Ride the Roof of the World

We want you to have the best experience of mountain biking in Nepal, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike adventure, with the right level of challenge, for you.

You’re an experienced mountain biker, riding at least twice a week through the season and comfortable on: long climbs on double track; steep, loose singletrack descents; rough, rocky trails, some with exposure; rutted, uneven terrain; and suspension bridges. Read more on our intermediate+ skill level.

Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.

Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.

Skill level: Intermediate+

• You are generally comfortable riding most types of terrain in different conditions: singletrack, double track, muddy, dry, loose, bedrock…
• You can brake, use gears and corner instinctively
• You’ll have a go on moderate technical features, such as small rock gardens, small drops and steeper sections, but may get off and walk certain technical features
• You mountain bike two or three times a week throughout your biking season
• And the ‘+’ part of ‘Intermediate+’ means that you will be aiming to tackle more of those moderate technical features

Fitness level: 5/7

• You have a good level of bike fitness, exercising at least three times every week throughout the year, for an hour at a time
• You can ride a mountain bike for up to six hours a day at a moderate pace, with snack and photo stops, for three or more consecutive days
• You can tackle two or three fairly significant climbs a day, up to 600 metres each

Typical trails you’ll be riding

• Double track: undulating and sometimes steep forest roads made up of hard-packed dirt, and loose double track roads with golf ball- to fist-sized rocks
• Singletrack: ancient walking paths, at times very loose, with golf ball- to head-sized rocks, some deep ruts, and some sections of sand
• Forest trails: dirt tracks crossed with roots and sometimes very narrow through the trees
• Trail surfaces may be dry and sandy, or muddy, depending on the weather, and you will encounter river crossings
• You may have to carry your bike for 100m or so to reach the summit of climbs
• Suspension bridges are also typical in Nepal, you can ride or walk these

The ideal bike for the trails in the Himalayas of Nepal is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 120mm -140mm of travel front and rear. Enduro style tyres that have robust puncture protection, such as the Maxxis Minion with EXO+ sidewalls are ideal for this adventure.

We recommend travelling with your own bike, and we have some handy tips on how to do this. When travelling with your own bike, you must ensure that it has been properly serviced before the trip.

We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will be a maximum of 12 people in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Nepal is six.

Our mountain bike tour in the Himalayas of Nepal caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old.

Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills [link to skills section] to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.

This mountain bike tour in Nepal is a guided mountain bike vacation, ideal for intermediate+ mountain bikers. The terrain you’ll be riding on consists of double track and singletrack through thick forests, villages and across high plateaux and mountain passes.

You’ll encounter some steep climbs and rooty sections, as well as fabulous, swooping descents. Altitude is a factor in this trip and we have some tips for riding at high altitudes and managing the effects of altitude.

The distances we cover each day range from 15km to 50km, in accordance with the technical difficulty of the trails and height gain/ loss on each stage.

Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to.

If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you. 

No, you only need to carry a 20 litre day pack  with you whilst riding. We have a support vehicle and driver who will transfer your luggage to your next accommodation each day, and have it ready and waiting for your arrival.

Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills help during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in Nepal. If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk.

You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!

Your mountain bike guides are local to Nepal and experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the culture and landscape of Nepal. 

Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of your mountain bike tour in the Himalayas. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip. Meet your mountain bike guides in Nepal.

On this mountain biking holiday in the Kathmandu Valley and Lower Mustang regions of Nepal you will be staying in the best quality accommodation available in each area. This ranges from a hill-top cottage outside Kathmandu to local tea houses in the heart of the valley.

Accommodation in the more remote villages up in the mountains is very basic, but you’ll often be staying in family homes, which gives you the chance to get to know the local Nepali people and understand something of their way of life.

All meals starting with dinner on day one, and ending with breakfast on day 12.  

The ideal bike for the trails in the Himalayas of Nepal is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, dropper seat post, and 120mm -140mm of travel front and rear. Enduro style tyres that have robust puncture protection, such as the Maxxis Minion with EXO+ sidewalls are ideal for this adventure.

Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your mountain bike tour in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Yes, you will have the chance to do laundry in Pokhara.

Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety. 

