The Road To Everest (trip)
The Road To Everest
- Chengdu Airport, China
- Active & Adventure
| from $4,495* per person | 17 Days | May, September |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Pedalers Pub & Grille | 12 people max | |
Your grand adventure starts in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet and former home of the Dalai Lama. To allow time for riders to acclimate to the high altitudes, we start with a walking tour of the ancient city followed by a short cycling loop through the surrounding valleys and hills. Dotting the countryside are a collection of Tibet's most revered temples and Buddhist universities, as well as secluded hot springs where we pause to rejuvenate active muscles. Our expedition warm-up continues with a few extra days in Lhasa offering a rare and unhurried opportunity to delve deeply into the soul of the city with its memorable cuisine, quiet cobblestone alleyways and colorful markets.
Pointing our compass south, the next leg of our journey takes us along a meandering route past scenic Yamdrok Lake, the Samding Monastery (home of the only female reincarnate of Buddha) and age-old villages renowned for their artisan traditions and carpet-making skills. We eventually turn onto the China-Nepal Friendship Highway venturing deeper into the Himalayas. Arriving at the intersection of old world meets new, we pedal down a recently paved and improved road to majestic Rombuk Monastery and the Everest Base Camp. As bikes are not allowed inside the National Park, we reach our final destination on foot by walking the last few kilometers to the base camp. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back and join the celebration - you just became part of lore and legend on The Road to Everest!
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Locations visited/nearby
China, Tibet
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Pedalers Pub & Grille:
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Reviewer: Mary B
located in
Trumansburg,
NY
USA
What a great time I had on this tour -- it's one week I will always remember. We stayed in very nice hotels (swimming pools in all of them), ate wonderful meals, saw both the requisite Thai cultural sites and some off-the-beaten path things -- like a Buddha cave at a temple out in the middle of nowhere! Our guide, Yai, was just wonderful -- she provided lots of background on Thai culture. In fact, that may have been the best part of the tour, apart from the riding. I feel like I came back with a solid understanding of the country and its people, something I definitely would have missed if I hadn't had Yai as a guide. Would I take this tour again? In a heartbeat!
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Reviewer: Richard G
located in
Oak Ridge,
TN
USA
This was a really fun trip comprised of all Bike Friday riders. Tom, the leader did an excellent job of showing us and educating us about Thailand. Also, based upon numerous adventure travel trips I have been on I can see that he is the best for having a well organized, and safe trip. The safety issues that he did really make a differnce. We all got loaner cell phones that were pre-prgrammed with the leaders and everyone elses numbers. In the event of getting lost or having a problem, all we had to do was use the phone. I cant tell you how often I wish I had this on a couple of ther trips I've been on. Plus Tom's emhasis on good lodging and good food made for very pleasant evenings.
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Reviewer: Gerda E
located in
Milwaukee,
Oregon
USA
Bike Friday send us a suggestion, we grabbed it without knowing anything about Pedalers Pub and Grille, and only knew Thailand from guide books. This trip was very special, the outfitter really knows his stuff. The backroads, the jungle, the Karst mountains, the little villages, the accommodations, the meals - everything was top notch. Tom knows his business and makes sure his clients are well taken care of. His "sag" driver was always there when needed, atop of every incline he had fresh fruit and ice water, before every lunch spot he had ice cold towelettes to wipe the sweat off the brow. This area is tropical, hot and humid, and incredibly beautiful. The combination of bicycling and kayaking is what intrigued us. The Andaman Sea with its rock formation islands is exactly what we had seen in travel magazines. To be there and experience kayaking into the lagoons inside these rocks was fabulous. The end of the bike trip was another kayaking adventure through the mangrove forest in a marine park. Local fishermen clamming, crabbing and fishing was special because a lot of our delicious Thai food came from the sea.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Your group will gather in Chengdu today, after meeting at the airport we'll head downtown to our hotel on an old traditional market street. We have an orientation session and welcome drinks, getting everyone set up with their Tibet Visitor Permits, then head out for dinner and some Sichuan Opera.Day 2 - We fly to Lhasa first thing in the morning, the capital of Tibet and former home of the Dalai Lama, the world-wide spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Aside from orientation, assembling the bikes and dinner, we have nothing planned for today. It's a chance to start your acclimatization to the altitude. Dinner tonight is highlighted by traditional Tibetan dancing and musical performances.
Day 3 - A leisurely day is in store. In the morning we will explore parts of the old city, watching the day to day life in the markets and temple squares near our hotel. After a light lunch, we will head out by pedicab to explore the Portola Palace. This massive monastery overlooks the city from a rocky outcropping in the heart of the city. Head out for a traditional Tibetan dinner at one of Lhasa's great restaurants near the Jokhang Temple.
