Annapurna Circuit Mountain Bike Tour

We'll start the day early and drink some coffee from the Himalayas before beginning the six-hour drive to Besisahar. We'll get to visit Nepal's stunning countryside away from bustling Kathmandu. There will be time to take in the scenery and have lunch as you go through its numerous lush, terraced farms. We will meet our local porters for the journey once we arrive in Besisahar and start getting ready for the ride the following day. The first of many teahouses on the journey will be where we have our first welcome dinner and spend the night.

It's time to leave for our first day of riding after breakfast. Just leaving Besisahar and entering some authentic Himalayan singletrack! We'll start chipping away at the day's total ascent of 1,000 meters. Although we haven't reached the trip's maximum altitude yet, the sights along our route along the Marsyandi River are breathtaking. When we get in Tal, it will be surrounded by terraced fields that are placed precariously on the steep slopes of the Himalayan foothills. Tal is located in a deep ravine. We will stay the night in a different neighborhood teahouse where we may refuel and stay warm.

The Himalaya wouldn't be the Himalaya without climbing, and today is no exception as we make our way upward. Our final stop for the day is Chame, where we will be at an elevation of above 2,500 meters, placing us in the category of "high altitude." Take this one gradually and give your body time to acclimate. The route for today is difficult; it includes arduous singletrack and high ascents. We are surrounded by dense jungle, with occasional glimpses of the river. Rests to catch your breath and enjoy the scenery are therefore definitely worthwhile! We'll spend the night in the important Annapurna hiking hub of Chame, where we'll be among other hikers and local Sherpas.

Today's trip to the village of Manang, higher up in the Annapurna range, is lovely. Our track becomes wider as the landscape shifts from jungle to desert alpine, giving us our first impression of being in the high Himalaya. Although the ride isn't overly technical, the surface can occasionally be mushy and filled with loose pebbles. It would be wise to proceed slowly today given the constantly rising altitude. Manang is well above high altitude—more than 3,600 meters—and we'll notice the consequences when we pedal. In a pleasant trekking teahouse, we'll spend the night and adjust to the altitude.

The timing of today's day of rest and acclimation couldn't be better. For those wishing to relax before the ride ahead, the village of Manang is well-equipped with coffee shops and even a movie theater. There are several quick side walks in the region that will provide stunning Himalayan views and aid with acclimatization if you're feeling intrepid. The Manangi people, who live in Manang, are adapted to life at a high altitude. Visitors who are fortunate enough may witness locals competing in archery and pony racing. In order to prepare for another long day, we'll spend another peaceful evening in a nearby teahouse.

As we say goodbye to Manang, our direction changes to one that is higher. We'll cycle slowly past Yak Kharka village and on to Thorong Phedi, the base camp of the formidable Thorong La, which is located at slightly under 5,000 meters. The trail follows a tiny river valley and is mainly rideable, but some sections are quite rocky and require hauling. The terrain is unstable and prone to slide, therefore it's recommended to move gently in this area. As we cross challenging portions and encounter a lot of local foot and hoof traffic, our knowledgeable guide will assist you in navigating the terrain safely. After a challenging day of riding, we will eat heartily in a teahouse overnight in Thorong Pedi. To ensure that you get adequate sleep before the major climb the next day, it is preferable to go to bed early.

Early morning departure at 5 AM for Thorong La is required. The hardest portion of our journey is this renowned high altitude pass on the Annapurna Circuit. More than 1,300 meters from Thorong Phedi, it will take several hours of hard pushing to climb to the summit of the pass. The ascent is still a tough trek that will test our spirits, but we will have aid from local porters who will carry our bikes for us. We'll take in the breathtaking forest of snowy peaks that spread beyond our line of sight from the top, at a height of 5,416 meters, where we can also see the vista on both sides. The real reward follows with a fantastic and tricky descent that leads to our stay at the end of the day in the settlement of Muktinath. Over a delicious Himalayan meal, we'll exchange tales from the day's trip.

Now that the hardest portion of the journey is over, let's have some fun! We can move considerably farther now because we're predominantly decreasing height, and we'll cover more territory today than we did over the previous few days put together! We leave Muktinath by traveling a brief, easy-to-follow hillside track. A few push portions will be interspersed with enjoyable and quick singletrack switchbacks that lead to a riverbed in a valley. Once we re-join the main trail in Jomsom, we'll have a challenging ride with beautiful scenery all the way to the charming, historic village of Tukuche. Tukuche will be ours to enjoy for a while before we continue on through a dense jungle singletrack to Kalopani. After a day that was jam-packed with action, spend the night in Kalopani!

We'll begin our second day of descent along a riverside trail with fantastic vistas of snow-capped peaks. The spectacular Rupse Waterfalls are located along the river walk, and we can take a tea break there next to the mist. Prepare for a quick descent in the following stretch as the terrain loses nearly 1,000 meters on a meandering, rocky path with thrilling leaps and drops. After arriving at the town of Beni, where we'll stop for lunch, we load up the bikes and ride the three hours to Pokhara, Nepal's second-largest city, where we can rest and relax after a strenuous hike. Sleep in Pokhara.

Take a morning nap or explore Pokhara's highlights. This relaxed city, which is full of local culture like temples and small coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques, is a haven for hikers. We'll take a quick flight back to Kathmandu in the middle of the afternoon. We'll have time to unwind over one last cup of chai in Kathmandu or finish off our souvenir shopping before gathering for a farewell meal.

Today we will take you to the airport to catch your flight out of Nepal. Alternatively, if you'd like to stay longer, we may make additional travel arrangements to assist you continue your cycling experience.