Motorcycle trip through Tibet: Lhasa and Kailash

You land in Chengdu, the vibrant capital of Sichuan. After a warm welcome at the airport, the transfer to our comfortable hotel takes place. The rest of the day is at your leisure - we can explore the city on our own or relax from the journey. Chengdu offers a fascinating mix of modern urban life and traditional culture waiting to be discovered by you.

Heute müssen wir uns im unsere Führerscheine kümmern. Ein Sehtest beim Doktor und dann zur "Einweisung" wie in China zu fahren ist. Nach erfolgreichem Abschluss dieser Formalitäten haben wir den Rest des Tages frei, um Chengdu weiter zu erkunden. Eine gute Vorbereitung für unsere bevorstehenden Motorradreisen durch Tibet.

A short flight takes us early in the morning from Chengdu to Lhasa, the spiritual capital of Tibet. After our arrival and transfer to the hotel, we can explore the old town of Lhasa. A highlight of the day is the visit to the Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in Tibet and an impressive testament to Tibetan faith. Let's be enchanted by the spiritual atmosphere of this place!

The day is entirely focused on acclimatization. We take a leisurely stroll through the old town of Lhasa and visit one of the famous monasteries, such as Sera or Drepung Monastery. In the evening, we are in for a particularly impressive sight: the Potala Palace, majestically illuminated against the night sky. This imposing impression will stay with us for a long time, just like the upcoming stages of our motorcycle journeys.

A first, not too wild and only about 70km long gravel road takes us to the Yarlung Tsampo River, better known as Brahmaputra. After crossing it, we wind our way up countless curves on the beautifully paved road to Kamba La Pass (4800m). Here, with suitable weather, there is a dreamlike view of the sacred Yamdrok Lake, which seems to shimmer in all shades of blue. The road leads along Yamdrok Tso and with breathtaking views of the surrounding 6000-meter peaks to Nagartse, where we will make our lunch stop. After that, we drive flanked by 6000-7000-meter peaks first to Karo La (5010m), where a glacier almost reaches down to the road. One of the most impressive days of this motorcycle trip finally ends in Gyantse.

A day of culture awaits us today. We will visit the old town of Gyantses and one of the most impressive buildings in Tibet, the Kumbum Stupa, a three-dimensional mandala and symbol of the Tibetan Buddhist cosmos. After that, a short stage to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, home of the Panchen Lama and the Tashilunpo Monastery. In the afternoon, we can immerse ourselves in the bustling activities of the city and gather our first impressions of the local culture.

We enjoy our breakfast and then visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest active monastery in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama. It presents an impressive collection of temples. Right next to the monastery, we head back for lunch. After that, we cross the 5000 km mark on the Shanghai - Kathmandu Highway, and after passing the checkpoint in Lhatse, we wind our way up to the Gyatso Pass. At over 5200 m, it's the highest pass we cross with motorcycles. If we are lucky, we see the Mt. Everest for the first time just before reaching our destination today, as well as the Cho Oyu appearing in the distance. In the evening, we reach Shegar, our destination for one of the most spectacular motorcycle trips one can experience.

A highlight of our motorcycle trips: We plan an early start. In good weather, we have the rare opportunity to see the summit of Everest here - an unforgettable moment for each of us. Shortly after Shegar, we wind our way up countless switchbacks to another 5000-meter pass before we then snake back down a road that can easily compete with the Stelvio Pass. From the pass, there is an 8000-meter panorama featuring Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Xishapangma, Cho Oyu, and if all goes well, also Kanchenjunga. After reaching the Rongbuk Monastery and the Everest Base Camp, we still have time to wait if Everest does not reveal itself in all its glory before heading back down. In the evening, there is another opportunity from our hotel to catch a glimpse of Everest and Cho Oyu.

