Ride to Chiang Khong, a city on the Thailand side bank of the mekong river. Great roads of northern Thailand and on the way visit the famous White Temple & Golden Triangle. (approx. 300km).

A bit earlier start today, the goal is to be at Thai Immigration when they open at 8 am. After clearing the Thai border formalities, we cross the Thai – Lao Friendship Bridge. On the Laos side our Lao tour guide greets us, helps us with the border formalities. The immigration- and customs procedures are always an experience. It simply just takes time, so relax, be patient.

Don’t forget! In Laos, we drive on the right side of the road! We have lunch at a local restraunt  and then continue the remaining stretch to Luang Namtha . The road is quite good and the scenery is great as we are passing through a couple of villages, where is time to stop and “mingle” with the locals. The riding stretch today is the main transit road between Thailand and China and normally has a bit more traffic. 

(approx. 190kms)

Arrive at the Laos/China border crossing. Proceed through Laos departure formalities and then the China entry formalities. We ride to Mengla county and visit the regional police headquarters where all of our vehicles are required to be inspected. We then ride to Jinghong for overnight. Jinghong is a lively city by the Mekong river. It is the capital of the Xishuangbannan Prefecture (approx. 240km)

We will ride northward to Jingdong along a nice highway cutting through the rain forest and we shall travel through the tea plantations where Famous Chinese Pu’er tea is grown. The tea horse road was once thriving to carry tea bricks from China all the way to Tibet, Nepal and India. Jingdong is a minority town slowly growing its size due to the new highway. (approx, 360km)

We ride to Yunnan’s oldest and most historic city, Dali. The Bai Kingdom and the Kingdom of Dali were both centred here between the 8th and 12th centuries. In the mid-1800′s there was a major Muslim rebellion that shook the entire region all the way down to Thailand. Repercussions of this conflict were felt well into the early 1900′s with more than a million people killed in Yunnan Province alone. This historic, walled city is well preserved. We lodge in the Old Quarter tonight. It is a short ride tomorrow and a late departure gives you ample time to wander around Dali’s streets and explore this atmospheric town. （approx. 200km） 

We ride to Lijiang, On the way we visit the Three Pagodas, constructed over 800 years ago… We then ride out the valley and start a long climb before reaching the UNESCO world heritage listed town of Lijiang （approx. 170km）

You will spend this day exploring this charming world heritage town. Lijiang’s charming ‘Old Town’ is a maze of cobbled streets, canals, and stone bridges that date from the Ming Dynasty. You are free to explore this ancient city at your leisure. Lijiang is a ‘shop till you drop’ type place and all sorts of interesting items are for sale. *An optional show of “Dynamic Lijiang” at the foot of the Jade Dragon Mountain can be arranged today.

Ride to Daocheng, entering Sichuan Province, eastern Tibet & the Kham region. Follow Dinchu river to Xiangcheng. We travel through a gorge formed by tributaries of the Yangtse River and then climb out of the valley to a Hendun mountain range. Overnight in a Tibetan frontier town (but don't worry,  the hotel is quite good!). (approx. 300km)

Today we climb Haizi Mountain to Litang at an altitude of 4160m. The area is full of huge rocks that were brought by the glaciers. Extremely beautiful grassland dotted with nomad’s black tents. We fuel up our tanks and then ride over a 4600m pass and drop down to Yajiang town by the Yarlung River. (approx. 280km)

Travelling through the Yarlung river region we take a very scenic road lined with quaint, traditional Tibetan houses and pastures. We ride over Yala pass to Danba County, the heart of the Kham region where we spend a night in a Tibetan home stay over looking Dajin River.（approx. 290km）

A rest day is scheduled with the opportunity to visit Danba Towers & Tibetan villages. Our local guide from the village will show us around the attractions & visit Tibetan homes. You will also have the chance to try some of the local culinary specialties at dinner time. An entertaining Tibet singing and dancing party can be arranged this night if the weather allows.

Ride to Hongyuan via Tibet plateau and grasslands, you will hardly see any traffic as we ride on the plateau other than meeting nomads and their cattle (the true 'wild west’ of China. (approx. 310km)

While passing more nomads and cattle we will stop at Langmusi and then ride to Labrang Monastery. Labrang is an amazing town inhabited by Tibetans, Han Chinese, and Hui Muslims. Streets are full of shops selling sheep skin, Buddhists’ prayers, farming facilities and plenty of restaurants.(approx. 380km）

Labrang Monastery is the largest monastery in the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo. Established in 1709, Labrang housed over 4000 monks at its peak, but now has only around 1500 with another few hundred lay students. Located in the Gansu part of Amdo, Labrang is considered its (Tibetan) cultural heart along with the nearby town of Rebkong. We will spend the day exploring this fascinating place.

Longer but easy days’ riding today to Xi'an, the starting point of the silk road and China’s ancient capital for several dynasties. Xi’an is a great city and very worthwhile to visit.（approx. 450km.

We have the day to visit within the ancient city - Xi’an which had been the capital of China for over 10 dynasties, and therefore you can see history all around. A guided day trip includes a visit to the world famous Terra Cotta Warriors, the hundred year old city wall, drum tower, bell tower, and the Chinese History museum (definitely one of the best in China).

We ride to the ancient city of central China, Pingyao. The walled city of Pingyao reflects what old China cities looked like. Lovely houses with courtyards built by wealthy bankers and merchants. The lifestyle and stories were well captured in a Chinese movie called “Raise the Red Lanterns” We will stay overnight in one of theses court-yarded houses and walk around the city to choose dinner. （approx. 510km）

We ride north to Datong city where we visit it’s world famous Yungang Grottoes，one of China’s four famous (& beautiful) grottoes. Datong is a frontier city linked to the ancient great wall built to defend the Mongolian invasion. ( approx. 385km)

Today we ride north to the Great Wall of China ! 

We will stay overnight at the foot of the Great Wall where we shall celebrate our grand journey through three countries to see first hand this true wonder of our world with a dinner party at our hotel. (approx 275km)

Visit the Great Wall this morning. You may take a cable car lift, or hike up to the watch towers. In the afternoon our group will transfer to Beijing where we will say goodbye to the motorcycles and our local guide.

You have the opportunity to take a guided visit to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven or the Summer Palace... Overnight in Beijing. 

Free on your own until check out time when you start to head home or your further travel ! 

We trust these friends, experiences and memories will be lifelong to reflect and enjoy! - Thank you.