Duration

16 Days

Country

Nepal

Maximum Traveller

Min Pax

Key Facts

Difficulty

Moderate

Dates

Mar-Oct

Max Altitude (meters)

3700

Shangri-La Enduro

Mustang Mountain Biking

Experience a perfect blend of breathtaking scenery, rich culture and challenging terrain on this unforgettable adventure through the secluded and forbidden kingdom of Mustang. Ride challenging terrains in the stunning trans-Himalayan landscape of this high altitude desert. Explore the ancient cultures that call this amazing place their home.

Trip Gallery

Experience the thrill of mountain biking in the last Shangri-La and the forbidden Kingdom of Lo Manthan

Trip Highlights

Journey through the World’s deepest gorge and explore the forbidden Kingdom of Lo in the Shangri-La that is the trans-Himalayan landscape of Upper Mustang
Challenging mountain biking terrain in Upper Mustang, one of the most popular cycling destinations in Nepal
Discover the nomadic horse culture, breathtaking scenery, and friendly people of the region
Experience the Tiji Festival in May for a unique cultural and biking experience
Guided by experienced local guides with support from local porters, drivers, and horsemen, which benefits the local communities
Access to trails not travelled by others, and the opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture and hospitality
Experience stunning panoramas and mountain biking one of the world’s longest downhill

Trip Details
Itinerary
Cost Info
FAQ
Map

Trip Details

The Upper Mustang Mountain Biking Tour is an unforgettable adventure that takes you through the remote and rugged terrain of the Upper Mustang region in Nepal. The tour begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, where you will have the opportunity to explore the picturesque city and its surroundings. You will then fly to Jomsom and assemble your bikes, before setting off on a ride to Kagbeni.

As you ride through Kagbeni, you will enter the restricted region of Upper Mustang, where you will experience the unique mix of scenery and native lifestyle. The trail continues to climb as you pass Chusang and Tetang villages and reach the beautiful village of Chele. The next day, the tour takes you to Ghami and Lo Manthan, crossing several passes and visiting the Red Monastery at Charang.

The tour also includes a visit to Lo Manthan, the district capital of Mustang, where you can explore the walled city and its rich culture and history. The ride continues through the stunning landscapes of Mustang, with panoramic views of the Nilgiri, Tilicho, Annapurna I, and Bhrikuti peaks. You will visit the holy (Hindu and Buddhist) site of Muktinath, standing at 3800m, where you can relax and rejuvenate after a week of challenging rides.

The tour ends with a visit to the ancient trading communities and the natural hot springs of Tatopani, where you can relax and rejuvenate after a week of challenging rides. The final day of the tour includes a ride to Beni and a transfer back to Pokhara, where you can do some shopping and enjoy a farewell dinner with the group. This is an unforgettable journey to Mustang region, a hidden treasure of Nepal, where you will immerse yourself in the cultural diversity of Nepal, exploring both Kathmandu and ancient trading communities along the trail.

Physical Demands

This is a moderate difficulty trip that requires a moderate level of fitness. You will be riding on rugged terrain at high altitude, so it is important to be in good physical condition.

Equipment

You will need to bring your own mountain biking equipment, including a bike, helmet, gloves, and appropriate clothing and footwear. A detailed equipment list will be provided to you upon booking.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. Some sightseeing and trip briefing.
Our staff will welcome you at the Tribhuwan International Airport upon your arrival and transfer you to the hotel on a private vehicle. The evening can be spent exploring Thamel, a tourist hub offering numerous bars, shops and restaurant, as well as Basantapur, which gives you an instant taste of Nepali life. Later in the hotel, we will also brief you on trip details, safety and preparation for the adventure.
Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Sightseeing in Pokhara.
Early in the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a scenic 30-minute flight to Pokhara. Once you reach Pokhara, you will be awestruck by the city’s natural beauty. The city lies along the banks of the gorgeous Phewa Lake and sports panoramic views of Machapuchure, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. Pokhara is much more laid back and less hectic than Kathmandu, which makes it perfect for relaxation and adventure activities as well.

