We are extremely fortunate to be able to visit and ride at  of the best locations around the world. We realise that not everybody wants to race around the spectacular trails and scenery around the globe, so below we have compiled a list of  exciting MTB tours and adventures currently on offer with links to the organising companies, all of whom we have had first hand experience with.

If you require any further details on the information listed below please do not hesitate to contact us.

Lake Tilicho, Manang, Nepal

Nepal Tours

DOWNHILLERS DELIGHT.( 1 DAY)

All of our Kathmandu valley tours start from the very heart of Kathmandu. With a population of over 500,000 people and at an elevation of 1300m, Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. Parts of the city and valley appear to be unchanged since the middle ages whereas other parts are as developed as any western city. For many people, arriving in Kathmandu can be a bit of a culture shock and it can take a couple of days to get accustomed to the sights, sounds and smells of the city. Riding a bike around the streets can seem a daunting task but our experienced guides will ensure a safe passage out of the hustle of city life and within 15 minutes or so you could be riding along quiet country roads and trails surrounded by views of the mighty Himalayas.

Kathmandu valley has a population of over 3 million and is a melting pot for a dozen different ethnic groups.  Surrounded by beautiful mountains on all sides, the northern and eastern sides are the most spectacular with the great Himalayas - Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, Everest etc - suspended on the skyline.  Kathmandu Valley consists of 3 major ancient and historical cities called Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur with thousands of temples, monuments, statues, palaces, stupas and monasteries.  Kathmandu Valley has many cultures, traditions and values that cannot be found in any other parts of the world.  Thamel, the tourist district of Kathmandu, is a shoppers paradise with every imaginable handicraft available at reasonable prices - plus good food and night life to boot!

After breakfast our support vehicle will transport you to Nagarkot at over 2000m. This is the location where the MTB movie "Retread Trails" was filmed. Its now time to enjoy an epic descent through terraced paddy fields and small villages down to the Indrawati River. With  magnificent views of the Himalayas behind us we stop to make an offering at the local temple to ensure us a safe passage on the rest of our descent!  After aprox 1000m of pure downhill a jeep track leads us to the Freedom Highway ( the main road to Tibet). After lunch our support vehicle will take us back to Kathmandu.

For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

KATHMANDU VALLEY 2 DAY


Day 1
After an early morning breakfast in Thamel, we head east to the medieval town of Bhaktapur, an ancient place full of Newari art and cultural heritage. After exploring the many temples and palace squares, we head northeast on quiet tarmac roads climbing for 20km to reach Nagarkot on the valley rim at over 2000m high. Here you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the snowy peaks of the Himalayas and even the distant pyramid of Mt Everest, on a clear day. Tonight we will stay in a beautiful guesthouse on the ridge.

Day 2
The day starts with an exciting descent on jeep tracks. We pass through many rustic villages while the views of the Himalayas accompany you along your right hand side. We will reach the ancient village of Shankhu where we can visit the temple of Vajrajogini. Later we head off on tarmac roads towards Boudhanath stupa where we stop for lunch before riding to Budhanikantha. After stopping to view the large sculpture of Vishnu sleeping on a giant serpent, we complete the day with a ride back to Thamel.

 For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

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 KATHMANDU VALLEY 3 DAY

Day 1
After an early morning breakfast in Thame,l we head east to the medieval town of Bhaktapur, a ancient place full of Newari art and cultural heritage. After exploring the many temples and palace squares, we head northeast on quiet tarmac roads climbing for 20km to reach Nagarkot on the valley rim at over 2000m high. Here you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the snowy peaks of the Himalayas and even the distant pyramid of Mt Everest, on a clear day. Tonight we will stay in a beautiful guesthouse on the ridge.

