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Upper Mustang Mountain Biking

Key Points

  • Destination: Nepal
  • Duration: 17 Days
  • Max Altitude: 3810 m
  • Activity: Trekking
  • Fitness Level: Strenuous
  • Group -Size: 2-15 pax
Trip Overview

The Himalayan region of Nepal offers one of the most impressive landscapes for mountain biking trips. Biking in the Himalayas and enjoying the pellucid mountain ranges and the splendor of the mid-hill landscape is beyond explanation through words. Mountain biking in the most famous region of the Upper Mustang region is one of the best activities to take part in. The barren Tibetan-like plateau in the sandy landscape is adventurous for mountain biking.

The upper Mustang region is a perfect mountain biking destination for many reasons. It does not only offer challenging and adventurous biking opportunities but also spectacular scenery, a hidden culture of the region, and exposure to Tibetan Buddhism through monasteries. This biking trip with Mountain Delights Treks and Expedition is worthy of participation, though the permit fee is high (US$ 500 per person) to enter the region, which is a restricted zone.

Itenerary

Arrival in Kathmandu. Meet with our friendly representative at the arrival terminal of only International airport. And, then you will be transferred to your hotel. You check-in at your Hotel and then after short rest you can go to explore market area of Thamel – where you can eat your supper, change money, buy some stuffs from supermarket, or buy trekking gears – if you need to do. Later we take you to our office for the trip briefing. Overnight at your hotel. Delay of any kind will postpone the events for next day according to feasibility.

You start the day with delicious breakfast served at your Hotel. The sightseeing involves tour of two religious and cultural sites of Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath stupa.

Pashupatinath Temple: It is one of the most celebrated Hindu temples in South-Asia. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. This place is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. The Bagmati river flowing besides the temple is religiously and spiritually significant for Hindus where cremation of dead body takes place. Pashupatinath temple holds the most of prominence during Shivaratri – Shiva’s birthday and thousands of pilgrims gather in the night to celebrate the day. Boudhanath Stupa: It is one of the biggest Stupas in terms of size and height in Nepal and located in east of Kathmandu in the ancient trade route between India-Nepal and Tibet. The site is peaceful and culturally filled with intermixed influence of Tibetan and Sherpa roots. Stupa built in the trading route between Kathmandu and Tibet has four pairs of eyes directed towards all four directions. It is believed to be influenced by Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. After short tour of city we return to hotel and prepare for the trek. Overnight will be spent at hotel.

Pokhara – the beautiful lake city of Nepal nestled in the lap of the majestic Annapurna – is located 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu. Early morning you embark for long yet scenic and adventurous drive to Pokhara. As you drive out of the Kathmandu valley the road descend to the Trishuli River valley on the other part. The Highway is narrow in breadth, and snake bend in shape thus make the drive thrilling. After scenic and adventurous drive, arrive at the hotel and rest the remaining evening. You can utilize your rest time exploring around the lakeside or shop around. Overnight in a hotel.

From Pokhara you will fly early morning – pre-Breakfast due to weather and wind conditions in Jomsom – to Jomsom the capital town of the Mustang administrative region. This breathtaking mountain flight provides magnificent gorge made by two 8000m peaks – Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. The flight is indeed awestruck and thrilliing. Arrive at Jomsom – in the clear beautiful day you will be mesmerized by the view of Nilgiri and other peaks just in the front of the airstrip – and then prepare for the ride of the day. The ride today goes to Kagbeni. Cycling along the Kali Gandaki River bank up to Kagbeni is a steady and awesome ride mostly on flat trail. You will explore around the Kagbeni in the evening. Overnight at local lodge.

After breakfast, we start our cycling following the trail towards Muktinath leaving behind the beautiful Kagbeni village. We will be cycling uphill mostly today. We will explore the ancient monastery at Dzong and get some beautiful views for some time. Now, we will continue our ride towards Muktinath. Upon arrival at Muktinath, we will spend some time exploring around Temple and Monastery. Overnight at local lodge at Muktinath.