Riders travelling to Kathmandu from Europe, Africa, and the Atlantic coast of North/South America are advised to travel via Middle East Asian cities (namely Doha, Bahrain, or Abu Dhabi) or Delhi.

Major airlines that fly this route are Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Gulf Air.

Riders travelling to Kathmandu from the Pacific coast of North/South America, and Australia or New Zealand are advised to travel via South East Asian cities (namely Bangkok, Singapore, or Hong Kong).

Major airlines for this route are Thai Airways, Silk Air, and Dragon Air.

Here’s a video showing you how to pack your bike for travel.

Visas

Short-term tourist visas can be purchased on arrival at Kathmandu airport and can be purchased with card or USD in cash.

Alternatively, to save time after your long flight, you can purchase your visa online in advance at VisaHQ although this is a slightly more expensive service.

In all circumstances it is your responsibility to ensure that your documents are up-to-date and meet the requirements for travelling into and out of Nepal.

Arrival and departure details 

Your mountain bike tour in Nepal will start and end in Kathmandu. Your driver will meet you outside, just across the road, when you leave the arrivals area of Tribhuvan International Airport, which is the only international airport in Kathmandu, and he will be holding an H+I Adventures sign.

If you’re arriving one or two days before the tour start date, airport transfer to your hotel is included in the tour price.

We recommend staying at Hotel Ambassador in Kathmandu, and we can make your booking for pre-/post-tour nights for you. This will also be our start point on day 1, and if you’re not staying at Hotel Ambassador you will need to make your own way there for pick-up on day 1.

The first and last days of your mountain bike tour Nepal are dedicated travelling days and, we would ask you to arrive no later than 12 noon on day 1, and depart no earlier than 10am on the final day.

However, we recommend arriving in Kathmandu a day or two before the tour start date, to allow for any travel delays and to adjust to local time.

Our local mountain bike guides in Nepal are of the very highest standard. They are qualified in first-aid, and have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these very remote, wild and unpredictable parts of Nepal.

Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the Nepalese trails and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.

The majority of accommodation that we  use in this mountain bike tour Nepal is . Whilst basic by western standards, these hospitable lodges provide relative luxury in what is possibly one of the most remote areas on the planet.

We have researched these areas extensively to select the most comfortable accommodation in the region, and we have planned the itinerary accordingly.

While we encourage you to eat what the locals eat – organic traditional Nepalese food – there is also the option of ordering from the extensive menu that ranges from Himalayan style lasagne to the good old Yak steak.

All meals are included in the tour price and we will eat as a group at each mealtime.

No specific vaccinations are needed to enter Nepal, but visitors are recommended to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, rabies and Japanese encephalitis. The most common illnesses suffered by travellers to Nepal are stomach-related due to consumption of contaminated food or water.

You should refrain from consuming water or ice that hasn’t been purified. Bottled mineral water is available almost everywhere.

Altitude sickness is a common ailment above 2,500 metres if you ascend too quickly. Headaches and nausea are the first indications of this malady. It’s easily avoided by taking your time as you gain elevation to let your body acclimatise.

Also, be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen, and sunglasses when biking at altitude. The sun in the Himalayas is extremely strong. Drink plenty of water while biking, even if it’s cold and you don’t feel thirsty.

It is wise to carry basic medicines such as paracetamol or aspirin for fever and pain and Pepto-Bismol for stomach upset.

Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services .

You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.

The currency in Nepal is Nepali Rupees (NPR). Even though most international currencies such as US Dollars, Pound Sterling, Euros, or Australian Dollars are widely accepted, it is advisable to exchange into the local currency upon arrival at the airport or any bank.

ATMs are only available in Kathmandu and Pokhara, so you will need to carry enough cash for extra expenses through the trip. Note: you can’t exchange money in your home country, it is a closed currency, so you will need to exchange money on arrival. There is an ATM across from Hotel Ambassador.

Tipping

It is not compulsory to tip your guide team in Nepal, although it will be very much appreciated.

We suggest a tip of 10% of the cost of your tour should be paid to your mountain bike guide at the end of the trip, which will then be divided between all drivers, support staff and fixers, if you feel you have had a good experience on your mountain bike tour Nepal.

You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers cancellation and baggage, including your bike.

We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them.