Treasures of the Himalaya
Ride Highlights
- Getting up close with some of the highest mountains in the world, including 26, 545 ft Mt. Annapurna.
- Awesome mountain biking in the trails of two contrasting valleys - the lush steep Kathmandu Valley and the wide arid Kali Gandaki Valley
- Following an ancient trade route between Nepal and Tibet through the deepest valley in the planet.
- Exploring centuries-old Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples.
- The most spectacular flight in the world, from Pokhara to Jomsom
Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is where the cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. Soaring snow-topped mountains shimmer with rainbows of prayer flags, while the intense streets of Kathmandu are a ceaseless frenzy of chattering vendors and garish signs: Nepal is a thoroughly colourful slice of Asia. It’s a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best mountain biking on earth. Nepal’s craggy chunk of the Himalayas offers world-class terrain - peppered with rustic mountain villages, and hundreds of undulating trails that have been trodden upon for centuries.
Is This Ride For You?
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"Our guide Mandil really made an incredible effort all the time. His one goal was for us to enjoy our experience and he did as much as anyone could have done to that end!"
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"The riding in the Jomsom area is permanently seared into my brain!"
Day 1. Arrive in Kathmandu.
We will meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to the beautiful Shivapuri Hill Cottage - a traditionally designed cottage on the edge of the Shivapuri National Park. If you have time, you can go on a short hike in the evening or visit a temple complex at the nearby village of Tokha.
Day 2. The Helipad.
After a late breakfast to give you some catch-up-on-sleep time, we'll have a relaxed breakfast and pre-trip meeting, then take some time to build bikes. After lunch, we'll start the day's ride from the back of the cottage, and climb up a steady grade to Shivapuri National Park. We continue climbing past the checkpoint through a pleasant forest trail for about an hour to reach Nagi Gumba, the site of a Buddhist nunnery. From Nagi Gumba, we get off the main trail down a flowy trail to a view point commonly referred to by local riders as the Helipad. An awesome dinner at Shivapuri Cottages awaits!
Day 3. Kakani - Scar Trail.
After breakfast at the cottages, we’ll hop in the van and drive out of Kathmandu to the picturesque town of Kakani. After a quick tea stop at Kakani, we ride on the breathtaking Scar Trail through the Shivapuri Forest and in the process, get our first look at the majestic Himalayas standing proudly in the distance.
Day 4. Tare Bhir (Cliff of the Shooting Stars)
We ride into Shivapuri National Park and climb up to Tare Bhir - one of the highest points in the Kathmandu Valley. From there we descend to Sundarijal on an epic forest trail. At the end of the downhill, we'll be transferred to the medieval town of Bhaktapur (literal translation: city of devotees) - a place where there are more temples than people's houses. We explore the numerous palaces and temples of this medieval city before dinner at a traditional pagoda style restaurant.
Day 5. Flight to Pokhara.
After a relaxed breakfast we set off to Kathmandu’s airport to catch our plane to Pokhara. Once in Pokhara after the 30 minute flight, we will be transferred to our hotel in the Lakeside district. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to plan an excursion to the World Peace Stupa, go for a boat ride on the Fewa Lake, get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful lake city and the gorgeous Macchapuchare mountain on a paraglider, or just relax at the hotel with a well deserved massage.
Day 6. Flight to Jomsom/Kagbeni Exploration.
We depart for Jomsom leave in the early morning. The 15 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. At Jomsom, we unpack our bikes and start riding towards Kagbeni, an ancient village on the banks of the Kali Gandaki river.
Day 7. Muktinath Climb.
Today we 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.
Day 8. Lupra Pass.
We ride along the Muktinath ridge over the Kali Gandaki river before following a trail down towards the Lupra Valley, riding over narrow and technical single tracks. Upon reaching Lupra, we continue descending down following the Panda Khola to join the main trail. We will spend the night at Marpha, the apple capital of Nepal.
Day 9. The World's Deepest Valley
We 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 enter the steepest and narrowest part of the world’s deepest valley - between the two 8000 meter peaks of Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri. We follow the trail all the waydown to Tatopani where riverside hot springs await your arrival.
Day 10. Ride to Beni.
