China/Tibet2023-11-03T09:08:32+00:00

TIBETis The Roof of the World. Nowadays a province of China, Tibet features world known landmarks, snow capped mountains, cultural heritage sights and natural beauty. Which motorcycle rider has not dreamt of a ride to famous Everest Base Camp, to view the world highest mountain in first sunlight? Or a stroll through the mystic old town of Lhasa with the mighty former seat of the Dalai Lama, the Potala Palace? Grand lakes such as Lake Namtso, remains of vast oceans which covered the Himalayas 10 million years ago, curvy mountain roads and 5,000 meter high passes offer breathtaking views. Plus a century old culture, Buddhist monasteries, nomads and pilgrims – all this makes your Tibet motorcycle tour your next great adventure.

China has also a lot to offer. Discover the thousand bends of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges on the planet, the mighty rivers Mekong and Yangtze, remote countryside which has nothing in common with the bustling cities of Beijing and Shanghai and ride your motorcycle in the tribal areas of Sichuan and the province “South of the Clouds”; Yunnan. Here you´ve got it all, from 6,740 high peaks near the Mekong and close to Tibet, to subtropical tea and banana plantations near the border of Laos. Discover the real China, the beautiful backwaters of this vast country, on you next China motorcycle tour.

Trans Tibet Tour

TIBET

22.04. – 03.05.2024 || 13.10. – 24.10.2024

This Tibet motorcycle tour will take you through the hills of the Tibetan nomads, along snow-covered peaks and through deep valleys with the turquoise-blue lakes Yamdrok and Namtso. We will ride our motorcycles over passes higher than 5,000 metres, visit the most important Tibetan monasteries and discover half-forgotten ancient cities.

Tour Overview

 

Go East Young Man

TIBET

07.04. – 22.04.2024 || 28.09. – 13.10.2024

12.04. – 27.04.2025 || 27.09. – 12.10.2025

On our new Tibet motorcycle tour in the Eastern Himalayas, you can expect the best views of the world’s highest mountain, Everest, the cultural highlights of Tibet, remote mountain roads, unexplored nature along the banks of the Mekong, Yangtze, and Salween, snow-capped Himalayan peaks, and azure mountain lakes. Endless curves take you over 10 high Himalayan passes. A thrilling, new adventure on the Roof of the World!

Tour Overview

 

South of the Clouds

SOUTHWEST CHINA

24.03. – 07.04.2024 || 27.10. – 10.11.2024

Our South of the Clouds tour has been our most popular China motorcycle tour since 2016. We’ve now reworked it from the ground up, adding new roads and mountain passes for an even more exciting and varied route through previously untraveled regions, including the most striking highlights and motorcycling routes of southwestern China.

Tour Overview

Guided Motorcycle Tours in China and Tibet

Enjoy your adventure!

Do you want to experience an unforgettable Tibet Motorcycle Tour? Then Classic Bike Adventure is the place for you! Since 1989, we’ve specialized in motorcycle tours that let you experience the country, its people and plenty of adventures along the way. Our team members know China and Tibet like the backs of their hands. We’ve gained a lot of travel experience in the last 20 years on the road – after all, we have our own office in Shangri-La in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, near Tibet. We have a fleet of 18 motorcycles and a local team that will make your Tibet Motorcycle Tour an unforgettable experience.

Our Tibet and China motorcycle tours are founded on our in-depth knowledge and our enthusiasm for China, which we’re happy to share with you!

Experience the unique Tibet!

Tibet features a unique Buddhist culture that stretches back through the millennia, and impressive landscapes. The autonomous region of Tibet is also known for Everest Base Camp, which – unlike in Nepal – can be reached by motorcycle. For many, the ride to Everest Base Camp has a special place on their bucket list – what could be more sublime than spending the night in Rongbuk Monastery at an altitude of 4,900 meters, looking out the window at Everest, and seeing the first rays of the sun hit the highest mountain on the planet at the crack of dawn? Maybe only the ride along the “Road of 108 Curves” with its views of Everest and of Cho Oyu, Lhotse and Makalu, some of the highest mountains in the world.