Day 2
We ride downhill leaving Nagarkot behind to reach Bhaktapur. We then head for Dhulikhel on a dirt trail climbing and descend 2 hills before reaching the holy Buddhist site of Namo Buddha.  According to legend, it is here that Buddha, in a prevous incarnation, fed his flesh to a hungry tigress as an offering; a stone statue marks the site. We follow a picturesque route along tarmac and dirt trails back to Dhulikhel where we will spend the night and can enjoy an early morning sunrise.

Day3
Today we start off on jeep tracks to the ancient city of Panauti, where it is reputed the Lord Buddha once lived as a prince. This special village, truly lost in time, is rarely visited by tourists. Indreswor Mahadev temple in Panauti is the oldest surviving temple in Nepal, believed to be constructed in 1294 AD. Climbing west we follow a meandering jeep track aside of the Roshi river. Beyond the town of Madhuban we enter into a narrow pristine valley ascending 300m on superb trails to reach the summit of Kathmandu valley's eastern rim, known as Lakhuri Bhanjyang.  This is probably the oldest route east out of the valley, connecting the ancient cities of the valey to Panauti. It's a hard slog but the views of the Himalayas more than compensate for any hardship. From here the descent is on switch back jeep track and, during the hour and 500m descent, the ethnicity of the people changes from Tamangs, Thakuries and Chhetris to lowland Newari farmers. For the final part of this tour we ride from Sisneri back to Thamel stopping off in Patan Durbar Square enroute.

KATHMANDU VALLEY 5 DAY


Day 1 - Kathmandu to Kakani
Shortly after breakfast we head out of Kathmandu through the bustling back streets of Thamel and onto wide undulating jeep tracks into the jungle and onto a hilltop from where the surrounding mountains can be viewed. After a refreshing downhill we meet our first serious challenge, a 22km uphill ride into Kakani. Here we will camp in a reserve at approx 2000m from where we can enjoy stunning views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung and the valley of Likhu Khota 1000m below.

Day 2 - Kakani to Nagi Gompa
Today we head off along some of the best single track in the valley down towards Budhanikantha, a holy site for Hindu's, with a large sculture of Lord Vishnu sleeping on a bed of snakes. Following the valley rim we continue our way on single-track uphill through the dense forest of Shivapuri Reserve towards Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist nuns monastery. We camp close to the monastery allowing ample time to observe the Tibetan culture practised here.

Day 3 - Nagi Gompa to Nagarkot.
This is a challenging day. We cycle back through the jungle of Shivapuri watershed reserve and onto the route of the Helembua trekking trail. We then ride down into the north-east corner of the valley, where we will follow a mixture of single and jeep tracks upto Nagarkot. The steep climb will be rewarded with the comfort and peaceful surroundings of the beautiful hotel we stay in tonight. This is where the biking movie "Retread" was filmed.

Day 4 - Nagarkot to Dhulikhel via Nala
Today we have 2 options for a downhill ride. One is to ride downhill on paved roads to Bhaktapur and onto Nala or option 2 is to ride uphill to Nagarkot viewing tower and then follow a technically steep trail down to Nala and towards Dhulikhel. We overnight in a hotel.

Day 5 -  Dhulikhel to Kathmandu via Lubhu Sisneri
We will ride along jeep tracks to the ancient city of Panauti, where it is reputed the Lord Buddha once lived as a prince. This special village, truly lost in time, is rarely visited by tourists. Indreswor Mahadev temple in Panauti is the oldest surviving temple in Nepal, believed to be constructed in 1294 AD. Climbing west we follow a meandering jeep track aside of the Roshi river. Beyond the town of Madhuban we enter into a narrow pristine valley ascending 300m on superb trails to reach the summit of Kathmandu valley's eastern rim, known as Lakhuri Bhanjyang.  This is probably the oldest route east out of the valley, connecting the ancient cities of the valey to Panauti. It's a hard slog but the views of the Himalayas more than compensate for any hardship. From here the descent is on switch back jeep track and, during the hour and 500m descent, the ethnicity of the people changes from Tamangs, Thakuries and Chhetris to lowland Newari farmers. For the final part of this tour we ride from Sisneri back to Thamel stopping off in Patan Durbar Square enroute.

