Tibet - Nepal Cycling Expedition

This trip is a fundraiser for the Oncology Children's Foundation.

The Tibetan Plateau is a land of unparalleled superlatives: it is the largest and highest plateau on our planet, averaging 15,000 feet (4500m) in altitude. It is buttressed along its southern flank by the world's greatest mountain range, the Himalayas. Only a few brave cyclists have dared to ride along its inhospitable plateau and forge a passage through these mystic lands into Kathmandu via Everest Base camp. The reward being the longest downhill in the world as you enter into Nepal, dropping an unimaginable 4500-m over 156kms. At a breathless average altitude of around 4450-m this expedition is not for the faint of heart but made for the pioneer in spirit that is fit and feels at home on a bike. With 15 days of biking over 1104kms you'd want to be!

Our group will meet in Kathmandu, Nepal, and then take the short flight to Lhasa, Tibet. Four nights will be spent in Lhasa, acclimatizing to the 3,500m of altitude, getting us ready for the higher altitudes to come. There is much to see on foot and by bike in and around Lhasa. Since this is the capital of Tibet, many of the most important monasteries are here, including the Potala Palace, which was home to all 13 of the Dalai Lamas until the Chinese invasion.

Once we leave Lhasa, the REAL adventure begins. There are six major passes to be negotiated on the main Lhasa to Kathmandu route as it runs westward (parallel to the impressive Himalayan chain which forms the border with Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal to the south). Throughout our adventure, the road traverses a high and dry plateau dotted by the unforgettable monastery towns of Gyantse, Xigatse, Xegar and many others. Life hasn't changed here for hundreds of years: nomadic yak herders can still be seen moving their yaks to and from summer pastures.

Since one of our objectives is to visit the Tibetan side Everest Base Camp, our group will leave the main route behind and use the dirt jeep tracked road leading to the Rongbuk Monastery. Mallory and Irvine visited this same monastery on their way to challenge Everest, possibly given blessings and prayers by a Lama living in the monastery at that time. We will spend a couple of days exploring the base camp, before retracing our steps back to the main route to Kathmandu.

Back on the main Kathmandu route, we'll reach the edge of the Tibetan Plateau as we cross Shung La at 5400m, and begin a freewheeling scenic descent of four thousand metres, entering Nepal via the border town of Zhangmu.Our final day of cycling plus a bus ride will bring us back to the culinary treats and relative comforts of civilization in Kathmandu.

For a good view of what it's like to ride in Tibet please follow this link to a You Tube video posted by an independent traveller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H499lSRu_g

Please note that as this trip is a fundraiser you will need to fundraise $1500 for the OCF. You will be given help and ideas with your fundraising which is very achievable. See
http://www.200tomorrows.com.au/ for more details on the OCF cause & fundraising.

Nepal