Kyrgyzstan ► Tibet ♦ OSH - KASGHAR - LHASA

ITINERARY

Days 1 & 2: Arrival, test drive
Our journey to the top of the world begins in the city of Osh in Southern Kyrgyzstan. We fly via Istanbul to the former capital of the Silk Road. We will be met at the airport, then on to the hotel. In the afternoon we take a little trip out of town to get used to the bikes.

Day 3: From Osh to Sary Tash, Sary Mogul (260 km)
On the well-developed legendary M41 we head South. After only a few hours and after two passes (both over 3500m) we see the southern edge of the Pamirs and the 7134m snow-capped Pik Lenin. Weather permitting, we stay in a Kyrgyz yurt, right at the foot of the imposing mountain range.

Day 4: From Sary Mogul to Kashgar (280 km)
Today we cross the border into China and into the province of Xinjiang. Our destination is Kashgar, once a metropolis of the ancient Silk Road, today a large Chinese city. Our hotel is situated next to the well-preserved old town, which is inhabited almost exclusively by native Uyghur people.

Day 5: Kashgar
A day of rest during which we can visit the bazaar, the Great Mosque or the old town.

Days 6-9: From Kashgar to Mt Kailash (1600 km)
Before we reach the Tibetan Plateau, we ride south through the great sand dunes of the Taklamakan desert. We then begin to rise steadily towards the Plateau. It takes a while to acclimatise to the altitude. After four days, we stand at the foot of the sacred Mt. Kailash. It is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Day 10: Mt Kailash
We spend a day at Lake Manasarovar and enjoy the fantastic mountain scenery. Here we see a steady stream of Buddhist pilgrims treking around the lake in search of atonement. The most devout will attempt it in a day, but for most it takes 3.

Days 11 and 12: On to Lhatse (720 km)
Our ride to Lhatse leads us through the vast ocher expanse of Tibet, past sand dunes wide valleys and glaciers.

Days 13 to 15: To Mt. Everest base camp and back to Lhatse (580 km)
This detour towards Nepal leads us along the Friendship-Highway to Tingri. From there we take a narrow slope up to the highest monastery in the world (4980m) and the base camp of Mt. Everest. With a bit of luck with the weather, we can see and photograph the highest mountain in the world in all its glory.

Day 16: From Lhatse to Shigatse (150 km)
From Lhatse we take the tarmac road to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Day 17: Shigatse
Today we employ a professional guide for a tour of the great monastery of the city. In its heyday, over 2000 monks lived and worked here. There are still about 250 monks here who tend to the needs of the devout Tibetan visitors.

Day 18: From Shigatse to Namtso Lake (370 km)
The journey to Namtso Lake takes us on a well-maintained gravel road over a pass of 5400m. A real treat for us bikers, and a nice change from the tarmac.

Day 19: Namtso Lake
The sacred Namtso Lake is an important place of pilgrimage for the religious life of Buddhists. Some take the 360km route around the lake, while others are content to encircle the two hills right on the southern shore.

Day 20: To Lhasa (240 km)
Lhasa (3490m) is one of the highest cities in the world. It is the capital of Tibet and former seat of the Dalai Lama and is the last highlight of our trip.

Days 21 & 22: Lhasa
Our beautiful hotel is located in the well-preserved old town. Not far away are the Golden Temple and the Potala Palace. Nightfall brings on a wonderful backdrop for photos of the palace.

Day 23: Return
A 60 km trip to the airport begins our journey home.

Deviations are possible![

Map

Highlights

Kyrgyzstan ► Tibet ♦ OSH – KASGHAR – LHASA

September 2 to September 24 2017

WITH THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD TO LHASA IN TIBET

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