Day 17-18: Yushu - Zhidoi, 4200m elev. 200km (4800m pass on Day18)

Day 19-20: Zhidoi - Qumahexiang, Qumarleb, 4300m elev. 200km

Day 21: Qumahexiang, Qumarleb - G109 intersection, 4600m elev. 160km.

(Drive to Golmud from intersection)

Day 22:  REST

Day 23-25: (Drive from Golmud to G109/S308 intersection). G109/S308

intersection - Tanggulazhen - Yanshipingzhen, 4700m elev. 325km (5250m

pass on Day24)

Day 26-27: Yanshipingzhen - Amdo (Nagqu county), 4700m elev. 185km

Day 28: Amdo - Nagqu (county seat), 4600m elev. 136km

Day 29: Nagqu - Damxung, 5100m elev. 166km

Day 30: REST. Visit NamCo Lake by vehicle.

Day 31: Damxung - Yangbajingzhen, 4600m elev. 75km

Day 32: Yangbajingzhen - Lhasa, 3700m elev. 93km

Day 33-34: REST. Visit the main sites of Lhasa

Day 35: Fly to Chengdu (flight included in tour cost)

Day 36: DEPART Chengdu

If ever there was a ride of epic proportions, this is it. This cycle adventure was requested by a couple of Irish enthusiasts (aka madmen) and, with their permission, we are opening this up to others who fancy the solidarity found only by a month of suffering on the roof ofthe world with strangers. This is not for the faint of heart.

While we have ridden parts of this route before, we have never ridden this particular route in its entirety. Nor have we ever offered a cycle tour of this magnitude in the past. Distance covered (3000km), number of cycling days (approx. 27), number of mountain passes (6), and maximum elevation enroute (5,250m) is all unprecedented. This means that the itinerary supplied below is approximate. Due to the variables of weather and high altitude, we are forced to provide our best guess as to the total number of cycling days. Distances andelevation of each leg are included in the itinerary below.

A few of the common sights and experiences along the way: visits to ancient monasteries and temples, wandering through bustling markets in rural villages, tea in local homes (or nomad tents!), walks with shepherds to bring in their animals, greeting farmers working in their barley fields, and joining in with a community dance in some of the small towns enroute that gives such a fitting expression to this festive culture.

 

Upon arrival in Lhasa, a couple of days will be reserved to visit the historical sites of this mystical city. At the heart of the city you'll walk through the lively Barkhor Bazaar that surrounds the venerated Jokhang Temple. It is an exotic experience to mix with nomads and religious pilgrims who have converged from all over Tibet. The cultural highlight of any trip to Lhasa is a tour of the 17th century Potala Palace, the former chief residence of the Dalai Lama. With walls as thick as 5 meters and containing over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues, any length of time in this historic engineering wonder is considered an abbreviated tour. You'll also enjoy a stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Norbulingka, meaning "Treasure Park." The central feature of this 89 acre park and gardens is Norbulingka Palace - the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas. Another fascinating experience in Lhasa is found in the foothills north of the city: a visit to Sera Monastery includes the fascinating experience of seeing monks engage in their daily practice of religious debate.

All transport, including airport pick-up and transfers, Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), private vehicle support and driver, plus an excellent English speaking local guide, Lhasa to Chengdu airfare (per the itinerary), all meals, snacks, and bottled water enroute, all accommodation based on double occupancy,all activities and entrance fees enroute (per the itinerary),high quality tents (for nights when there is no better alternative), bicycle repair stand and basic repair tools

International airfare, medical, travel, and trip interruption insurance, passport and visa fees, activities not included on the trip itinerary, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, laundry, items of a personal nature, bicycle, spare tires and/or parts for your bike (recommended gear list available at your request), sleeping bag (for nights when there is no better alternative), energy bars & gels, electrolyte mixes, and other commercial sources of high energy

Day 1: ARRIVE Chengdu

Day 2: Chengdu - Yingxiu, 900m elev. 100km.

Day 3-5: Yingxiu - Danba, 2500m elev. 245km (4500m pass on Day4)

Day 6: REST

Day 7-8: Danba - Bamei, 3450m elev. 85km (3900m pass on Day8)

Day 9: Bamei - Daofu, 3000m elev. 80km.

Day 10: Daofu - Luhuo, 3300m elev. 70km.

Day 11: Luhuo - Ganzi (Garze), 3400m elev. 97km (3950m pass)

Day 12-14: Ganzi - Shiqu, 4200m elev. 310km (4600m pass on Day12)

Day 15: REST

Day 16: Shiqu - Yushu, 3700m elev. 135km

Day 17-18: Yushu - Zhidoi, 4200m elev. 200km (4800m pass on Day18)

Day 19-20: Zhidoi - Qumahexiang, Qumarleb, 4300m elev. 200km

Day 21: Qumahexiang, Qumarleb - G109 intersection, 4600m elev. 160km.

(Drive to Golmud from intersection)

Day 22:  REST

Day 23-25: (Drive from Golmud to G109/S308 intersection). G109/S308

intersection - Tanggulazhen - Yanshipingzhen, 4700m elev. 325km (5250m

pass on Day24)

Day 26-27: Yanshipingzhen - Amdo (Nagqu county), 4700m elev. 185km

Day 28: Amdo - Nagqu (county seat), 4600m elev. 136km

Day 29: Nagqu - Damxung, 5100m elev. 166km

Day 30: REST. Visit NamCo Lake by vehicle.

Day 31: Damxung - Yangbajingzhen, 4600m elev. 75km

Day 32: Yangbajingzhen - Lhasa, 3700m elev. 93km

Day 33-34: REST. Visit the main sites of Lhasa

Day 35: Fly to Chengdu (flight included in tour cost)

Day 36: DEPART Chengdu