Lower Mustang XC

We head out into the Kathmandu Valley to explore the rich culture around the city and enjoy some nice warm-up riding to get the trip started.

After breakfast, we leave the hotel and drive to the airport, where we catch a 25-minute flight to Pokhara. Pokhara is a chilled-out lakeside town at the base of the Annapurna Himalaya. If time permits, we ride to the Peace Pagoda, a 2 to 3-hour round trip with a short yet steep climb and a super nice singletrack descent to the lake. Stay overnight in Lakeside.

We transfer from the hotel 10 minutes to the old airport. From here, we fly 18 very exciting minutes in the small STOL twin otter between the massive peaks of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri. Touch down at Jomsom Airport and head to Om's Home for breakfast and to get the bikes assembled and ready to ride. We also meet our porter here. Take some time to breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the views. Our ride today is short but essential for acclimatization. The pedaling starts off flat as we follow the river bed northwards. We reach a suspension bridge (Jyangi Phul) and cross the river. This is a great "Selfie Spot." We climb some 300m above the small village of Phalyak on an unused jeep track. From here, we have a nice singletrack descent back down to the bridge, and we continue pedaling onwards to Kagbeni. Kagbeni is an ancient village nestled just above the Kali Gandaki river bed. This is a great place to stroll around and explore the culture and unique architecture of the region. There are many hidden wonders in the small alleyways. We stay overnight at the famous Yak Donalds with its warm hospitality and excellent food.

After breakfast, we pedal out of Kagbeni and cross a small stream. From here, the trail climbs upwards onto a small plateau, often used for grazing herds of Changra (mountain goats) and yaks. Our dirt road climbs upwards, weaving in and out of the hillsides to Jhong. Jhong is a simple village with a monastery perched on a cliff top. The buildings here are some of the most traditional in the region. After taking some time to explore, we climb a further 1 hour to Muktinath. We can take lunch here in one of the many teahouses and also explore the Muktinath Temple, which is considered one of the holiest in Nepal.

From the bus park, we pedal/push 40 minutes to 1 hour up to Lubra Dhada (4,200m). The trail crosses a yak pasture. This is one of the places that has the best views of the snow-capped mountains. We go slowly and enjoy the views—it's not easy riding at this altitude. There are a few lines down from Lubra Dhada into the valley, and the guide will choose the best one suited to your skill level. This descent is one of the most fun in the area. We ride to Tinigoan (2,840m) and Dhumba Lake before hitting the river bed again and pedaling to Marpha. Some of the trails are technical and can be a bit exposed in places. The day is predominantly downhill, but there are some uphill and pedaling sections. Along the river bed, it can be a bit rocky, but overall, this is one of the best days of riding. The village of Marpha is situated off the main road and also has a monastery that you can explore. The area is famous for apple growing, Thakali culture, excellent food, and apple brandy.

Today we leave Marpha and cross the river on another suspension bridge. We ride along the river, mostly flat pedaling to Kobang Village. From here, we have a 4 km climb up on a jeep track. It can get a bit steep in places. We reach Titi Lake (2,705m). Spend some time enjoying the views from the lake shore—the views of Dhaulagiri from here are stunning. We then leave the lake and hit some fun downhills back to the river. The trails here are a bit more forested than they are higher up. On the other side of the river, we find the village of Kalopani (Blackwater). Here we stay for the night.

Kalopani marks the end of the glacial valley we have been riding through. From here, we have some 1,700m of descending on fast and fun jeep tracks. We follow the Kali Gandaki River down, pass the impressive waterfall at Rupse Chara, through the hot springs village of Tatopani, and roll through the steep-sided valley to Ghaleshowr, where our vehicle awaits. After having lunch, we drive the 3 hours to Pokhara.

Today we transfer you to the Pokhara airport for the short 23-minute 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.

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