We’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the picturesque Pokhara valley which offers wonderful natural and cultural places for sightseeing. These include boating in Phewa Lake, exploring Seti River gorges and Gupteshwar Cave, visiting Tibetan Refugee Camps and Barahi temple. The Peace Pagoda is also quite a spectacular hike with amazing view of Pokhara valley below and the Annapurnas at a distance. A guide and a private vehicle will be at your disposal for the day.
Day 3: Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom. Ride from Jomsom to Kagbeni.
We pack up and head to the airport for our flight to Jomsom. There are several flights from Pokhara to Jomsom in the morning before the high winds in Jomsom picks up late-morning. Upon landing, we assemble our bikes and spend some time riding through the cobbled streets of the bustling town. We then head off to Kagbeni, riding the relatively flat section along the river trail. Kagbeni borders the Kingdom of Mustang, a secluded region of Nepal that was until recently forbidden for travelers. In Kagbeni, you can enjoy the fantastic mix of scenery and native lifestyle. The lively Tibetan culture in the village is sure to give you a warm welcome.
Day 4: Ride from Kagbeni to Chele.
From Kagbeni we enter the region of Upper Mustang, which until very recently was restricted to travelers. The trail climbs for a short stretch from Kagbeni and then on a dusty path we ride on a short section of steep downhill. There are fantastic views of snowcapped mountains that you can enjoy. Chusang and Tetang villages, shortly above 3,000m, welcome you with fields of barley, potatoes and apple orchids. After a short steep climb, we reach the beautiful village of Chele, our destination for the day. Caves believed to be created thousands of years ago can be seen shortly before we reach Chele.
Day 5: Ride from Chele to Ghami.
Chele La Pass at 3,630m is our first checkpoint, as we pass the Samar valley, and along the way other passes like Taklam La (3,60m), Yamda La (4,010m) and Nyi La Pass (4,020m). The ride takes us through the tiny settlement of Syanboche village, from where the Ramchung cave and chorten-like stalagmites are just nearby. Indeed, this section makes for one of the most sacred places in Mustang. From Syangboche we descend to the picturesque valley of Geling, where you can see mostly mud houses. Crossing several passes today will be demanding but well rewarding once we reach Ghami.
Day 6: Ride from Ghami to Lo Manthan.
Today we cross the Ghami River and ride along the longest mani wall to reach the village of Charang with panoramic scenery of Nilgiri, Tilicho, Annapurna I and Bhrikuti peaks. We’ll make a quick visit to the Red Monastery at Charang. The walled city of Lo Manthan, the district capital of Mustang, will be visible as we cross Lo La Pass at 3,810m, popularly called Windy Pass. The sight of the old kingdom will make you feel lost in another era. The mystical and isolated city certainly is a major destination of our trip. More than 600 years old, the walls of Lo Manthan are believed to ward off the evil spirits. We’ll spend the evening strolling in the streets of this surreal town.
Day 7: Rest day at Lo Manthan.
There couldn’t be a better day to take a rest than in Lo Manthan, where we will visit three major monasteries (with ancient paintings and art) and a four-storey palace of an old Mustangi king. We’ll mix in with the locals and observe their lifestyle and how they go about their daily chores. To get around Lo Manthan, we’ll hire a horse and visit nearby villages and other great attractions like the Jong cave tunneling intricately on the mountainside. The experience you get in this old kingdom – of the culture, nature, architecture, people views and the feeling of being in an ancient rustic town – will be memories for a lifetime.
Day 8: Ride from Lo Manthan to Ghami via Dhakmar.
The day starts with a hearty breakfast, riding back to Ghami through challenging but exciting alternative routes that take over the Pang La Pass situated 4,090m in altitude. From here a thrilling downhill takes you to Ghar Gompa, a beautiful 1200 years old monastery, and amazing red landscapes of Dhakmar village. The vegetation at Dhakmar is greener that in other places of Upper Mustang. After an hour’s ride of mostly undulating singletracks, we reach Ghami in the late afternoon.
Day 9: Ride from Ghami to Samar.
The route to Samar is same way back to Kagbeni, but since we’re taking a different route, the sceneries are much different and you’ll see more of the Annapurna range on a clear day. We ride through three passes on jeep tracks with little to no traffic. The quaint Buddhist village is one the larger villages in Mustang and the people here are engaged mostly in agriculture. We’ll see many horses here as they are used for transportation and in agriculture as well.
Day 10: Ride from Samar to Kagbeni.
The newly built jeeptrack is quite steep and dusty downhill to Chele and following the Kali Gandaki River, we head to Kagbeni. At this point, we will be exiting Upper Mustang and entering Lower Mustang. On this day, we will descend almost 1,000m in altitude, cover about 22kms. Once we reach Kagbeni in the afternoon, we will have enough time to explore the village and interact with the local people, who are of Tibetan descent.
Day 11: Ride from Kagbeni to Muktinath.
After having an early morning breakfast, we start riding uphill and gain almost 1,000m in elevation, the highest point of the trip, near Muktinath. The region is dry and arid, almost desert-like, with awe-inspiring sceneries of the mountains at the horizon. You will come across trekkers and pilgrims, flocking from as far as India, on their way to Muktinath, one of the most revered Hindu temples in the world. Once at Muktinath, we’ll spend some time exploring the religious site and see the eternal flame that burns on natural gas source. “Mukti” means liberation and “nath” means a holy temple, so Muktinath is considered to be a temple of soul liberation. Besides Hindu hermits and pilgrims we’ll see some Tibetan traders as well.
Day 12: Ride from Muktinath to Tukuche.
From Muktinath we ride along a very enjoyable downhill track descending to the Kaligandaki River valley floor. We’ll make a quick pit stop at Marpha, a village with legendary apple orchids. Make sure to taste some Marpha Brandy here as well as a range of apple products like apple pie and dried apple skin. We call it a day at Tukuche village, an ancient Thakali tribe settlement, and spend some time exploring the region and learning about the culture and history of the village. Tukuche lies right beneath the Tukuche pea and Dhaulagiri, with amazing views of Mt. Nilgiri and massif icefalls of Dhaulagiri’s east face.
Day 13: Ride from Tukuche to Tatopani.
We begin riding from Tukuche to Tatopani through some fantastic downhill sections. Tatopani translates to “hot water” and rightly so, the hot springs at Tatopani are quite a treat. This is a fabled place to relax your mind and body, so pamper yourself after a great day of biking in this fantastic region. Located besides the banks of the Kali Gandaki river, the hot dip in Tatopani will help loosen up your muscles amidst the surrounding natural beauty.
Day 14: Ride from Tatopani to Beni. Drive from Beni to Pokhara. Full body massage in the evening.
After a relaxing time at Tatopani, we ride for about 1.5 hours on jeep tracks to reach Beni, a small but vibrant market town. We’ll spend some time exploring the town and then drive back to Pokhara on a 2-hour drive. It’s a bumpy drive and you can enjoy the scenic views you get along the away. Once we reach Pokhara, we can do some boating on the Phewa Lake, having a pleasant time and reflecting on our thrilling adventure around the Annapurna region. In the evening, loosen up your muscles and free your mind with an hour-long full body massage.
Day 15: Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in the evening.
Our staff will take you to the airport for an early morning flight to Kathmandu, and transfer you to the hotel. We’ll have some time for sightseeing in the afternoon. Some of the places we visit include UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Bouddhanath (the largest Buddhist shrine in the world), Pashupatinath (the holiest Hindu temples in the world), and Swayambhunath (a popular stupa perched on a hillock overlooking the city).

