Upper Mustang & Manang Biking Trip Content
Trip Overview
The tour is planned to give a balanced itinerary with time in Kathmandu (on arrival to complete permits for Upper Mustang.) & Pokhara whilst our focus is going deep into the Annapurna Himalaya’s.
The trip into Upper Mustang & Manang(Via Thorang La Pass) provides a rare and most unlikely travel plan into this region with a flight into Jomsom (the heart of the Annapurna’s as we fly across the sacred unclimbed mastiff of Muchapuchare) being accommodated in local Tea Houses all the way and acquiring a special permit to bike through to the northern most border of Tibet & within kilometers of the source of the Kali Gandaki River (start of the deepest Gorge in the World). We finish with a 3-day descent on the eastern half of the Annapurna trekking trail.
We’ll also ride to the eastern fringe of Upper Mustang at Yara and Tangge villages. These hidden villages in Upper Mustang offer beautiful but challenging trails for mountain biking enthusiasts. These trails, which have been surveyed and are off the usual tour maps, provide exceptional views and mountain biking experiences while we acclimate to the region and altitude.
After exploring nearly every hidden village in Upper Mustang, we head toward the famous Muktinath Temple and further up to Phedi, right before attempting the mighty Thorong La Pass. From there, we switch to the Manang region from Mustang. Manang has a different kind of beauty compared to Mustang. We ride downhill from Thorong La Pass (5416m) until Besisahar, which is at 760m.
Our lodgings will be local guest houses of very modest and traditional means with the best facilities available in such a remote barren region. We will travel light and be met at strategic points with gear.
Open to only a select few groups of adventurers per year, the Kingdom of Mustang, formally known as the Kingdom of Lo, is the last true Tibetan Kingdom. A small outpost of Nepal, a region previously locked off from the rest of the world until 1992. A privileged minority have had the opportunity to experience this precious and still preserved gem wrapped within the Annapurna Himalaya’s and perched on the Tibetan plateau border with Nepal.
We will bike through whitewashed villages and crumbling remote hermitages scattered across a semi- arid desert. Explore monasteries clinging to the edge of rocky shelves and surrounded by mighty snow- capped peaks and grapple with the contrasts of the charm and the warmth of the people, beauty of its scenery and mountain life as we take the best option (by bike) and at a pace that allows so much more to be seen in the time.
When talking mountain biking and the Himalayas this is not to confuse endless steep gut busting climbs that only the elite riders could ever manage. No! this is a carefully prepared itinerary by the experienced riders. Trails have been chosen that are ridable but challenging when you add an environment above 3,000 m altitude. Few have visited Mustang and even fewer have been permitted to place tyres on this rare earth. This will be Epic and a rare moment.
Transportation
Flight/Jeep/Bus
Per Day Riding
5 to 9 hours
Best Season
Oct-Dec / Mar-May
Group size
2 - 14 Pax
Accomodation
Hotel/Tea House
Trip Grade
Chellanging
Max Height
5416M
Start/End
Kathmandu
Trip Highlight
- Experience Nepal’s most challenging mountain biking trail
- Access what used to be a restricted area
- Untouched lifestyle – no modernization
- Cross Thorang La Pass and ride downhill to Manang and Besisahar.
- Amazing topography and cultural shock
- Enriched by Tibetan culture
- Bucket list biking destination
- Epic ride and mountain flight in between two 8,000+ meter peaks
- Full Immersion with local people and traditions
- Prayers flags and clockwise rounding of Monasteries
- Eternal flame, mixed Buddhist and Hindu culture
- Apple garden, apple cider and apple brandy
- Mixed Himalayan high desert to tropical topography
- View 3 x 8,000m peaks from one place.
- Biking through age old infrastructure and salt trading route to Tibet
- Hustle and bustle of Kathmandu with temple and monasteries
- Relaxed lakeside environment of Pokhara
Download Complete Trip PDF
Detail Itinerary
When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, our driver will meet you at the gate and take you to your hotel in the capital of Nepal. After checking in to the hotel, take some free time to explore the bustling market and street of the city.
At the end of the day, our tour guide will meet you in the hotel to inform you about the trip ahead and detail the itinerary Mountain biking in Mustang region. Then he will take you for a welcome dinner in one of the vivid restaurants of Kathmandu.