For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

KATHMANDU VALLEY 7 DAY


The Kathmandu Valley 7 day tour takes a journey through different spots from where the snowy peaks of the Himalayas can be observed very closely.  The route goes through many ancient temples and is the perfect way to explore Hindu and Buddhist culture.  Along the trail, you can observe the change in the different ethnicity of the people, from the Tamangs in the hills to Thakuris, Chhetris and valley bottom Newari farmers.

DAY 1
We leave Kathmandu after breakfast through the bustling back streets of Thamel and on to good, wide, undulating jeep and single tracks and pass through the Queen forest to Buddhanilkantha, a remarkable 5th century statue of the Lord Vishnu reclining on the coil of the snake king in the middle of a small pond.  Your efforts are rewarded by spectacular panoramic mountain views of Ganesh and Langtang Himals and, moreover, by a night at a true resort, established in a rural setting with a culturally rich and naturally prisitine environment, whose garden harbors nearly 75 species of birds and 2000 flowering trees and shrubs.

DAY 2
We start with a steep upward ride (approx 7km) on a combination of paved and off road through the Shivapuri Reserve.  Part of the route is on the Helambu trekking trail.  Today our destination is up to Chisopani (meaning cold water), which rounds off a challenging day.  Again tonights lodge enjoys outstanding and close views of the panoramic mountain ranges; one of the best outlooks within the valley region.

DAY 3
We climb approximately 9 kms up to 2250m, the highest point of our trip, then ride down into the north-east corner of the Kathmandu valley. Then it's onto a mix of single and jeep track to wind our way back to Nagarkot; our route will depend on the condition of the trails.  A short steep climb up to Nagarkot will be rewarded by the comfort and peaceful surroundings of the hotel where we will spend the night.  This is where part of the biking movie "Retread" was filmed.

DAY 4
Early morning farm activity awakes us and we can enjoy the sunrise views from the terrace.  Today we explore the trails around Nagarkot, or you can take a rest day.  There are numerous off-road routes possible today either road or wide dirt and single track.  We have a choice of day rides, ending at the medieval town of Bhaktapur for lunch, then time to look around before the transfer back up the hill to Nagarkot, or a ride up the road if you wish.  Bhaktapur is an old restored city, full of temples and courtyards.  Also, it is possible to visit Changu Narayan, a must for those interested in culture.  The ancient temple complex here, which includes the oldest Hindu temple in the valley where in the 6th and 7th centuries, is where Newari stone masons made carvings of Lord Vishnu. The stone tablet standing on the west side of the temple is said to be the earliest known inscription in the Kathmandu Valley, depicting King Mandev's military conquests in the 5th century. It's on the way and enjoys commanding views over the valley and its fine statues are the best outside the National Museum.

DAY 5
The "Retread" Trails.  This is an epic single track descent through terraced paddy fields and small villages that lead us to the Indrawati River.  We will stop to take photos, as the Himalayas are right behind us all the way down, and also make offerings at the local temples to help ensure that we remember those technical skills when we need them!  After 1000m of downhill, a jeep road leads us back up to the Friendship Highway, the main road to Tibet.  We have lunch in a secret spot by the river befoe the long climb back up to the valley rim.  We have the choice to continue the ride on the paved road of Friendship Highway or to go off-road.  We overnight at a resort.

