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Himalayas: Off the Beaten Path
Duration
10 days
Site savings
$56
From
$2,742 USD
This cycling tour will leave you breathless, from the thrilling rides, and world's best views and scenic places. There is no more exciting way to explore Nepal. This ride is designed for the casual cyclist with a reasonably good level of fitness and confidence in handling a bike.
- CategoryMulti-Activity
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration10 days
- Culture LevelOut There
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level2 - Moderate
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMountainous
- Distance159.1 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance26.1 miles
Quick Stats
- Duration10 days
- Main DestinationNepal
- Distance159.1 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance26.1 miles
- Elevation2 - Moderate
- TerrainMountainous
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Arrive in Kathmandu
The tour operator's representative will welcome you at the airport and provide transfer to your hotel in a private tourist vehicle. In the evening, the group will meet at the hotel with the guide about the tour program; afterwards a welcome dinner is served.
- Hotel Manaslu or similar
- Dinner
- Day 2Kathmandu – fly to Pokhara – day bike trip to Sarangkot
From Kathmandu, the group will fly to Pokhara on an early morning flight (about 30 minutes). On arrival you will be transferred by boat to the country house "The Retreat", nestled on the other side of Phewa Lake. This beautifully built residence, made of hand-cut stone, on a hill top with 180 degree views of the Annapurna Himalayas and the whole lake, and set amongst a landscaped garden, will make for a delightful stay.
You'll first catch up on a little breakfast, then make a return crossing of the lake and start riding to Bindhbasani Temple. It's all on the road as we depart Pokhara Township and start a 10 km (6 mi) uphill ride to Sarangkot hill station.
Mountain views are exceptional from here; you can gaze directly upon the Annapurna Ranges, the popular "Fishtail" (Machhapuchhre) Himal seemingly within arm's reach. After lunch it's downhill to Thulakhet, then on to Pame, where the group will be transferred to the resort for the rest of the day. Today's ride is a warm-up for the next 5 days heading back towards Kathmandu and the town of Arughat.
- 28 miles
- Temple Tree Resort & Spa or similar
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 3Pokhara – Kalikasthan – Begnas Lake
- Day 4Begnas – Rambazar – Bhorletar – Sisaghat
- Day 5Sisaghat – Kunchha – Paudi – Tarpughat – Palungtar
- Day 6Palungtar – Laxmi Bazaar – Gorkha
- Day 7Gorkha – Kathmandu Valley
From the ridge top at Gorkha, beautiful sunshine and spectacular views of Manaslu and Annapurna are featured at your breakfast table. With Kathmandu the destination today, you'll make a warm up ride of 1km (0.6 mi) uphill, then cruise into Phinam village on a flat dirt jeep trail, before finding Taple to complete a lovely morning’s ride. There will be beautiful villages on the way to Khanchok for lunch, one of the last on-trail lunches of this 7-day long tour.
Another short climb to welcome after lunch as you bike into Ghyapesal. A big downhill awaits, from just out of town all the way into Arughat. Arughat was an important place in ancient days for local trade. After a tea break, pack your bike onto the bus for a drive into the Kathmandu Valley over the next few hours. Tonight you'll stay near Thamel, with some free time to chill out in the many good restaurants and bars around town.
- 26.1 miles
- Hotel Manaslu or similar
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 8Full day of guided sightseeing
After breakfast, the group will set out to explore the palaces, temples and monasteries of Kathmandu valley. First is Pashupatinath Temple – one of the holiest Hindu Temples in the entirety of South Asia. The temple is situated on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, a tributary of the sacred Ganges. Admission to the temple is reserved for Hindus only, there is a good view of the temple from the other side of the river. The temple and its surroundings are vibrant with the rites and rituals performed by Hindu devotees. We will also have the opportunity to watch the Hindu cremation services at the bank of the river.
The next stop is the giant Boudhanath Stupa – one of the largest of Asia's Buddhist shrines. The stupa's 100 m (328 ft) diameter and 40 m (130 ft) height can be spotted from many viewpoints in Kathmandu. There are a number of Buddhist monasteries nearby, the area is predominantly Tibetan in character and is quite similar to the Barkhor area of Lhasa. After a lunch break in Boudhanath, you'll head to Bhaktapur – one of the three medieval principalities of Kathmandu valley and the best preserved of them. Bhaktapur, with its Durbar Square and beautiful temples, intricate wood carving in the balconies and windows, fabulous stone sculptures, and clean, brick paved streets, give the impression of being an open air museum.
After having lunch in Boudhanath it's a drive to the next destination site Kathmandu's Durbar Square, once the ancient palace of the kings of Nepal. Here you can visit the Temple of the Living Goddess, Kasthamandap; the Taleju Temple, built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D.; Kal Bhairav, the God of Destruction; Nautale Durbar; Nasal Chowk; Gaddi Baithak; the statue of King Pratap Malla; and the Jagannath. You will then walk back to your hotel.
- Hotel Manaslu or similar
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 9Full day of guided sightseeing
Today, after breakfast at the hotel, opens with a one-hour drive to Patan. Bhaktapur is also known as "the city of Devotees". It is located 14 km (8.7 mi) east of the capital. The ancient city covers an area of four square miles, still retains its medieval charm, and treats its visitors with many wonders of historical, cultural and artistic achievements. The historic city was the capital of Kathmandu Valley between the 14th and 16th centuries. Much of the town's great architecture dates from the end of the 17th century, during the rule of King Bhupatindra Malla, before the valley was divided into three smaller kingdoms (Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu).
After lunch in Bhaktapur is another one-hour drive to Patan. Patan, also known as Lalitpur, is the second-largest town in the valley. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Noted for its craftsmanship in metal, wood and stone, it is known as the city of fine art and beauty. Patan's Durbar Square is the heart of the city. This square is full of ancient palaces, temples, and shrines, each noted for its exquisite carving. Among the best attractions of the Patan Durbar Square are the courtyards of the ancient Royal Palace. The Krishna Mandir Temple is supposed to be the finest example of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. It holds a commanding position in the palace complex of Patan city. After spending a good amount of time in Bhaktapur and Patan it's back to the hotel for a farewell dinner.
- Hotel Manaslu or similar
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 10Depart Kathmandu