21 Days Mountain Bike Tour from Xining to Lhasa

The journey is a bit hard and you will spend approximately 10 hours for the whole cycling on the road. You can have a short rest and lunch when you reach Huangyuan county. If time permits, pay a visit to Zhazang Temple en route.

The trip will be relaxed and enjoyable for you will be surrounded by the charming natural scenery. The eyeful view of the landscape of the Qinghai Lake, the blue sky and the flower sea - Gahai may make you feel peaceful and content.

The road is bituminous macadam and thus quite easy and comfortable to cycle on it.

Cycle around 150 km from Tianjun to Delingha.

It's long distance but the road condition is good, you could take the vehicle for a while and ride for the rest.

Today continue cycling through Xitieshan, Cha'erhan and at last reach Golmud.

Today have a good rest in Golmud, recruit your replenishment and get well prepared for climbing the Qinghai - Tibet Plateau. Pay a visit to the Cha'erhan Salt Lake and Wanzhang Salt Bridge.

The Cha'erhan Salt Lake is located in the middle south part of Chaidamu Basin with an altitude of 2670 meters, which is the largest natural salt lake in China, second in the world. The hypsography around the Cha'erhan Salt Lake is wide and flat with extraordinary scenery. If you are lucky enough you can even see the flyaway vision over the lake.

The Wanzhang Salt Bridge is built over the lake and part of the national highway No. 215.

From this day you start to experience the real Qinghai - Tibetan road.

It is almost gently uphill terrain all the way. When reaching Chinatai (83 km), you may go to the reputed Kunlun Castalia flowing sweet conduit all year round to supply your water storage. After lunch, continue cycling another 38 km to Xidatan and you will go across the highest bridge along Qingzang railway - the Sanchahe Bridge.

Tips: The climate on the Qinghai - Tibetan plateau is dramatic and the sudden heavy rain will come out unexpectedly. When the altitude increases, it may even snow. So you need to prepare warm clothes, shoes and rainproof. It will be very dangerous if you catch cold on the plateau. Take good care of yourself. 

On the tenth day, you will gallop freely on the Kekexili prairie.

To cycle a 140 km one day from Xidatan to Wudaoliang is really a hard work and you need to get up early. During the first 30km cycling to the valley of Kunlun, you can fully enjoy the grassland scenery. Over the valley, cycle the easy downhill road to Budongquan. Have proper rest and then continue your cycling to Wudaoliang via Suonandajie along a hard road at one fling.

The most arduous task today is to cycle about 70km over the Fenghuoshan Mountain pass with an altitude of 5010 meters. Then go downhill all the way to Erdaogou town. Recruit your energy there and have a short rest then go ahead about 63 km to the source of Yangtze River - New Tuotuohe Bridge before it gets dark.

Tips: You are advised to bring the lunch box or necessary food with you for lunch when you climb the Fenghuoshan Mountain pass. Have moderate rest and supplements. Do not exhaust yourself.

Today is a little relaxed with less uphill or downhill. Cycle 90km to Yanshiping and check in at a local hotel. Have a good rest after several days' hard cycling. Build your strength for the next day's journey to cycle over Tanggula Mountain - the dividing line between Qinghai and Tibet.

You will come across numerous up slopes after leaving Yanshiping, then go though the old hot spring and arrive in the new hot spring, which is also the Thanglha military depot (the 3296 KM of Qinghai – Tibet Highway). There is still 47 kilometers from the Pass, also as the starting point of the uphill path. As you reach the Thanglha Mountain (5231m), you have come to the nearest place to feel heaven on this route. When you surmount the Thanglha Mountain, you come to the prairie of Wutang Grassland in Tibet.

After a 10 kilometers' downgrading path from Thanglha Mountain, you will get to today's camp place – Toudaoban. It is renowned as the first Highway Keeper's House, because it stands on the altitude of 5100 meters, which is the highest in the world.

Yangshiping (4712m)-Thanglha military depot (4980m)-Thanglha Pass (5231m)-Toudaoban (5100m)

Starting from Toudaoban, a 20 kilometers uphill path will follow a short downhill trail and you will reach Tuojiugaila Pass, also named as small Thanglha Pass. A spiral downgrading path twists in the huge valley and the slopes are all precipitous, which are rare in the Qinghai - Tibet route, thus you need to be particularly prudent and cautious with your cycling speed. When you come to the bottom of the valley, you will proceed towards the road along the river.

More and more Tibet villages are dotted on the way, an even and complanate road leads you to Amdo County. You can have a complete relax in the local hostel to refresh yourself after several arduous cycling days.

