Classic Nepal Mountain Bike Tour - 14 Days

A representative from Himalayan Trekkers will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transport you to the hotel, which is located in the heart of Kathmandu, Thamel – the tourist hub of Nepal.

Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore Thamel's streets, sights, and stores, or relax after your journey, before joining your guides for a pre-discussion session where they will go over the tour and activities for the next day. Also, we will inspect the bikes and gears thoroughly. 

If you were unable to meet your fellow bikers and guide the previous day, you will be able to do so today morning at the Himalayan Trekkers office.

Following the meeting, you will be able to explore the bustle and color of Kathmandu city winding through secret passageways and courtyards. We will ride to some of Kathmandu's most famous monuments, including the Kathmandu Durbar Square – one of the three royal palace complexes in Kathmandu Valley, the local markets of Ason, Indrachowk, Newroad, and Thahity, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) – a Vajrayana Buddhist site, Boudhanath Stupa – one of the biggest stupa reflecting Mahayana Buddhism, and Pashupatinath Temple – one of the oldest and prominent Hindu pilgrimage site. 

You can do the last minutes shopping if you are short of any gear needed for this tour. Thamel is the biggest marketplace for tours and travels gears. 

Following a warm and hearty breakfast, your guide will be leading you and your fellow riders toward the beautiful settlement of Daman. Daman, without doubt, boasts the greatest view of the western Himalayan range in the country. From Mount Dhaulagiri in the west to Mount Everest in the east, all can be viewed perfectly from here on a clear day.  The snow-capped peaks of the world's tallest mountains rise above the hazy haze to beautify Daman's skyline. There are three routes to reach the beautiful village of Daman. 

Option 1: The track goes past Chitlang, an ancient Newar settlement. You will pass through two settlements on the Chandragiri foothills, Bajrabarahi and Bisringkhel, and reach the village of Chitlang. Here in Chitlang, it joins the Tribhuwan Highway, and the ride to Palung and Daman is pleasant.

(Important Info: Chitlang is a historic Newari village with several small villages such as 'Taukhel,' 'Nhulgaun,' and ‘Kunchhal’, where a small number of Gopali people from the Gopala Dynasty, Nepal's first ruling dynasty, live in traditional rock houses with tile roofs. Their similar yet different Newari culture deserves to be experienced. Chitlang is also known for being the location of Nepal’s first organic goat cheese factory. It's also known for producing jojoba oil and trout farming.  )

Option 2: Our second option will be via Privthivi Highway. Exiting from Thankot, we ride towards Naubise which falls in the Dhading district. The high hills, small settlements, and the walking and working locals will company our ride. We stop for lunch at Naubise. After a short break here, we resume our riding journey towards Palung Village. Daman is nearly an hour's ride from the village. 

Option 3: Pedal your bikes from Kathmandu to Bungamati, a typical Newari settlement and come across a suspension bridge over the Bagmati River. Then, the sealed Dakshinkali road will take you to several wonderful cultural monuments. From here, cycle along the gravel road to Kulekhani via Tamang hamlet on the graveled road. You can learn about the actual Nepalese way of life and explore Nepal's greatest hydropower and manmade lake. We continue through the hydro dam, to Markhu, and up to Daman, which takes approximately 2 hours up hills and where we will spend the night. 

(Note: We can ride to Daman from Kulekhani directly through Markhu or via Chitlang.) 

Day 4 of your journey and you will be offered the best views of the trip. 
You will be treated to a breathtaking 400-kilometer vista of the Himalayas, stretching from the Annapurnas to Mt. Everest. With almost 2000 meters of descent through pine and rhododendron forests, which gradually give place to semi-tropical vegetation as the air becomes more humid, you will have the ultimate downhill experience. Small groups of buildings cling to lonely hilltops, but as you get closer to the Terai, you will see more and more villages. 

As you approach this city at the foothills of the Churiya hills, you will notice a significant difference in weather and temperature.

We will take a detour onto a dirt road to Sauraha and, on the fringes of Chitwan National Park. We will visit the traditional Tharu communities deep in the woods and interact with the locals and learn about their lifestyle foods and culture. A magical sunset view with the tempting beauty of Rapti River is never to be missed when visiting Chitwan. 

A variety of activities are waiting for you today. From a morning bird-watching tour along the Rapti River with 450 species of exotic birds, including the Giant Hornbill, Lesser Florican, and Paradise Flycatcher to a canoeing excursion down the Rapti River in a traditional canoe boat. You will appreciate every moment of it.  You can go for a jungle walk in the shade of a cool forest with diverse species of unique vegetation and stunning lakes amidst them or take an Elephant Safari into the national park's jungle to see rare species including one-horned rhinoceros and Royal Bengal Tigers. 

You can take another jeep ride to further explore the sanctuary's gorgeous and lush environment, as well as have a bath on the backs of majestic Elephants beside the river. You may also see the Tharu Dance, which is a one-of-a-kind performance (a dance by the local Tharu community). Finish your day with a breathtaking sunset reflected in the tranquil Rapti River.

After a nice breakfast, we will begin our day paddling towards the Tikauli forest, passing by the Bishajari Lake. After that, we ride along the Mahendra Highway for 72 kilometers before stopping for lunch in Daunne Danda.

