Nepal Mountain Bike / cycling tour

Of all our cycling tours the Nepal bicycle holiday is the most visually diverse; nowhere else on Earth will you find a greater variety of landscapes within as small an area as Nepal. Nestled along the spine of the Himalayas between the snow-capped peaks of Tibet and the Ganges plains of India, Nepal is a magical place, rich in natural and cultural heritage. Nepal is a kingdom of high icy mountains, deep valleys and subtropical jungle. Dotted with temples, medieval cities and tiny hillside village communities, Nepal is perfect to explore by bicycle.

Nepal has a spectacular topography, containing eight of the world's ten highest peaks including Mount Everest which sits on the border with Tibet. For a relatively small country, Nepal boasts a high number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - ten in total, both natural and cultural.

Some sample itinerary of cycling in Nepal

Around kathmandu valley

Day 01: Arrival at the airport and be collected by our representative. O/nt hotel.
Day 02: Cycling Kathmandu -Mulkharka, 22km
Day 03: Cycling Mulkharka - Chisopani 21km.
Day 04:Cycling up and down hill Chisopani - Nagarkot 25 km
Day 05: Cycling Nagarkot - Namo Buddha- Dhulikhel (35 km)
Day 06:Cycling Dhulikhel to Kathmandu via Bhaktapur 32km

Round Annapurna trekking Route

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu.
Day 02: Kathmandu to Besi Sahar (823m).
Day 03: Besisahar to Sanje 65% rideable 35% push/carry (1100m).
Day 04: Sanje to Bagarchap 10% rideable 90% carry/push (2160m).
Day 05: Bargarchap to Bhartang 20% rideable 80% carry/push (2856m).
Day 06: Bhartang to Manang 70% ride able 30% push and carry (3540m).
Day 07: Rest and acclimatization day in Manang.
Day 08: Manang to Letdar (3900m) Push/Carry.
Day 09: Letdar to Phedi (4090m) Push/Carry.
Day 10: Phedi over Thorong (5416m) pass to Muktinath (3800m) trekking.
Day 11: Thorung Phedi to Muktinath (3800m) via Throng La (5600m).
Day 12: Muktinath to Lete 95% ride able. (2010m).
Day 13: Lete to Tatopani 90% ride able. (1190m).
Day 14: Tatopani to Ghorepani (2750m) trekking.
Day 15: Ghorepani to Pokhara via Birethanti (bus).
Day 16: Pokhara to Kathmandu by Bus.
Day 17:Departure own destination.
 

Note Above itinerary are only sample itinerary we can make many different itinerary concerting your interest . Please let us know whether you would like to make a shorter or longer. And if you would like to stay more than this trip you still can do city guided tour in Kathmandu, white water rafting, jungle safari or Everest mountain flight, we are happy to follow your suggestion accordingly.

Cycling traveler Rob Halkett opinion about cycling in Nepal

Nepal was not as intense as India. I found Nepal to be much quieter than India but that’s also because the towns and cities are much smaller here. There wasn’t that constant noise to deal with whether from traffic or just the amount of people in every Indian city or town. I had my first good nights sleep in Nepal after months of lying awake in hotels in India. However most of my time was spent in the quiet of the mountains or the Katmandu valley so it was a very different experience. Katmandu is a very busy built up tourist center. Clubs, hotels, restaurants and shops selling North Fake compete with each other for your money. On the other hand Katmandu is also a real cultural center with some interesting temples and sites to visit in the heart of the city. The Nepalese are very proud of their country, knowing that they live in one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. The Katmandu valley is very fertile with fields of rice, wheat and vegetables. The people in the villages are very shy but also curious and you will be knocked out by their friendliness.

My favorite part of the ride was leaving Katmandu and heading south to the border. I actually took the wrong road and ended pushing the bike uphill for three days on a track with only the odd motor bike passing every couple of hours. The views of the mountains around me, the beauty of the countryside and the fact that I spent a day in a school with Nepalese children made that three day push to the top of the valley the highlight of Nepal. I now realise that we are never on the wrong road. If I had been on what I thought was the right road I would have missed experiencing a day with those children

I think the most challenging moment was the three days on that track. It was badly potholed and full of loose stones. Impossible to ride the bike downhill, as when I picked up a bit of speed the bike became tough to control. Difficult to ride uphill as the road was too steep and nothing but potholes and large stones. It was a real test of my stamina and patience moving the bike uphill and I seemed to be getting nowhere. There was nothing for it but to just keep going, I realised that even if I turned round to go home I would still have to deal with the track.

Not all the roads in Nepal are in such bad condition. The problem is that the good roads are incredibly busy and dangerous. Large trucks, buses and cars use the main routes and there is this constant stream of traffic. Very few main roads have a shoulder and when there is one its used by speeding motorcycles. There is very little in the way of shops once you are outside the Katmandu valley so you need to bring everything you need for the day with you, water, food etc.

The quality of the road coupled with the steep climb out of the Kathmandu valley meant that I averaged about 30 to 40 kilometers each day.

I found no problem with only speaking English. Kathmandu is such a tourist hub that everyone spoke English. In the valley and on the route south to the border I still managed to find English speakers. After a year and a half on the road I’ve invented a sort of international speak, incorporating sign language and the odd word from about 10 different languages and can always make myself understood.

I spent about $15.00 a day in Kathmandu and that went down to about $10.00 and less in the valley. This included food and accommodation. Remember once you get out of Kathmandu and into the valley there is very little to spend your money on even if it’s burning a hole in your pocket

Nepal was a dream for me after India. I loved the people, food, mountain scenery, the peace and quiet (outside Kathmandu). Everything about the country appealed to me. It certainly isn't the easiest country in which to ride a bicycle but if you do then the experience will stay with you forever. My advice to other cyclists would be ride until the chain breaks.