Today is exciting day as we enter the restricted area of Upper Mustang. After breakfast, you set for the say with uphill ride up to Gyu La Pass. The view from this point is tantalizing in terms of view of the Himalayan peaks. After crossing the pass, the trail descends steeply down on a winding ridge to Tetang and further down to Chhusang. Again, from Chhusang, you will follow the mostly uphill trail until Samar. Today you are entered in to the majestic and mystic Shangri-La of Upper Mustang. Overnight stay at local lodge

The ride today takes you through four high mountain passes which are Nyila La, Dajori La, Bhena La, and Yamda La Pass before you reach Ghami. Thus, the day is challenging. Considering the amount of effort that you need to put into pedaling your bike, it’s definitely a hard day. But what rewards you with mesmerizing views of the peaks, beautiful plateaus, and unparalleled scenery of entire landscapes throughout the day. After this arduous day, you arrive at the beautiful village of Ghami. Overnight stay at the local lodge

Today is another remarkable day of your biking trip in the Upper Mustang. The day is comparatively short and easy after yesterday’s tough ride. There is only one uphill to paddle today to cross the Chinggel Tharsang Cholya pass. Other than this, the trail for today is mostly downhill. Since there is a smaller uphill section to paddle you can save your energy and even time to enjoy the unparallel scenic beauty of the region. After this undemanding ride you reach Charang village. You can utilize your rest of the day here exploring the Buddhist Monastery, chat with the monks, and even play soccer! Overnight Stay at the local lodge.

Your excitement to reach Lo-Manthang – a fantabulous place in the Upper Mustang which has served as the headquarters of the region and the capital of the Kingdom which was abolished in 2008 after the country changed to Republic. The ride to Lo Manthang leads past a high mountain pass called Lo La pass which is also known as ‘windy pass’. The beautiful walled city of Lo-Manthang can be seen from the pass. Riding downhill from the top, you arrive at Lo Manthang by Lunch time. After lunch you can explore this incredible forbidden town of Lo Manthang – lost in time and untouched by the outer world for centuries. Visiting the Royal Palace, monasteries, and other attractions are the highlights of the day. Overnight Stay at the local lodge.

Today is an extra day at Lo Manthang. We will be riding Garphu. You will reach Kali Gandaki River crossing several tributaries where you will find Ghom. Ghom is a cave in the mountainside known as cave of thousand windows and the historical site of monastery. Your experience will be enhanced with awesome scenery and the isolated Tibetan Culture. After the exploration, you will return to the lodge and overnight at the lodge.

Today, we will follow the track with mountain view which is steep and sandy. We will ride uphill to Yara. In the afternoon we will ride to Luri Gumba and explore the Gumba. After some exploration, we will return to the Yara and overnight at local lodge at Yara.

Today we will start our day will nice single-track enjoying the beautiful landscape. We will have to climb for upto 2 hours, and we will finish our day at Tangbe. Tangbe is a simple, isolated, and remote village. Overnight at local lodge at Tangbe.

After breakfast, we will start our day. Aft first part will be pushing uphill following the single track. After the push, we will descent to Chhuksang. Today we will get awesome scenery which includes some of the best views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri. We will spend our overnight at local lodge at Chhuksang

We will be leaving Chhuksang passing through Dajori La and Taklam La pass. We will pass through the sacred place where the ancient art of Sky Burial is carried out. Here we also may get to see the rare Himalayan Vulture in the sky. We will continue our ride till Jomsom. Overnight at a local lodge at Jomsom.

After breakfast, we will start our ride towards Tatopani following the Jeep track. We need to start early as the wind starts after 11 am and it can make the riding a bit challenging. You will be descending for most of the part until you reach Tatopani. Overnight at a local lodge at Tatopani.

