Himalaya Heights

 All trails are accessed by shuttle, and the riding is mainly all-mountain style across rolling hilly landscapes, with some climbing and daily hike-a-bike sections. There are 3 domestic flights on this trip.

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, and some short, steep, and slippery sections. In the big mountains, rides are a mix of singletrack, doubletrack., sand, and dirt roads in open landscapes on dry surfaces with loose and fixed rock. There are many suspension bridges that can be ridden or walked.

4-6 hours of active pedalling. 7-52km.

No, your gear is transported to each location. All you need is your day pack with your essentials.

There is no shame in walking your bike on any section of trail you feel uncomfortable. We encourage you to ride well within your limits, to ride conservatively, to walk sections if needed.

We will be staying in comfortable hotels and guest-houses (known as tea houses) that are unique, well-located, simple and always memorable. You’ll always have a private bathroom and a hot shower.

All meals except 2 dinners.

Nepalese cuisine is flavorful, hearty, and often tailored to nourish the body in a mountainous climate. At the center of most meals is dal bhat, a staple of steamed rice (bhat) served with a lentil soup (dal) and accompanied by various vegetable curries, pickles, and sometimes meat, often chicken or goat.

Laundry services and facilities are available in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Once you are in the Mustang District (nights 5-8), you have the option to hand wash your riding kit if needed.

It is imperative when signing up for one of our trips that you are confident that your riding ability matches the required riding ability for the trip, regardless if it’s an eMTB or MTB trip. If you have the required ability level for the trip but little (or no) experience on an eMTB this is fine, our guides will give you tips to help you learn to ride these assist-bikes. They are intuitive and you will be a pro within a few days. Read more about the benefits of eMTBs in one of our Trail Tales.

eMTB’s generally come in two battery sizes, sub-400 Wh and 750 Wh (or above). On our trips we utilise the bigger battery bikes which allow riders to easily ride four to six hours in higher-assist modes. Riders will carry their chargers daily, if needed we will charge batteries over lunch to further ensure that riders do not run out of juice. Note that the bigger battery bikes have greater torque and make the bikes heavier.

As it is with any bike on any ride, a personal bike or rental bike, a short ride or long ride – mechanical issues can, and will, occur. As it has been for 20+ years of running our trips we are aware of this possibility and prepared to deal with issues if needed. We help riders to avoid mechanicals by performing bike checks and with general bike care. Note that mechanicals and breakdowns are at your cost (including potential itinerary interruptions or changes), on rental eMTB’s or personal MTB’s.

We source the best rental bikes available in each region through our partner bike shops. We ensure that rental bikes are inspected, well-maintained and have appropriate tires, brakes and extra parts. We know that quality bikes and components are paramount to a good experience. Note that a rental bike will never be as comfortable as one’s personal bike, riders must expect some adjustment and compromise when riding the rental bikes. For some destinations, there is the option to upgrade to a high-performance eMTB.

Upon registration for your trip you will be asked to input your height, weight (for suspension set up) and preferred frame size. We will then communicate the bike brand, model and specs to you. Flat pedals are included on bikes, if you ride clip pedals, you are required to bring your own pedals. Bikes also include a set of brake pads, tire levers, a multi-tool and tubes. It is suggested to bring your own pump and specific tools. It is also suggested to bring your own saddle for added comfort and related riding gear: helmet, globes, knee pads, eye protection, hydration bag, etc.

In the majority of countries that we run our trips protection insurance is not available. If it is available we will communicate this to you. Riders are 100% responsible for all damages to rental bikes – you must inspect your bike for existing damages (take photos) before the first ride. If damages occur while riding the rental bike we will communicate the details and cost to you upon completion of the trip. Once agreed upon your credit card on file will be used to cover cost of damages from the bike shop where bike was rented from.

eMTBs have four or five assist modes (from eco to turbo). On most days, we ride in the middle level to ensure that we are conserving battery. As on any bike, eMTBs perform best when pedalling at a consistent and relatively fast cadence (70-90 RPMs). They are heavier than regular bikes, which takes some adjustment, as the weight is often low on the bike, which adds stability in loose rocks and increased speeds. Riders must look further ahead when riding e-bikes and change gears well in advance (while light pedalling). With the pedal-assist, there is added stress on the drivetrain, and it is suggested to lower saddle height slightly and move weight forward more than usual on steeper climbing sections. For more information, check out one of our Trail Tales. 

With the exception of a few trips (Treasure Islands and Mediterranean Dreams) we try to avoid mixing e-bikes and acoustic mountain bikes on our trips. However, on private departures, we are able to host a mixed group to help groups ride together. Our policy with mixed groups is that the pace of the ride follows acoustic riders, and e-bikers will have a “cruisier” experience and must be patient and expect to wait at times.

Since we’ll be travelling amongst very big mountains and in a wide variety 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 Kagbeni is cold at night (light down jacket needed). Expect temperatures of 25-30 degrees Celsius (78-86 Fahrenheit) in the warmer valleys, and temperatures of 5-15 degrees Celsius (41-59 Fahrenheit) at the highest altitudes. October and November, the start of the dry season,  is the best time to visit. With the monsoon only recently finished, the countryside is green and lush, the air is sparkling clean and the Himalayan views are near perfect. While temperatures can be balmy, be prepared for cool days with wind and possible rain.

If a service charge is not included in the total, 10% of the bill is perfectly acceptable for a tip. If a tipping box is available, it is best to use this so tips can be divided between all members of the staff. A tip of 20 rupees is sufficient for anyone who helps carry your luggage, such as a porter or bellboy. Gratuities for your Big Mountain guides may be given at your discretion in response to their professionalism and leadership throughout the week. We suggest 5-10% of the trip price per rider to be divided among the guides as a standard.

The Nepali rupee is divided into 100 paisa. There are coins for denominations of one, two, five and 10 rupees, and bank notes in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees. It’s recommended that you bring some US cash, or Euros, with you and plan on exchanging it upon arrival in Katmandu. It’s a very good idea to get small local denominations, as few places can exchange bigger notes. ATM’s are available in Kathmandu and Pokhara but it’s reported that these machines don’t take cards with the Cirrus system. In regard to cash, both the USD, euro and pound sterling are readily accepted in Nepal and there are currency exchange counters at the Kathmandu airport and at major banks and independent money changers. Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Although it is helpful to bring a credit card along for emergencies, don’t count on using it for most purchases.