Motorcycle trip Tibet

When should one leave for Tibet?

The best months for a motorcycle trip in Tibet are May, June, September and October. The weather is great, the climate dry and the temperature rather mild during the day. There is a difference in the temperature depending on the altitude of the region visited. The capital, Lhassa, situated at a height of 3650 m enjoys pleasant temperatures between June and October. Monsoon hits Tibet in the summer months, in July and August. It is nevertheless the tourist season because the temperatures are very pleasant at high altitude. During this period, be careful of the rains in the Himalayan foothills and notably in the Kham region. Eastern Tibet is the region with the highest rainfall. In winter, the entire Tibetan territory endures temperatures that can reach below 0° C. From November to April, it is low season, the prices are reduced but the conditions for travel may be difficult, especially in the highlands or at high altitudes. For a motorcycle trip in Tibet, it is better to choose the months of May, June, September and October. You can thus be sure to avoid severe cold in the winter and rains in the months of July and August.

Geography Tibet

A motorcycle trip in Tibet takes you to the highest plateau in the world, with an average altitude of 4000m. Surrounded by the Himalayan range to the South and the Karakoram and Koun Lun ranges to the North-West, the Tibetan region extends over more than 1 200 000 km2, that is, approximately twice the area of France. The landscapes of Tibet are among the most beautiful and impressive in the world: mountains with colours wavering from violet to yellow, high snow peaks, arid grasslands, turquoise lakes, etc. The sources of great rivers of Asia like Yangtse or Mekong lie in Tibet. Three major regions may be distinguished: Eastern Tibet, Southern Tibet around Lhassa and High Tibet in the North or Changtang. This high plateau surrounded by mountains reaching an altitude of more than 7000m and great salt lakes is the land where nomads and their herds of yak live. Apart from the geographic Tibet under the Chinese control, the cultural and ethnic Tibet can be found in India and Nepal, in the regions of Ladakh, Zanskar, Spiti, Mustang or Dolpo.

History and Culture in Tibet

During your motorcycle trip in Tibet, you will have the chance to rub shoulders with this traditional society, which has its own culture in the Himalayan world. The history of Tibet is marked by events from the 20th century. In 1950, China annexed Eastern Tibet and went on to destroy temples and monasteries. Dalai Lama and his ministers have been in exile since 1959. The Tibetan government took refuge in India in the Himalayan foothills, at Dharamshala. Since 2011, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, doesn’t have any power over Tibet, but remains the spiritual guide for Tibetan Buddhists. For several years, China has been sending Chinese citizens to settle down in Tibet. Several movements supporting freedom for Tibet have taken place since the occupation. Dalai Lama received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1989 for his moderation and diplomacy. He advocates the path of wisdom, wishing simply for more autonomy that would allow Tibetans to retain their culture. Despite the sensitive political situation, Tibet resists, the landscapes are still as vibrant as ever and the Tibetans invariably serene and welcoming. We can only encourage travelers to go to Tibet.