DAY 1 of arrival (Saturday) : Arrival in KathmanduArrival in Kathmandu Airport, greeting by our representative and transfer to the Hotel. Take your time to relax and soak in Nepal’s ancient capital with some sightseeing.
DAY 2 (Sunday) : Transfer to Pokhara on a Private vanToday we have a 6 to 7 hour drive in a private van to Pokhara with some stunning views from the road along the way as we skirt the impressive Annapurna Massif.
Ride distance: 45km Uneven positive: 1000m Uneven negative: 800m Physical difficulty: 2/5 Technical skills: 3/5
DAY 3 (Monday) : Early Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom Ride Jomsom (2730m) to Kagbeni (2800m)Short ride for the warm up and discover Kali Gangaki valley.We’ll leave early to take the spectacular flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, (approximately 20 minutes). As soon as we land at Jomsom airport, we assemble our bikes, and have breakfast in the lap of Mount Nilgiri.After breakfast, we start biking to Kagbeni (2800m). Our ride will follow the Kaligandaki gorge on a flat, rocky jeep track along a famous holy trekking trail. Kagbeni is the entry point to Upper Mustang where we’ll stay in the “Red House” hotel.
Ride distance: 12km
DAY 4 (Tuesday) : Kagbeni (2800m) to Muktinath (3800m)We recommend waking up early to enjoy the spectacular sunrise and get some photos that you wouldn’t believe! Today we will be biking mostly uphill to Muktinath on jeep track. We will have lunch at Jharkot exploring afterwards some of the monasteries and local culture.
Ride distance: 20km 100% ride able
DAY 5 (Wednesday) : Muktinath (3800m) to Chaile (3050m) Today our journey enters into the forbidden land of Upper Mustang. We will ride uphill to the Gyu La pass descending to Chusang where we will have lunch and rest for a while.After having lunch, we’ll follow the banks of the Kali River and cross by bridge, riding uphill to reach Chaile. This is a nice little village which offers an awesome view of mount Nilgiri and the Kaligandaki valley from a different angle than the first day in Jomsom. In Chaile we can explore some ancient buildings and a monastery.
Ride distance: 18km, ride able Uneven negative: 750m
DAY 6 (Thursday) : Chaile (3050 meters) to Syangboche (3800 m)Heading further North into the Himalayas we’ll ride and push the uphill’s, enjoying the downhills after the passes. There’s 4 passes in between Chaile and Syangboche.We’ll stop at Samar for lunch then ride again towards Syangboche, being likely to meet some village people, Trekkers, ponies and donkeys along the way !
Ride distance: 20km ride able Uneven negative: 750m
DAY 7 (Friday) : Syangboche (3800 m) to Charang (3560m) To start we have short climb to reach the first small pass with two more passes to come. From the 1st pass we will be rewarded with an amazing view of Nilgiri, Annapurna and Mustang. We will then ride, first on gentle track then hair rising downhill, to the Gilling then uphill again through some beautiful villages on single track. After the biggest pass of the day (4000m) we’ll ride the downhill to Ghami.We’ll have Lunch in a local tea house with some delicious food from the Tibetan influenced kitchen. Next we’ll ride down through some farmland where yak Chauri graze and cross a bridge riding past Mani wall and an ancient Gumba. Then we’ll approach the last pass followed by a downhill taking us towards Charang where finally we can relax after the big day !
Ride distance: 22km ride able Uneven negative: 250m
DAY 8 (Saturday): Charang (3560m) to Lo-Manthang (3800m) Today we’ll finally reach our destination of Lo-Manthang, the walled city of Buddhist heritage. It is a relatively easy day’s ride with only the Lo-la pass (3810m) to cross. In this true Himalayan landscape the views are amazing and there are some 360 degree view points where we can stop and take photos. We’ll be riding through open jeep tracks and some trekking trails. After the pass we’ll reach Lo-Manthang after about half an hour. We’ll take lunch in our guest house and relax for the rest of the day.
Ride distance: 20km ride able Uneven negative: 240m
DAY 9 (Sunday): Lo-Manthang (3800m) Now we get the chance to explore the fascinating Lo-Manthang with its centuries old Gumba, Royal Palace, inhabited caves, museum and ancient Buddhist ways of life. We may even get the chance to meet the traditional King and Queen of the region !
DAY 10 (Monday): Lo-Manthang (3800m) to Ghami via Ghar Gumba Now it’s time to be leaving Lo-Manthang and head back through some new single-track routes. We’ll have to pass two passes over 4000 meters, looking back up the Mustang Valley with some amazing views. We’ll be able to see the Ghar Gumba from the other direction and later in the evening we’ll explore the village of Ghami (the village we had our lunch in on the way to Lo-Manthang).
Ride distance: 30km 60 % ride able Uneven positive: 800m
DAY 11 (Tuesday): Ghami to Samar We’ll now be reversing the route we took coming towards Lo-Manthang with the views and scenery just as spectacular as before! We’ll take lunch in Syangboche then ride up to the pass followed by a downhill to reach Samar village.
Ride distance: 32km Uneven positive: 450m
DAY 13 (Wednesday): Samar to Kagbeni (2800m) We’ll start today’s ride early in the morning with small climb up to Da- Jorila pass (3737m) then a downhill ride to Chaile. We’ll ride along the kali Gandaki river bank to Chhusang and take lunch. After lunch we ride back along the kaligandaki gorge to Kagbeni. We will stay overnight in Kagbeni
Ride distance: 20km Uneven positive: 400m
DAY 13 (Thursday): Kagbeni to Marpha Via Lupra We’ll wake up early after a good sleep (as you come down from high altitude most people sleep better at night) and have the chance to explore some of Marpha. Today is the day we will ride on the best single track that Nepal has to offer where world it will reward and build your great confidence that you will ride on where European champions ridden. To get this single track we need to climb up hill or hire a Jeep to get on the top. After Lupra valley we will ride toward Marpha along the Kaligandaki gorge. Marpha is known as one of beautiful place with apple garden
Ride distance: 40km Uneven positive: 250m
DAY 14 (Friday): Marpha to Beni then Drive to Pokhara After waking up on good mood and delicious breakfast we will ride on our journey toward a more subtropical region along the Kaligandaki River with some jeep and single tracks. It’s downhill all the way with lush, green scenery and more oxygen in your lungs, what a great feeling! We’ll reach Tatopani (meaning ‘hot spring’ in Nepali) which is a famous place among locals for treating skin ailments (& not bad for tired legs too!). We will take lunch here in Tatopani. After lunch we will ride along the river bed on a jeep track to the Beni Bazaar where we’ll meet the Pokhara road. Our vehicle will be waiting for us to take us back to Pokhara.
Ride distance: 55km, 100% ride able Altitude gained: mostly flat and descending
DAY 15 (Saturday): Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu and fly back to home.
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