mountain bike nepal
HIMALAYA HEIGHTS
DEtails:
2025 DATES: March 14-23, 2025 | October 10-19, 2025 | October 24-November 2, 2025
Duration: 9 Nights, 10 Days
Joining In: Kathmandu, Nepal
Land Cost: $3495 USD/person | Currency Conversion
Single room supplement: $495 USD
Activity Level: Intermediate+ | more info »
To mountain bike in Nepal is on most riders’ bucket lists and there's a reason why. It is home to eight of the world's ten highest mountains; the landscapes are diverse and the views staggering. It is the birthplace of Buddhism and boasts a rich cultural diversity and wonderful people. As a developing country Nepal can be a challenging place to travel in, we've worked diligently over the years to offer the very best Nepal mountain bike trip available. Our guides and support staff are the best; they are hand picked and professional. Our routes have been carefully chosen; we ride as much singletrack as possible and spend three full days on the Annapurna circuit. We avoid long slogs up dusty roads and instead shuttle you so that you can save your energy for the fun stuff. From the moment that you touch down in Kathmandu you'll be transported on an unforgettable mountain bike adventure, a true trip of a lifetime.
Minimum group size four riders, maximum group size 10 riders.
Looking for another trip idea? Check out our Peru mountain bike trip.
Photo: Leslie Kehmeier.
Trip Highlights:
- Strolling the busy streets of Kathmandu and witnessing the sights and sounds of a fascinating city with a long history.
- Getting to know the friendly Nepalnese, from your amazing mountain bike guides and drivers to local shop-keepers and hotel staff.
- Stepping off the plane onto the runway in Jomsom, in the Mustang District and standing beneath an 8000-meter peak for the first time.
- Visiting the Muktinath Temple, a sacred place for Hindus and Buddhists, then setting off to the Gyu La mountain pass, the highest point of the trip at 4577 meters.
- Spending a few nights in the village of Kagbeni, the gateway to the recently forbidden Upper Mustang region and nearby Tibet.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Expert handpicked local guides & dedicated support team.
- Hotel & ‘luxury’ guest house accommodation (always private bath w/ hot showers).
- All breakfasts, all lunches & seven dinners.
- Airport pick-up/drop-off & all transportation including return flight Pokhara-Kathmandu & flight to Jomson.
- Entrance fee & city guide to Bhaktapur Durbar Square; entrance fees for Shivapuri National Park; Annapurna Conservation Area permits and Mustang region permits.
- Detailed pre-departure information.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?
- Two dinners.
- International airfare to Kathmandu.
- Entry visas, airport taxes and excess baggage charges.
- Personal travel and medical insurance.
- Your bike and related equipment needed to ride.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Personal items and expenses, optional excursions, tipping to leaders and local staff (please ask us if you would like guidance about appropriate tipping).
- We recommend $20-30 USD per day for extras.
Bike and equipment
Very limited high-performance rental bikes are available on this trip. As it is on most of our trips it is recommended that riders bring their own bikes. A current full-suspension enduro bike with 150-160mm travel that’s capable up & down is suggested, or a smaller 130-140mm travel bike would also work on this trip. Tires should be tubeless, 2.30” or above, aggressive tread designed for rocky terrain, one to two-ply casing for durability, puncture resistance and added control. Eye protection and knee pads that you can comfortably pedal in are highly recommended. Helmets are mandatory when on your bike. A 20L backpack is recommended.
Suggested Bike
Trek Remedy
Suggested pack
EVOC FR Trail 20
ACTIVITY LEVEL
The minimum technical ability required for Nepal is Intermediate+. This trip is suitable if you have been riding consistently for three to four years and are confident on most types of singletrack and conditions. This trip is a Level 4/6 for fitness. The altitude adjustment, dry and exposed landscape (second part of the trip) and accumulation of multiple long days of riding will add up, as it is on all of our trips the fitter you are, the more fun you’ll have.
THE RIDING
The first three days in the Kathmandu Valley are on lower altitude hiking trails that link villages with compact dirt and roots, narrow sections through rice fields, some eroded ruts, some short steep and slippery sections. In the big mountains rides are a mix of singletrack and doubletrack/dirt roads in open landscapes on dry surfaces with loose and fixed rock. Highest point is 4,577m/15,016ft, most rides take place between 2,000m/7,000ft and 3,000m/10,000ft or lower. There are many suspension bridges that can be ridden or walked.
LODGING AND CUISINE
We specifically use better accommodation than our competitors on this trip. We will be staying in comfortable hotels and guest-houses that are unique, well-located, simple at times and always memorable. You’ll always have a private bathroom and a hot shower. The food is better than most might imagine, enjoying local fare in the smaller communities, while Kathmandu has the choices one might get at home. Please let us know if you have any dietary requests as we always do our best to accommodate everyone.
CLIMATE
Since we’ll be travelling amongst very big mountains and in a wide va- riety of climatic regions, the weather changes can be dramatic and we need to be prepared for everything that Mother Nature can send our way. Kathmandu is quite warm (t-shirt and shorts for riding) while Kag- beni is cold at night (bennie and light down jacket at night). We’ll send you a detailed list of what to bring, and we always send you a link to the weather forecast just before you depart.
YOUR SAFETY
Our trips take place in remote regions with limited evacuation options available. Our guides have basic first aid training, if a serious injury is suspected they will call helicopter search and rescue at the cost of the participant. Personal medical travel insurance is mandatory for all riders. If you choose to participate in our trips it is up to you to ride well within your limits, to ride conservatively, to walk sections if needed and to be safe as mountain biking is a dangerous sport. There are always risks and hazards on all trails that we ride. It is your responsibility to inspect your bike or rental bike daily and keep it in excellent condition. Helmets are mandatory and alcohol and drugs are not permitted while riding your bike.
THE NEXT STEPS
Please read and understand our Terms and Conditions and our Waiver. Then, email or call us to make sure that your desired departure is confirmed and there’s still space available. We’ll then send you a short Rider Questionnaire to learn about your riding experience and ensure that you are suitable for the trip. The last step is to complete our secure online Registration Form and pay your 25% deposit, and we’ll send you detailed Trip Preparation Guide that includes steps on preparing for your adventure.
A Travel Protection Plan protects your travel investment, your belongings, and most importantly, you. We strongly advise travelers to enroll in a Travel Protection Plan in case an unexpected event causes you to cancel or leave your trip. Please review Big Mountain Bike Adventures’ Cancellation Policy:
A Travel Protection Plan should be purchased once a deposit or any payment is made for a trip. Insurance must provide coverage for personal accident, death, emergency remote evacuation including helicopter evacuation, medical expenses and emergency repatriation. We advise travellers to confirm that it covers trip cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You will be asked for proof of insurance in lead up to your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without it. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance coverage, Big Mountain will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect to insurance coverage that would have otherwise have been available.
“There’s no better way to see Nepal than from a mountain bike, this trip is worldclass from start to finish.”
