Ride to Everest, the Ultimate Tibet Himalayan Motorcycle Tour from Lhasa to the Roof of the World

A 10-day Himalayan motorcycle adventure from Lhasa to the foot of Mount Everest, across the Tibetan Plateau, on a fully supported BMW GS fleet. Tibet Everest Pilgrimage This isn’t just another motorcycle tour. This is the highest road most riders will ever ride. Our Himalayan motorcycle tour takes you from Lhasa, the holy city at 3,650 metres, all the way to Everest Base Camp, where the world’s tallest peak stands face to face with you. In between, you’ll cross sacred lakes, climb glacier passes, ride past ancient monasteries and tackle the legendary 108 hairpin turns of Everest Road, one of the most spectacular sequences of curves on the planet. We operate this Lhasa to Everest motorcycle ride together with our trusted local team on the Plateau, with over a decade of experience on Tibetan roads, a fleet of more than 100 BMW and rally bikes, and over 300 international groups guided to the roof of the world. You bring your riding gear and your sense of wonder. We handle the rest. Why Choose This Himalayan Motorcycle Tour Five 8,000-metre peaks in one ride. From Gyawu La Pass at 5,218 metres, on a clear day you’ll see Makalu (8,463m), Lhotse (8,516m), Mount Everest (8,848m), Cho Oyu (8,201m) and Shishapangma (8,012m), all five at once. There is no other Himalaya motorcycle tour on Earth where this is possible. 108 turns at the foot of Everest. The road up to Rongbuk delivers a sequence of consecutive hairpins that is pure riding joy, and friendly enough for riders new to big adventure bikes. Sacred lakes, glaciers and monasteries. Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three holy lakes. Karola Glacier, deep blue ice you can almost touch from the saddle. Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. This is culture you ride into, not read about. 95% asphalt. No surprises, no off-road suffering. The route is paved for almost the entire 1,400 km, with only short, mild unpaved sections. The full Lhasa to Everest motorcycle ride is approachable for any experienced adventure rider. Full oxygen support throughout. Portable oxygen on board for the entire journey, with extra coverage on the high-altitude sections. Altitude is the real challenge of this Himalayan motorcycle adventure, and we take it seriously. English-speaking guides. Professional multilingual guides fluent in English, Chinese and Tibetan, with deep knowledge of the Plateau’s history, monasteries and mountain stories. The right bike for the highest road. The Himalayas have been ridden for years on entry-level Royal Enfield Himalayans. We do it differently. This tour runs on a fleet of large-displacement BMW GS adventure motorcycles, professionally maintained and ready for high-altitude riding. More power, more comfort, more confidence at 5,200 metres. Crash bars, top boxes and phone mounts come fitted as standard. Everest Motorcycle Tour: What’s Included 6 days use of your selected motorcycle for the riding portion of the tour Standard riding accessories: panniers, crash bars, phone mount Full chase vehicle support throughout the tour, with emergency rescue capability Professional English-speaking guide with deep Tibet expertise Full-route oxygen support with portable equipment on board 10 nights in star-rated hotels and selected guesthouses All entrance tickets to scenic spots in the itinerary, including Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier On-board essentials: drinking water, oxygen, emergency food, common spare parts Tibet entry permits and riding documentation handled by our team Custom Everest Pilgrimage riding certificate and commemorative gifts Hotel Rooms: Shared or Single The tour price includes accommodation on a twin-share basis, which means you’ll share a comfortable hotel room with another rider from the group. It’s part of the experience: long days on the Plateau, evenings swapping stories with someone who just rode the same passes you did. Prefer your own space? No problem. A single room upgrade is available at $60 per night, for the full duration of the tour. Just let us know when you book, and we’ll take care of the rest. Riding Requirements Minimum age 18, valid motorcycle licence accepted under PRC law (we’ll guide you through the process) At least 2 years of experience on big-displacement motorcycles Personal accident insurance and rental vehicle insurance required for the riding period Pillion riders must carry separate accident insurance Required Riding Gear Full-face helmet, riding jacket with armour, riding pants, riding boots, riding gloves. All compliant with international safety standards. Recommended Extras Motorcycle rain gear, balaclava, quick-dry base layer, hydration pack, high warm socks, polarised sunglasses, SPF50+ sunscreen, sun hat, personal medication, emergency contact card. A Word on Altitude Lhasa sits at 3,650 m. The highest point of the tour is 5,218 m. Most riders feel the altitude in some form: mild headache, broken sleep, shortness of breath. For most people, symptoms ease within 2 to 3 days. We’ve built three acclimatisation days into the itinerary on purpose, and oxygen is on board the entire trip. Riders with severe heart conditions, lung disease or uncontrolled hypertension should not join high-altitude motorcycle tours. If you’re unsure, talk to your doctor before booking. Riding Requirements Before you ride to Everest, a few non-negotiables: Age and health. Riders must be between 18 and 69 years old and in good general health. We’ll guide you through obtaining the Tibet Entry Permit, which is mandatory for everyone entering the region. Motorcycle licence. A motorcycle licence issued in the People’s Republic of China is required to rent and ride on this tour. The good news: you don’t need to arrange this in advance. On Day 1, as part of your arrival paperwork, we’ll