Mustang mountain bike tour is a prospective adventure trip that has become very popular among mountain biking enthusiasts in the recent years. This mountain biking tour offers an environmentally sound way of exploring Nepal’s beautiful country side, its landscapes and cultural heritage. There are plenty of dirt roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker’s wildest fantasy. The ride on a bike along the hills and Himalayas present you a different aspect of adventure that you do not want to miss.
It is just not only challenging ascent and numerous single track descend, Mountain biking to Mustang is totally discovery of a new world and experiences. Upper Mustang trip stands value for money. Arid topography, ancient caves, Tibetan influenced lifestyle and culture, breathtaking sceneries, historical forts are some interesting features of Upper Mustang region. The trail you use for mountain biking was a part of ancient Silk Road. It is probably the best and most challenging mountain biking tour in the world that leads you to have simply an unforgettable journey.
Teji Festival occurs every year in May in Mustang. So, if you want to combine challenging mountain biking with cultural exploration, then you can plan to do it in May. Normally, December, January and March are not suitable for this tour because of probable snowfall and cold wind. The rest of the months are completely fine for Upper Mustang mountain biking.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Kathmandu International Airport:
On your arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, you will receive you and escort you to your hotel. If time prevails, you will visit office for paperwork.
Stay overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2
Tour preparation and city tour of Kathmandu otherwise Patan and Bhaktapur:
On this day, you will visit the popular world heritage monuments in Kathmandu including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath, Swoyambhunath, and Pashupatinath. Alternatively, you can also choose the other equally pleasing Bhakatapur and Patan sightseeing. You will drive back to your hotel by later afternoon and have a final checklist completed for your proposed tour.
Stay overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 3
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (914m.) takes about 7hrs:
After early morning breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the tourist bus station. You will then drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (914m.) takes about 7hrs. The drive will take most of our morning time, leaving much of the afternoon to get a balmy glimpse of Pokhara Valley and its beauty. Alternatively, if you choose to fly, you can get to Pokhara in 25min. There are several flights from morning to afternoon available from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Pokhara is the tourist's heaven with full of so many natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples along with the magnificent views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and many other mountain peaks.
Stay overnight at hotel in Pokhara.
Day 4
Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (2700m.) and ride to Chuksang:
You will start first riding of the tour from Jomsom and stop at Kagbeni (2810 m.) for lunch. The trail is quite barren with craggy rocks and sand and is mostly flat, which makes it very easy going. You will then continue riding to Chuksang (2900m.). Chuksang village lies beyond Tange at the meeting of the Narshing Khola and the Kali Gandaki. You can try to find Saligram, unique shaped stone on nearby riverbank.
Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 5
Ride from Chuksang to Geling (3510 m.) via Samar (3150m.) takes about 5-6 hrs:
The trail today first ascends steeply up a rocky alley to the village of Chele. From Chele you will continue riding which will be ascending along the side of a spectacular steep canyon to a pass. After the pass you descend on a pleasant trail till Samar where you will stop for a lunch. From Samar you will then ride to Geling via Shyangmochen which is a minute settlement with a few tea shops. Geling has extensive fertile lands popular for barley cultivation.
Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 6
Ride from Geling to Tsarang (3620 m.) via Ghami La (3520m.) takes about 5-6 hrs:
Your ride from Geling the trail ascends gently towards Nyi La (4000m) then starts descending towards another white-washed village named Ghami (3570m). After lunch in Ghami, you will continue riding towards Tsarang that includes mostly uphill track on a newly constructed gravel roads having a zigzag feature. Tsarang which is a large spread-out village with stacks of stone separating the houses. The very popular Tsarang Dzong lies in this village that was built in 1378. This huge five story monastery is the highlight of the vicinity with Gelugpa School and has one of the largest libraries in the whole region consisting of an excellent collection of statues and thangkas.
Day 7
Ride from Tsarang to Lo-Manthang [Mustang] (3730m.) takes about 3hrs:
You will spend part of the morning exploring the interesting village of Charang and its large monastery, before setting out for Lo Manthang. You ride gently above the valley to a large isolated Chorten that marks the boundary between Charang and Lo. The trail then broadens and eventually you get your first view of the walled city of Lo Manthang. The city has only one entrance so you circumambulate the wall to the gate on the north east corner.
Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 8
Free day in Lo Manthang:
On this day you can make a side trip exploring caves and villages, visiting Jhampa and Thupchen Gompas or short hike up to Tingkhar.
Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 9
Ride from Lo-Manthang to Ghami (3490 m.) takes about 4hrs:
You will continue your journey on the highland route, crossing alpine grazing land before dropping down a steep eroded valley to Dhakmar for lunch. After lunch, you will ride through the pretty valley, climb to a ridge and descend from there back to Ghami.
Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 10
Ride from Ghami to Chuksang takes about 6hrs:
Ride from Ghami to Chuksang takes about 6hrs: Same day, you will drive to Jomsom by jeep or bus.
Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 11
Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara takes about 25min:
The flight is a scenic one with panoramic views of Himalayan peaks, especially Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri etc. and Kaligandaki River. The flight to/from Jomsom happens only in the morning because of high wind in afternoon time.
Stay overnight at hotel in Pokhara
Day 12
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu that takes about 7hrs:
After breakfast early morning, drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu that takes about seven hours. En route, you will enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. If you choose to fly back to Kathmandu, it takes about 25 minutes. There are several flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara from morning to afternoon.
Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.