Epic Yamdrok Lake Circular 8 Days Cycling Adventure

Day 1: Lhasa Arrival

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa! Upon arrival, our Tibetan guide will be expecting you at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station. Drive back to hotel for check-in and the rest time is for you take good rest or hang around nearby on your own.
Tips: For the new-comers to Tibet, it's better not to rush to attractions as your body needs time to get acclimatized to the high altitude on Tibetan Plateau. Slight headache, dizziness, and rapid pulse are pretty common. The symptoms will disappear in a couple of days.

Day 2: Lhasa City Tour

After breakfast, we will head to Potala Palace, the most iconic building of Tibet. You will have a chance to explore the residence of Dalai Lama in White Palace, the religious chambers in the Red Palace and gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas, etc.
After lunch, we will head to Jokhang Temple, the holiest Buddhist site in Lhasa. Travelling in the dimly-lit rooms, you can hear the constant mumbling of Buddhist chanting and see local Tibetans adding butter oil to the butter lamps. Never miss the chance to worship the life-size statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.
Outside the Jokhang Temple, follow the prostrating Tibetan pilgrims for the famous Barkhor kora nearby. You may also look for the delicately-made souvenirs in the boutiques that flank the Barkhor Street.
Later we will head to local super market so you can buy some food and snacks for the coming biking days. In the afternoon we will have a welcome dinner together.
Tips: Dress properly when visiting the Buddhist site and no photo is allowed inside the Buddhist hall. Short pants and dresses are not allowed.

Day 3: Lhasa to Dongla Village

Today is our first day cycling. We will check all the gears and set out in the morning. Firstly, we will drive all the way to Gangbala Pass (4800m), where we can enjoy a perfect panoramic view of Yamdrok Lake at the viewing platform.
At noontime, we will take a rest in Zhamalong Village and then ride to the beautiful Dongla Village. Please check how you are adapted to the altitude and how you feel about cycling on such altitude. We will make some adjustments if necessary. Today we are more focused on slowly adapting to the altitude today while saving energy for the next day.
Distance: Drive 113km, bike 33km
Tips: In order to get better acclimatized, we leave enough time for biking so no rush today.

Day 4: Dongla Village to Gamalin Prairie

Today we will cycle all the way to Gamalin Prairie via Tsayu Village, which you may not find on Google map. Take a sideroad to enjoy the hidden beauty of Yamdrok Lake and cycle a bit along the lakeshore. In late summer and early autumn, you will have the floral view of the rapeseed field scattered in the grasslands.
As we move on, we can take a visit to Tsayu Temple (if it's open), a small temple with only 4 monks. This is possibly the smallest temple you will ever visit. Later after passing a small mountain pass, we will reach the gorgeous Gamalin Prairie. You can see the sheep, yaks and horses grazing in the pastures, the touchable clouds…It would be one of the biggest feasts in your whole biking journey.
Distance: Bike 60km
Tips: We will cycle across several mountain passes and beautiful villages, but the food, shopping and hotels are not available. Please bring enough food and prepare for the camping.

Day 5: Gamalin Prairie to Duoque Village

From today on, we will enter the most core part of Yamdrok Lake. This part is the most uninhabited area of the cycling tour. And you are able to enjoy the most pristine alpine views of the whole tour.
Distance: Bike 65km

Day 6: Duoque Village to Zhagang Village

Today we will drive from Duoque Village to Dalong Town first and visit Dalong Temple, a protected Sakya Temple famous for its wood carving crafts. It used to be similar size of Potala Palace and now the upper temple was ruined while the lower temple still opens, with some amazing murals and Thangkas. 
Later, we will drive to Arza Town, from where we may cycle half the distance of the inner circle of Yamdrok Lake. You will see the beautiful Yamdrok Lake and stay overnight in Zhagang Village. This is a barely touch route by both Chinese and foreign visitors. Enjoy!
Distance: Drive 90km, bike 94km
Tips: The inner circle of the lake route are dirt road instead of well-paved. Be prepared!

Day 7: Zhagang Village to Lhasa

In the morning, we will enjoy the amazing sunrise of Yamdrok Lake and the far view of the Gangbala Mountain. The biking tour ends at at Xueqing Village. Our driver will pick you up there and then drive you back to Lhasa.
Distance: Bike 40km, drive 158km

Day 8: Lhasa Departure

You can enjoy the free time till your flight/train departs. Send to the airport/train station. Tour ends.