Jomsom Muktinath – The Apple Brandy Trail

Upon your arrival in Nepal, a member of our team will meet you at the Airport and transfer you to the Hotel. We have a meet and greet with the Guide/Trekking team for a trip briefing and gear check. We also treat you to a welcome dinner of Nepal’s Traditional dish Dal Bhart (Rice, Lentil Soup and lots of Yummy side dishes).

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.

After Breakfast we leave the hotel and drive to the airport, where we catch a 25 min 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 Pogoda, a 2 to 3 hour round trip with a short yet steep climb and a super nice single track descent to the Lake. Stay overnight in Lakeside.

Wake up for sunrise and hopefully catch a glimpse of the mountains before we head to the airport. It’s about a 22 min 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 tips almost touch the snow capped peaks, fly right between the Himalayan giants and you feel your adventure has really begun as the small plane banks left and touches down in Jomsom. In Jomsom, we have breakfast and spend some time getting the bikes ready for the journey. Enjoy an easy acclimatization ride of 14 km to the beautiful Tibetan village of Kagbeni. The road is mostly flat and traces the Kaligandaki River right up to the boundary of Upper Mustang.

Get up early to see the sunrise and have breakfast. Today we cycle uphill for the most part. Leaving behind the beautiful village of Kagbeni, warm up your legs and start to climb. We follow the trail on the north side of the gorge and climbs up on a dusty jeep track towards the foreboding Throng La Pass. We stop and explore the ancient monastery at Jhong and have some lunch basking in the sunshine and enjoying the mountain Views. The final push after lunch is short and we should arrive in Muktinath around mid afternoon. Spend some time here exploring the Monastery and Temples, two of the holiest in Nepal. Stay overnight and enjoy the local culture of this bustling town.

Our day kicks off with some brilliant downhill and after yesterday’s challenge, you will welcome fun jeep tracks and trails with a mostly downhill gradient! We have to start early as the wind gets up after 11 am making riding a bit more challenging. Chill out on this section and enjoy the views. For experienced riders there are single track options. Savor the moment as you whizz past trekkers, the Himalayan wind in your face and miles of downhill before your wheels. Once in the river Valley it’s a 6km flat stretch to Jomsom followed by undulating trails along the river to Marpha. In the wind this can be a bit tough riding, but stop and enjoy the views along the way. Take lunch in the beautiful and ancient town of Marpha famous for growing apples and making apple brandy, a local product and a good after dinner nightcap to relax your mind and body after the day’s ride.

Again we are going downhill today. The trail starts out gentle and flat and wind’s in and out of the valley sides, through pine forests and small villages. Following the river, there are good views of the snow capped peaks. Stop at the lush waterfalls at Rukse Chaahara (Waterfall) for lunch. After here the speed picks up as the trail drops some 1000 meters with sweeping curves and plunges, rocky sections and bumps that you will love. Arrive in Tatopani the cobble lined village famous for its rejuvenating Hot Springs. Once in Tatopani you can enjoy a soothing bath in the Hot Springs and perhaps a local massage will not go astray, or a cold beer for that matter.

A ride of around 22 km on 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.

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.

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