If you are looking for an epic adventure on the roof of the world in Tibet, you have found it in this 6 night / 7 day adventure where we cycle 360km around Qinghai Lake! Cycle for 4.5 days around the pristine waters of China’s largest lake, with an average altitude of 3,2000 meters. Qinghai Province is little known to tourists, and its China’s 4th largest province with a relatively small population of 5.5 million people. This is open, wild country that makes for a perfect bike trip surrounded by colorful nomadic culture.
Qinghai Lake is China’s largest salt lake located just 2.5 hours west of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province. The lake is famous for its high altitude at 3,250 meters and it’s authentic Tibetan nomadic culture. The lake is also famous as a bird migration site for many species of birds stopping over on their way north to nesting and mating sites.
But the lake is also well known for the world’s 4th most famous professional cycling race, called the “Tour of Qinghai Lake”, held every year in July (surpassed only by the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a Espana in the road race world). Inaugurated in 2002, the Tour of Qinghai Lake is becoming one of Asia’s top cycling races with prize money of more than $1 million USD. Given the fact that the competition route reaches a height up to 3,800 meters at times, far higher than any of the European tours, it is also called the “Race in the Sky”.
But you don’t have to be an expert riding on a fancy custom $10,000 USD bicycle to cycle around the shining turquoise waters of one of Tibet’s holiest lakes! We have designed a special tour that takes the 360km journey around Qinghai Lake and allows you to fully experience the culture and foods that make this place so magical.
This tour runs at relaxed pace, allowing 4.5 days to fully enjoy not just the cycling journey but also the mountains and monasteries and nomads around the lake. We give you plenty of time to take your tour slowly and adjust to the high altitude because we believe biking is so much more than just riding with tunnel vision on a paved road. Cycling is ultimately a way to feel the wind, taste the salt of the lake, and be in intimate contact with the land and its native people. On this tour you will sleep in a nomad tent, taste freshly made yak yoghurt, and look out from remote Buddhist monasteries on the incredible sunset that glistens across the 120km long span of the lake.
We will provide all the bikes, gear, transportation, food, and accommodation so you don’t have to lug your bicycle around the world! All you have to do is show up in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, and we will take care of the rest!
Watch the cycling tour around Qinghai Lake (and learn about the revolutionary foldable bikes that Dahon is making) here in this video:
Day 6: Day 5 of Cycling: Distance 65km, Return to Xining
Day 7: Depart Xining
Tour Highlights
Nomadic Culture including homestays and learning about yaks
Experience the culinary richness of Tibet
Cycle around China's largest lake
Discover Tibetan Buddhist monasteries
Cycle at a relaxed pace that allows you to really immerse yourself in the culture of the high plateau
Tour Fare
The price includes:
6 nights of lodging (includes: 1 hotel in Xining on the last night, 3 x Tibetan home stays or tent stays around the shores of Qinghai Lake, 2 x hotels around the edge of Qinghai Lake)
All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7
English speaking guide
A high quality bicycle rental for the duration of your trip
Camping equipment including tents
Support van and trip bicycle mechanic
Private vehicle and all transportation
Airport pickup in Xining on Day 1(must arrive in the morning before 12 noon)
Airport dropoff in Xining on the afternoon
All entrance tickets to all monasteries and national parks
All meals, lodging, and tickets for your guide and driver
All bottled water
The price does not include:
Tips for your guide (recommended if service is good)
Travel insurance (we require all travelers to provided their own travel insurance for the duration of the journey.We recommend www.worldnomads.comand this is fairly cheap)
Flights or trains to and from Xining
Specialty or alcoholic drinks, Personal snacks
Visa or passport costs
We usually require a 20% deposit upfront and then 80% balance sometime before the trip begins.
Booking/ Enquiry Form
Please fill the form bellow with the details of the trip you are interested in. We are more than to happy to assist you in planning your trip.
