Date: May 2026

Route: Chengdu to Lhasa (G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway) Expedition Duration: 11 Days

Rider & Lead Planner: Sifer

Before the dust, the altitude, and the mountain passes, there was whiskey.       

Opening ceremony

 

We kicked off this expedition not in a dusty garage, but at a high-end bar in Taikoo Li, Chengdu. I had 9 Israeli riders flying in, and I wanted their first impression of China to be the pulsing, neon-lit energy of this massive metropolis. We clinked glasses, went over the route briefings, and enjoyed the dense, humid oxygen of the Sichuan basin. Because we all knew what was coming: over the next 11 days, the G318 was going to test every single one of us.

 

The Logistics Behind the Convoy

Leading a 9-bike international convoy is basically a military logistics operation. Before these guys even landed, my team at Ride in China had already conquered a mountain of paperwork: temporary Chinese licenses, vehicle clearances, and the strictly regulated Tibet Travel Permits. By the time we hit the road, all they had to do was twist the throttle.

when we get the Chinese Tempory License

I took the point position on my Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, constantly communicating with our 4×4 chase vehicle sweeping the rear with our mechanics, luggage, and emergency oxygen. When you have a group this size, you aren’t just riding; you are managing pacing, weather windows, and energy levels.

The Vertical Climb

Leaving Chengdu, the transition is violent in the best way possible. The G318 doesn’t ease you into the Himalayas—it throws you against the wall. We tackled the infamous 72 Turns of the Nujiang River, a mesmerizing, dizzying descent of switchbacks that will completely cook your brakes if you don’t know how to engine-brake properly.

As a photographer, I was constantly scouting ahead, parking the Tiger on sketchy cliff-side pullouts to capture the convoy carving through the gorges.

The real enemy out here isn’t the road; it’s the altitude. We crossed multiple passes sitting above 4,000 meters. You can feel the bikes losing horsepower in the thin air, and you can see the fatigue setting in on the riders’ faces behind their visors. This is where our strict acclimatization schedule paid off. We managed the daily mileage perfectly, keeping altitude sickness at bay.

Wild Hot Spring

Arriving in the Holy City

After 11 days of dirt, rain, dodging yaks, and mind-bending alpine scenery, we finally rolled into Lhasa.

Pulling a convoy of 9 heavy ADV bikes up to the square in front of the Potala Palace is a feeling I can barely describe. We were exhausted, our gear was covered in road grime, but the energy in the group was electric. These guys had just ridden across the roof of the world, navigating a terrain that is completely inaccessible to most foreigners.

We handled the bureaucracy. They handled the ride. Another flawless expedition in the books.

 

Now, time to wash the bikes and prep for the next on

 

 

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