DAY 6
We start with an early morning climb on wide jeep trail to the temple of Namo Buddha, rewarded with superb views of Ganesh Himal. The Stupa here is an important Tibetan pilgrimage site, where the Budda reputedly fed himself to a hungry tigress!  From the temple, there is the choice of wide tracks through picturesque villages and forests, or some newly discovered single track.  From here, we ride on dirt road down to the ancient city of Panauti, where Lord Budha lived as a prince prior to his offering to the hungry tigress.  This city is truly lost in time and is rarely visited by tourists.  The Indresara Temple is the oldest surviving dated temple in Nepal, believed to be built in 1294 AD.  Climbing west, we follow a jeep track along the meandering Roshi River.  Beyond the town of Madhuban, we enter a narrow pristine valley ascending 300m on a superb dirt trail to reach the summit of a hill on Kathmandu Valley, known as Lakhure Bhanjyang.  What a climb, but the views of the Himalayas more than compensate!  We spend the night camping at a spot that is ideal to watch the sunrise and sunset scenes and gives the view of the sparkiling lights of the cities after dusk.

DAY 7
Today we have the choice to ride a steep descent on a jeep track, or a single track, to Lubhu and we explore the valley floor south of the city; mostly riding through the farmlands to the Chapagaon village.  Chapagaon is home to the Vajra Varahi, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu.  Ancient woodland surrounds the temple, protected by the local belief that to cut even one tree would greatly anger the deity.  The villagers still appease the wrathful Vishnu by weekly sacrifices of chicken, goat and buffalo.  After lunch, we ride back to Kathmandu through the historic city of Patan with a visit to Patan Durbar Square. We spend the night at a guest house.

 For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

 For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

KATHMANDU TO POKHARA

This tour offers multiple activities, biking, jungle safari, boating in the superb Phewa Lake, and a chance to ejoy spectacular views of the Annapurna range and mighty Fishtail mountain. We start biking from the beautiful town of Daman with views as far as Everest to the Dhaulagiri range. We then plunge into the flat land of Terai Hetauda and Chitwan. In Chitwan jungle activities including elephant riding, bird watching, jungle walk and a cultural dance by the tribal Tharu people are all included.  After relaxing at Chitwan we head across country to Pokhara with its beautiful lake and stunning mountain scenery.

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DAY 1: We leave Kathmandu early morning in a support bus to Tistung, a 2hr drive. From here we saddle-up for our introductory off-road ride, with full vehicle support, in the Palung Valley to Kulekhani Lake (28km). After a late lunch we re-hit the trail. Those of you that are undaunted by Himalayan hills can ride up to our hotel, the Everest Panorama Resort, near Daman. You will enjoy  spectacular mountain views and on a clear day you can almost see the full Himalayan mountain range, from Everest in the east to Dhaulagiri in the west.

DAY  2: After breakfast we cycle down to a nearby monastery then return to the hotel for lunch. Having filled up with excellent food, we prepare for the exciting ride to Hetauda in the Terai. The broken road descends an amazing 1,500m in altitude over 65 km.     .

DAY 3: We travel 30km by support vehicle and then cycle onto Sauraha along dirt tracks with guide support only, covering 40km. The terrain in the Terai is completely different to other parts of Nepal. It is flat! We travel on bullock-drawn cart tracks as we pass through neat mud-walled villages, paddy fields and mixed sub-tropical forests crossed by numerous rivers to reach our Safari Lodge (luxury tented lodge, full board), hopefully arriving in time to enjoy one of the fantastic sunsets that are seen regularly in the Terai .

DAY 4: Today you are free to enjoy the jungle activities in Chitwan National Park. Not to be missed is a walk through the jungle - you never know what you might meet or what might meet you! Other activities include a ride in a dugout canoe, elephant ride, bird (over 400 species) and animal (fifty species) watching. Keep a sharp lookout for the Royal Bengal Tiger; a rare sight, and the gharial crocodile on the river banks.

DAY 5: We leave the park and spend the whole day cycling through the western Terai along dirt and  sealed roads. There is an epic descent and for those that feel up to it and a one hour climb to the Someshwar Mountains! Distance covered  60km. In the afternoon we make our way by vehicle to Tansen and Hotel Srinagar for the night. The hotel is well situated to enjoy more Himalayan views.