From Lao Tingri, we continue our journey to the impressive Manasarovar Lake. Along the way, we pass the beautiful Pelkhu Tso Lake and experience the vast, unspoiled landscapes of Tibet. We enjoy the tranquility and the breathtaking natural backdrop that this region has to offer. The first day of travel towards Kailash takes us to Saga (4600m), where we spend the night in a simple hotel. The accommodations in this part of Tibet are sometimes very sparse, and it can happen that one has to walk across the yard to visit the toilet. Partly, we travel on gravel along a magnificent route to the deep blue Pelkhu Tso Lake, which lies directly at the main Himalayan range. Along the way, there are incredible views of the Himalayas.

As if the journey so far hadn’t already offered enough highlights, today another follows. The Saga Dawa Festival. The largest religious festival of Tibet at the sacred place of Tibet. Amidst the celebrations at the holy mountain Kailash, we can experience the deep spiritual significance and the cultural diversity of Tibet up close. Nothing can compare to the impressions of this day, and it cannot be described. Go there, see it ... Thousands of pilgrims, many in traditional clothing, religious rituals, all right beneath the sacred Kailash and next to a place for sky burials. Here, body parts are laid out to be taken away and consumed by vultures. Literally throwing them to the vultures for them to eat.

From Kailash we travel to the mystical kingdom of Guge. We discover sacred sites like Thirtapuri and the ancient Tholing Monastery, nestled in a fascinating landscape. Our journey takes us along the Sutlej Canyon, where with a little bit of good weather luck we have a breathtaking view over the canyon all the way to the Indian Himalayas with the sacred mountain Nanda Devi (7816m) to Zanda. A full day remains to enjoy the landscape and to visit the Tholing Monastery, one of the few remaining visible structures of the former kingdom of Guge. These days provide us with deep insights into the rich history and culture of this once powerful region.

We will be taken to Tarboche, 13km from Darchen, where we will begin our "Holy Circuit." From Darchen, we will hike to Dirapuk and immerse ourselves in the spiritual atmosphere of this significant place. About 7km and 5-6 hours later, we will reach Dirapuk at 4860m where we will rest our heads in the monastery's hostel. The path goes only slightly uphill, and we will take it easy. Time also to observe the Tibetans on their circuit.

Another breathtaking day in the truest sense of the word. While the altitude alone is a challenge, today there is also a pass crossing at over 5200m, and the way up to the pass is anything but easy to manage. However, this should be achievable by anyone at a reasonable pace. After about 18km and approximately 9 hours, we should have reached our camp in Zuthulphuk (4760m). This hike requires endurance, but offers unforgettable experiences and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

After the strenuous day yesterday, today we enjoy a cozy, flat walk downhill. About 10km and 4 hours of march and we reach Darchen. After lunch, we drive a few kilometers to our hostel on the banks of Lake Manasarovar. Right above our hostel, there is a monastery to visit. The ascent is worthwhile just for the view it offers. And a short walk also takes us to the hot springs located near the lake. The 6714m high Kailash is considered the source of 4 great rivers and is a holy mountain for Buddhists, Bön, Hindu, and Jain religions. And in the waters of the holy Lake Manasarovar, Hindus bathe to cleanse themselves of western burdens.

Today we return to Saga on a picturesque route. In Prayang, about halfway along, we will have a lunch stop. We will then spend the night in Saga, where we can reflect on the experiences of the journey in peace.

The trail leads from there over a wide plain and then increasingly higher up, culminating at the 5050m high Lalung-La. From here, there is a dreamlike view of the Himalayan mountains with the peaks of Shishapangma (8046m) and Gauri Shanker (7134m). More than impressive is the change of climate zones and vegetation. The short travel day gives us time to enjoy the changing landscape.

Today we say goodbye to our bikes. We will cover the last 170 km to Kathmandu by bus. From the border town to the actual border, it is another 20 km and nearly 1000 meters in elevation. A varied and hopefully not (too) bumpy route will bring us to Kathmandu in Nepal.

Our motorcycle journeys end in Kathmandu, where you have the opportunity to extend your stay or explore the city on your own. The numerous temples, palaces, and bazaars invite exploration, and you can immerse yourself in the vibrant hustle and bustle of this fascinating city. But even the most beautiful times eventually come to an end. Finally, it's off to the airport and back home.