Day 01: You 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, Hahadev. Reunited with your support vehicle, which could not follow us for the whole route, you camp beside the river at this idyllic settlement.
Day 02: You 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. Your camp at Dhulikhel offers fantastic sunset views of the great chain of the Himalaya.
Day 03: It is downhill on a little-used tarmac road towards the mediaeval town of Bhaktapur, where you 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 you find another spectacular campsite at the hill-station of Nagarkot.
Day 04: Himalayan mountain biking does not get much better than today's ride. Early morning usually creates a sea of cloud in the valley beneath us, and you can look beyond this to a mountain panorama which stretches from Makalu to the Annapurnas. The riding terrain is also superb as you slowly make your way along an old jeep track, traversing the ridges of Kattike, Manichup and Chipu Dara. You 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., you camp at Chisopani, just to the north of the main ridge. This is your last night camping, and you have magnificent views of the Annapurnas. Support vehicles cannot follow us along this part of the route and porters will carry your essentials to the campsite.
Day 05: Fit and well-acclimatized after the exercise of the last few days, you take the opportunity on your 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. A hot bath awaits us at the Hotel before you re-box your bikes and start the celebrations of completing a memorable ride.
