Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1  Kunming (Alt. 1897m)
Met by our staff at Kunming airport and taken to the hotel located in the center of the city. Welcome group dinner. 
 
Day 2  Kunming-Dali (Alt. 1900m) 

We will assist you to obtain the Chinese Driving License in the morning. You will meet your motorcycles and spend some time get familiar with the bikes. We then ride to Dali. We will arrive in Dali old town in a good time to explore this cultural city in the afternoon. Dali the walled city, located on the cross road of both culture and trade between Han Chinese and southwestern minorities, is an ancient city of 2000 year of history.  (Ride 300km)
 
Day 3  Dali to Lijiang  (Alt. 2400M)

Lijiang’s charming Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets, canals, and stone bridges that date from the Ming Dynasty. You are free to explore this ancient city at your leisure. Lijiang is a ‘shop till you drop’ type place and all sorts of interesting items are for sale.Lijaing old town is the UNESCO world heritage which attracts crowds of visitors all year around. You will have enough time strolling in the old town and rest. 

Day 4 Lijiang to Shangri_la (Alt. 3270m)
We will leave Lijiang and ride to the third deepest Gorge in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge. It’s one of highlights of the trip, we will ride further into the gorge to beat the crowds. After lunch we will continue to Shangri_la County or Gyelthang, is where the Tibetan and Chinese worlds meet. Until recently, it was the northernmost open point for foreign travelers in Yunnan. ShangriLa is now a modern city at the edge of the vast Tibetan plateau. Again you will be delighted to spend your night in the Zukezong old town.  Ride 180km

Day 5  Shangri_la to Deqin (Alt.3300m)
The drive to Deqen is simply the best way to view the great variety of landscape in the Great Rivers region. One the way will stop at the big bend view point of the Yangtse river. We will ride over the 4292 meter white horse pass and we reach the Tibetan frontier town in late afternoon. Ride 180km

Day 6  Deqin to Rumei  ( Alt.3800m )
Early morning to see the sunrise over the 6740 meter highest unclimbed mountain in the world. In the morning we will ride to Yekalo and visit the salt fields. Depart Yanjing in the afternoon and travel along the north of Mekong River valley into Tibet. We will pass a major check points and officially enter Tibet today. Arriving at Rumei Town by the upper Mekong river. Ride 220km

Day 7  Rumei - Basu (Alt. 3600m)
The ride is long and winding and we shall ride over one of highest passes on the trip - Dong Ta La pass 5130m. Landscape change to a a valley you will ride on the infamous 72 turns down to Salween rider and we stay in Basu County. Ride 290km

Day 8  Basu to Bomi (Alt.3300m)
Today you will cross two passes, one at around 4600 meters the other at 4300meters. Ride cross the Salween River on the way. Roads get winding as we ride through the river gorges. We actually have travelled through the three biggest rivers of Asia, Yangyse, Mekong and Salween rivers. We will spend some time driving half way around Ranwo Lake and continue to Bomi, soaring peaks on each side of the Palong Zangpo River. Ride 220km

Day  9  Bomi to Linzhi（Alt. 3100m)
The drive to Linzhi is through alpine forest landscapes. We will explore the glacier at Ranwu and onto Pomi, at a lower altitude. We will have a chance to see the grant massif of Gyala Peri(7294m) and Namcha Barwa(7756m) on the Se Ji La pass 4600 meters. We will arrive in Linzhi for overnight. Ride 228km

Day 10  Linzhi to Lhasa (Alt. 3650m)
We will do the final push to Lhasa, the ride is long after the long challenging overland trip you will understand why Tibetans regard the journey to Lhasa as one of the most sacred of pilgrimages. We will also ride over the last high pass Mila Pass 5030meters before going down to Lhasa. Celebrate our adventure to Lhasa with a bottle of Lhasa beer !  Ride 420km

Day 11  Lhasa  3650m  Rest Day
We will do some sightseeing on the rest day. Potala Palace was built in 1645 about 50 years by Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyatso and one of the most beautiful architecture in the world, long 400 meters, wide 350 meters and height 13th floors. Moreover total room is 1,000 rooms. Jokhang Temple that was built for celebration of marriage of Songten Gambo (King of Tibet) with Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty, leisure time Bakhor Street.

Day 12  Lhasa to Gyantse (Ride 330km) Alt. 3900m
Departure for Gyangtse. Ride to 4900m Gambala Pass and see very nice view above the Yamdrok Lake with background of Ninkin kangsar Mountain (7111m) and visit the ancient Fortress in Gyantse in the afternoon. Great to see the Kumbum monastery in the sunset.

Day 13   Gyantse to Sakya to Lhatse (Alt. 3900m)
Departure for Lhatse, we shall first visit the Sakya Monastery which is a very unique and less visit Sakyapa Sect Temple, after lunch we head for Lhatse. Ride 227km

Day 14   Lhatse to Mt. Everest BC (Alt. 5100m)
Early start, heading to Mt。Everest. We will be riding over 5200 meter Ula pass to see the panoramic view of the himalayan ranges including Everest, Makalu, Lotse and Choyu. We then ride to eco bus station and be transfered to Rongbuk at foot of Mount Everest. Arrive at Rongbuk Temple & Base Camp. We spend tonight at basecamp and wait for the sun set on the tallest mountain in the world. Ride 145km
 

Day 15  Everest Base Camp - Shigatse  (3900m)
Nothing compares to waking up in the glorious morning of Chomolungma. We ride to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet, is also the home to Panchan Lama. Ride 270km
 
Day 16   Shigatse - Lhasa
We drive back to Lhasa via another road with its fantastic panoramas to Lhasa. We ride on roads through the valley with its farms and pastures. We will follow the Yarlungzangpo river and finally reach Lhasa. Upon arrive in Lhasa we check in the hotel and celebrate out adventure with a Lhasa beer, or maybe two ! Ride 270km
 
Day 17  Lhasa to Chengdu
We will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Chengdu. There are daily flights from Lhasa to Chengdu, onward to other major cities for home bound flights.

Dates: 

Oct. 8 - Oct. 24, 2025

April 20 - May 05, 2026

Tour cost: 

USD3480/rider
USD1700/Passenger
Singleroom supplement: USD500/person

Included in the cost:

-KOVE 525X motorcycle (or upgrade to 800X)

-KOVE 800X if you have a pillion rider

-All paper works & permits

-Top quality hotels on shared basis

-All breakfasts

-Local overnight hotel parking charges

-Chinese Visa advice and letter of invitation

-Tibet China Travel Permits for foreigners 

-Foreign vehicles self drive permit

-Customs Deposit for imported Vehicles

-Chinese Driving License

-Third party insurance for motocycles

-Travel insurance for travelers

-Daily route notes

-RideChina T-Shirt & Stickers

-Support Vehicle + 4 seats

-Driver with mechanical experience

-A folding trailer

-Bike tools, air compressor
-Bottled water, coffee breaks from the van

-Oxygen Cylinder and masks

-Emergency first aid kit

-English Speaking Motorcycling Guide

Not Included:
-Anything that is not listed in " Included in the Tour Price"
-Up grade to KOVE 800X:  USD350/bike
-Bike Damage deposit: USD1500/bike
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Support van and a trailer for emergencies

It doesn't get any better than this! If you want organization, good places to stay, good food, nice people, you should deal with RideChina !