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Tibet is so multi-faceted that you’ll experience a lot more, depending on which Tibet Motorcycle Tour you choose. You’ll travel through rocky and sandy deserts, grasslands inhabited by nomads and their yaks, tackle the highest Himalayan passes at altitudes of up to 5,220 meters, and cruise along the longest rivers in Asia – the Yangtze, the Yellow River with its sandstone landscapes, and of course the Mekong in eastern Tibet. You’ll ride through deep gorges and tiny villages, cross high-altitude plateaus where you can almost touch the clouds, and wind your way along endless twisty mountain roads. Our Tibet Motorcycle Tour will take you to the unforgettable highlights of the region: the colorful capital Lhasa with the former residence of the Dalai Lama, Potala Palace, bustling local markets and azure salt lakes such as Namtso, Manasarovar or Yamdrok Lake. Rugged landscapes alternate with vast, sparsely populated steppes and lush green grasslands. Enjoy breathtaking views of towering mountain ranges on the highest passes across the Roof of the World and savor the ride to Everest Base Camp. Let yourself be inspired by spiritual places like the holy mountain Kailash or Jokhang Temple, the most sacred place for Tibetans. The Tibet Motorcycle Tour offers you a wealth of impressions and unique insights into Tibetan culture in an intensity you won’t find anywhere else. We’ll be making fascinating stops throughout the motorcycle tour, and a fortifying hot butter tea on a mountain pass is just as as much a part as the winding roads that offer you the ride of your life. Classic Bike Adventure will take you on an unforgettable experience: join us and conquer the Roof of the World.

Questions & Answers

How much is the deposit for the bike on China and Tibet tours?2019-12-18T06:26:03+00:00

The deposit for the motorcycle varies depending on the choice of bike:
Shineray X5 400: EUR/US$ 500
BMW G 310 GS: EUR/US$ 1,000
BMW F 800 GS and R 1200 GS: EUR/US$ 1,500

What kind of bikes will we ride?2019-12-18T06:26:11+00:00

Depending on the specific tour, the following bikes are available for our motorcycle tours in Tibet and China: The BMW models G 310 GS, F 800 GS and R 1200GS, as well as the Shineray X5, a 400cc single-cylinder enduro.

Why we’re starting and ending our Tibet Motorcycle Tour in China2019-11-22T09:42:55+00:00

In the wake of the earthquake in Nepal in 2015 and road construction in many parts of the country, the journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa has not only become time-consuming, but also dangerous. The entire route from Kathmandu to the Chinese border at Rasua Gadhi on the Nepalese side and Gyirong on the Chinese side is currently a construction site. The road surface consists of sand and large stones, and it’s extremely dusty. Numerous trucks also use the road. Not even enduro enthusiasts would enjoy the ride. We would also have to factor in the time-consuming border procedures on the Nepalese and, in particular, the Chinese side, that can take up to a full day.

Starting and ending the Tibet Motorcycle Tour in Kathmandu would thus mean putting up with the same route and dealing with comparably long border procedures twice on the same tour. Regardless of what other organizers may think, that’s not our idea of a fun Tibet Motorcycle Tour. The road conditions and waiting times would not exactly be the highlights of a ride to Everest Base Camp. In our opinion, it makes no sense to start and end a tour with a focus on Tibet as its highlight in Kathmandu. And besides, a fleet of state-of-the-art bikes is waiting and ready to roll in Tibet.

If you want to discover the best Nepal has to offer – and not just see it as a transit country – we recommend our Magic Nepal Motorcycle Tour, or our spectacular Mustang Motorcycle Tour. On our Tibet Motorcycle Tours we hardly ever take the same road twice – we only have the most beautiful routes, and we don’t waste precious time at borders. We want you to remember your ride to Everest Base Camp as a true highlight.

