2015 Tibet Cycling Trip review.
13 days, 600km, 6449m of climbing, 10 towns and many many Dali bars later we made it back to Beijing. What an amazing experience we had in Tibet. Great weather and a fabulous group of riders made it truly ‘an adventure of a lifetime’. Below we share some images and comments from the trip. If you are interested in attending a future trip please register your interest via this page.
Serk ’15 tibet bike tour was superb, Liman and Shannon did an outstanding job in preparing and arranging the many details, that made it a safe and enjoyable adventure. Bike riding was awesome as well as discovering Tibetan people and Budhist religion. I recommend joining Serk tours. Pierre
This trip was better than I even expected. I have never done a cycling trip like this before but I can’t think of a better way to experience Tibet. Pedaling through old towns, greeting locals, riding along side the Yarlung river with mountains towering beside you and powering through long, steep climbs to get breathtaking views at the top that made all the struggle worth it. Dave
Shannon and Liman made it not just possible but extremely pleasant to cycle in some of the most beautiful and rural parts of the world. They are great in organizing and scheduling the rides as well as responding to uncontrollable changes. There was a great mix of riding V.S. sightseeing and I wish these 13 days never had to end! Shirley
- Arriving Lhasa with a traditional white scarf welcome.
- Taking it easy on the first day with a ride past Potala Palace
- Group photo !
- Along the mighty Yarlong River
- Lhasa streets
- The first day of proper riding with jerseys
- Trandruk Monastery – on of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibet.
- Yumbulagang Monastery – one of the most picturesque in Tibet
- Cruising along at 3800m !
- On the road to Shannan
- Stopping for some tea and photos at Trandruk Monastery
- Prayer flags were a welcome sight at the top of each high pass
- Mid ride freshly brewed coffee
- Up and over the first big pass of the ride – SeJila 4728m
- 25km long climb tested the legs
- The descent had magnificent views over Bayi
- Nothing like a 25km descent
- For a few days we rode alongside the Yarlong River – absolutely spectacular
- Views to Nanjiabawa mountain (7782m)
- Made it !
- On the way up the 4771m Khampa La Pass
- 90km to Shigatze at around 4000m altitude. Less oxygen = less wind resitance = fast average speed
- A bit of dirt riding to mix it up
- Lush fields of barley at this time of the year
- We start out in Gyantse with a tour of the old town
- The last day of riding to Tingri
- Riding into a late afternoon storm. We made it back to the hotel just in time.
- The last and biggest pass of the trip 5181m
- The 500m of cycling – we had to have a sprint for the Hotel.
- A well deserved dinner of Muslim/Tibetan chicken with fresh noodles
- The locals come of nowhere to say hello and kick tyres – even at 5000m in the middle of nowhere
- Everest – words don’t do it justice.