Toudaoban (5100m)-Small Thanglha Pass (5010m)-Amdo County (4706m)

It is another tough day, as you will get over the last barrier towards Lhasa and also the most dangerous one – Shengeligong Mountain (4880m), in the south of the county.

Launching from the Amdo County, go across a part of fluviomarine area and some grassland, you will get to the foot of Shengeligong Mountain. Although the uphill path is only 7 kilometers due to the tough gradient, you need to push your bicycle step by step rather than cycle on this mountain. Reaching the summit of this mountain does not mean the initial point of the downgrading path, plenty of up and down hills still block on the way to test your will and energy for about 50 kilometers.

Another 70 kilometers will lead you to Nakchu, which the altitude has reached 4500 meters. For the room and board, you can stay in the local hostel and taste some good food in the restaurant. Nakchu Restaurant is a good choice for its economical price and goluptious food.

Tip: As continuous cycling will make your muscular fatigue, and today’s route might be too lengthy and laborious. If your time is sufficient, you can also divide the above route into two days, and stay overnight in the Erdaohe military depot, which is 65 kilometers away from Amdo County, or camping.

Amdo (4706m)-Shengeligong Pass (4881m)-Erdaohe military depot (4500m)-Nagchu (4514m)

Be well-prepared for another two formidable days to cover 164 kilometers and head for Dangxiong. The up and down road will torture your body and spirit. The rewarding thing is the surrounding special scenery such as the cerulean sky, a carpet of green grass, scattered beautiful ornamental design tents. All the unique North Tibet sights will drive your fatigue out and make you relaxed and joyful. Overnight at Gulu County, if your time is sufficient, you could stop in Gulu Town for one more day to have a detour to Dorma Valley, mother of holy lake Namtso.

Continue to appreciate the paradise today, upon arrive in Damxung, relax yourself and have a detour to the Holy Namtso Lake (4718m).

Namtso Lake is located between Dangxiong County and Bange County, renowned as one of the three Holy Lakes in Tibetan Buddhism. As the path towards Namtso is bumpy and jolty, we will take the vehicle instead of riding your precious bicycle. Set up camp at Tashi Dorie peninsula. In clear weather the water is a miraculous shade of turquoise and there are magnificent views of the nearby mountains. When arrival, enjoying the glory of sunset over the lake. By the lake, you can view the peak of Nyianchentangula (7162m).

Enjoy the clear morning by the lake, and snap the amazing view of sunrise. You can also have a little hike along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Then drive back to Damxung, head for Yangpachen by 75 kilometers' cycling.

The trail is dotted with green grass and swift current, and the main summit of Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain stands is at the far distance, which looks towering and saintly. You might reach Yangpachen at around 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm. As Yangpachen is famous for its geothermic hot spring, you might have a bath there.

Damxung County (4307m)- Nyianchentangula Pass (4620m)-Yangpacheng (4284m)

You will see a sign with "Welcome you to Lhasa!" which means the terminal of this strenuous Qinghai - Tibet cycling tour.

The route from Yangpachen to Lhasa is mainly composed of down slope. As it is new-repaired recently, most of that is even and plain. But you need to check the brake of your bicycle and control the speed as there are still many twists on the way. Go though the sign with “Welcome you to Lhasa!” in the west suburban, you will reach Lhasa finally.

Yangpacheng (4284m)-Deqin Village (4000m)-Lhasa (3650m)

After breakfast, we go to the Potala Palace, a golden feather upon the roof of the world, which Tibetans proudly claim to be the prime miracle since the creation of this world. With the golden roof shinning in the sun, it is visible from any distance. You can spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building and exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and many Buddhist icons within.

In the afternoon we go inside of the Jokhang. Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor area of Old Lhasa. The streets smelled of yak butter and incense while hordes of pilgrims shuffled along the main Kora (circumambulations) around Jokhang Temple. If someone just walked at a normal pace, one kora would take about 15-20 minutes.

In the morning have a tour for Drepung, the ever largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks. Buddhist debates often occur there. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given its name which, in the Tibetan language, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks there.

You can spend the afternoon touring Sera Monastery and  have a little hike for the beautiful valley scenery nearby and picnic there. Sera monastery was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. Catch the famous debate session of the monks before returning back to Lhasa.

Free time at your disposal this morning, explore the bustling markets of the Barkhor to buy some souvenirs for your families and friends. After lunch, departure transfer to see off, tour services end and Tibet welcome you back forever. Alternatively, should you wish to stay on rather than return home right away, you could contact us and choose our other City Packages as an extension to your memorable adventure!