World
record attempted
Read
the organizer's diary |
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Your
cross-country adventure starts from the Nepalese capital
city of Kathmandu to the Tibetan capital Lhasa, driving
through high mountain trails that bring you to the base
camp of the "Roof of the World". Each day
we have a leisurely breakfast before starting and stop
for lunch on the way at local restaurants. |
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Itinerary: |
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Day
01: Kathmandu - Kodari - Zanghmu - Nyalam (190 Km) |
Your
grand tour starts from Kathmandu early at 6 O'clock
driving northeast to
the border, the road is well-paved until the last major
town before the border. Driving through, you will glimpse
a few of the Himalayan giants...peaks including Ganesh
Himal, Gaurishanker and many others to the north, the
green beauty of the countryside giving you a thrilling
sense of the vast Himalayan wall we will cross on our
eventual journey into Tibet.
The off-road starts from the Bhote koshi river gorge
and continues for the rest of the trip. Upon reaching
the border town Kodari the departure stamp from Nepal
is issued and you enter the Chinese border town of Zhangmu,
locally known as KHASA. Here you will meet our Tibetan
guide as well as a lorry for stocking up on the necessary
supplies.. After the immigration formalities, you will
be heading 30 kilometres straight uphill, leaving all
the lush greenery far below, to reach Nyalam at an elevation
of 3500 metres. The air is thin; the landscape is almost
tree-less. After gaining 2300 metres in altitude in
one day, you might feel a bit dizzy so a rest is necessary
here. You will have rooms at the best local lodge and
get ready for dinner. |
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Day
02: Nyalam - Tingri - Lhatze (260 Km) |
The
route gradually ascends to the high pass of Lablung
La at 5050 metres. If the weather is clear a close-up
view of the high Himalayas (Gaurishanker, Shisapangma
to Langtang range) can be seen. While driving you will
encounter some beautiful villages reflecting the unspoilt
beauty of Tibet itself. On a clear day, a stunning view
of Mount Everest can be seen from Tingri, where we stop
for lunch. Riding along the gravelled road you will
cross another high pass of 5220 m "Gyatsola"
before reaching tonight's destination; Lhatze at an
elevation of 3900 metres, and stay overnight at a local
hotel. |
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Note:
Due to the possible altitude problem, you first drive
to Lhasa so that you will have enough time for acclimatization
and won't have a problem to beat the World record by
driving to the Advance base camp of Everest. |
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Day
03: Lhatze - Shakya Monastery - Shigatse (200 Km) |
A
typical day riding between the villages that brings
us to the historic Monastery of "Shakya"
then to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet.
The ride today is across Yulung La (4950 metres),
over fairly unpaved roads in the plateau area. After
reaching Shigatse, you will take a room in a better
hotel and relax. If interested, you can visit the
"Tashilhumpo Monastery", a vast monastery
with its own streets, housing sectors, plazas, back
alleys and complex of temples and halls. Shigatse's
elevation is 4000 metres. |
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Day
04: Shigatse - Gyantse (90 Km) |
Your
drive on to Gyantse takes us through intensely agricultural,
cultivated areas. Much of the gravel road is lined with
poplar trees, which are a distinctly Tibetan feature.
The drive on this day is just 90 km but, if interested,
you can drive to the small, picturesque village of Kardoi
from Gyantse (120 km round trip). This excursion will
also take you to an old castle, Kumbum and Palcho Chode
monastery. The hotel in Gyantse has good facilities,
like the one in Shigatse. Elevation - 3950 metres. |
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Day
05: Gyantse - Lhasa (280 Km) |
You
will drive mostly on a paved road, though there is an
off-road route from Gyantse to the turquoise Lake "Yamdrok
Tso". You will be crossing the high pass of "Karo
La" at 5050m then continue your drive to Lhasa.
On arriving you may feel as though we have left Tibet
and entered China, for the Chinese influence - signs,
people on the street, development - is ever more pervasive.
And upon reaching Lhasa itself, you will see the suffocation
of the old Tibet by the new layers of Chinese infrastructure,
covering nearly 100% of the city. Lhasa is a sprawling,
modern Chinese city with polluted air and horn-honking
traffic congestion but we will stay there for two full
days to acclimatise and take in the awe-inspiring Potala
and other parts of thisr World heritage site Elevation
- 3650 metres. |
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Day
06 & 07: At Lhasa |
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Potala
Palace |
Ganden
Monastery |
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Riding
around Lhasa visiting the various interesting sites
(Potala Palace, Sera monastery, Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka
palace etc).You will ride to Ganden Monastery (65 Km
from Lhasa) on the 7th day. |
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Day
08: Lhasa - Shigatse (250 Km) |
Your
riding today will be on paved road. After having breakfast
we'll follow the riverbed of the Kyi Chu River, this
is the same way back until road adjacent to a bridge
at the Brahmaputra valley. Then we take the straight
highway riding on the riverbed of the "Yarlung
Tsangpo" to Shigatse, stay at the hotel. |
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Day
09: Shigatse - Tingri (315 Km) |
A
long ride, largely off-road, you will start today after
a good breakfast. The 160 km from Shigatse to Shakya
Monastery will be familiar and we then continue off-road
to Tingri via Chamco where we need to cross a river,
a challenging day. Stay in a guesthouse at Tingri. |
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Day
10: Tingri - Everest Base Camp (120 Km) |
Today
will be full of excitement. Here starts the real taste
of the "Top of the World"; the remoteness
shows the real beauty of the area that will doubtless
convince you that the long journey has been worth every
minute. Riding through the barren landscape you will
finally arrive at Rongbuk where we will stay for the
next 3 nights at the monastery guest house. Don't expect
any great comfort or luxuriant accommodation in such
a remote area, but you won't need much persuasion to
spend the rest of the day relaxing. Elevation - 4900
metres. |
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Day
11 & 12: Base camp - advanced base camp of Everest
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You
will explore the base camp surroundings and ride our
Honda 250 CC bike to the advance base camp of the "Top
of the World" at an elevation of 6200 metres and
beat the WORLD RECORD for motor biking at altitude.
Like each and every mountaineer dreams to be on the
top of the Everest, our team of motorbike riders dreams
to be the first to take their motorbikes to such a high
point, a lifetime achievement! A real adventure of a
lifetime!!! |
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Day
13: Rongbuk (Everest base camp) - Tingri - Nyalam (330
Km) |
With
redoubled spirit, after our world record attempt, we
will be ready for another long ride to Nyalam to the
North-west, ascending via Lablung La (5120 meters) and
Thong La pass. Here we will see the northern front of
the great Himalayan range. A wall of spectacular snow
clad giants on the Nepal side of the border. Stay at
a guesthouse at Nyalam. |
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Day
14: Nyalam - Zhanghmu - Kodari - Kathmandu (180 Km) |
Beginning
with a 35 kilometre run downhill from Nyalam to Zhangmu,
the altitude drops dramatically by 1300 metres in approximately
1.5 hours. As Zhangmu is the exit point, we will follow
custom clearance, immigration & check post clearance
both in Tibet and across the border in Nepal. Continue
driving to Kathmandu, transfer to the hotel. Tour ends
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