Qinghai&Tibet Plateau Expedition
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the largest plateau in China and it is the highest in the world, it is called “The ridge of the world”. The altitude is between 3000m to 5000m and the average altitude is over 4000m. It is also the headstream of many big rivers in Asia, we can see the headstream of Yangtze River and Yellow river when we go over Tanggula Mountains. Along the road we will see the towering snow mountains, magnificent glacier, crystal lakes, luxuriant grassland and boundless Gobi desert. We will also riding through Hoh Xil which is one of the four largest ecological depopulated zones in China, it is the pure land of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and it is one of the best original ecological preserved areas.
11 DAY TOUR, 2500KM.
Support Crew: 1 Leading Rider, 1 Translator riding with team, 1 Backup Van and driver.
Day 1: Arrival in Xining and apply for driving permits.
All the guests arrive in Xining airport pickup to Xining vehicle administration office to apply for driving permits. Dinner banquet to welcome our guests.
Day 2:Xining city one day tour and get the driving permits.
A local museum visit in the morning, pick up the driving permits and motorcycles and a short ride to Ta’er Buddhist temple site, 35km. Return to Xining for dinner.
Day 3: Xining to Qinghai Lake(Alt 3300m, 200km)
Qinghai lake is considered to be the holy lake, it is also the biggest salt water lake in China. Stay at Hei Ma He,beside Qinghai lake.
Day 4: Qinghai Lake to Maduo county(Alt 4200m, 465km)
Get up early to see the sunrise of Qinghai Lake and keep riding to Maduo county. Maduo county is the only place in China where supply heating 11 months a year. It is the head steam of Yellow river and also called thousand lakes hometown.
Day 5: Maduo county to Yushu (Alt 3800m, 350km)
Along the way we will see luxuriant grassland and many lakes, also there are some streams run into a big river. The river is called Tong Tian River which means flowing to the sky. It is the first part of Jin Sha Jiang, in our Yunnan trip we visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge which is the deepest river valley in Jin Sha Jiang. Before we arrive in Yushu, we will visit the world’s biggest Mani stones. There are more than 2 billion prayer stones.
Day 6: Yushu to Leiwuqi county (Alt 3900m, 380km)
We should cross the "border" into Tibetan Autonomous Region, this will be a slight delay for security check of Tibetan entry permits and possibly some other vehicle and license documents. But our team will ride all day in the huge mountains and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Day 7: Leiwuqi county to Dingqing county(Alt 3900m, 169km)
Although a short traveling day we will venture off road about 30km and back to visit Zizhu monastery, it’s a over 3000 years monastery and built on the cliff at altitude 4800m.
Day 8: Dingqing county to Suoxian county(Alt 3900m, 240km)
We ride on the road G317, it’s wilder and less people travel here.
Day 9: Suoxian county to Dangxiong county(Alt 4200m, 395km)
Day 10: Dangxiong county to Namtso Lake to Lhasa (Alt 3600m, 280km)
Namtso Lake is one of the holy lakes and it is the second biggest lake in Tibet. We will ride along the Mountain Tanggula, we can see snow mountains, yaks and grassland. By the evening we will arrive in the holy city Lhasa. The whole team ride to the Potala Palace and take a photo together.
D11: One day tour in Lhasa