We follow a dirt trail through small riverside villages to Beni. From Beni we cross the Kali Gandaki river and continue on the jeep track to reach Kanyaghat where we will meet our private vehicle that’ll drive us to Pokhara.
Day 11. Flight to Kathmandu/Closing Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel in Pokhara, we make our way to the airport and catch our return flight to Kathmandu airport and then get transferred to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is off to explore by yourself and buy souvenirs. 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.
Arrival and Departure Airport
You should fly into and out of Kathmandu International Airport (KTM). Please see the schedule page for the exact pickup and dropoff times for your particular trip. You can, if necessary, arrive earlier - we will arrange a pickup for you.
Pickup & Drop-off Information
Included in the price of your trip is a free shuttle from the airport to our hotel in Kathmandu. Upon leaving customs and heading into the main passenger pickup area of the airport, look for your shuttle driver with a sign in his/her hand. We will have a pre-arranged shuttle booked for you to take you to the hotel. n.b.: You will need to notify us in advance of your flight number and arrival time by using the trip details webform.
On the last day of the trip, we'll arrange a shuttle back to the airport for you - just let us know when you want to arrive at the airport.
Flights
We do not book international flights for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent for information on booking flights for this trip.
Extra Hotel Nights
If you are staying longer in Nepal and wish to book extra nights at our Kathmandu hotel there, we can make arrangements for you after you have filled out the pre-trip details webform.
If you wish to do this directly, please call or email using the information below:
We can arrange additional activities for you while in Nepal. Just let us know some of the activities you'd like to partake in when filling in the webform and we'll do our best to facilitate them for you.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our tour (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances) or in the unlikely event that our tour must be cancelled.
You can purchase discounted comprehensive insurance from our partners at bikeflights.com via our insurance page
Fitness Requirements
You should have a moderate to high level of fitness and be able to bike for up to five hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip.
We recommend you train in advance of this trip, in order to get the most out of this trip. Our experienced coaches have developed a pre-trip training program to help you get in the best possible riding shape and fitness for your trip. Please visit the webpage for more details.
Travelling with your bike
If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.
Alternately, if you are planning on traveling with your bike more than just this one time, we sell travel bags for bikes, handmade by Pikapackworks. These travel bags are specially made for bikes and can often go on flights without having to pay the extra charges incurred by cardboard boxes or hard cases. The bags cost $395, including shipping withing North America. Click here for more information on our bags.
n.b. you will need to pay an extra fee for traveling with your bike on the flights within Nepal. Cost is about $20-$30 USD per flight.
Bike Rentals
We recommend you bring a solid cross-country or light all-mountain bike with you on this trip, with at least 4" of travel and front & rear hydraulic disc brakes. Ideal weight is 25-30 pounds - a good compromise between being light enough for long climbs and beefy enough for technical trails.
Armor and Helmet
Although not mandatory, if you have arm and leg protection, bring it with you. Full-body protection is not necessary, nor are full-face helmets.
Spare Parts for your Bike
Although there are some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts with you to Nepal to avoid problems in case of breakdown or broken parts:
- rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)
- front and rear brake pads
- extra chain (if your chain is more than 6 months old)
- 4 tubes
- 4 extra spokes
- shock pump
Weather and Clothing
The weather on this trip can vary widely, with highs of 20 to 27 degrees in the Kathmandu Valley, and lows near freezing in the mountains, so please come prepared for virtually any weather. We recommend you bring layered clothing that you can wear while riding and in the evenings (e.g. start your ride with a long-sleeve jersey in the morning and then take off a layer once you warm up). You'll want to bring long pants and a light jacket for the evenings spent up in the mountains.
Although rain is rare in the winter months, it isn't unheard of, so we recommend you bring some sort of rain gear or shell.
Packing List
- comfortable clothes for riding, such as biking jerseys and padded shorts. 3+ sets are ideal, 2 are a must.
- helmet
- bike gloves (2 sets ideal)
- lightweight, weather-resistant outerwear for riding in inclement weather.
- warm clothing such as sweaters and fleece jackets and pants for nighttime.
- sunglasses/eye protection for sunny and/or muddy days.