Welcome Dinner
Hotel
Early in the morning, our tour guide will meet you at the hotel to take you to the airport for your flight to Pokhara with the bicycles. Within 25 minutes of the scenic flight, you will arrive at Pokhara. Once you get to Pokhara you could unpack your bike and go for the test ride around.
Breakfast
Hotel
1st flight to Jomsom (2720m),Take some time to explore Jomsom market and make bikes ready and ride on the side of Kali Gandaki river to Kagbeni for 12km mostly flat.First overnight stay into the Mustang valley.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today is our first day riding into the Upper Mustang region.We start riding towards north from Kagbeni following Kaligandaki river.We will stop at Chhuksang village for the lunch.After Lunch we climb for about 9km uphill switchback jeep track to Samar village for overnight stay.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today, we have many passes to climb, but there's no need to worry; some of them won't even feel like passes. We start with a gradual, uphill, long switchback climb from the guest house to the first pass. From there, it's a beautiful off-road downhill ride to Syangboche village, where we might stop for a tea break. After lunch, Ghami La pass will be an interesting climb. Following the Ghami La pass, it's all downhill to Ghami, where we'll stop for the night.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Starting in the morning, it feels refreshing as we begin with a downhill ride. However, this downhill stretch lasts no more than five minutes. After this short descent from the village, we cross the Ghami River and begin our uphill climb for the day. A few meters in, we face a fork in the road: the right path leads to Charang and Lo Manthang via the main jeep track, so we take the left path, which will take us to Lo Manthang via Dhakmar and Ghar Gumba through isolated villages. Along the way, we encounter a beautiful old chorten and one of the longest Mane walls. After our lunch break, we will enjoy some of the most beautiful singletrack rides of the day.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Lo Manthang village has so much to offer. We'll start with a morning puja at the monastery with the Lama guru, then visit some local historical monasteries. A visit to the Sky Caves at Chusar will fill our morning until lunchtime. After lunch, you're free to explore on your own or take a well-deserved rest.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today's ride promises to be one of the most beautiful if you love single-track trails and technical downhill sections. Until our lunch break at Dhi village, situated on the riverbank of the Kali Gandaki River, the ride is filled with single trails, sandy paths, some push sections, and extreme downhills. If you're uncertain about your downhill or single-track riding skills, you can always push your bike. Dhi is another secret village. From Dhi, we cross a suspension bridge and ride along the riverbank for a while. Then, we tackle the dusty switchback climb to reach Yara village.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Yara is the warmest village among all the villages we have traveled through or will be traveling to in Upper Mustang on this trip. Today promises to be another beautiful day as we start from Yara on a single trail, riding along a cattle trail with stunning views of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri. We ride about 5 km to reach the Dhi River and cross a suspension bridge. Some sections here are not rideable, so we will need to push our bikes. From the Dhi River, we climb for about 2-3 hours until we reach the pass. After the pass, it's a delightful downhill ride all the way to Tangge village. Tangge is another stunning village, adorned with many old chortens and stupas.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
This morning, you'll wake up to the sound of neck bells from the donkeys as we'll be using donkeys to carry our bikes to Pha Pass, about a 4.5-hour walk from Tangge. It's an uphill climb all the way to the top of the pass, crossing the second suspension bridge after about an hour's walk from the village. We will carry packed lunches and sufficient water for the day, as there are no tea stops or shelters between Tangge and Chhuksang village. Once we reach the top of Pha Pass, the trail becomes mostly downhill and flat, with some short uphill sections. It's going to be a long day but a memorable one.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today, we're taking a break from riding and will drive from Chhuksang to Muktinath. If possible, we'll drive all the way to Phedi; otherwise, we'll stop at Muktinath for a break and continue on foot, pushing our bikes to Phedi. The most challenging part of the entire trip will be pushing our bikes and carrying our day bags with essentials to Thorang La Pass tomorrow, so we need to conserve some energy for the next day. Today is also the last day to say goodbye to our driver and support vehicle.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
We start very early in the morning, in the dark, using head torches right after breakfast—more like a midnight breakfast. It will take about six hours to reach Thorang La Pass with our bikes, where it is almost entirely pushing and carrying. This challenging day will be exhausting, but it will also create lifetime memories as we step onto a 5,416m mountain pass. From Thorang La, it's an absolutely stunning downhill ride to Manang, where we will stop for the night. Today, we transition from Mustang to Manang.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
We've done all the hard work on this trip, so today, with the beautiful view of the Annapurna range, we start a bit later in the morning. We ride almost all the way downhill to Chyamje village on a mix of off-road, cement, and paved roads. About an hour of riding from Manang, we pass Hunde Airport, one of Nepal's high-altitude STOL airports, which has been out of operation for decades. We also pass through Chame, the district headquarters of Manang.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Tea House
Today feels like the shortest ride of the trip, taking about two hours, mostly downhill and flat, though some sections will be uphill. As we return to town, we start seeing streets full of shops, honking horns, people crossing the street randomly, colorful fruit stands, and flashy barbershops. It feels like everyone is there to welcome us back from our long journey. The afternoon is free after we wash our bikes, so enjoy the rest of your day.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Hotel
We drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu, starting after breakfast. It will take about seven hours to reach Kathmandu. We'll stop along the way for lunch and some tea breaks. Bring some music on your device so you can enjoy listening while looking out of the bus window. Once we reach Kathmandu, we will settle down in the hotel. The evening is free.
