Upper Mustang – Kingdom of Enduro

Head to Nagarkot, without a doubt, Nagarkot is the best place to ride Enduro inside the Kathmandu Valley. The trails vary in difficulty and distance, but they are all fun. The tour includes a full-day shuttle, for as much single-track fun as you can handle. The trails run through the jungle and rural rice fields and villages and boast stunning views of the Himalayas. Trail rating would be blue and black, the rider needs some decent skills to enjoy these trails.

Accommodation:- 3 Star Hotel

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After Breakfast we leave the hotel and drive to the airport, where we catch a 25min flight to Pokhara. Pokhara is a chilled out lakeside town at the base of the Annapurna Himalaya. If time is sufficient, we ride to the Peace Pagoda which is a 2 to 3 hour round trip with a short yet steep climb and a super nice single track descent through the jungle to the Lake. It can get a bit wild and slippery in some places. Stay overnight in Lake Side.

Accommodation:- 3 Star Hotel

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake up for sunrise and hopefully catch a glimpse of the mountains before we head to the airport. It’s about a 22min flight to Jomsom, above the Pokhara valley and deep into the heart of the Himalaya, take a peek out of the window for fantastic views of Dhaulagiri and beyond. The flight is simply breathtaking as the plane’s wing pit almost touches the snow capped peaks before touching down on the tiny airstripe at Jomsom. We take some time for breakfast and get the bikes ready for the journey.We jeep 40 mins towards Muktinath (3860m). From here we ride the famous Lubra Valley Trail, it’s over a 1000m descent on a switchback trail above the Lubra River. To get to the trail we have to ride around 5km over the Yak Pastures, gaining around 200 meters in altitude. We ride from 4100m to 2790 meters to the river bed where our jeep is waiting and drive back to Muktinath where we stay for the night.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we enter the restricted region of Upper Mustang. We drive 30 mins from Kagbeni to Jhong.

It’s an uphill stretch from Muktinath through Chhyonggur and up to the Gyu La Pass at 4077 meters, it is 80% rideable but some sections of pushing our bikes. Here are panoramic views of the snow capped mountains. After a short section of steep downhill we follow an undulating ridge trail down to Tetang at 3040 meters, more than a 1000 meter descent on superb single track. Pass an ancient Mani Wall and cycle down to Chhuksang. From here there is a slight climb and river crossing to reach Chele on the opposite river bank where the river passes through a rock tunnel and then a steady climb up to Chele. Chele is a small town nestled on a hillside with three teahouses and a dozen homes, from here you get good views down the Kaligandaki Valley. Take a late lunch and then drive 2.5 hours to Ghami.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we Leave the charming village of Ghami behind and ride into the stunning canyon of Dhakmar. It’s around 200m of climbing on single tracks. Cliffs tower above us on each side with a hundred shades of red and yellow. Tiny holes dot the cliffs high up, places carved out by the original inhabitants of the region. Spend some time here admiring the scenery, the contrast of the sandstone cliffs and the green pasture fed by a natural spring and the peat Bog at the Valley Head.

We Transfer by Shuttle up below Mui La which is about 4170m. The trail descends down to Charang at 3500m, we call this trail “Mustang Princess’ ‘. It’s fast, fun and one of the best flow trails in the region, for sure you will be “whooping” by the time you reach Charang. If we have time we can again shuttle and ride an alternative trail to Charang. Depends how much riding you can handle. Stay overnight in Charang at Maya’s Inn, a teahouse owned and managed by Princess Maya, daughter of the last King of Mustang.Very homely and traditional style of Mustangi/Tibetain accommodation. In the afternoon, spend some time exploring the Original Raja Palace and the Buddhist Medicine Monastery close to the village.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we take a 30min shuttle to Morang, if you are inclined, we can visit the ancient Lo Gekar Monastery. Dating back some 1200 years, Lo Gekar is one of the oldest and most important monasteries in Mustang and it’s worth the short trip across the river.

Next we push our bikes up to (For those with Iron Lungs it can be a grunt and grind pedal section) up to Chogo La at 4230m. The trail climbs up a fertile mountain valley with a pristine brook running through it. This is one of the old trails used by nomads and yak herders over the centuries. While heading up the valley you feel like you are truly in the middle of nowhere. At the valley head, the trail flattens out and winds around the hills towards the final 50m climb to the Pass. On this open trail, the views are staggering. Sometimes here you can also see Himalayan Pika. Prayer flags flapping in the relentless wind mark the pass and another valley opens up in front of us. This trail is “The Back Door to Lo Manthang”, a fast, slightly rocky trail down a Morang, a short pedal section up and over a ridge and then drops down into the grassy and boggy plains into the back door of the ancient city of Lo Manthang.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After having a delicious local breakfast we drive the 12km to the Nepal/China Border. (Tingli Bhaodha Bhanjyang 4592m). There is a vast change in the landscape as we leave river gorges and towering cliffs behind us and head into open, rolling Tundra. The wind roars here and the sky seems to reach to eternity. After the obligatory selfie into China, we mount up and have some fun. “Dodging the Bullets’ ‘ is a 5km, 600m descent running away from the border. Here we meet the “Chooser Trail ” 9 km of super fun and fast descent towards the ancient caves at Garphu. Here we can explore inside the tiny tunnels and chambers of the Cave Monastery. Cross the suspension bridge and drive back to Lo Manthang.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Take a day to rest and chill out in this interesting city. Bike around the city, chat with local people and enjoy the culture and atmosphere of this place.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Saying farewell to Lo Manthang, we drive up to Lo La, better known as Windy Pass (3950m). From here we ride one of the most exciting and challenging trails of the trip. The trail starts off through flattish, open Yersi (Yak Pasture) towards the edge of the canyon. Loose dust and sand is a feature as we carve and slide our way down the canyon to the picturesque village of Dhigoan.