walk you through the local procedure to obtain the Chinese motorcycle driving licence. To complete the application, you’ll need to bring your valid national driving licence or International Driving Permit (IDP) from your home country. The full procedure and all related fees are already included in the tour price, no extra costs, no surprises. We handle the rest. Riding gear. A full-face helmet conforming to DOT international standards is mandatory, along with a riding jacket, riding pants, riding gloves and riding boots. Health Considerations Tibet is not a destination to underestimate. The lowest point of the tour is Lhasa at 3,650 m, the highest is Gyawu La Pass at 5,218 m, and most riders feel the altitude in some form: mild headache, broken sleep, shortness of breath. For most people, symptoms ease within 2 to 3 days. We’ve built three acclimatisation days into the itinerary on purpose, and oxygen support is on board the entire trip. That said, high-altitude travel above 3,000 m is not safe for everyone. You should not join this tour if you have any of the following conditions: Heart disease, arrhythmia, stage II hypertension, blood disorders, cerebrovascular disease, or a resting heart rate consistently above 110 bpm Chronic respiratory disease, moderate or severe obstructive pulmonary disease (bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis, emphysema), active tuberculosis or pneumoconiosis Uncontrolled diabetes, epilepsy or schizophrenia A severe cold or upper respiratory tract infection at the time of travel, or a body temperature above 38°C or below 35°C A previous diagnosis of high-altitude pulmonary edema, high-altitude cerebral edema, high-altitude hypertension, high-altitude heart disease or high-altitude polycythemia If any of the above applies, please consult your doctor before booking. We’d rather lose a booking than put a rider at risk above 5,000 metres. How to Reach Lhasa: Flights, Permits and Pre-Tour Logistics Reaching Tibet is not like flying to Bangkok or Bali. You cannot book a direct international flight to Lhasa. Tibet is a restricted region, and entry requires an official authorisation issued by the Chinese government. We’ll take care of preparing your Tibet Entry Permit and all the documentation you need to ride legally in Tibet, including the paperwork for your official Chinese motorcycle driving licence. Here’s how it works, step by step. We’ve designed it to be as smooth as possible: Step 1, after booking, send us your documents. Once your tour is confirmed, we’ll ask you for a copy of your passport and your national driving licence. We need these to prepare your Tibet Entry Permit, riding documentation and all the official paperwork required for the tour. Documents must be sent to us at least 30 days before the tour start date, this gives our team enough time to process all permits with the Chinese authorities. The entire procedure is included in the tour price, you won’t be asked to pay anything extra for permits, processing or administrative fees. Step 2, check your China visa requirements. This is the one piece you handle on your end. Visa rules to enter mainland China vary depending on your nationality: some passport holders qualify for visa-on-arrival or visa-free entry, others need to apply for a Chinese visa in advance at their nearest embassy or consulate. It is your responsibility to verify the current visa requirements for your nationality before booking your flight. The most reliable way to get accurate, up-to-date information is to contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country directly, by phone or email. Visa policies can change without notice, and only the official representatives in your home country can confirm what applies to your passport. Once you’re cleared to enter China, we take care of everything else. Step 3, fly to Chengdu, China. Book your international flight to Chengdu (CTU), the gateway city to Tibet. Most major airlines operate connections to Chengdu from Europe, Australia, North America and Southeast Asia. Step 4, we meet you in Chengdu. Our team will be waiting for you at the Holiday Inn Express Chengdu Tianfu Square, on the date pre-arranged with our staff before your arrival. At the meeting, we’ll hand over your Tibet Entry Permit and your Chinese motorcycle driving licence, the two official documents you’ll need to enter the region and ride legally on the Plateau. From there, we’ll walk you through the final entry procedures before your flight to Lhasa. Step 5, fly Chengdu to Lhasa. Once your permit is ready, you’ll take the domestic flight from Chengdu to Lhasa. Flight time: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. The descent into Lhasa is itself one of the most spectacular approaches in commercial aviation, with Himalayan peaks rising on both sides of the aircraft. Step 6, the tour begins. From the moment you land in Lhasa, you’re with us. Welcome to the roof of the world. Included Motorcycle Gas Breakfast Lunch (Excluded on Rest day) Dinner (Excluded on Rest day) Teas, Coffee soft drinks served with meal only Carefully selected Hotel 3/4 Stars Tour Guide Chase vehicle with oxygen on board 1 Free T-shirt Big Bike Touring Co Tibet Airport Services Pickup/Return for Groups 4 or more All entrance fees to Historic Sites and National Parks Visa for Tibet Temporary Chinese Driving Licence Hotel Chengdu, China Excluded All services not mentioned as included Any Hotel Additional Services Motorcycle Health Insurance @ $3/day, highly recommended for this tour. Security deposit on motorcycles $1.500 (can be secured by credit card on bike handover). Snacks during coffee stops Alcohol Airfare Chinese Visa Airfare from Chengdu (China) to Lhasa (Tibet). Approx $280 roundtrip. Taxi Chengdu (China) Airport Services Pickup/Return Any tips for the guides and support truck drivers (suggested $50 to $100)