Annapurna Circuit

You will be met at Tribhuvan International airport by a representative from the Multi Terrain Biking team and be taken to the hotel which is located in the heart of the tourist district of Kathmandu, Thamel (approximately a 30-minute drive).

Depending on your arrival time, there may be time to explore the streets, sights and shops of Thamel or to relax after your journey, before joining your guides. They will issue you with your Multi Terrain Biking kit bag and explain more about the coming days tour and activities. There will be time to check over the bikes with a member of the team on standby to assist with any mechanical issues.

Whilst the riders get an early breakfast, the Multi Terrain Biking crew members will load the luggage and bikes onto the transfer vehicles for the coach transfer to Besi Sahar.

You will leave Kathmandu at around 8am for the approximate 6-hour journey. Along the way you will stop for lunch and arrive at Besi Sahar by mid-afternoon, leaving plenty of time to explore the town and stretch the legs on the trails heading up into the mountains.

After an early breakfast you will leave Besi Sahar and start on the roads before hitting the dirt, encountering lots of small stream crossings.

After approximately 5km of fairly flat terrain, the trail starts to climb up with the remainder of the distance ascending towards Taal, which is situated on the banks of the Marshyangdi river.

Upon leaving Taal, the trail climbs up a steep and rocky jeep track, past a spectacular water fall and upwards to Timang.

The final 9km of riding offers a little respite from the continuous climbing as it undulates all the way to Chame, one of the Annapurna areas larger villages, which is situated in a narrow valley.

From here onwards riders may start to feel the effects of the high altitude and temperatures that are considerably lower than at Besi Sahar.

If you fancy a gargantuan challenge, then you could consider combining Day 4 and 5 and riding from Besi Sahar to Chame in 1 go as done during Yak Attack. We would only recommend this option for very fit riders, and you can read all about the challenge here.

As you ascend in altitude, the riding distances get shorter but that doesn’t mean they get any easier.

The trail ascends through pine forests before following an open valley up towards Manang. Depending on the weather, riders could encounter lots of mud and even their first snow during this section, then again, it could be lovely hard packed and fast flowing terrain. This is the Himalaya after all, and conditions can change at the drop of a hat!

Day 6 will be a rest day in Manang, which is essential to allow the body to acclimatise to the high altitude and gives the riders a break from the bikes.

From Manang, there are plenty of interesting and scenic treks that can be undertaken, or short rides if you are feeling up to it! There are also a number of excellent bakeries, coffee shops and local eateries to while away the day in.

The shortest day distance wise, at only 17km, but riding time will be a little longer than your average 17km!!

Altitude is the biggest obstacle today with riders finishing at 4450m above sea level. Snow and severe cold are also distinct possibilities, but the scenery is absolutely breath taking, with snow-capped mountains in every direction.

From Thorong Phedi a very early start will be necessary as high winds can pick up later on in the day on the top of the pass, which you will want to avoid.

It’s time to put the bike on your back for a 5km hike-a-bike, there is a strong chance of snow and freezing temperatures up to the highest point of the trip, Thorong La, at 5416m.

This could be the slowest 5km you have ever done, taking on average 3 to 6 hours, but the feeling of euphoria on reaching the top is more than worth all the effort. With lady luck on your side, the descent will be clear of snow from the very top and you can take on what has to be one of the world’s greatest mountain bike downhills, from 5416m to 3800m in 9km leading you back to the warmth of Muktinath; the home of the temple of the eternal flame.

Heading out today you will go along the road for a short distance and then head into the famous Lubra Valley trails. The day starts by ascending to Lupra Pass, where you will get to see the breathtaking views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna ranges.

Once you get to the top of the pass, your reward will be to ride a fast stretch of downhill experiencing the grippy, flowy singletrack until you reach the Kaligandaki river valley. From here there is a 6km flat section leading to Jomsom.

After lunch in Jomsom, the trail undulates along the river until you reach Kalopani. For the more experienced and technical riders there are some alternative beautiful, fun and technical single-track options to take.

The last ride of the trip! With the hard work done, it’s a relaxing ride down to the end of the trails. Being back at lower altitudes will make the riding seem easy and the trail undulates all the way to Maldhunga. The first 21km to Beni is jeep track and then from there it will be broken tarmac.

Once you arrive at Maldhunga, the team will pack the bikes and luggage onto the vehicle, and you will be transferred to Pokhara which will take approximately 3-4 hours.

After arriving in Pokhara and checking into your hotel, there will be plenty of free time for exploring & shopping at the relaxing lakeside town. There is an array of international standard hotels, restaurants and bars where riders and crew members can celebrate safely, after completing “The Annapurna Circuit”.

 (Option to carry on riding to Pokhara will be available, a total of 82km with a long climb and long final descent into Pokhara, extra estimated riding time 4 hours).

An additional day for if needed in the mountains. Or if not… then the option to do an extra days riding or one of the many adventurous activities on offer in Pokhara. Or alternatively, have the day to relax by the lake. 

After breakfast you will return to Kathmandu via a 25-minute short plane journey or the 8-hour bus journey (please state at time of booking which option you would prefer, there will be an extra cost for the flight).

Once back in Kathmandu, there will be time in the afternoon for some trinket shopping or to explore some of the many temples and places of interest in the city.

Please let us know at the time of booking if you would prefer to stay in Pokhara a few extra days to check out some of the adventurous (or leisurely!) activities that it has to offer!