Kathmandu Valley Rim

Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu
We will meet you at the international airport and guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.   Tonight we’ll treat you to a traditional Newari dinner (Newars are the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley) at one of the capital’s tastiest restaurants and prepare you for the adventure ahead.   Option: if you arrive in the morning or early afternoon, then we can take you on a bazaar walk exploring the secret alleys and courtyards that most visitors don’t get to experience. Add to this a visit to the ancient Kathmandu Durbar (palace) Square and it’s a great introduction to Kathmandu! Note: this is a walking tour from the hotel.

Day 2 Kathmandu – Temples, Temples, Temples!
There are many ways of seeing Kathmandu. Well, how’s this for a great theme? Temples, Temples, Temples! It was once said that in Kathmandu, “There are more Temples than Houses and more Gods than People.” This is still true today; they’re all out there, it’s just that you haven’t seen them all. We will show you the Temples and Gods of the cities of Kathmandu and Patan for the entire day which makes a great start to your week.

This is your first day with your mountain-bike guide. You will visit at a leisurely pace the famous temples and monuments of Kathmandu and Patan city in the Kathmandu valley. Designed to capture the imagery of Kathmandu since the 15th century till the present, this tour gives you a sense of being in a ‘living museum’. The juxtaposition of old and new architectures, the fascinating ethnic & cast groups, the colourful market places and the temples; you’ll visit it all on two wheels and, in Nepal, there is no better way.

Want to make this day even more fun? Why not take an old-school Indian bike and you can get around town the way the locals do it; single speed. You’re sure to get a renewed appreciation for biking as we know it and some great comments while riding around town too!

Day 3 Ride to Danda Gaun
Our first real riding and what a day! It has it all…great riding and stunning nature. You start the day by winding your way out of Kathmandu on small lanes, again seeing the Kathmandu that few visitors ever do. Leaving the city behind you ride through small villages and rice fields as you climb up to the valley rim. Here you join the small black-topped road that winds its way up to Kakani, a hill top village at about 2075m with stunning views to the Himalayan Range.

From Kakani you ride into the Shivapuri National Park, which lies in the transition zone between subtropical and temperate zone. The vegetation consists of a variety of natural forest types including pine, oak and rhododendron, depending on altitude and aspect. Recorded wildlife in the park includes Himalayan black bear, leopard, jungle cat, deer and rhesus monkey. This little park is also home to an amazing 177 species of birds, including 9 threatened species. Once inside the National Park, you will ride one of Nepal’s most famous single trails, the Scar Route! It is an awesome trail which winds its way through the forest around the northern perimeter of the park and it takes us almost all the way to your Hotel for the night. Set in a small Tamang Village overlooking the Kathmandu valley this is a great place to learn about the people living around the valley rim.

Day 4 Ride to Mul Kharka
Setting out from this charming little guest house, you start the day with a short climb but after only 1 km you are onto another great single trail, known as “Heaven”. After a great ride on the single trail you start climbing for a few kilometers on jeep trail and, along the way, you pass and have the chance to enter a famous Buddhist Ani-Gompa (nunnery), called Nagi Gompa. Staying high on the ridge you maintain your altitude for the day but with plenty of ups & downs on offer. For the riders who like good single trail, the “Helipad ride” is a great optional extra but it does mean you have to climb at the end of the day to reach your guest house for the evening.

Day 5 Ride to Chisapani
You ride to Chisapani on small jeep trails, circling the Shivapuri Peak (2400m). This is a great ride on forested trails with the added appeal of Rhododendrons blooming in the Spring making it a magical ride, culminating in great views of the Himalayan Range as we enter Chisapani. This is a little, modern village on the way to the famous Helambu trekking area and you stop for the night here at a local lodge.

Day 6 Ride to Nagarkot
Your long off-road downhill ride to Jarsing Pauwa is an exhilarating start to the morning. You stop for a picnic lunch to fuel the legs before hitting the winding uphill trail to the hilltop village of Nagarkot. Nagarkot is situated at the height of 2170m and is a popular view point on the Kathmandu Valley rim. From the balcony of your hotel you have great views of the terraced paddy fields, deep river valleys and of course the high Himalayan Peaks. The perfect spot to enjoy sunset with a drink.

Day 7 Ride to Kathmandu via Panauti
Set a date with some of the tallest and most beautiful mountains on earth for a hearty breakfast on the terrace. A good mix of ‘on & off-road’ rides lead you through villages and rice fields to Panauti at the confluence of two rivers and bountiful in stories of when the Buddha visited this region. From there you ride up through a beautiful valley for 15km to Lakuri Banjyang, yet another viewpoint which offers the same mountain views but from a different perspective. It is amazing to see how the same mountains look so different when viewed from a different angle. From here you have a great downhill on jeep trail and then take small back roads back into Kathmandu. You will arrive in time for a quick shower before heading out and celebrate your last week’s adventure.  

Day 8 Depart Kathmandu
Prepare and pack your bikes this morning. Exchange ‘tall’ stories of awesome climbs and heart-stopping descents. If your flight is later in the day, there is time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping before your flight back home. Just ask us for directions or any suggestions we can give for this day.