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Highlights
Escape into high mountain roads in Qinghai Province on this 12-day bike tour
Traverse several high mountains passes by bike with unbelievable views of 6000-metre peaks.
Visit remote monasteries devoted to different sects of Tibetan Buddhism.
Explore Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China.
Venture into the depths of red mountain canyons, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and other wild landscapes.
Deep in central China, you will find unexpectedly stunning topography of red rock mountains, snowy peaks, and undulating highways. This 12-day mountain bike tour will take you across about 500 km of impressive terrain for a journey you’ll never forget.
As you cycle across Qinghai Province, you’ll notice a blend of cultures and inhabitants, most of whom practice Tibetan Buddhism. It’s a very spiritual area, and on the crux of this tour, you will camp for two nights at the base of the holy Amnye Machen Mountain.
Each day of this tour includes high mountain passes and unprecedented views of these remote and wild places. If you’re interested in this tour, make sure you are physically prepared to ride your bike for up to 90 km per day on challenging roads. The rewards will be worth the effort, but you want to enjoy the effort without risking injury.
Take the roads less traveled in this unique part of China. A tour like this will leave you nothing short of spellbound—the region is so spectacular and its people so welcoming and hospitable. Ride on!
Deep in central China, you will find unexpectedly stunning topography of red rock mountains, snowy peaks, and undulating highways. This 12-day mountain bike tour will take you across about 500 km of impressive terrain for a journey you’ll never forget.
As you cycle across Qinghai Province, you’ll notice a blend of cultures and inhabitants, most of whom practice Tibetan Buddhism. It’s a very spiritual area, and on the crux of this tour, you will camp for two nights at the base of the holy Amnye Machen Mountain.
Each day of this tour includes high mountain passes and unprecedented views of these remote and wild places. If you’re interested in this tour, make sure you are physically prepared to ride your bike for up to 90 km per day on challenging roads. The rewards will be worth the effort, but you want to enjoy the effort without risking injury.
Take the roads less traveled in this unique part of China. A tour like this will leave you nothing short of spellbound—the region is so spectacular and its people so welcoming and hospitable. Ride on!
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Bike to Amnye Machen Mountain Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Xining
Welcome to Qinghai Province, China! Your guide will meet you at the airport or railway station and accompany you to the hotel. Explore Xining at your leisure before settling into the hotel to sleep.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Xining
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Visit Kumbum Monastery
After breakfast, the group will venture out to visit an ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Huangzhong county. The multistory gompa will astound you with its intricate architecture and spiritual atmosphere. Fun fact: the 14th Dalai Lama was born in this monastery. Many monks continue to worship here to this day. Spend the night in Xining and prepare to bike tomorrow with a good night’s sleep.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Xining
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Bike Over Lajishan Pass + Yellow River
Time to get on the bikes! Make sure you fuel up on breakfast because you start the day with a climb over Lajishan Pass at 3,820 m / 12,533 ft. This biking route takes you through otherworldly landscapes of red rock mountains and snowy peaks. Once you’re over the pass, the road descends toward the Yellow River, which you’ll follow until reaching Heyin Town for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Heyin Town
Distance: 90 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Cycle to Wangjia Village
Today’s ride will provide a challenge for your legs! After breakfast, you’ll begin climbing about 1,200 m / 3,937 ft of elevation to reach an open plateau with epic views of the red rock mountains in the area. Continue riding on a rolling route until you reach Wangjia Village, a charming remote place nestled in unreal landscapes. You’ll set up camp tonight or sleep in a local guesthouse.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse or Camping
Distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Bike to Hebei Village
Start your day by waking up in the mountains and hop on your bike to continue the exploration. You’ll climb some elevation today and come through a mountain pass at 4,000 m / 13,123 ft with sublime views. Finish your ride for the day once you reach Hebei Village to either set up camp or check in to a guesthouse. In this ancient village, you’ll see locals dressed in traditional garb walking on the old stone roads.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse or Camping
Distance: 80 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Ride & Visit Ragya Monastery
Today presents a good challenge! You’ll cycle up high mountain roads that will require a lot of strength, so make sure you eat a hearty breakfast before hitting the road. First, you will ascend to Kemuda Pass at 4,234 m / 13,891 ft, then ride down towards the Ragya Monastery for a visit. The monastics at this site are of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. After a visit and viewing the nearly 500 inhabitants of this monastery, continue cycling through the mountain roads until Lajia Town for the night in a guesthouse or camping.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse or Camping
Distance: 43 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Bike Heitushan Pass to Maqin
Enjoy breakfast with your group, then prepare for another day riding along gorgeous mountain roads. Today you’ll traverse Heitushan Pass that sits at 4,320 m / 14,173 ft. You’re riding through some very remote locations a week into your bike journey—enjoy the tranquility while it’s available to you! Continue cycling to Maqin where you’ll get a good night’s sleep in a hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Maqin
