On the way to the forbidden land...

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Some quick news from Xining. Yeah I know, this is indeed not in Tibet (if you haven't bought an atlas yet, it's not too late...). After we spent one month cycling almost freely on the amazing Kashgar – Kathmandu road, the PSB eventually caught up with us shortly after Ali, a stone's throw away from Mount Kailash. Sent back to Kashgar with a police escort. 48 hours by jeep to backtrack what took us a month by bike!

Anyway, the adventure was well worth it. Plan for the weeks ahead: find a way to reach Lhasa and continue cycling to Kathmandu from there. Here are a few photos of the ride from Kashgar, no time for a complete report in English now, a more thorough update will come later. You can read a bit more on the blog in French : http://transhimalaya.blogspot.com.

Kudi La, first pass

Resting after riding at night through our first checkpoint

Stunning scenery in Xinjiang

Still far from Tibet

Pierre enjoying the corrugated road on a cold morning

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Aksai Chin

It's a tiny bit cold in the Aksaï Chin (-25°C in the morning...)

Morning snow

Sunset (or was it sunrise ?)

Lake near Tielong. Sirengou in the background

Sunset on Sirengou

On the way to Qienshan La (5400m), soon in Tibet at last !

Stunning scenery upon entering Tibet proper (though culturally, it doesn't feel like Tibet)

Lugmo Lake

First Tibetan flags...

Road after our second checkpoint in Domar

Pangong Tso

Pass after Ali

More photos on Pierre's website:Route Kashgar - Ali.