DAY 6: You have the option of trekking for two hours in the morning to reach the Kali Gandaki River and the recently restored Ranighat Palace, where a previous Prime Minister was banished by the then King of Nepal. If this doesn't appeal to you then we can drive for two hours before continuing by bike to Pokhara. Weather permitting this route can reveal the most beautiful view of Mt. Machhapuchhre (fishtail) and the Annapurna Range. O/N Hotel.

DAY 7: Pokhara is set along one of three lakes in the area providing serenity before a mountain range backdrop. The mountains here are surprisingly close and are so immense you can not fully absorb how huge they are. We relax in this fantastic scenery among many of the bars and restaurants that scatter Lake Phewa's shoreline. For those of you who want a more active day  hire boats are available on the lake and there is a  walk up to the World Peace Pagoda. From here enjoy the views of the mountains, lake and Pokhara spread out in front of you and then walk for 10minutes upto the hilltop, where we have a beautiful mountain resort called Raniban Retreat.

DAY 8: Today we hike and bike the Royal Trek, a low altitude trek. After a 13 km drive out of Pokhara to Begnas Lake we set off on foot to Majnathana, two hours uphill, where we meet up with our bikes. From here we descend 20km off-road, initially following the ridgeline and the view of Annapurna IV. Once we reach the bottom of the ridge you can ride the 10 km back to Pokhara. O/N Hotel.

DAY 9: Today we depart for Kathmandu, you have the option to fly or travel back by bus. If you are continuing your journey on from Pokhara then it is here we will say our goodbyes.

For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

JOMSOM TO POKHARA (9 days)

Jomsom, a modern town, is the ‘Thakali’ homeland. Thakali people are of Tibetan origin but have their own language and customs. We fly to Jomsom from Kathmandu  via Pokhara and initially we ride along a popular trekking trail which leads us to many different and wonderful villages rich in cultural and architectural splendours. The rocky track slowly descends to meet a paved road which takes us to the beautiful lake side city of Pokhara.

Unlike the rest of the Nepalese Himalayas, the Annapurna mountain range does not form the border between Nepal and Tibet.

Day 1: Ground transport to Pokhara ( air travel optional extra)

Day 2: Fly to Jomsom, build bike and test ride 
There are numerous flights that service the Jomsom airstrip from Pokhara early each day, before the Kali Gandaki winds pick up by mid morning.

Day 3: Jomsom to Kalopani via Marpha, Tukuche and Kokepani
The Thakalis have established the tradition of hospitality to passing traders for centuries along the Thak Khola stretch of the Kali Gandaki between Jomson and Tatopani.
The flagstone-lined village of Marpha is popular for apple farming.
Tukuche at 2590m was once a meeting place for traders from Tibet.
Today we mostly ride on a wide wide track.


Day 4: Kalopani -Tatopani via Ghasa and Dhana.
The trail follows the Kali Gandaki valley. The river cuts a channel between the peaks of Annapurna 1 and Dhaulagiri , thus qualifying the Kali Gandaki valley for the title of the world's deepest gorge. We ride through Gasa at 2080m and one stage take a precarious  route through a very steep and narrow section of the gorge which eventually brings us to Dana at 1400m. This is where the  track branches off to Maurice Herzog's base camp, used for his historic ascent of Annapurna in 1950.
Push and carry in some sections. Ride mostly on newly made wide track/trekker's track.


Day 5:Tatopani – Beni .
Tato means ‘hot' and Pani means ‘water', a name earned courtesy of the hot springs by the river. Tatopani is a popular destination for a shorter trek out of Pokhara. From Tato Pani, we cross the bridge to the eastern side of the Kali Gandaki (a major river) and shortly afterwards, the bridge over the Ghara khola (river). Passing the trail up to Ghorepani we continue south along the Kali Gandaki. The trail rises and falls through small villages. Under an hour's ride from the quieter and  more attractive riverside village of Tiplyang(1040m) the trial takes us to the bustling market town of Beni . Buses run along the east bank road to Baglung and on to Pokhara. Ride mostly on newly made wide track/trekker's track.
 

