12 Day Biking on the Roof of the World

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Lhasa to Tsetang/Zedang, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Lhasa)
Detailed Itinerary: On arrival your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Tsetang, the third largest town in Tibet. It is known as "the cradle of Tibet Civilization".

Day 2

Place & Transport: Tsetang/Zedang to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Yumbulagang Palace, Trandruk Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Today's trip to Lhasa is about 100 klms and on the way we will visit the Yongbulakang Palace also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall" and the Yongbulakang Palace.
--Yumbulagang Palace: Tibet's first palace. It’s a worthwhile visit for those Tibetan history fans.The palace for the 1st Tubo King Niechi in the Yalong River Valley. It is also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall".Perched on the summit of the Jormo Zhaxi Ceri Mountain on the east bank of the Yarlung River, about five kilometers in the south from the Tradrug county.
--Trandruk Monastery: Built in the 7th century, the Trandruk Monastery is situated at the east bank of the Yalong River in the south of the Shannan District in Tibet. It is about 5km to the south of Tsetang city, just on the main road to Luotsa County (a border county in the south of Tibet, sharing border with India.)Trandruk Monastery lies on the southern side Mt. Gangpo Ri, on the east bank of the Yarlung River, about 2 kilometers south of Tradrug. You must see the most precious treasure in the monastery -- a pearl Thangka (Thangka is a kind of paintings illustrating Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan arts This pearl Thangka is brought here by Princess Wencheng)

Day 3

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Barkhor Street, The Jokhang Temple, The Potala Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Spend today visiting some marvelous historical sites in this mysterious city. Your first stop will be The Potala Palace which is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet. Later, a visit to the most celebrated temple, The Jokhang Temple and the afternoon, enjoy some leisure time in Barkhor Street for shopping and to look at some of the local crafts.
--Barkhor Street: The Barkhor is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts are assembled.
--The Jokhang Temple: Located in the centre of old Lhasa city“No one will go to Tibet without visiting the Jokhang Monastery.” The famous Lama Nimaciren of the Johkang Monastery said，and each tourist will agree with his remarks.
--The Potala Palace: The Potala Palace, which is now on the list of Chinese national key protected cultural relics, is the most valuable storehouse in Tibet. It is a huge treasure house for materials and articles of Tibetan history, religion, culture and arts. The Palace is widely known for the precious sculptures, murals, scripture, Buddha figures, murals, antiques, and religious jewelry treasured up, they are of great cultural and artistic value. In 1994, the Potala Palace was declared the United Nations World Cultural Heritage site.
Perched upon the Marpo Ri Hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, it is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet.
Note: The Tibet Tourism Bureau recently announced plans to protect the highland's pure environment and rich cultural heritage. One of the significant measures is the policy to restrict number of visitors to the Potala Palace. The maximum number of visitors to the Potala Palace will not be allowed to exceed 2000 daily.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: The Carpet Factory, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Today's highlights will include visiting the Carpet Factory, Norbulingka, Trupeng Monastery, Sera Monastery. These important monasteries were constructed as a summer palaces for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration. The Carpet factory is very interesting as it gives a insight into the manufacture of the famous Tibetan Carpet. We suggest cycling in the city or between the attractions to experience Tibetan life.
--The Carpet Factory: The highland of Tibet is the actual home of the oriental carpets. By visiting Carpet Factory you will have a general idea how carpets are produced.
--Norbulingka: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration.
--Drepung Monastery: Drepung Monastery lies in west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse, clustered round by the black mountain, its white grand buildings shining under the sunlight. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect in China. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace(after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong).
--Sera Monastery: It is known as one of the three greatest monasteries of Tibet. As one of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks"famous daily debates"take place.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Lhasa to Gyantze
Today's Activities: The Palgor Chorten
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, you will head out for Jiangzi. This sector is 264 klms.You will drop into the Palgor Chorten on the way. If weather permits, you can challenge yourself by cycling part of the way to Jiangzi.
--The Palgor Chorten : Pelkhor Choede(Kumbum), also named Palcho Monastery, is very different from other monasteries. Built as a Tibetan monastery, its structural style is very unique, reputed as the lord of Tibetan stupas. In addition, it is famous for the architecture, sculpture, and mural painting art. It lies about 230 kilometers (143 miles) south of Lhasa and 100 (62 miles) east of Shigatse at the foot of Dzong Hill.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Gyantze to Shigatse
Today's Activities: Tashilunpo Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Road from Jiangzi to Shigatse is in good condition and the distance is 95 klms. We suggest one or two hours riding along the way to enjoy the magnificent landscape. On arrival, visit Tashilunpo Kloster.
--Tashilunpo Kloster: Painted in red and white, the buildings in the kloster stand closely together in terraced rows, offering a grand and majestic view.Tashilunpo Kloster represents the Tibetan super architecture art in the Last Tibetan spirit. The Kloster attracts thousands of Buddhists and tourists from domestic and abroad to travel and worship every year.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Shigatse to Dingri
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: You will move westwards to Dingri a distance of 232 klms and the gateway to Everest North Base Camp. We will check in at the Dingri Zhufeng Hotel, which is 100 km from the base camp of the world famous Quomolangma (Everest) Peak. The rest of the day is free to explore or relax.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Dingri
Today's Activities: Rongbuk Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
--Rongbuk Monastery: With an altitude is 5,100 meters (16728 feet), the monastery is the highest on earth. From there you will get a great view of Mt Everest.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Dingri to Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: You return to Shigatse but on the way you can take all the photos that you wanted to take a couple of days ago and relive the great experience of seeing Mt. Everest.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Shigatse to Lhasa
Today's Activities: Tibet Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: If weather permits, you can ride back to Lhasa or stay in the van its your choice. You will have great photo opportunities. On arrival you will have time to visit Tibet Museum, a place of collections of Tibetan history.
--Tibet Museum: The museum holds texts, photographs, videos and installations that present -----Tibet's history and visions for its future.

Day 11

Place & Transport: Lhasa
Today's Activities: Gandan Monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: There are also chances to ride today as you travel to the Gandan Monastery.
--Gandan Monastery: The monastery has extremely delicate and fine murals and sculptures. It also keeps an armor decorated with gems, which was worn by Emperor Qianlong and was bestowed to the monastery as an offering to Tsong Khapa.

Day 12

Place & Transport: Depart Lhasa, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Lhasa)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: Your guide will meet you at the hotel and see you off at the airport.