Nepal - Tibet - Laos | 15D | Along the Roof of the World to the Tropics | Route G318 | 2026

🗓️ ITINERARY

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• 1 Nepal-Gyirong [入境-吉隆镇] 25km/0.5h/2700m

  • Enter Tibet via Gyirong/Rasuwa border, we will meet you up at the border(China side) and help you with the border crossing, customs clearance and other related formalities at the border. Overnight stay in Gyirong county town.

  • Today, you're in for an amazing adventure! You'll start off from Gyirong valley, which sits at a whopping altitude of over 2,900 meters. But here's the exciting part: you'll be climbing over 1,000 meters in just 2 hours to reach the real high-altitude plateau. You'll pass through the lush forests and reach the plateau desert landscape. It’s going to be absolutely impressive.

  • One of the participants in our group needs to go to the local police station with our guide to register and get a local travel permit.

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

• 2 Gyirong-Tashizong [吉隆镇-扎西宗] 324km/6h/4300m

  • Drive through Gyirong Canyon and over Ghong Thang La mountain pass(5236m) in the morning where you can overlook the 14th highest peak in the world-Shishapangma (8027m), and then you can drive to the lakeside of Pechutso lake.

  • Drive to Tashizong village, which is beside the tourist center and bus terminal of EBC.

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

• 3 Tashizong-EBC-Shigatse [扎西宗-日喀则] 294km/5h/3800m

  • Take the local shuttle bus to Rongbuk monastery(5154 meters), which is not just the highest monastery in the world, but also one of the best locations to overlook Mt. Everest.

  • After visiting the EBC and Mt. Everest, we continue driving to Shigatse along the Mt. Everst highway, you will pass through green waves of barley fields, Tibetan villages, cross rivers, and climb over dozens of winding mountain passes(at one of the passes, you will see 5 peaks over 8000 meters), the driving experience is even more enjoyable than the destination itself. Note: Since the end of 2018, local authorities have decided to close the Mt. Everest base camp to tourists in order to protect the environment, now tourists can only overlook the Mt Everest from Rongbuk monastery which is about 8km from the Base Camp. Furthermore, all tourists are required to take the local shuttle bus at the tourist center to get to Rongbuk monastery, this is to say that we have to leave our cars/bikes at the bus terminal(tourist center) which is about 35km from Rongbuk monastery and transfer to local shuttle bus.

  • Entrance fee of EBC: 160 CNY / PP. Shuttle Tour Bus：120CNY / PP(round trip).

  • Drive to Shigatse as early as possible, if time allows, we will start to apply for temporary Chinese driving licenses and vehicle license plates at Shigatse Traffic Admin Bureau.

  • NOTE: All foreign vehicles/riders have to apply for temporary Chinese driving licenses in Shigatse(Traffic Administration Bureau) in order to drive/ride in China legally. If we can’t finish the procedures today, we will have to continue proceeding the next day morning.

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

• 4 Shigatse-Nagarze-Lhasa [日喀则-浪卡子-拉萨] ** 370km/7h/3650m**

  • Drive to Gyantse where you will visit  Gyantse Kumbum and Pelkhor Chode monastery (70 CNY for entrance ticket and taking photo fee ), after lunch, continue driving to Nagarze, visit Karola Glacier and the holy lake Yamdrok on the way.

  • Then drive to Lhasa, which is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, with an altitude of about 3650 meters. It is the center of Tibetan Buddhism and has famous temples and cultural relics such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

• 5 Lhasa [拉萨] ** 3650m**

  • Visit Potala Palace (200CNY/PP), Johkong Monastery(85CNY/PP) and Bakhor Bazaar(free).

• 6 Lhasa - Nyingchi [拉萨-林芝] ** 400km/5h/3100m**

  • Drive to Nyingchi on the highway along the Nyang River (along the Lin-la G4218 highway,toll free).You will pass through undulating snow-capped mountains, dense forests, and grasslands when driving from Lhasa to Nyingchi. Along this road, you can enjoy the unique natural scenery and geographical features of the Tibetan Plateau.

  • Mountain passes: Milashan pass(5013 meters).

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

• 7 Nyingchi - Ranwu [林芝-然乌湖] ** 350km/7-9h/3900m**

  • Drive to Ranwu Town. You will drive along beautiful rivers and through dense forests giving you a feeling that you are not traveling on a bleak plateau but in a tropic area.

  • You may also have the chance to see Nnamjagbarwa mountain peak(7782 meters) if the weather is good.

