Tibet · Ngari Small Loop Ride

14 days, 3,000 km on Tibet's Ngari loop — circling sacred lake and mountain, crossing the high-altitude void. The ultimate.

Key destinations

• Lhasa
• Nam Tso
• Zhada Earth Forest
• Lake Manasarovar
• Mt Kailash

Highlights

• Western Tibet grand loop
• High-altitude no-man's-land long-haul
• Sacred lake & mountain circuit
• Tsada earth-forest
• Full high-altitude support + oxygen

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrive Lhasa – Altitude Acclimatisation

   Arrive at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, welcomed with a khata scarf. Transfer to the city hotel for rest and acclimatisation at 3,650m. Free evening to begin adjusting to the altitude.

2. 2

   Day 2

   Potala Square – Yaowang Hill Lookout – Barkhor Street

   Classic Potala Palace exterior shots, then the elevated Yaowang Hill perspective. Afternoon on the Barkhor pilgrimage circuit absorbing Tibetan religious life.

3. 3

   Day 3

   Pre-Ride Briefing & High-Altitude Test Ride, Lhasa Sightseeing

   Morning route briefing covering high-altitude riding, safety, and documentation. Afternoon guided test ride around Lhasa. Evening photo walk to popular city landmarks.

4. 4

   Day 4

   Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Gyantse (~280km)

   Cross Gampa La (4,990m) to the sacred turquoise Yamdrok Lake, then past the Karola Glacier face. Arrive in Gyantse to see the ancient Dzong fortress on its rocky ridge.

5. 5

   Day 5

   Gyantse → Shigatse → G318 5,000km Marker → Lhatse (~240km)

   Through Shigatse (Tibet's second city) and the iconic G318 milestone marker, then onward to Lhatse, known for traditional Tibetan folk arts.

6. 6

   Day 6

   Lhatse → Gyatso La → Everest Base Camp → Zhaxizong (~200km)

   Cross Gyatso La (5,248m) to Tingri, then Gawula Pass for views of five 8,000m peaks. Park shuttle to Everest Base Camp. Return to Zhaxizong for the night.

7. 7

   Day 7

   Zhaxizong → Old Everest Fort → Shishapangma – Peiku Tso – Saga (~300km)

   Ride past the crumbling Old Everest Fort for a new angle on the massif, then views of Shishapangma and the blue Peiku Tso lake before arriving at Saga.

8. 8

   Day 8

   Saga → Dagejia Geysers → Sangla Pass (5,566m) → Coqen (~286km)

   Visit the world's highest geysers at Dagejia (5,086m), cross wetlands, then summit the route's highest point at Sangla Pass (5,566m) before descending to Coqen.

9. 9

   Day 9

   Coqen → Zarinamu Lake → Dangrayum Lake – Wenbu South Village (~330km)

   Skirt the vast Zarinamu Lake and reach the sacred Dangrayum Lake with its Daguo Snow Mountain backdrop. Arrive at the tiny lakeside village of Wenbu South for a sunset unlike any other.

10. 10

    Day 10

    Wenbu South → Dangqiong Lake – Nyima (~120km)

    Early lakeside visit to the crystal-clear Dangqiong Lake reflecting snow peaks, then north to the small town of Nyima through wide grasslands dotted with yaks and herds.

11. 11

    Day 11

    Nyima → "Tree of Earth" Formation – Siling Lake – Bange (~330km)

    The surreal "Tree of Earth" erosion landscape, then a chain of high-altitude lakes culminating at Siling Lake — Tibet's largest lake — before arriving in Bange.

12. 12

    Day 12

    Bange → Bamu Lake → Namtso Lake – Damxung (~210km)

    Admire lake-and-mountain reflections at Bamu (4,555m), then the magnificent Namtso Lake (4,700m) — one of Tibet's three sacred lakes — before descending to Damxung.

13. 13

    Day 13

    Damxung → Nyainqêntanglha – Yangbajain → Lhasa (~175km) – Farewell Dinner

    The final ride back to Lhasa follows the Qinghai–Tibet Highway with the Nyainqêntanglha range as a backdrop. Stop at Yangbajain's steaming geothermal fields, then return bikes and celebrate at the farewell banquet.

14. 14

    Day 14

    Lhasa Departure – Fly Home

    Transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport per individual flight schedules. Depart with 3,000km of Tibetan memories.