Description

Day 1
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport (1400m) and transfer by private transport to your hotel in Thamel. Meet up with your tour leader/guide to talk through the days ahead and to answer any questions you may have.  The remainder of the day is free for you to relax before a welcome dinner

Day 2
Bike fitting and bike familiarization before doing a guided tour of Pashupatinath, Bodhnath, Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Kathmandu Durbar Square with a guide and private transport

Day 3
After leaving the chaos of Kathmandu city, you are driven west towards the outskirts near Tokha. You then jump on your mountain bike at the edge of the Shivapuri National Park. The Langtang Range can be clearly visible depending on the weather conditions. We check our brakes and gear up for a 950m descent all the way to Likhu Khola. After some refreshments we head towards Nuwakot (5 hours approx.) Once beyond the confines of the Kathmandu Valley the ‘other’ Nepal opens up to us. Rural scenes enchant you as your route winds north into the central Himalayan region of the Langtang Himal.
Near the upper Trisuli River, high off the main road to Langtang, Nuwakot is a truly superb fortified town of palaces and temples of historic significance. Above Nuwakot one finds the inspirationally restored Famous Farm with its wonderful location and river-valley views. The farm is a cluster of three buildings which together provide the sheer delight of just a little more than typically luxurious Nepali country living. From here there are short walks in the glorious, tranquil neighbourhood and fresh organic produce is readily available – Overnight altitude approx. 960m

Day 4
After eating the “Famous Farmhouse breakfast” on the sunny terrace, take a stroll to Nuwakot Bazaar – a centre-piece of the Nepalese story.  Sadly, partly damaged by the 2015 earthquake, see the 16th century fortress, Royal palace and temple before you return to The Famous Farm to resume your biking journey.
A relatively short day’s ride through countryside and enchanting rural settings on a well-laid track.  Initially dropping down to Trisuli Bazaar and climbing gradually past Raisingh and to Samari Bhanjyang (3 hours approx.) where you stay overnight either in a basic local lodge or camping – Overnight altitude approx. 1250m

Day 5
A rough rocky track challenges your biking skills right up to the village of Taskar. The route then takes the form of a dusty jeep track until you reach Ratomate. The ride further on eases out into cross-country biking all the way to the town of Dhading-besi (4 hours approx.) where you stay overnight in a basic local lodge – Overnight altitude approx. 550m

Day 6
Your endurance will be put to the test on today’s ride (6-7hours approx.) The very first section is on a motor-able road until Murali Bhanjyang. It gets rougher from here on as you will be on a jeep track that leads you up to Mathillo Rampur. A sharp descent down the dusty track puts you at Tallo Rampur – the second largest valley floor in Nepal. Nepalese ingenuity at farming can be seen here as you bike through the village of Bunkghat and finally on to the historic town of Gorkha (1900m). Later on in the day visit the ancient Gorkha Palace, which dates back to the hey days of the unifier of modern Nepal – King Prithvi Narayan Sha.  Gorkha Gaon Resort – Overnight altitude approx. 1110m

Day 7
Another long day’s biking (6hrs approx.)  Heading for the village of Turture, the route is interspersed with numerous sections of climbs and descents on rough jeep tracks and properly laid road. A narrow road then gradually inclines before the gradient toughens as you approach the village of Bhansar.  From here it is a descent to the highway junction of Dumre. The finale is a challenging 8km ride up the winding road off the highway to the idyllic hill-top village of Bandipur where you stay at the beautifully restored Old Inn – Overnight Altitude approx. 1030m

Day 8
With the glorious view of the Annapurna Range from the Old Inn, (weather permitting), you bike on a hiking trail to the village of Ramkot, famous for its uniquely shaped round mud houses. You then descend via a pilgrimage spot of Charybdis Barahi taking a rough jeep track to Damauli.  Continue into the surrounding area of Damauli to find your camping spot or basic local lodge (4hrs approx.) Overnight altitude approx. 430m

Day 9
The Himalayan vista can now only get better as you head towards the stunning beauty of the spring-fed Begnas Lake.  You take an off-road route through farmland, stretches of woodland and alongside a few rivers to Talbesi. You now join a proper road, where vehicular movement is fairly minimal, that winds around and gently inclines to a ridge top offering views of Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake on either side (5hrs approx.) Begnas Lake Resort – Overnight altitude approx. 650m

Day 10
Today is the final day’s ride (4 hrs approx.) and it starts with a straight climb taking an unsteady off-road route to Kalikasthan that will surely pump up your heart rate followed by a ride downhill to Bijaypur Khola where we meet a road link to Pokhara. It is a short ride to Pokhara where you check in to a hotel for 2 nights – 827m – Overnight altitude approx. 827m

Day 11
Optional, early morning sunrise walk for a view of the Annapurna Range including Fish Tail Peak (weather permitting).  The remainder of the day in Pokhara (827m) is free for you to relax and walk around.  Maybe take a boat ride out on the lake

Day 12
Drive back to Kathmandu (6hrs approx.) and check in to your hotel in Thamel.  Relax or do some last minute souvenir shopping before your final supper as a group

Day 13
Tour ends – transfer to airport – return home or onward travel