Are you planning to go on the adventure of your life and ride across Tibet? The Land of Snows is one of the most beautiful places in this world, and riding across it on your bike, is one of the most fulfilling and amazing experiences you can experience in life.

The monastery sights, stunning natural landscapes, some of the highest mountains in the world, fascinating culture and rich history make it one of the best places to visit in Asia.

Today you are going to learn all about it, so you can be ready for the tour that will change your life for better. This all is delivered to you by Big Bike Tours!

We will answer all of your questions, so let’s begin!

An Overview: The Most Important and Frequent Questions

What is the best time to travel?

If you want to have a blast, then the best months to do this tour are May and September. You can join our amazing 19-day Tibet and Shangri-La tour during those months.

You will not only visit Tibet but in fact five different countries. Therefore, if you are looking for the best experience, then we can help you to make it happen!

What are the top attractions to see in Tibet?

There are many things to see, but in order to make this the best tour you will ever find we have made sure to include the real best attractions:

1. The Sonzanlin Tibetan Monastery
2. The Tibetan town of Degen
3. The panorama platform for viewing the best landscapes of Mount Kawa Karpo
4. Cizhong Village

And more. Without any doubts, the best part will be to witness the amazing landscapes gifted to you by the stunning mountains.

What is the difference between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibet?

They are not the same thing, thus, there is a difference. To put it in simple terms:

1. The Tibet covers the whole Tibetan Plateau
2. The term Tiber Autonomous Region solely covers 50% of the land mass

Although, worry not, because in the tour we will not keep you within the TAR, because we will take you to explore the most exciting parts of the Tibet (yes, the whole region!).

What are the best motorcycles for this tour?

Based on our experiences, these are the best picks:

1. Kawasaki Versys 650cc
2. BMW F800GS
3. BMW R1200GS

For this tour we will bring you a Kawasaki Versys 650cc, because it has proven to be the best performing bike for this terrain.

Do I need to get a Chinese driver license?

Not really, because we will get you a temporary driver license issued on the basis of your international driver’s license.

Do I need a special permit to visit Tibet?

Yes, you do. You will need a special Tibet travel permit before you arrive. We can help you with this, just let us know and we will be there for you. Just remember that you will need a Chinese visa first to apply for this permit.

However, as you are joining this tour, then riders have a special benefit: group visas. We can help you with that, so you can just focus on the experience.

The Tibet is Buddhism:

It is not just their religion but their essence and way of life. This is what contributes to making this place so special, because they believe that nature and humans need to coexist. Contamination is almost non-existent, therefore, here you will breathe the purest air and enjoy of the most pristine and spectacular landscapes and sights.

Needless to say, you need to respect their beliefs.

Respect People:

This goes in concordance with the previous point: you need to respect people. Here are some basic rules you need to follow:

1. Don’t take photos of Buddha in monasteries, because in the majority of them it is forbidden
2. Smoking is forbidden in monasteries
3. If you eat with Tibetans, never eat with your mouth overfull. It is a very bad manner
4. When someone hands you something, make sure to grab it with both hands
5. Don’t discuss about politics or religion with Tibetans

These simple rules will make you pass a good time and enjoy your ride across Tibet, especially when interacting with the local culture.

Pack What You Really Need:

During this long ride, you will need to pack only what you need so that your baggage is not too heavy. Here you have a list of the things you must bring:

1. Make sure that you bring warm clothes, because even during summer the weather can be very cold at night. You will need to cover every inch of your body, because when you ride across this region the temperature will play against you
2. Comfortable shoes
3. Motion sickness medicine. It is very important, because the journey will require it
4. Altitude sickness medicine. For obvious reasons, you will need it during the ride

These are the most important things to bring in a nutshell. Therefore, make sure you do so. If you have any doubt regarding this, just let us know and we will guide you!

About Geography:

One of the best thing about Tibet is that the roads are smooth and calm. Here you can actually enjoy the landscapes, sights and live the moment, because the roads are calm and almost empty.

The unique thing is that altitude can be challenging, therefore, it is important to bring medicine for both altitude and motion sickness.

Overall, the geography of Tibet is wonderful, exotic and challenging. The roads are the easy part, because the altitude is the biggest challenge in this ride.

Final Words:

That is it for this article. Now you know more about Tibet and you know the answer for the most important questions.

Now it is time for you to make this dream come true. Just contact us and let’s start planning your tour to Tibet. You are going to love every single second of it, guaranteed!

Big Bike Tours is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand—which is where all of our motorbike excursions begin. We have been riding the scenic routes in Thailand for over 15 years, and have been providing guided tours since 2009. If you love to ride, but hitting up the standard tourist spots simply isn’t your style—book an Asian motorbike tour with Big Bike Tours today!