Your support vehicle will be available if anyone needs to take a break from cycling, or those who are feeling particularly active can continue riding for another 45 kilometers to Butwal, where everyone will board the vehicles for the trip to Lumbini. After the check-in formalities, brief rests, and charging energy, we will visit some of the monasteries if they are still open by the time of our arrival. You may also take part in meditation and yoga and participate in spiritual discourses this evening. 

The remains of the lost empire of Sudhodhana are still in existence in Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu where his son, Gautama Buddha spent his 29 years and started his journey of enlightenment. We do visit the Asoka pillar inscriptions in the sacred garden that prove that Buddha was born here. 

Later, we will ride to the Ramagrama Stupa. It is considered to be one of the eight locations where the Buddha's relics were placed following his cremation. It's the only one that hasn't been used before. You will also see a big tree coming up from the hill. If you look closely, you will notice that there are four different species of trees tangled and prospering. For pilgrims, it is a significant emblem that embodies Buddhist philosophy. You can participate in meditation, recitation, spiritual discussions, circumambulation, and other activities at the relic stupa site. We also make our visit to the Baby Buddha Temple built by a Japanese Buddhist Organization named Bishinokai, and learn about Tharu customs in Barahi Mahuwa Tharu village near Ramagrama.

As per the situation, we will spend our night today at Ramgram or Butwal. Butwal is about 40 kilometers northwest of Ramgram and can be reached after and half hours drive. 

Today we are treated to a breathtaking trip that takes us from Lumbini's parched, open landscape to Palpa’s lush high hills. We will ride to Tansen, an old Newari city noted for its traditional architecture and panoramic Himalayan views. In Tansen, observe and admire the small zigzag streets, as well as a stream of colorful individuals dressed in traditional clothing passing by. The obvious appeal of uncomplicated rural life may be sensed even amid town.

We can also make a 10-minute ride up to Shreenagar Hill, a remarkable vantage point to witness the various manifestations of nature. An incredibly long panorama of the mountains is viewable from here, including Kanjiroba, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Langtang Himal. 

The day will begin with a spectacular descent down a winding route to the Siddartha Highway, followed by a gradual rise up to Galyang and a 2-hour drive to Pokhara, a lakeside tourist destination.
When you arrive in Pokhara, check into your accommodation, leaving plenty of time in the evening to stretch your legs and explore the city.

After breakfast, we will peddle away from Pokhara's beautiful downtown and towards the peaceful pagoda. A famous Hindu site, Gupteswor Mahadev Temple is located on the major road. Also, we will pass across Davis Falls, another well-known tourist attraction. We will arrive at the world peace pagoda after an arduous bike and a sweaty experience. The white edifice perched on a hill is a sight to behold. The breathtaking panorama of the mountain range including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges will amaze every one of us. We can also enjoy the view of the entire Pokhara valley, Fewa Lake, and the magnificent Sarangkot.

Besides that, you can also participate in a variety of activities. From calm boating across the Phewa Lake to a thrilling 30-minute paragliding trip from the famous Sarangkot vantage point. 

The ascent is straightforward, with a few bumps accompanied by some spectacular scenery. After 2 hours of paddling, we reach Sarangkot which is getting ready for a sunrise above the breathtaking peaks. The golden rays of the sun hitting the face of the white peaks will be a lifetime experience show. Enjoy a cup of tea while taking in the scenery and chatting with some of the locals. 

After spending plentiful time at Sarangkot, we gear up again and start towards Dhampus. Our Sarangkot to Dhampus ride will offer us striking panoramic views of the peaks including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). We reach Dhampus Village by lunchtime. It is also one of the best viewpoints of Nepal which provide views of the Pokhara valley and its natural attractions, such as Fewa Lake and the World Peace Stupa.

From Dhampus, our ride descends towards the hidden Begnas Lake, the third-largest lake in Nepal. You can spend the night at the Begnas Lake area or ride 30 minutes further to Rupakot from where a beautiful view of Begnas Lake can be seen. 

Leaving Pokhara valley after breakfast, we will start our ride and continue between the hills with the mountains playing hide and seek with us. We also pass by the lakes, terraced farms, little villages, and towns. After about 76 kilometers of cycling on steep, and wavy roads, we come across the beautiful Newari town of Bandipur. We check in at our accommodation and hit some of the cafes and bars decorated with Bougainvillea flowers on the quiet and vibrant street giving a European vibe. 

We rise early and ride up to the viewpoint of the Thani Mai Temple for the sunrise view and a panoramic view of the peaks and mountains that run the length of the town. We will visit some of the major attractions of this town such as Silkworm Farm, Siddha Gufa (Cave), and Martyrs’ Memorial Park. Then we're off to Kathmandu. We might stop for lunch at Dumre. If you're tired, you can take our jeep to Kathmandu. Along the gushing Trishuli Khola, the lush hills, farmed fields, and smiley villagers, we make our entry into Kathmandu through Thankot. 

You will be assisted with your check-in requirements once we get to Thamel. You're on your own after that. You can unwind your tired muscles by relaxing at your hotel or visiting a spa. We will gather in the evening at one of the greatest Nepali restaurants to taste our cuisines while being entertained by vivid cultural dances and songs.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel to catch your scheduled flight to the Airport with an assessment of the Himalayan Trekkers representative.
Looking for your words on us and waiting for you for the next leisure/vacation. Have a safe journey.