After breakfast , we will start our drive towards Pokhara. We will get to see the beautiful landscapes, river, forest and others. We will be riding off road until Beni and through the pitched road till Pokhara. We will check into the hotel upon reaching Pokhara and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will be taken to the hotel and rest of the day is provided as a free day for you. You can either rest or explore around the hotel area today. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at your Hotel, we take you to the mysterious Kathmandu city tour. This historical, cultural, and spiritual city unveils the social and historical mysteries to visitors. You will walk through the narrow lanes of the ancient Kathmandu – the center of power – that includes markets of Ason, Glass beads market at In-drachowk, oldest supermarket at New Road, Kilagal, and Hidden Stupas inside the family courtyard. Visit of Kathmandu Durbar Square – the administrative quarter of Malla Kings (fourteenth to eighteenth century), and Shah Kings who ruled Ne-pal from 1768 until 2008. The most unique experience in the square is the visit to the temple of the living goddess “Kumari”. After the tour, return back to your Ho-tel. If you are staying in Thamel, you can hang around this bustling tourist market and enjoy shopping. Overnight at the hotel.
As per your flight schedule, you will be transferred to the international airport of Kathmandu three hours prior to the flight time.

What is Included?

    • Airport Pick Up and Drop Off (International & Domestic) in private vehicle
    • Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara in the Hotel with breakfast included 
    • Tea house (Lodge) accommodation during the biking trip in the mountain in full board (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
    • Tea / Coffee (3 times a day) during trek
    • Mountain Delights licensed English-speaking mountain biking guide(s). The number of guides and assistant guides is dictated by the group size.
    • Air ticket (Pokhara – Jomsom - Pokhara)
    • All food, drinks, lodging, salary, insurance, medical equipment, and transportation for staffs
    • Private land transportation
    • Kathmandu Cultural and Historical sightseeing with a Tour Guide, private transportation, and entrance fee and Pokhara city tour
    • Mountain bike for the number of days riding. The brands include Cube, Trek and Giant hard tail or full-suspension bikes, depending on your choice (We recommend to bring your own Bike)
    • Farewell dinner in Kathmandu on the night before departure.
    • Trekking Permit (TIMS)
    • Annapurna Conservation Area  Permit (ACAP)
    • Special Upper Mustang Entry permit
    • Down jacket, sleeping bag, fleece liner, and a duffel bag
    • All government taxes

What is Excluded?

    • International and domestic airport departure taxes
    • Your travel insurance is mandatory to include the helicopter evacuation if required
    • Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. A tourist visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying US $40 and $100, respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.
    • Any bar bills (alcoholic drinks, mineral water, and cold drinks), cigarettes, your insurance coverage that should include the emergency helicopter evacuation, and any kind of expenses created due to unforeseen circumstances.
    • Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara: USD 20 per day per person.
    • Tips for biking staff, drivers, and other associates (Tips are not mandatory but expected and recommended)
    • Biking attire and other personal gear.
    • Any other services that are not mentioned in the Inclusion section

Equipment Checklist

This list outlines the required things to bring during the trekking tours. There are various selections and brands that you can choose as per your interest. All required trekking equipment can be bought or even hired easily at a reasonable price in Kathmandu.

General          

  1. Four seasons Sleeping bag (optional; we can provide one if you need it but is to be returned after the trek)
  2. Duffel or Rucksack bag  & suitcase (Optional/we can provide one if you need it but is to be returned after the trek)
  3. Daypack
  4. Down Jacket (Optional/we can provide if you need one but is to be returned after the trek)

 

Upper Body - Head / Ears / Eyes

  1. Shade hat or baseball cap - some people drape a bandana down the back of their head and then put a baseball cap on to hold it is place. This can be a flexible alternative while keeping the sun off your ears and neck.
  2. Warm wool or synthetic hat that cover your ears.
  3. Balaclava - lightweight, thinner variety.
  4. Glacier glasses-
  5. Headlamp
  6. Some people like ear-muffs; These are optional; a good hat, balaclava, and hooded jacket should really be sufficient, but this is a personal choice for some people (optional).
  7. A neck warmer is another piece of gear for extra warmth if you feel you will need it (optional).

