Motorcycle tour over China: Lhasa (Tibet) - Kunming (Yunnan), Western China

Book the tour - 18 May - 29 May 2025

Motorcycle tour over Southwest China, we are going from Lhasa (Tibet) to Kunming (Yunnan), 12 days one-way ride. 

In China, you need to get a local driver's license to ride a motorcycle – we will do everything, on the first day of the tour you will receive local WU in the prefecture of the city. 

Its a one-way tour from Lhasa to Kunming. The second group is going back to Kunming – Lhasa. The altitude in Lhasa is 4000 meters, in Kunming about 2000 meters, almost all the time we travel through the mountains. If you do not feel well at altitude, please consult us about the possibility of participating in the tour.

• Dates 2025:
  • 18-29 May (Lhasa – Kunming)
  • 2-13 June (Kunming – Lhasa)
• Dates 2026:
  • 18-29 May (Lhasa – Kunming)
  • 1-12 June (Kunming – Lhasa)
  • 1-12 September (Lhasa – Kunming)
  • 13-24 September (Kunming – Lhasa)
• Duration: 12 days
• Total mileage: 2650 km
• Tour level: medium
• Road description: 100% 
• Price with Kove 500/525x – 4900 Euro
• Price with BMW F750GS – 5250 Euro
• Price with BMW R1250GS – 5950 Euro
• Single room accommodation extra 750 Euro
• Deposit for the motorcycle: 1500 Euro
• Price for passenger 1950 Euro 

The price includes:

• Getting a local driver's license to drive a motorcycle
• Accommodation in 3-4* hotels (double rooms)
• Breakfast
• Gasoline
• The leading guide on a motorcycle
• Support vehicle
• Excursions
• Technical support
• Transfers

The price does not include:

• Lunches and dinners (50 euros per day)
• Medical insurance
• Other expenses
• Flights to Lhasa/Kunming

Route

Day 1. Lhasa, arrival

Upon arrival, pick you up and send you to the hotel. If all good, you can take an easy walk along Barkhor Street.

Day 2. Lhasa

Today, firstly go do paperwork to get the Chinese temporary driving licenses. If time allows, after that we will have a small city tour, visiting Potala Palace, famous for fabulous beauty of the architecture, long-standing history and great religious influence.

Day 3. Lhasa – Nai Dong – Nang County, 370 km

First riding day, we start with well-paved national road along Yarlung Tsangpo River. After around 120 km, you will pass Samya Monastery, the first Tibetan Buddhist and Nyingma monastery built in Tibet. We stop for a short walking around. After that, ride all the way to Nang County for staying overnight and enjoy the natural view along the way.

Day 4. Nang County – Bome, 440 km

Long riding day today along national road G219 and G318. The first part of section from Nang County to Nyingchi, we will still ride along Yarlung Tsangpo River and enjoy canyon scenery. After Nyingchi, be careful about bends and narrow part along the mountain road.  

G318 is one of the famous roads to Tibet for its toughest condition in the past, especially for the section of Tongmai. It was called as Tongmai Barrier due to frequently mudslide. With the construction of Tongmai Bridge and tunnels along the way, now the road condition has a great change. On the road, there are several view decks to overlook the natural view, you can choose to stop according to weather.

Day 5. Bome – Zuogong, 415 km

Today's highlight is the road itself. Just enjoy the riding and the natural scenery. Approx. 125 km away from Bome, is the Ranwu Lake, you can spend some time here to have rest and relax. After that, riding along the mountain roads to Zuogong. Along the way, you will ride along the famous 72-Turn road, just as its name, be careful about the continued sharp bends. Like the previous day, there are also view deck to overlook the nice view including the 72-Turn road.

Day 6. Zuogong – Deqen, 360 km

Today you will ride across Tibet border to Yunnan province. If you are interested in, you can take a fork in G214 National road to visit Markam Salt Fields, which are famous for their traditional methods of salt extraction and are a unique cultural and historical site at local. But there are around 3 km (single way) dirty and narrow country road. If accommodations are ok, we will arrange stay overnight at Feilaisi (around 15km far from Deqen), where you can overlook Mt. Meili Snow Mountain in the next morning.

Day 7. Deqen – Shangri-La, 170 km

We continue and ride toward Shangri-la after enjoying the view of Mt. Meili. Upon arrival in Shangri-la, you can arrange the rest day on your own, relax with cup of coffee or take an easy walk around Dukezong ancient town and join in the people to turn the largest Prayer Wheel in the world in clockwise direction.

Day 8. Shangri-La – Baishuitai – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang, 255 km

Today we will visit Baishuitai Water Terrance. It is a limestone deposit plateau, more like Pamukkale in Turkey, but with smaller area around 3 sq km. Then we enjoy the view Deck for Haba Snow Mountain. If weather is good, you can overlook the Mt. Haba.

After we are going to stop by Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Day 9. Lijiang, rest day

Rest day in Lijiang. You can take an easy walk around Lijiang Old Town, which is a well-preserved ancient town for Naxi ethnic group. It was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Although now it becomes more commercial than before, but you can still explore the amazing ancient town with hundred years’ history, but also experience the spirit and feel romantic, relaxing charm of the town without city walls.

Day 10.Lijiang – Shaxi – Lake Side Road (Erhai Lake) – Dali, 270 km

We are heading to Shaxi Ancient Town. It once played an important role as a bustling trade point on the Tea Horse Caravan Road. Unlike Lijiang and Dali, here still keep its original without too much tourists. After that, make an easy ride to Erhai Lake and take a detour along the Lake side road to Dali. Stop on the way at anytime when you want to take in the view. Stay overnight in Dali, another Leisure ancient town.

Day 11. Dali – Kunming, 380 km

In the morning, if you are interested in, can go to visit Chongshen Three Pagadas, a remarkable landmark of Dali. After that we ride along the express way to Kunming. Checking in the hotel and dropping off bikes. End the nice ride in China.

After dinner, you can go to enjoy the night view of the city, then have a good sleep.

Day 12. Kunming, departure home

Transfer to the airport.