Tibet Nepal April 2009
If you're looking for a challenging adventure that includes mountain biking, Buddhist culture, remote villages and even a visit to Everest Base Camp, finishing with the longest downhill bike ride anywhere, then look no further. This trip is tailor-made for you.
The Tibetan Plateau is a land of unparalleled superlatives: it is the largest and highest plateau on our planet, averaging 4500m in altitiude. It is buttressed along its southern flank by the world's greatest mountain range, the Himalayas.
Only a few cyclists have ridden along its inhospitable plateau and forged a passage through these mystic lands into Kathmandu via Everest Base Camp. The reward is the longest downhill ride in the world as you enter into Nepal, dropping an unimaginable 4500m over 156km.
At a breathless average altitude of around 4450m this expedition is not for the faint hearted, but for the fit and spirited pioneer, that feels at home on a bike.
Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, our group will then take the short flight to Lhasa, Tibet.
Four nights will be spent in Lhasa, acclimatizing to the 3,700m altitude and preparing for the higher altitudes to come. As the capital of Tibet, there is much to see on foot or bike. Most of the important monasteries are here, including the Potala Palace, which was home to all 13 Dalai Lamas until the Chinese invasion.
After Lhasa, the real adventure begins.
Riding parallel to the impressive Himalayan chain which forms the border with Bhutan, Kikkim and Nepal to the south, there are six major passes to be negotiated as we ride westward on the Lhasa-Kathmandu route.
Accompanying our adventure through high and dry plateaus are unforgettable monastery towns such as Gyantse, Xigatse, Xegar. Life hasn't changed here for hundreds of years: the traditions of the nomadic rural past are still a visible part of Tibetan culture.
Venturing towards the Tibetan side Everest Base Camp, we leave the main route behind and use the dirt jeep tracked road leading to the Rongbuk Monastery. We may even be lucky and receive a blessing by a Lama residing in the monastery. Ample time will be available to explore the base camp, before returning along the main route to Kathmandu.
Back on the main Kathmandu route, at the edge of the Tibetan Plateau we will cross the Shung La at 5300m, and begin a freewheeling scenic descent of 600m, entering Nepal via the border town of Zhangmu. Our final day of cycling plus a bus ride will bring us back to the culinary treats and relative comforts of civilization in Kathmandu.
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