Great Crossing · Own motorcycle
Rice terraces and ancient towns. Through the great mountain world of the Himalaya.
The ride
Typical and special rice-terraces of Yuanyang, the charming old towns of Dali and Lijiang, Stone Forest, Shangri-La and the great mountain world of Himalaya. Yamdrok, Ranwu and Paiku lakes; the Everest north side with Monastery Rongbuk.
4,393 km is the subtotal of eighteen listed motorcycle stages, not the complete journey distance. Local sightseeing, boating and exit-border movement are not fully quantified.
Mohan → Yunnan → Eastern Xizang → Lhasa → Everest → Kyirong
Approved China vector geography; tour connections and visit contexts are schematic. Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors via Geofabrik · ODbL · China road extract · Neighbor context extract. Neighbor land, rivers and foreign boundaries: Natural Earth (public domain).
Destination, featured-visit and stated-pass references.
Day references, not a terrain profile. Stated heights are approximate; missing figures remain unavailable. Distant summit heights are not rider elevations.
Surrounding geography: Natural Earth (public domain). Road context © OpenStreetMap contributors via Geofabrik · ODbL · Scoped context road extract.
Day by day
Original descriptions include historical accommodation and road-surface details. Confirm current arrangements before travel.
In the morning enter at Mohan, then ride to Mengla: meet your guide at the border, the guide will assist for custom formalities. Then ride to Mengla (45km, 1h), we will assist for custom formalities and car check, obtain your temporary drive license and vehicle tag etc. 1N in Mengla
Mengla – Jiancheng: 234km, 5hrs 40min, asphalt road. 1N in Jiangcheng
Jiangcheng – Yuanyang: 305km, asphalt road. After arriving in Yuanyang, visit the Jingkou village of Hani Minirity. 1N in Yuanyang
Yuanyang (Terrace Laohuzui) – Jianshui (Garden of Family Zhang in Tuanshan, Double Dragon Bridge, Chaoyang Pagoda, ancient town and Confucius Temple): 85km, Expressway. 1N in Jianshui
Jianshui – Shilin (Stone Forest) – Kunming: Expressway+second-class road, 290km, 6 Hrs 1N in Kunming
Kunming – Chuxiong – Dali: 400km, asphalt road. 1N in Dali
Dali – Lijiang: in Dali visit the Three Pagoda, boating on Erhai Lake and visit Dali Ancient Town. Then ride to Lijiang, 160km, asphalt road. 2N in Lijiang
Lijiang: Black Dragon Pool (Heilong Tan), Dongba Culture Museum and ancient city Lijiang.
Lijiang – The First Bend of Yangtze in Shigu Town – Tiger Leaping Gorge (1800m) – Shangri-La: 163km, Asphalt road. 1N in Shangri-La
Shangri-La – Dechen: 183km, asphalt road. After visiting the Sumzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La ride to Dechen, on the way far view of the first bend of Jinshajiang River. 1N in Dechen
Dechen (overlooking of Meili Snow Mountain if the weather is fine) – Yanjing – Markam: 222km, asphalt road. You could visit Catholic Church in Yanjing, and overlooking the salt produce in a distance. 1N in Markam
Markam – Zuguo – Baxoi: 400km, asphalt road. 1N in Baxoi
Baxoi – Ranwu Lake – Bomi: 216km, 5hrs, asphalt road. 1N in Bomi
Bomi – Lulang forest – Linzhi (=Nyingchi): 230km, 5.5hrs, asphalt road. From Serkhyem La Pass (4,515 m) view of the Mt. Gyala Pelri (7,150 m) and the Mt. Namchak Barwa (7,782 m). 1N in Linzhi
Linzhi – Kongpo Gamda – Lhasa: 455km, asphalt road. 3N in Lhasa
Lhasa: visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery and Barkhor Street.
Lhasa: visit Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka and Sera Monastery.
Lhasa – Yamdork Lake – Gyantse (Pelkor Monastery with Kumbum Stupa) – Shigatse: 360km, asphalt road. 1N in Shigatse
Shigatse (Tashilunpo Monastery) – Lhatse – Shegar (=New Tingri): 290km, asphalt road. 1N in Shegar
Shegar – Rongbuk Monastery / Everest, 100km, sand road. 1N at simple Rongbuk Guesthouse
Rongbuk Monastery – Paiku Tso Lake - Kyirong: 255km, sand road and asphalt road. 1N in Kyirong
Kyirong exit into Nepal. Service ended.
Riding details
Day 1 lists entry formalities at Mohan, customs clearance and vehicle inspection, with temporary driving license and number plate. Day 22 lists exit to Nepal at Kyirong and the end of the published service.
This journey is planned for your own motorcycle. Rental availability, prices and current service inclusions require confirmation.
Border opening and formalities, motorcycle access to the expressway stages, accommodation, support coverage and arrangements outside China require confirmation.
The journey includes visits, an Erhai boating visit and border formalities as well as motorcycle riding. Local movement and exit-border mileage are not fully specified.
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Greatway Collection
Dates & enquiry
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