Day 1. Arrive in Kathmandu.
We will meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you over to a beautiful, traditionally-designed cottage on the edge of Shivapuri National Park. We'll build our bikes in the evening and go on a short hike or visit a temple complex at the nearby village of Tokha.
Day 2. The Helipad.
After catching up on some needed rest after the long flights, we'll have a relaxed breakfast and pre-trip meeting. We'll start the day's ride from the back of the cottage, and climb up a steady grade to Shivapuri National Park. We'll continue climbing past the checkpoint through a fun forest trail for about an hour to reach Nagi Gumba, the site of a Buddhist nunnery and the world's largest Buddhist Stupa. We'll break for lunch and allow our senses to take in the enchanting sights. From Nagi Gumba, we'll head down a flowy trail to a view point commonly referred to by local riders as the Helipad. Upon our return to the cottages, we'll feast on a delicious, traditional dinner!
Hours of riding (approx): 2 | Total km of riding: 14 | Elevation gain: 530m | Elevation loss: 600m | Highest altitude: 1900m
Day 3. Kakani - Scar Trail.
After a hearty breakfast at the cottages, we’ll hop in the van and drive out of Kathmandu to the picturesque town of Kakani. From there, we'll catch our very first glimpse of the majestic Himalayas standing proudly in the distance. After a quick tea stop at Kakani, we'll ride on the breathtaking Scar Trail through the Shivapuri Forest and in the process, ponder just how small we are in contrast to these standing giants. We'll then enjoy a few cold drinks and an outdoor dinner while overlooking the city of Kathmandu.
Hours of riding (approx): 5 | Total km of riding: 22 | Elevation gain: 500m | Elevation loss: 970m | Highest altitude: 2190m
Day 4. Tare Bhir (Cliff of the Shooting Stars)
We will ride into Shivapuri National Park and climb up to Tare Bhir - one of the highest points in the Kathmandu Valley. From there, we'll descend to Sundarijal on an epic, fast 'n flowy forest trail. At the end of the downhill, we'll be transferred to the walled-city of Bhaktapur (literal translation: city of devotees), a medieval town where we'll find more temples than houses. A local guide will give us a tour of this World Heritage Site, allowing us to explore the beautiful palaces and temples before enjoying dinner at a traditional pagoda style restaurant.
Hours of riding (approx): 4 | Total km of riding: 20km | Elevation gain: 750m | Elevation loss: 600m | Highest altitude: 1950m
Day 5. Flight to Pokhara.
After a relaxed breakfast, we'll set off to Kathmandu’s airport to catch our plane to Pokhara. After the 30 minute flight, we will transfer over to our hotel in the Lakeside district of Pokhara. You can explore the area as you wish for the rest of the afternoon; you can plan an excursion to the World Peace Stupa, go for a pedal-boat ride on Fewa Lake, get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful lake city and the gorgeous Macchapuchare mountain on a paraglider, or simply relax at the hotel while enjoying a well-deserved massage.
Day 6. Flight to Jomsom/Kagbeni Exploration.
We'll leave early in the morning for Jomsom. The 20 minute flight from Pokhara is one of the most spectacular flights in the world, and will take us straight into the heart of the Mustang Valley - deep in the Himalayas. We'll spot the 7th and 10th highest peaks in the world on either side. Once we arrive in Jomsom, we'll unpack our bikes and start riding towards Kagbeni, an ancient village on the banks of the Kali Gandaki river.
Hours of riding (approx): 3 | Total km of riding: 19km | Elevation gain: 720m | Elevation loss: 530m | Highest altitude: 3150m
Day 7. Muktinath Climb.
Today we'll take on the biggest climb of our entire trip - a monstrous 3,000 ft of elevation gain over 14 KM. The air will get thinner and the trail will get steeper as we approach the holy town of Muktinath, lying at an elevation of nearly 13,000 ft. It will be a challenging day, but we'll be rewarded with breathtaking views and no shortage of picture-perfect vistas. We'll have dinner in the town of Muktinath, a holy site of Buddhism.
Hours of riding (approx): 6 | Total km of riding: 22km | Elevation gain: 1030m | Elevation loss: 1030m | Highest altitude: 3800m
Day 8. Lupra Pass.
We'll ride along the Muktinath ridge and take the suspended bridge over the Kali Gandaki river before following a trail down towards the Lupra Valley, riding over narrow and technical single tracks. If we're lucky, we may spot wild horses and mountain goats while riding down the Lupra Valley. Once we arrive in Lupra, we'll continue descending down the Panda Khola to join the main trail. We have dinner in Marpha, the apple capital of Nepal, and enjoy a tour of the remarkable Marpha monastery.
Hours of riding (approx): 6 | Total km of riding: 35km | Elevation gain: 550m | Elevation loss: 1700m | Highest altitude: 3900m
Day 9. The World's Deepest Valley
We'll descend from the high altitudes of Mustang to the tropical lowlands of Tatopani following the old trekking trail along the river bed. After Kalopani, the trail descends steeply through a forest to Ghasa and soon after we'll enter the steepest and narrowest part of the world’s deepest valley - between the two 8000 meter peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. We'll follow the trail all the way down to Tatopani where riverside hot springs with natural healing powers await our arrival - what more could a bunch of aching mountain bikers ask for after a solid ride!?
Hours of riding (approx): 5 | Total km of riding: 46km | Elevation gain: 250m | Elevation loss: 1650m | Highest altitude: 2700m
Day 10. Ride to Beni.
We'll follow a dirt trail through small riverside villages to the town of Beni. From Beni, we'll cross the Kali Gandaki river and continue on the jeep track to reach Kanyaghat. From there, we'll hitch a ride with our driver back to Pokhara.
Hours of riding (approx): 2 | Total km of riding: 22km | Elevation gain: 100m | Elevation loss: 500m | Highest altitude: 1200m
Day 11. Flight to Kathmandu/Closing Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel in Pokhara, we'll make our way to the airport, catch our return flight to Kathmandu airport and shuttle back to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon will be spent exploring and indulging once more in this faraway land and culture. We will converge in the evening for a celebratory dinner to mark the end of our epic journey.
Day 12. Flight Home
We'll have shuttles departing all day to take you back to Kathmandu for your flight home.