Shopping can be done in the late afternoon, then in the evening, we invite you to a farewell dinner at a traditional Nepalese restaurant which hosts cultural performances, and you’re more than welcome to join the merry. We toast a round or two of locally brewed drinks to celebrate our biking achievement and to good health!

Holidays should never have an ending date. So extend your trip and whet your appetite for adventure with a host of activities including trekking, bungy jumping, mountain flight, rafting, hiking, Chitwan jungle adventure, Lumbini heritage trip and shopping tours. These can be arranged before or after the biking adventure.
Day 16: Flight departure from Nepal.
The trip concludes today. Our staff will drop you off at the Tribhuwan International Airport and wish you bon voyage for onward journey.

Cost Info

Price includes

Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport
Transportation to and from, including any necessary flights!!
Food all along the trip (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels or teahouses
Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide (and porter, if relevant) during the trip
First Aid Medical Kit (Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
All the required permits and paperwork

Price excludes

International Airfare
Visa Charges
Extra Hotel Expenses (some packages do include hotel expenses)
Your travel and medical insurance
Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
Services not mentioned or not promised directly
Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter

FAQ

FAQ 1: What is the level of difficulty for the trip?
The trip is considered to be moderate to strenuous due to the altitude and the length of the rides. Riders should have previous experience and be in good physical shape to fully enjoy the trip.
FAQ 2: What type of accommodation will be provided during the trip?
Accommodation during the trip will be a mix of hotels, lodges and guesthouses. All accommodations will be comfortable and clean, with private bathrooms and hot water.
FAQ 3: What type of food is provided during the trip?
During the trip, we will be serving a mix of local and western cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be provided at the accommodations, while lunch will be provided en route during the rides. We will also provide snacks and water during the rides.
FAQ 4: Do I need to bring my own bike?
Yes, clients will need to bring their own bike for the trip. We do not provide rental bikes. A detailed list of other necessary equipment and gear will be provided after booking.

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