Ultimate Himalaya - Upper Mustang & Annapurna

Join us on a warm-up ride exploring some of the best trails in the Kathmandu Valley. Test your bikes and gear to make sure everything is ready for the journey ahead. In 3 to 4 hours of riding, we'll cover around 40 km at a steady pace, exploring rural parts of the valley, singletrack sections, and visiting temples. Return to Thamel for lunch, last-minute bike adjustments, and final packing for the trip.

Starting at 8 AM, we meet at our workshop for freshly brewed Himalayan coffee, then load up the bikes for the 6-hour drive to Besisahar. We stop along the way to enjoy views and grab lunch. On arrival in Besisahar, we explore the town, meet our porters, and finalize trip preparations.

Today we ride a little more than 1,000 meters uphill. The trail takes us along the Marsyangdi River, a beautiful section that's 100% rideable. Tal is situated in a deep gorge with steep-sided valleys terraced with farms and small villages. You'll see cascading waterfalls along the way.

A challenging climb makes this one of the longest and hardest sections along the trekking trail. The terrain is rugged but fun, with great jungle and river scenery. Take this stage steadily and enjoy the ride.

The trail still climbs but becomes more rideable today as it widens back into a jeep track. The jungle opens up into the arid mountain region, and you'll get great views of the Himalaya as you ride. Take it steady to allow your body to acclimatize.

Take a day to acclimatize and prepare for the hard days ahead. Short hikes can be taken to explore the nearby area and visit high-altitude lakes. Rest, relax, and chill out in Manang—you might not want to leave! From here, you'll be heading into true mountain wilderness. Manang is home to the Manangi people, and you can sometimes see the ancient sports of archery and pony racing.

A short and gentle climb today from Manang to Yak Kharka and then on to Thorong Phedi. Take time to admire the mountain views. There are a couple of sections where you'll carry your bike, but for the most part, the trail is rideable.

Starting around 5 AM, you'll make the long haul carrying and pushing your bike up more than 1,300 meters to Thorong La. This is one of the most challenging parts of the ride and will test the true spirit and passion of any mountain biker as you battle the altitude and cold. But the rewards are magnificent: stunning views from Thorong La of snow-capped mountains and a superb technical downhill on the other side that will have you grinning from ear to ear. You'll arrive to a warm welcome and rest at Muktinath.

Today we enter the restricted region of Upper Mustang. It's an uphill stretch from Muktinath through Chhyonggur and up to the Gyu La Pass at 4,077 meters, 80% rideable. Enjoy panoramic views of snow-capped mountains. After a short steep downhill, follow an undulating ridge trail down to Tetang at 3,040 meters, more than a 1,000-meter descent on superb singletrack. Pass an ancient Mani Wall and cycle down to Chhusang. From here, there's a slight climb and river crossing to reach Chele on the opposite riverbank, where the river passes through a rock tunnel, then a steady climb up to Samar.

A hard day of riding. Leaving the riverbed, we climb into the hills. Four passes lie between us and Ghami: Nyila La (4,010m), Dajori La (3,735m), Bhena La (3,860m), and finally Yamda La (3,860m). Nyila is one of the most scenic passes on the trip, with stunning views of the entire Mustang region and the Annapurna and Nilgiri mountain ranges. After the pass, we head down a secret trail known only to our guides that takes us to Ghami, where we'll stop for the night. Ghami is one of the most beautiful villages, situated riverside with fertile land for growing Phapar (local wheat). Nearby is an old monastery and a local hospital supported by aid from Japan.

A great day of riding with just one big climb up to Chinggel Tharsang Choyla Pass. From the pass at 3,870 meters, there's really nice singletrack downhill riding along a little-known trail used by local people and their livestock. The ride is a welcome change from days of climbing and crossing passes. The scenery opens up, and there are fields of mustard and barley in the right season, making for lush pockets of greenery and grazing yaks. It's one of the most scenic days, with ever-changing colors of the landscape, yellows, browns, reds, grays, and blues, as the sun moves across the Himalayan sky. Charang is a nice village with a beautiful 400-year-old Gulpa Sect Monastery filled with friendly monks who like to play football. The monastery is also home to the oldest library in the region of Lo. Charang is a great village to hang out in and snap some photos.

