Kathmandu Ridge Biking Tour

Kathmandu Valley Ridge Mountain Biking

Overview

This Biking tour takes you around the rim of the valley that contains the capital city Kathmandu. It transverses to the northern rim of the valley taking in all the high points for spectacular mountains views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Everest. Not only does this route take in the mountains but also Kathmandu’s exotic and sometimes erotic architecture, holy-men, temples and culture. It may be a unique experience not to be found anywhere else in the world. A lot of the trails are challenging and only for the serious recreational riders. The biking tour passes through a nun’s monastery and continues riding through the thick jungle of Shivapuri towards Nagarkot. Further, we go to an old Newari town and re-enter the valley through a high pass called Panouti and ending our tour in the Kathmandu. We “Nepal Mother House Treks” are glad to arrange this tour itinerary on your own design also.

Itinerary

Day 1:Arrival at Kathmandu & Transfer to the Hotel.

Upon arrival at international airport, meet assistants and transfer to Hotel (star category, a very nice centrally located at Thamel), rest and free at afternoon. Stay overnight at Hotel.

Hotel
1,350m
Arrival

Day 2:Kathmandu to Kakani (2,073m) - ride 22km

After breakfast we will start our cycle tour through to Nagarjun forest (the queen’s forest) which is way up the drive to Trishuli Bazaar via Langtang Trek, and 22km north of Kathmandu. Where we head off the road we will see green hills with local villages, and great scenery of the Himalayan range of Annapurna from on the way, and continue riding on the Kakani Dada (Dada is a Hill), which is one of the spectacular views of over the valley. A superb single-track and fine trail descend down the backside of the mountain with numerous picnic spots and small villages en route. When you are lucky you can catch the Sunset at the Himalayan of the Annapurna region, Ganesh Himal, Lanagtang Region and the valley of Likhu Khola. Stay overnight at Hotel.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2,073m
Biking

Day 3:Kakani to Nagi Gompa - ride 28km

Early morning wake up and catch sunrise in the Himalayan ranges. After breakfast our journey heads off on one of the best single tracks in the valley (which was used as the Mountain Bike Championship course) down towards Budhanilkantha. Following the valley ridge, we stay high above Kathmandu and continue onto a downhill and traverse towards Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist Tibetan Nunnery where we can see Tibetan culture in the evening. Overnight at nearby the Nagi Gompa.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1,650m
Biking

Day 4:Nagi Gompa to Chisapani (2,194m) - ride 33km

After breakfast our tour continues to ride on a mixture of jeep trails through the Shivapuri Reserve. Part of the way is on the Helambu trekking trail. Our final journey destination in Chisapani (chisapani means cold water in Nepali), which rounds off a challenging day. Again, today’s lodge enjoys outstanding views of the Annapurna range, Ganesh Himal and Langtang - the best outlooks within the valley region. Overnight at Chisapani

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2,194m
Biking

Day 5:Chisapani to Nagarkot (2,163m) – ride 35km

After breakfast we ride down from Chisapani into the NE corner of the KTM valley, and then through to a mix of single and jeep tracks to wind our way to Nagarkot. Our trail will depend on the condition of the ways. The comfort and peaceful surrounding of the hotel on the valley rim reward a short steep climb into Nagarkot, and this is one of the most popular view points. When you are lucky, you catch the sunset Himalayan range. We will stay overnight at Nagarkot.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
2,163m
Biking

Day 6:Nagarkot to Dhulikhel

Early in the morning we catch the sunrise from Mt. Everest side. After breakfast our journey leads through the ‘Retread’ Trails. This is a jeep track descent through terraced paddy fields and small local villages that lead us to the Indrawati River. We will stop to take photos as the Himalayas are right behind us all the way down, and also make offerings at the local temples to help ensure that we remember those technical skills when we need them. After 1000m of downhill, a jeep road leads us to the Freedom of Arany Highway. We will lunch in a secret spot by the river before the long climb back up to the valley rim, and most of the best done supported by vehicle, riding 65km. Overnight at Dhulikhel.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1,550m
Biking

Day 7:Exploring in Dhulikhel

Early in the morning start our journey climbing to a wide jeep trail, and then to the temple of Namo Buddha with views of Ganesh Himal with Langtang rgion. The Stupa here is an important Tibetan Pilgrimage site, where the Buddha reputedly fed himself to a hungry tigress! Lunch here is the traditional Dal Bhat or the packed lunch, fortunately not the tigers left-over! From the temple there’s a choice of wide tracks through picturesque villages and forests, or some newly discovered single track. We rejoin the wide trails and then a road for the last 8km back to our hotel. Ride 32km. Overnight in Hotel in Dhulikhel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Biking

Day 8:Dhulikhel to Exploring in Panauti via Drive back to Kathmandu

After breakfast on the last day of our journey, we take jeep tracks to the ancient city of Panauti where Lord Buddha lived as a prince prior to his offerings to the hungry tigress. This city is truly lost in time and is rarely visited by tourists. The Indresara Mahadev Temple is the oldest surviving dated temple in Nepal and believed that it was built in 1294 AD. Climbing west, we follow a jeep track along the meandering Roshi River. Beyond the town of Madhoban we enter a narrow pristine valley, ascending 300m on a superb single trail to reach the summit of a hill on Kathmandu Valley’s rim. This is probably the oldest route east out of Kathmandu Valley, known as Lakhure Bhanjung. What a grunt! But the views of the Himalayas more than compensate! From here we descend 500m via switch back jeep track to Sinseri, a quiet village. The ethnicity of the people change as we descend from Tamangs in the hills to Thakuris, Chhetris, to the valley bottom Newari farmers. A short distance beyond Sisneri is our pickup point for the drive back to Kathmandu.

Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
1.350m
Biking

Day 9:Your own destination.

Departure to International Airport for your flight schedule to your onwards destination.

Breakfast
Home Destination

Cost Details

Cost Includes

All food and accommodation (except meal in Kathmandu)
Shivapuri reserve entry fee
Airport transfer
Luggage drop only in two places (Nagarkot and Dhulikhel)
Biking Guide
Bike and helmet

Cost Excludes

Personal extras and special request purchases, confirmation or changes to flights
Faxes, e-mails and other personal correspondence
Drink and other food consumed other than the set out within the itinerary
Evacuation, medical expenses and related transfers
Travel insurance
Bike clothing, mineral water, support vehicle

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