  • Stay overnight in a camping site beside Ranwu Lake, the hotel offer both RV camping sites and proper rooms.

  • Mountain passes: Sejila mountain pass(4720).

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

  • Some sections of the road are under constructions, please be aware of traffic jams and arrive at hotel late.

• 8 Ranwu- Zogang [然乌湖-左贡] ** 290km/7-9h/3800m**

  • Drive to Zogang.

  • After driving over Nujiang River bridge, you will experience the famous 72 bends of the Nujiang River (72 winding curves along the mountains and the Nujiang River) and then reach Yelashan mountain pass(4658 meters)

  • July to August is the summer vacation in China, and many families choose to travel during this time. This section of road will be very crowded, and the travel time on this road will be several hours longer than normal. Please depart early and bring enough food and water. (Some stretches of the road are currently under construction also)

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

  • Some sections of the road are under constructions, please be aware of traffic jams and arrive at hotel late.

• 9 Zogang - Mangkang [左贡-芒康] ** 160km/4h/3860m**

  • Drive to Mangkang County, where the borders of Tibet and Yunnan meet.

  • You will drive over the Dongdashan mountain pass(5130 meters) in the morning, which is the highest pass on the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway(from Shanghai to Nepal border Kodari, 5476km in total)

  • Mountain passes: Dongdashan (5130m), Juebashan (3911m) and Lawushan (4338m)

  • July to August is the summer vacation in China, and many families choose to travel during this time. This section of road will be very crowded, and the travel time on this road will be several hours longer than normal. Please depart early and bring enough food and water.(Some stretches of the road are currently under construction also)

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

  • Some sections of the road are under construction, please be aware of traffic jams and arrive at the hotel late.

• 10 Mangkang - Deqen [芒康-德钦] ** 220km/5h/3300m**

  • Drive along the G214 Yunan-Tibet Highway and over the Hongla mountain pass (4200m), then you will drive along the Lancang river(China part of Mekong River in Laos).

  • Overnight in Deqen, which is a small town located at the foot of the Meili Snow Mountain, if the weather is good, you can visit Feilai Temple which is the best viewing platform to enjoy the amzing sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain.

  • Highway toll: free for cars and motorbikes.

• 11 Deqen-Lijiang [德钦县-虎跳峡-丽江] ** 353km/6.5h/2400m**

  • Drive to Lijiang and visit Tiger Leaping Gorge(45CNY/PP) which is one of the deepest river gorges in the world.

  • Highway toll for cars(1- 8 seats): CNY 128/car, free for motorbikes.

  • Lijiang Ancient Town, located in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, is one of China's most famous historic and cultural cities, known for its unique Naxi culture, ancient streets, and beautiful natural scenery. There are many historical sites and famous attractions here, such as Black Dragon Pool, Mu's Residence, and the Large Water Wheel, as well as various delicious foods and Naxi handicrafts, which will make you linger. Especially at night, the winding alleys and lantern-filled squares of the ancient town create a unique romantic atmosphere that will leave you intoxicated. A visit to Lijiang Ancient Town will surely leave you with unforgettable memories.

• 12 Lijiang [丽江] ** 2400m**

  • One day in Lijiang for a good rest!

• 13 Lijiang-Dali-Jingdong [丽江-大理-景东] 360km/6h/1100m

  • Drive to Jingdong Yi Autonomous County along highways, you can visit Erhai lake beside Dali Ancient City, there are some good cafe along the shore.

  • Highway toll for cars(1- 8 seats): CNY 240/car, free for motorbikes.

• 14 Jingdong-Pu'er [景东-普洱] 315km/5h/1300m

  • Drive to Pu’er along highways (around 100 CNY toll fee) and enjoy the splendid tea culture.(Pu'er tea, deeply loved by the Chinese, is a unique and enchanting beverage renowned for its rich flavor and numerous health benefits. Originating from the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan province, where the climate and environment provide optimal conditions for the growth of Pu'er tea trees, this tea stands out for its dark color and distinctive taste that sets it apart from other varieties.)

  • Highway toll for cars(1- 8 seats): CNY 201/car, free for motorbikes.

• 15 Pu’er-Mohan-Laos [普洱-磨憨-出境] 275km/4h/500m

  • Drive to Mohan along the highways in the early morning and exit China to Laos via Mohan border in the afternoon and you are suggested to stay overnight either in Boten or Luang Namtha due to the bad road condition in Laos.

  • Highway toll for cars(1- 8 seats): CNY 180/car, free for motorbikes.

 

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