Distance: 70 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Ride to Amnye Machen Base Camp
Here’s the day you’ve been working towards: today, you will reach the base of Amnye Machen Mountain. Leaving Maqin behind, you’ll ride over various terrain of gravel, sand, and dirt, and cross over three mountain passes. You’ve already been immersed in such a spiritual place, and the ubiquitous prayer flags around here will maintain that vibe. After a challenging morning of riding, the route suddenly opens up to a jaw-dropping view of Amnye Machen Mountain. This impressive peak is nothing short of holy as it’s a common destination for a pilgrimage. Take a well-earned break in Xueshan Village for a cup of tea, then hop back on the bike to complete the ascent to base camp at 4,440 m / 14,567 ft. Settle into your campsite surrounded by impending snow-capped peaks.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 90 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Rest Day or Optional Short Ride
After a week of being on your mountain bike, you have earned a rest day. Explore the area near the base camp on foot, find a spot to meditate, chat with your group, or nap in the afternoon. The day is yours! If anyone is keen to keep riding, there’s an optional ascent to a higher mountain pass near the base camp where you’d earn some spectacular panoramic views of the mountain range’s huge peaks. Spend another night under the stars at base camp.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: Optional ride: 600 m of ascent, 600 m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 Guozhihejianli Pass
With one rest day in the books, you should feel ready to mount your bike again. This is your last day riding, so enjoy every moment. After breakfast, you will ascend the north side of Amnye Machen Mountain and traverse Guozhihejianli Pass at 4,650 m / 15,256 ft. Once you cross over this pass, start descending, passing by a stunning glacier and ending in Xiadawu. Say goodbye to your trusty mountain bike and rest well knowing that you’ve just ridden over 500 km across Qinghai Province. That’s something to brag about!
Overnight Location: Guesthouse or Camping
Distance: 70 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Day 11 Walking Tour of Qinghai Lake
Your last full day of the tour includes a visit to an absolutely stunning lake, Qinghai Lake, the biggest saltwater lake in China. If you haven’t taken enough photos already, this is a superb opportunity. Hills and peaks surround the massive bright blue lake in the distance. You can get some pretty cool perspective shots and reflections here, so take some time to explore before heading to the hotel for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Qinghai Lake
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Farewell
Have one final breakfast with your group before you pack up and begin your journey home. Once you’re packed, you’ll get a ride to Xining to the airport or railway station to check-in for your flight or train.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Daocheng Yading Trekking Adventure Tour Price and Dates
This guided trekking tour to Tibet is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the prices depend on the number of people in your group as well as the time of the year. Prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room.- Guided Groups of 2: USD4395 per person*
Accommodation on the Bike to Amnye Machen Mountain Tour
This tour is based 3- and 4-star hotels with modern amenities for a comfortable stay. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement. You will spend some of the tour camping in two-person tents with mattresses provided. And you may spend a few nights in modest guesthouses with basic amenities.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel while traveling with your group. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
What’s included in the Bike to Amnye Machen Tour?
Meals
11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 9 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 11 nights is included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for your luggage is included throughout the tour. Airport or railway station transfers are also included.
Also Included
- Entrance and sightseeing fees
- Local English-speaking guides
- Escort vehicle on biking days
- Two-person tent for camping nights
- Camping mattress, cook, cooking equipment
Not included
- Bike
- Sleeping bag
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in itinerary
- Flights
- Insurance
- Visa for China
- Anything not mentioned as “Included”
- Tips + personal expenses
Optional Extras
- Extra nights in Xining
- How hard is the Bike to Amnye Machen Mountain Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to China?
- Are meals included on the Bike to Amnye Machen Mountain Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Xining to start this tour?
- Is the Bike to Amnye Machen Mountain Tour in English?
- Can I rent a bike for this tour?
- Where does the Bike to Amnye Machen Mountain Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to China?
- Are there any travel restrictions for China?
We rate this tour as a 5 / 5. You should be comfortable riding for up to 90 km a day at altitude on high mountain roads.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 9 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can reach Xining by plane from several major airports in China. You can also take a train to Xining from many cities in China. You will be picked up at the airport or train station.
Yes, the local guides are English-speaking.
Unfortunately, you can’t rent a bike for this tour and will have to bring your own.
The tour ends in Xining.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
Based in Chengdu (Sichuan province, China), with an affiliated agency in Lhasa (the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region), Greatway Tour organizes China tours since 1994. They specialize in adventure and trekking tours in Western China, covering Tibet and the eastern Tibetan area Kham – Amdo in provinces Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Gansu. Since 1995, Greatway Tour began to organize self-driving tours across China for individuals and agencies abroad, whether they drive their own vehicles/motorcycles/bikes brought from their own country, or if they need help with renting the kind of vehicles they wish to start their China self-driving journey.