Hand

  1. A pair liner gloves, thin wool or synthetic, useful alone on mild days or as a layer inside other gloves / mitts for additional warmth.
  2. One pair warm gloves
  3. Instant hand warmers are always nice in a pinch, but really shouldn't be necessary on the trek. Bringing appropriate hand protection as recommended above, should be sufficient (optional).

Core Body

  1. T-shirts (2).
  2. Light and expedition weight thermal tops.
  3. Fleece jacket or pullover.
  4. Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional).
  5. Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket.
  6. 2 women sports bras, Synthetic, no cotton!
  7. Long shirts(2)

Lower Body – Legs

  1. Two pairs nylon hiking shorts - Quick drying type, not cotton!
  2. Underwear, stay away from cotton (4).
  3. Two pairs lightweight long underwear - capilene or other synthetic.
  4. One pair soft shell pants - synthetic, full zip from top and bottom preferable.
  5. Two pairs trekking pants, preferably that zip on/off at the knees so they double as shorts.
  6. One pair hard shell pants. Waterproof / breathable, Gore-Tex or equivalent is best. Should zip from the top and bottom - this makes it easier to put on over boots without getting undressed should the weather change once you are underway for the day.
  7. One pair cotton pants (loose jeans/khakis).
  8. All clothing should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture resistant plastic bags.

Feet

  1. Two-four pairs of liner socks, synthetic or capilene.
  2. Two-three pairs heavy weight socks to be worn over liner socks.
  3. One pair light weight socks, a good option for the lower / warmer parts of the trail.
  4. One pair light to medium weight water proof hiking/trekking boots. Ensure a good fit with layered socks and you have worn then before to get used to it (otherwise you will get lots of blister).
  5. One pair light trekking shoes or sneakers. Good for around the camp/lodges and in Kathmandu.
  6. One pair sandals (Optional).

Medicines and First Aid Kits

(Please note our guide will also carry the first aid kit bag during the trek. However we still recommend you to bring your personal first aid kit as well)

  1. Extra Strength Excedrin for altitude related headaches.
  2. Ibuprofen for general aches and pains.
  3. Immodium or Pepto bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
  4. Diamox (commonly prescribed as Acetazolamide) 125 or 250mg tablets for altitude sickness. Please discuss with us before starting to take this medicine.
  5. One small personal sized first-aid kit with blister treatments such as mole skin, band-aids, some waterproof tape, anti-infection ointments, etc. Your guides will have more extensive medical gear, but you should have the basics for general use.

Miscellaneous

  1. Passport and extra passport photos (4 copies).
  2. Airline ticket (Please make a copy and leave on at our office in KTM just in case if you need to change the date of your).
  3. Durable wallet / pouch for travel documents, money & passport.
  4. Lip balm. At least SPF 20, 2 sticks. A string taped to the stick is helpful, to hang around your neck and some are now being sold with a cord already attached. Handy as it avoids you from having to stop and look for it.
  5. Sunscreen. SPF 40 is recommended and should be relatively new since it loses its' effectiveness over time.
  6. Pocket knife or small Swiss Army type.
  7. Water purification Iodine tablets or Polar-pure crystals.
  8. Toiletry kit. Be sure to include toilet paper stored in a plastic bag, hand wipes, and liquid hand sanitizer, towel, soap, etc.
  9. Two bandanas.

Optional

  1. Favorite snack foods
  2. Paperback books, cards, mp3 player (there are a couple of stops where you could recharge. Avoid players with moving hardware as it may not function. Remember, keep these items light weight
  3. Binoculars
  4. One light weight point & shoot camera or 1 large SLR. Digital cameras are ok, but you must keep the batteries warm when not in use
  5. Hydration bladder with drinking tube and tube insulator
  6. A pee bottle for men and pee funnel for woman, some swear by them to avoid that chilly late night trip
  7. One small stainless steel thermos

All garments should be kept dry using waterproof stuff sacks or large puncture-resistant plastic bags.

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