- hydration system that can carry at least 2 litres (bottles and/or Camelbak)
- toiletries i.e. toothbrush, shampoo, soap
- towel
- camera
- sunscreen and insect repellent
Passports & Visas
All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. For more information, visit the World Travel Guide website.
Altitude
Much of the riding on this trip occurs at moderate to high altitude (1,400 m/4,500 ft to 4,500m/14,000 ft.). If you are in decent shape without any lung conditions, the acclimatization we do at the start of the trip should be sufficient. If you are concerned about your ability to deal with altitude we recommend arriving a day or two early and doing some extra riding in the Kathmandu area. Please contact our office to enquire about additional riding/acclimatization days. So far we have had no clients experience anything more severe than a mild headache or sinus congestion.
We do recommend you bring Diamox, just in case.
Flights
There are 3 domestic flights within Nepal on this trip. These are flights through the Himalayas, in small planes. If you have a fear of flying, this trip is not recommended for you.
There is a 20kg/44 lb weight restriction on these flights (not including your bike). Additional weight will be charged a surcharge.
Emergency Contacts
If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:
Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Food
We take care to select restaurants that are well-regarded for their cleanliness, in order to avoid food-borne illness. We also supply you with bottled water for drinking for the duration of your trip. However, there is always some risk of contracting a food-borne illness when traveling in a developing country. We recommend you exercise caution when purchasing food, and avoid unwashed fruit and vegetables and improperly cooked meals.
Vaccination Requirements
Please visit the MD Travel Health website for information about vaccinations required, however, for the most up-to-date information, please visit your local travel clinic.
Safety & Security
Nepal is a safe country, however certain precautions should be followed, as with all foreign travel. To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.
Meals
On this trip, all meals are included in the trip price.
Other expenses and best ways to get/use money
Other expenses include souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and optional activities such as massage. The best way to pay for these services is to withdraw money from an ATM in Kathmandu with your bank card - you can withdraw local money and will usually be charged the best rate by your bank at home. However, you will typically be charged about $5 per transaction, so we recommend withdrawing enough for 2 or 3 days at a time to avoid paying bank fees every day.
Tipping
Gratuities of 5-10% are common in Nepal. We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity $20 - $100 per guide.
Currency exchange
The Nepalese currency is the Nepalese Rupee. For the latest currency exchange information use the Yahoo! Currency Exchange Calculator
Useful Links
For additional information about travelling in Nepal, visit the Nepal Tourism website
Our Guarantee
We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.
Lead Guide, Lead Instructor and Owner.
Owner and founder of Sacred Rides, Mike now lives in Toronto with his wife and 3 kids after spending 10 amazing post-university years in the Canadian Rockies. He takes great delight in spreading the 'gospel' of mountain biking around the world, and believes bikes can change the world. He is also the founder of Bikes Without Borders, a nonprofit using bikes as a tool for development, and Project Wildfire, a Toronto-based incubator that finds, sparks and supports youth business ideas that serve the greater good. |
Lead Guide.
Growing up in the foot hills of the great Himalayas of Nepal, I have been in love with mountains and bicycles for as long as I can remember. I used to miss the bus on purpose so I could ride my BMX to school. After my parents bought me my first mountain bike at 13, I started exploring the local trails along with a few friends and started putting in some serious miles. During college, between all the fun and parties, the mountain biking somehow got lost. After graduating with a degree in graphic designing, I started working for an advertising company. Even though I had it in the back of my head that the one thing I was truly happy doing was riding my bike, it was really difficult to juggle between work and an active social life, and find the time to ride my bike. In 2009, I decided to take a few months off work and spend some time for myself. This is when I rediscovered my love for mountain biking, and I never went back to my old job. Since then I have been traveling extensively within Nepal exploring different areas, designing trips, and leading groups of like minded riders into the Himalayan wilderness. I live in Kathmandu with my beautiful wife and two bikes. :) |
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Airport
What's Included
- Local, english-speaking mountain bike guides
- 10 nights accommodation in clean comfortable hotels, lodges and teahouses.
- All meals during the trip starting from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the morning after the trip.
- All air/land transfers during the trip, including 3 flights within Nepal
- Arrival / departure airport transfers
- One activity of choice at the Last Resort
- All national parks and conservation area permits
- All heritage area permits
For More Information
Send us your questions by email