What’s a typical day on the road like?2019-12-18T06:22:49+00:00

A travel day normally begins at 8 am with breakfast. Around 9 am, after a short briefing by the road captain, it’s time for the day’s riding, the mileage of which can vary quite a bit. Plenty of time will be available for lunch and coffee breaks, of course. Depending on the day’s mileage, we’ll reach the destination hotel between 3 and 4 pm.
Since our tours vary considerably, we may also hit the road at 8 am on high-mileage days – which is also nice, because then we have the whole day ahead of us.

Where can I stow my bags?2019-12-18T06:24:02+00:00

Your baggage will be carried by the support vehicle. Please don’t pack too much – remember: less is more. From time to time, we’ll have to carry our baggage over short distances to the hotel. Baggage is not insured, so please be sure to purchase your own baggage insurance for the trip if necessary. Your personal items for the day are best kept in the saddlebags or your daypack. Tank bags – including magnetic ones – can be used on the Enfields, but we don’t provide them.

Will I need maps?2019-12-18T06:31:37+00:00

Simple street maps are often available locally. The best road maps are available from the German publishers Reise Know How and Nelles. These are only available in specialized bookstores or online.

Do I need a driving license?2019-12-18T06:24:05+00:00

All riders must have a valid motorcycle driving license issued in their home country. An international driving license is also required. Be sure to contact the relevant authorities in your home country well in advance for more information on obtaining an international driving license.

What do I need in the way of documents?2019-12-18T06:24:09+00:00

You will need your passport, national driving license, international driving license and flight ticket. Please be sure to make photocopies of all of your important travel documents and carry them separately. They can be invaluable in an emergency.

What’s the Classic Bike Adventure travel team like?2022-04-14T10:41:11+00:00

Our European tour guides are skilled motorcyclists and inveterate travelers who love India. They’re resilient in the face of stress and know the history and culture of the regions they cover. Our Indian mechanics are experienced Enfield specialists who all speak English and are happy to help with any technical problem, great or small.
A stand-in rider is always available. More information on our travel concept is available here.

How big are the groups? What’s the minimum number of participants?2019-12-18T06:24:15+00:00

Groups generally consist of 8 to 14 riders and 2 to 6 passengers. The minimum number of participants is 6 riders.

Do pillion passengers have a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle?2019-12-18T06:24:16+00:00

Yes, all passengers have a guaranteed seat. In bad weather or challenging riding conditions, they can switch to the support vehicle at any time – and back to the bike when conditions improve.

What should I keep in mind when riding with a passenger?2019-12-18T06:24:20+00:00

Riding two-up is almost always possible. In difficult terrain or on rough tracks, every passenger has a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle to keep things relaxed for both rider and pillion.

Do I need travel insurance and travel health insurance?2019-12-18T06:24:21+00:00

We always recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover costs incurred if you need to cancel the trip due to illness or other reasons. When shopping for travel health insurance, make sure the policy covers the potentially high cost of medical evacuation to your home country. Both forms of insurance can save you a lot of money in an emergency and we recommend them unreservedly. In many countries, your national motoring organization can provide the coverage you need.

What do I need to bring along for a motorcycle tour?2020-01-06T11:30:46+00:00

You will definitely want to bring your riding suit with protectors and a helmet. You will also need motorcycle boots or lighter riding shoes and gloves. While your gear should be breathable in hot climates, you need to be ready for anything at high altitudes and in the Himalayas. We recommend winter gloves, warm socks, liners for jackets and trousers, a scarf and face protection. Rain gear is a good idea if your riding suit is not waterproof.
Please note that we do not hire out clothing. We believe that your own riding gear will fit best and thus give you the best protection. If you forget anything, we’ll find a solution, however. We often have spare gear with us, or we can point you in the direction of a shop.