Biking Around Kathmandu Valley

After breakfast, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu City.

It includes visit to the Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square) – an ancient durbar (palace) with its numerous old palaces, temples and pagodas, the Temple of Living Goddess “Kumari”, and the Kasthamandap Temple, which is believed to be constructed from the wood of a single tree from which Kathmandu derives its name.

In addition also visit   the Boudhanath Stupa – an ancient colossal stupa and the center of Tibetan Buddhism in the world and the Pashupatinath Temple- the Temple of Lord Shiva situated on the bank of the holy Bagmati River.

After lunch drive up to the Swayambhunath Stupa situated atop a hill from where you could get a bird’s eye view of Kathmandu Valley. The Swayambhunath Stupa is also known as the “Monkey Temple”!!

Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast we check out from the hotel and begin with a classic 50 kms. mountain bike trail, at first on roads through Patan to Lubhu, climbing up the deteriorating track to the quiet Newari village of Sisneri. So near to Kathmandu, but away from the beaten tourist track, it is a photographer’s paradise, with the contrast of richly colored villages against a backdrop of snow capped mountains. After a steep 500 meter climb, it is wild trail downhill to Panauti, home of the oldest temple in Nepal, the Indreshwar Mahadev. Reunited with our support vehicle, which could not follow us for the whole route, we camp beside the river at this idyllic settlement.

Dinner and overnight at camp

We have a choice of the road climb up to Dhulikhel, or a more adventurous track, which goes more steeply up through terraced fields to the Buddhist pilgrimage temple of Namo Buddha and then down to Dhulikhel. This involves a ride of about 35 kms. Our camp at Dhulikhel offers fantastic sunset views of the great chain of the Himalaya.

Dinner and overnight at camp.

It is downhill on a little-used tarmac road towards the mediaeval town of Bhaktapur, where we will spend a long lunch exploring a wealth of his historic temples and courtyards. The afternoon is a steady series of switch-backs up onto the main ridge, where we find another spectacular campsite at the hill-station of Nagarkot.

Dinner and overnight at camp.

Today you will find one of the best rides of your entire trip. Early morning usually creates a sea of cloud in the valley beneath us, and we can look beyond this to a mountain panorama which stretches from Makalu to the Annapurnas. The riding terrain is also superb as we slowly make our way along an old jeep track, traversing the ridges of Kattike, Manichup and Chipu Dara. We must be very careful not to take a wrong turning on this part of the route, as the false descent will only mean a long carry back up to the ridge! After about 40 kms. we camp at Chisopani, just to the north of the main ridge. This is our last night camping, and we have magnificent views of the Annapurnas. Support vehicles cannot follow us along this part of the route and porters will carry our essentials to the campsite

Dinner and overnight at camp. 

Fit and well-acclimatized after the exercise of the last few days, we take the opportunity on our final day of biking to climb the valley’s second highest mountain Shivapuri 2732m, before plunging back to Kathmandu on one of the best downhill rides in the area, via the reclining Vishnu Temple at Budhanalikantha. Upon arrival at Budhanilkantha, get in to a waiting vehicle and drive back to Kathmandu for refreshment and rest.

Eve: Farewell dinner at a nice restaurant in Thamel.

Overnight at hotel.

Free until final departure transfer to the Tribhuvan International Airport.