We have to cross the river by foot and our shuttle awaits us there. We drive to Yara/Ghara and visited Luri Gompa (3750m), a Monastery nestled in a cliff face. We ride down a fun and slightly technical local walking trail all the way back to Dhigoan (3300m) and stay overnight in this riverside village.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is an adventure of epic Himalayan proportions. We shuttle uphill on, sort of roads, bumping and grinding our way up into the unknown wilderness. We arrive at Tange (3240m) and ride down some great single track to the river.

We then shuttle to the remote village of Dhigoan, a tiny outpost that marks the trail head into the wilderness of Damodar Kunda and the domain of Yak Herders and Nomads. The views are stunning and there is a lake as well. We ride all the way down to Tange where we stay overnight.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is one of the hardest days on the trip. We carry and push our bikes to Paha Pass (4218m) it is one of the hardest sections on the trip. After the pass we have a technical section, total carry time is 4 to 5 hours. The descent is epic, long flowing single track carving through the Himalayan Wilderness. Ride finishes at Charang (2850m).

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We drive today the long dusty road to Muktinath, leaving Upper Mustang and entering the lower Mustang. This valley snakes between the Nilgiri and Dhauligiri Mountains making it the deepest gorge in the world. From Muktinath we head to Lubra Pass and the “Lubra Valley Trail”, there are many trail options here and they are well ridden, so the surface is hardpack and fun. Make sure you take time to enjoy the views. We head to Dhumba Lake and cycle along the valley walls to Tuckche. This region is the home of Apples and Apple Brandy. Kick off your biking shoes and enjoy a cold beer or warm Apple Brandy.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a fabulous breakfast at High Plains in, we head across the river and try out some new Enduro Lines in the Pine forests from Titi Lake and Kalopani. We roll all the way down to Tatopani, where at the end of the day . Soak your tired body in the natural hot springs and enjoy a cold beer.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A ride of around 22 km on an open jeep track, flat for the most part but a few up and down hills. The valley opens up near Beni and we cross the river for the last time, rejoining the main road. From Galeshwor we drive to Pokhara. Option to ride from Naudhanda.

Accommodation:- Teahouse

Meals:- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we transfer you to the Pokhara airport for the short 23min flight to Kathmandu. A member of our team will collect you from the airport and transfer you to the Hotel. Take some time for last minute shopping or exploring this vibrant city.

Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Today we say farewell and transfer from the hotel to the airport for your outbound flight

Accommodation: None

Meals: Breakfast

Bikes are transported in our Twin Cab Bolero with a padded tail gate. Our drivers are all professional and caring when it comes to looking after bikes. When the bikes go on the mountain flights to places like Jomsom, the wheels are removed and the bikes padded and placed in the cargo hold. 

If you get sick, you have options that include, returning to either Pokhara or Kathmandu with a member of our support team, staying and resting in place for a day or using a support vehicle to travel to next destination. It depends on severity of sickness and options available to the group at the time. For serious illness or accident, immediate Helicopter evacuation will be undertaken. 

All our guides hold the Government regulation trekking guide license as per the Law of Nepal. On top of this, as per our own company policy, Himalayan Single Track is the ONLY mountain bike company in Nepal to have international licensed mountain bike guides either through the MBLA Scheme or the MIAS Schemes. This is because to date Nepal Tourism sector does not have a safety regulation standard for mountain bike guides. On top of this all our guides have Valid wilderness first aid certification. 

Tipping is not compulsory but it is expected and very much appreciated. 

Teahouses have a wide variety of simple and hearty foods like Momos, Chow Mein, Rice dishes, pasta, eggs, vegetables and curries as well as breakfast items, porridge, cereal, omelets and local breads. 

Yes we do. Options are many in Nepal. Please inform us prior to the trip so we can make sure your dietary needs are properly looked after.

Taking Diamox (medication for altitude) is a personal choice, though it is a good if idea you are worried about the affects of altitude. It should be taken in advance of the trip. Please consult your Doctor before taking any medications. 

Our guides will try their best to fix the bike. Where possible a replacement bike will be brought to you, though given the remote terrine of Nepal, this make take an extra day or so. 

Most of our guides will take photos of the trip for you. We also have specialized photographers/Videographers you can book for the trip if you need to. (Extra Charges Apply)

All mountain flights are weather dependent. If the flight does not go, you will get the option to drive on the same day or fly on the following day. 

In most cases a sleeping bag liner is sufficient. In the colder months its a good idea to bring one. Blankets will also be available at the teahouses. We will send you a packing list relevant to the trip with full details once you have booked.