Day 6: Beni to Sarangkot
After breakfast we will follow Kali Gandaki river and reach the Baglung highway which will lead us to Naudanda where we will have lunch. We follow the dirt road to  Sarangkot which is the number one view point in Pokhara for spectacular views of the of the Himalayas and lake Phewa.
 
Day 7: Sarangkot to Pokhara
Today we mostly we ride on steep and narrow road to Pokhara. Make sure to check your brakes before you start on the  90% down hill.
 

Day 8: Drive to Kathmandu
Ground transport back to Kathmandu ( air transport optional extra)

 For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

POKHARA TO GORKA

This tour starts by either flying or taking ground transport to Pokhara, a beautiful  city on the shores of  lake Phewa with majestic view of whole Annapurna Range dominated by Machhapuchare (Fishtail). We explore the Pokhara Valley and it's surrounding scenic areas and then head towards the old historical city of Tansen. We end the tour at a  beautiful place which houses one of Nepals most historical palaces named Gorkha Palace.  

DAY 1. KATHMANDU - POKHARA
Either fly or drive to Pokhara and spend rest of the day exploring the lakeside.
DAY 2: Bike up to Sarangkot which is about 15 km from the lakeside, mostly on paved road and then about 10 km off-road towards Naudanda. From here we're back on paved road with little traffic and mostly downhill via Hemja. Bike back to the Hotel.

DAY 3: On this day we bike through the main town of Mahendrapul and turn right onto off-road trails. After crossing the British Gorkha's Camp we have to carry the bikes for 2-3 times up and down difficult terrain for approx 10 min.  In between Ghachok and Lhachok we cross the Bhurjung Khola and then are back again on sealed road to Hemja (Tibetan Refugee Camp). There are awesome mountain views on this trail including Annapurna South and Fishtail.
DAY 4: Today we can enjoy off-road biking through Davis Fall and across the river. About 7km of jeep track takes us up towards Kristi Danda. Enjoy the spectacular mountain views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna and the majestic Fishtail mountain. We turn towards Nirmal Pokhari on fantastic off-road with single trail down to the Seti River and slowly head back to the hotel.

DAY 5: From the hotel we bike along the highway to Tansen and Butwal. We leave the highway for some off-road climbing, approx 3 km on jeep track that continues as far as 12km from the main road where some epic single trail will began with technical down and ups through Biswa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) .

DAY 6: Today we bike 10km to the Pokhara - Kathmandu Highway and then turn left to Begnas Lake. After lunch we have a steep climb of about 6km off-road up to Kalikasthan (15-20minute carry up) and then 7 km of wide jeep track down to Bijayapur Khola and continue on biking on  the highway and back to the hotel.

DAY 7:  We ride up to Harpani and back to the hotel via same way, with Lake Phewa practically within touching distance the whole time.
DAY 8: Today we ride from the hotel towards Begnas via the main road. We bike to Talbesi across the Sundari Danda from where we can see both Rupa and Begnas lakes on right and left respectively. From here we climb a  steep hill for about 2 km with an altitude gain of 100m and later we have another uphill of 2km through dense forest to reach Saure Bhanjyang where the jeep track ends and we take a steep downhill walking trail washed by monsoon rain but rideable in the dry season.
We then bike via Baguwa village to Karpurtar through beautiful rice fields where the intersection of three roads meet, one goes to Besisahar, one goes to Sundari Bazar and one goes to Damauli (Karpurtar to Damauli 38km). We ride towards Damauli via a suspension bridge over the Madhi and Mitini Khola and stay in Damauli in a hotel.
DAY 9: Today we ride to Ghansi Kuwa . From here we take a left onto a red mud trail and climb to Ramjung Ki Vardan (5km with 310m altitude gain), an old Rama temple. Then we ride through single track via Tanahu Gaon and a forest to reach Mel Danda from where we can see the towering Fishtail mountain. After 1.5 hrs of undulating riding we reach Chainpur Maibahal and take a rest for half an hour and then head  towards Dumre. Overnight in a hotel.