Breakfast,Lunch
Hotel
This is a buffer day in case of bad weather or if a break is needed during the trip. Your accommodation and breakfast are covered. You are free to explore and enjoy your day. If you need any suggestions for activities, feel free to ask your guide and make a plan for the day.
Breakfast
Hotel
Depending on your flight schedule, we will arrange your airport transfer. We would love to hear your valuable feedback about the trip, as it will help us improve our service for future clients.
Breakfast
What's Included In The Package
- All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist /Private vehicle.
- Twin-sharing/double accommodation in Kathmandu & Pokhara including breakfast.
- Kathmandu-Pokhara domestic flight.
- Pokhara-Jomsom domestic flight.
- Daily luggage drop-off service at the Tea house in Mustang area.
- Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the trek in the mountain region.
- All your standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
- Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English-speaking MTB guide.
- Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit.
- All the necessary permits (Trekking permit/Local authority permits)
- Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance for all staff.
- All administrative expenses and government taxes.
- Evacuation assistance in case of emergency.
- One support vehicle for luggage drop in Mustang area only.
What's Excluded In The Package
- Mountain bike and personal biking gears/spare bike parts.
- International air fare.
- Nepal Visa.
- Emergency Evacuation/s and medical treatments.
- Upgrade of accommodations.
- Travel Insurances.
- Emergency evacuation(s), Accidents, recovery & additional transport.
- Change in Itinerary due to cancelled helicopter flight or unavoidable delays on route i.e. landslides etc, extra or cancelled accommodation etc.
- Personal Expenses.
- Excess luggage above recommended levels for Kathmandu-Pokhara-Jomsom flight.
- Some meals, all kind of bottled drinks, Internet services, hot showers etc.
- Tips for the guides, porters and drivers.
- Luggage drop or support vehicle in Manang area.
Fixed Departure Dates For 2025
Essential Information
Before booking
- Choose the right trip, considering your health, physical ability, and riding experiences.
- Read the terms and conditions properly.
- Make sure the payment is delivered to ensure the final confirmation.
After Booking
High-altitude mountain biking trips in Nepal are not just physically demanding, they are a test of your fitness. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a necessity to ensure you’re physically ready for these adventures. By committing to physical training, you’ll not only be prepared, but you’ll also be confident and ready to take on the challenge.
For Mountain Biking in Upper Mustang & Manang
A good quality bike hire would cost for hardtail US$50-for full suspension $70 per day.
- For multiple days of biking tour at high altitudes of over 4000m, ensure you have trained yourself well. Box jump, circuit and resistance training, and Endurance training, such as mountain biking on uphill trails for many hours (60 km – 70 km per ride), can be beneficial.
- Feed on the right nutritious food rich in protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates.
- Keep yourself focused and determined, which helps to strengthen your willpower for the next challenge ahead.
International Flights arrangements:You are responsible for arranging the international flight ticket and travel insurance, which can cover emergency evacuation and medical treatment. Our package doesn’t include this service.
Route Map