Day 4 - The roads are calling our name. We will set out to the northeast today, cycling out to visit the monasteries at Sera and Drepung. These, along with Ganden, are the three famed Gelukpa University Monasteries of Tibet (Gelukpa is the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism). Drepung at its peak housed some 10,000 monks. 45 kms
Day 5 - Todays ride takes us east from Lhasa, out into the countryside passing greenhouses, potato farms and small Tibetan communities. Midway through our ride, we will leave the Yellow River valley through which we have been riding and head up to the Ganden Monastery one of the oldest in Tibet with some buildings dating back to the 1400s. After touring this colorful complex, we enjoy a swift downhill run back to the Yellow River and a leisurely ride back to Lhasa. 84 kms
Day 6 - You have the day to your leisure. It is a great chance to relax and recharge from the high altitude exertion. Or perhaps you might wish to explore some more of Lhasa ancient streets and markets. (lunch & dinner are on your own today)
Day 7 - Our first ride on the Road to Everest is a leisurely journey through the Lhasa River valley. The road is often lined with poplar trees, as it winds alongside the many channels of the river. Tonight's lodging is in the quiet town of Quxul. 67 kms
Day 8 - Today we tackle our first big ascent, biking from Quxul to Nangartse. Other than the 30 kilometer slow ascent to Kamba La pass (4750 meters), the balance of our day is valley floor riding. Descending off the pass, we will pedal along beautiful Yamdrok Lake, whose shoreline we follow to Nangartse. The turqoise waters of Yamdrok will provide numerous photo opportunities. 120 kms (pass: Kamba La 4750 m)
Day 9 - Glacial landscapes outline today's ride to Gyantse, the third largest settlement in Tibet. The area is renowned for its carpet weaving and you may have an opportunity to look for some small rugs to treasure back home. Upon reaching Gyantse we will visit the Kumbum at Baiju Monastery dating from the 1400's, whose unique architecture resembles a three dimensional mandala and stroll up to the ancient Dzong (fortress) which overlooks the city. 95 kms (passes: Karo La 5045 m, Simi La 4330 m)
Day 10 - A day of mostly river valley cycling is in store today as we pedal to Shigatse. Home to the Panchen Lama who co-ruled Tibet with the Dalai Lama, Shigatse is now guarded by the restored Samdrubtse Dzong on the ridge high above. You will have ample time to stroll about town with our early arrival. 90 kms
Day 11 - We pick up the China - Nepal Friendship Highway today and follow it for the next two days. Today's landscapes are reminiscient of Utah's high desert regions, with rolling hills, decorated with multicolored stripes of browns and reds. The area raises not only barley, the staple food of Tibet, but sheep, yak and cattle. Along the way we will pass by the remains Narthang Monastery, one of the earliest printers in Tibet, using carved wooden printing tablets. Our goal for the evening is the village of Lhatse. 75 kms (pass: Yulong La 4950 m)
Day 12 - Our second day cycling the dramatic scenery of the Friendship Highway takes us over the highest pass on the road, Lappa La at 5220 meters. We will wind down for the night in Old Tingri, a few miles past New Tingri, the starting point of the new road to the Everest Base Camp. 90 kms (pass: Lappa La 5220 m)
Day 13 - China recently opened a new road from New Tingri to Rongbuk, to allow for the Olympic torch to be carried to Mt Everest before the Beijing 2008 Games. The project generated lots of controversy, but opened easier access to the mountain. We will travel this road to Rongbuk Monastery, sitting at the upper end of the valley, which has one of the most dramatic views in the world. Along the way Pang La (Pass) provides an unparalleled panorama of Shishapangma, Everest, Cho Oyu and Gyachang Kang peaks. Due to a total lack of maintenance, the road is currently unsuitable for cycling, so we may drive to Rongbuk. 110kms (pass: Pang La 5120 m)
Day 14 - This morning, if the weather gods cooperate, we nay be treated to one of the most photographed images, the stupha of Rongbuk with early morning light on Mt Everest behind. Afterwards we will load the bikes and start the drive back to Lhasa. We will break-up the trip with an overnight stop in Shigatse once again. We will explore the Tashilunpo Monastery upon arrival in Shigatse town.
Day 15 - We'll visit the Gang Gyen carpet making factory, a project started by the 10th Panchen Lama after breakfast, then drive a short way out of town to the start of the Yellow River Gorge. The bikes will get unloaded for an 80 kms ride through this magnificent narrow gorge, punctuated by small villages and white water rapids. Our stop for the night is a small resort perched above the cascading river out in the countryside.
Day 16 - A short drive takes us back to Lhasa, where you are free to explore, shop for souvenirs or just relax and take in the scenery. We will head out in the evening for a final dinner at one of Lhasa's better restaurants, taking in our last taste of delicious Tibetan cuisine. (lunch on your own today)
Day 17 - It is time to bid fond farewells to our fellow adventures. It was a monumental, journey without comparison through one of the world's most dramatic landscapes. We will offer a shuttle back to the airport to meet the major flights departing Lhasa. Kah Leh Phe
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