DAY 10: Today again the terrain is undulating and we ride for 12km to reach Turture and cross the Marshyangdi river.  Later we reach a deserted airport and continue to  Luitel village, a remote village from where we can see Fishtail mountain and Ganesh Himal. We then descend down to the Daraundi Khola and after crossing the river we reach Chepetar. From here it takes us 1hour to get to the main Gorkha road from where we ride to the Gorkha palace. We ride around historical Durbar Square of Gorkha. Later our support vehicle will pick us up for our return journey to Kathmandu 

For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbing

.ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ( 14 DAYS)

The Annapurna region offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world with trekking routes to suit all seasons and levels of fitness. Our bike route follows the two major river valleys (the Kali Gandaki and the Marsyangdi) and popular trekking trials through Manang and Jomsom.

Starting from Besi Sahar the Annapurna circuit tour is completed after entering into the Pokhara District with a ride through the busy city of Beni and into the beautiful lake side city of Pokhara. We spend a day in Pokhara to explore its magnificent scenery.

ITINERARY:


Day 01: Sightseeing around Kathmandu
In the morning we will meet with our guide who will arrange our trekking/ bikng permits. We can use this day for further preparation and as a rest day or to  visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Boudhanath Stupa to explore the cultural heritage of Nepal. O/N at a Guest House

Day 03: Drive to Besi Sahar.
Make preparation for the tour. Arrange Porters, Equipment etc. O/N Guest House

Day 04: Besi Sahar to Bahundanda
The road north to Besisahar is being pushed through the Ngadi, for transport vehicles to the hydroelectric project in the area. So far only a rough jeep track has been made as far as opposite Bulbule but since there are no bridges there are no vehicle!. Soon as we cross a long suspension bridge and there is a  ACAP check post where we have to show the biking and trekking permit. Mostly rideable up to a long suspension bridge over the Ngadi Khola we skirt around the conical hill to begin the ascent to Bahundanda (Brahmin Hill) passing through terraced fields. After the bridge theres steep hot climb up  Bahundanda where we can have some fresh air and spectacular views. O/N Guest House

Day 05: Bahundanda to Taal
We descend 500m down a very steep  hil.with superb views of a waterfall. Today we won’t be able to ride much, mostly carry and push. The wide valley has now become a narrow gorge with the river thundering through it. There are steep drops beside the path in some places. It’s long hot climb up to the Taal (lake), the district border with Manang and Lamjung, Stoned houses with flat roofs less vegetation and many other differences from Lamjung district from the view point of culture, architecture and climate are marked as we ride further ahead. O/N Guest House

Day 06 Taal to Chame
Leaving Taal we reach a mani wall in the middle of path. Always walk to the left of Buddhist shrine monuments. Pass through fields of maize, barley and potatoes and then the valley gets narrow again.  Dharapani village is apporached through stone gateways, characteristic of all villages in Manang and across the narrow gorge loom high cliffs. From Tall till Dharapani the condition of the trial is not favorable for riding, mostly carry and push. The trial gets more rideable from Dharapani passing by Bagarchap, Tanagyung, Latamrang and Koto. Biking and trekking permits are checked at the Police check post of Koto. A large white gate with a corrugated iron roof marks the entrance to Chame. It’s the district headquarter of Manang. After a  hard  days work you can enjoy the hot springs other side of the Marshyangdi River. O/N Guest House

Day 07: Chame to Manang
Today you can enjoy riding of almost 80 %. The trial takes us  through deep forest in a steep and narrow valley. Cross a river on a long bridge at 2910m and then another bridge at 3040m.
The trail to Pisang continues along the river through Keleku to Bhratang (2850m) which is surrounded by apple orchards and has a number of lodges. The altitude in Pisang can be enough to set off the first symptoms of altitude sickness.