From Charang, we cross Lo La Pass at 3,810 meters, just before Lo Manthang. This pass is also known as "Windy Pass," and from here you can view the walled city of Lo Manthang, your first tantalizing glimpse of this kingdom lost in time and your penultimate destination. In June and July, when crops are almost ready to harvest, the scenery is most dramatic. The barren brown landscape is scattered with fields of vibrant green and gold rolling with the wind under the vivid blue Himalayan sky, a truly memorable scene. The ride is easy if a bit of a long climb, about 18 km total. You'll enjoy the open jeep track trail and should arrive in Lo Manthang by lunchtime. Lo Manthang is perhaps one of the most interesting places in the Himalayas, and a couple of days spent here sightseeing is well worth it. Visit the Royal Palace, where you have the privilege of having tea or perhaps dinner with the King of Lo himself, what an experience! In the afternoon, there are three interesting monasteries to visit, one of them over 900 years old, displaying some of the most beautiful Thangka paintings found in Nepal. The intricate details and vivid colors of these paintings are a stark contrast to the wide-open spaces of the region.

Today we ride up to Garphu, following the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki River and crossing several of its tributaries. Here you'll find Ghom, a cave tunneling into the mountainside that is the historical site of a monastery and the cave of one thousand windows. The beautiful scenery and isolated Tibetan culture make this day trip a worthy experience. The way back from Ghom is a beautiful singletrack through traditional villages. This truly is a place to lose yourself in history, rustic architecture, and mind-blowing landscapes, one could easily roll back in time 100 years or more here.

Today features a super nice singletrack with mountain views and a really steep, sandy singletrack. The ride takes us uphill through a canyon to Yara, where we'll have lunch. After lunch, we ride a loop out to Luri Ghumba and then return to Yara. The round trip is 50% uphill and 50% downhill, around 2 hours return, but Luri Ghumba is worth a visit, this tiny monastery is nestled high into the cliff face. This is a challenging route for good riders with skill in loose trails with some exposure.

The day starts with a really nice singletrack and beautiful landscape. There's a long climb of about an hour and a half after crossing the river, where you might have to push some. We finish our day as we roll into Tangbe, a simple and remote village. Tangbe is a tiny village with very simple accommodation. You can enjoy the feeling of being really remote and isolated.

To start the day, we have to push and carry for about 2–3 hours, 1,000m uphill to Pha, followed by 2–3 hours of singletrack that undulates along the ridgeline before an EPIC descent down to Chhuksang. The scenery on this day is also epic. It's a ridgeline descent with some short climbs and amazing views. Some of the best views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri can be had on this day.

Leaving Chhuksang, we have two small passes: Dajori La (3,735m) and Taklam La (3,624m). Along the way, the route passes the sacred place where the ancient art of Sky Burial is carried out. Here you may see the rare Himalayan Vultures soaring in the sky. Continue cycling down to Kagbeni, where we can enjoy a nice Illy Coffee and get our permits checked for the last time. Ride on the last 11 km to Jomsom.

Our day kicks off with some brilliant downhill, and after yesterday's challenge, you'll welcome fun jeep tracks and trails with a mostly downhill gradient! We start early, as the wind picks up after 11 AM, making riding more challenging. Chill out on this section and enjoy the views. For experienced riders, there are singletrack options. Savor the moment as you whizz past trekkers, the Himalayan wind in your face and miles of downhill before your wheels. The trail rolls into Tukuche, a lovely old village riverside. Take some time to explore the cobbled lanes and the Thakali culture. Apple Brandy is a local product and a good after-dinner nightcap to relax your mind and body after the day's ride.

From Tatopani, we continue on to Beni, where we meet the transport and return to Pokhara for some civilization.

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.