From upper Pisang the route roughly follows the contours of the land until you reach a wall of prayer wheels and mani stones. The trail is not clear up to here and there may be more obvious goat tracks. The route takes us through Ghyaru (3670m) and Ngwal (3657m) to reach Manang. The ride is now through the drier upper path of the Manang district, cut off from the full effect of the monsoon by the Annapurna Range. O/N Guest House

Day 08: Rest day in Manang.
 Today we must take rest to give the body a chance to get a little stronger at altitude, so making the Throng la pass (5416m) crossing less arduous. Manang , the largest village in the valley is the best place to rest for acclimatization. The views of the Annapurnas, Gangapurna and the glacial lake below it are spectacular. From Left to right the peaks are Lamjung, Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, the false peak of Annapurna III and Gangapurna above the glacier. O/N Guest House

Day 09: Manang to Thorong Phedi
The trial climbs steadily through Tengi valley, leaving the Marsyangdi Valley and continuing along the Jarsang Khola Valley. A hard climb takes uss to Khusang (3900 m). Beyond Khusang we pass through Yak Kharka which means yak pastures. True to the name grazing yaks are to be seen around this area, and across the river on the mountainside. Pass through Ledar (4200m) and reach Thorung Phedi, literally meaning ‘The foot of the Thorung La (5416m). The vegetation becomes steadily sparser as we carry on ahead. O/N Guest House

Day 10: Thorung Phedi to Jomsom
Start very early in the dark as later the trial gets very windy and very difficult to pass . It’s almost 4 hours to reach the top and its 100% carry throughout. This is the most difficult trail and the highest pass of the whole tour. The trail from the pass begins with the descent of very steep slope for approximately 45 minutes then the normal rideable route starts to take the way to Jomsom. Ride along rough narrow down hill trails and small valleys, descending to a stream and climbing across the far slope to reach Jomsom, a major market town having an airfield with daily flights by plane or helicopter to Pokhara and Kathmandu. O/N Guest House

Day 11: Jomsom to Tato Pani
Ride through Marpha village. It is very popular for apple farming. Then pass through the village Khobang which offers spectacular views of mountains on this stretch. A long ride will take us to a  long village with Kalo Pani (2530m) at the northern end and Lete (2480m) to the southern end. After Lete village a steep ride through forests will take us to the Lete Khola (river). Ride across another suspension bridge over the river at 1935m and ride through a very steep and narrow section of a gorge. The route gradually takes down to Tato Pani, a popular tourist centre. Tato means ‘hot’ and pani is ‘water’ a name earned courtesy of the hot springs by the river. O/N Guest House

Day 12: Tato Pani to Beni
From Tato Pani we peddle and cross the bridge to the eastern side of the Kali Gandaki (a major river) and shortly afterwards the bridge over the Ghara khola (river). Passing the trail up to Ghorepani, continue south along the Kali Gandaki the trial rises and falls through small villages. Under an hours ride from quieter and  more attractive riverside villageof Tiplyang(1040m) the trial takes us to the bustling market town of Beni. Buses run along the east bank road to Baglung and on to Pokhara. O/N Guest House

Day 13: Beni to Sarangkot
After breakfast we will follow Kali Gandaki River and reach the Baglung highway which will lead us to Naudanda where we will have lunch. We follow the dirt road to  Sarangkot which is the number one view point in the Pokhara to enjoy the view of the Himalayas and lake Phewa . O/N Guest House

Day 14: Sarangkot to Pokhara
Mostly we ride along a  steep and narrow road to Pokhara. Make sure to check your brakes before you start this 90% down hill !!.

Day 15: Drive to Kathmandu
Take early tourist bus to Kathmandu. We have our breakfast and lunch on the highway.( Air return optional extra)

For more details of this and similar rides visit Dawn till Dusk MTbin