Trans Nepal 2026

Yes indeed. Our good friend Olly Townsend of Gravel Union came out to the inaugural event in February 2025 and was that inspired he wrote a 2 part “Armchair Adventure” about his…… adventure

Armchair Adventure – Nepal from top to bottom – Part One

Armchair Adventure – Nepal from top to bottom – Part Two

We’ve also written our own blog with the story behind Trans Nepal

GRAVEL BIKING IS COMING TO NEPAL

Trans Nepal is a pretty tough (physically and mentally) gravel bike event, We would not recommend or allow anybody without adequate gravel biking experience to participate in this event.

Our tours are more suitable for the less experienced rider, check out the tours page for more information.

All applications are reviewed on their own merit, so if you are unsure as to whether your experience is suitable, submit a form and we’ll give you an honest answer.

We get this question the most for all our events and it’s the toughest to answer. Take a look at the stage distances and elevation profiles then try and gauge if you could ride this in less than 10 hours. Then judge whether you can do this for 6 days? Only you can really know if you are up to the task, but if you have any concerns or need advice then we are here to help. Just ask!

It is possible to bring along a non riding companion but they would be spending a lot of time in vehicles over rough terrain. It would be a different way to see Nepal, but possibly not the best or most comfortable way!

There won’t be any really technical sections during Trans Nepal but there will be some very long and fast descents on loose surfaces. To enjoy the event to the fullest you would have to be  confident riding on multitude of surfaces

Please check with your local doctor prior to flying to Nepal as this can vary depending on country of origin.

Yes!

The event is held in a very remote area of Nepal. In the event of an emergency, helicopter evacuation maybe necessary. This is a very expensive procedure so it is essential that all riders have insurance that will cover this and any medical treatment that may be required whilst riding.

Proof of insurance including helicopter evacuation for both riders and companions is an event requirement, and we will need a copy of your certificate by 8th January 2025. Any riders or companions without adequate insurance will not be allowed to participate.

Yes. Most dietary requirements can be catered for. There is a section on the application form to let us know of any specific requirements. Given plenty of notice it is usually possible to fulfil most requests but in the unlikely event it is not possible we will let you know before confirming your place.

Your bike must be in good working order and of a suitable quality for coping with a seriously tough off-road trail. A gravel bike with wider (40mm +) tyres would be the ideal choice, & a gearing system that can tackle the climbs! BUT you could also use a hardtail mountain bike or even a full suspension if you don’t mind the extra weight on the long climbs

Multi Terrain Biking has 3 chosen charities / projects that we support.

Helping Paws Worldwide – whose aim is to raise awareness on animal welfare and compassion through targeted vaccination and neutering camps and educational programs throughout Nepal and Sri Lanka. They also work closely with other in country charities such as Animal SOS Sri Lanka and Sneha Care to instigate neuter and vaccination programs.

7 Summits – In the 2014, the became the first female group in the world to scale the 7 Summits. For over a decade now, Seven Summits Women Team have been working to improve the lives of remote school students, empower women and girls and champion the cause of clean mountain environment.

HopeScope Foundation  – HopeScope Foundation is a charitable endeavour focused on children and education in Sri Lanka. Through donations and fundraising they are able to purchase books, stationary etc. to support those that can’t afford or access these materials. Because every child deserves an education.

Any race participant raising over $500 USD for any of the above causes will be eligible to a 5% discount* off any full price race entry fee (Maximum discount $150.USD).

And, of course, you are more than welcome to use any of our events to raise funds for any causes close to your heart.

*5% discount not available on discounted entry fees.

Tribhuvan airport, Kathmandu is the only international airport in Nepal. There are a number of airlines that fly there which include (but are not limited to): SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar etc. Most flights either go via the middle east or India.

Riders and companions will need to collect their Trans Nepal, 80 litre duffle bag from MTB-Cogs bike shop in Thamel on the 7th February. This will be the only piece of luggage that you will have for the duration of Trans Nepal and can weigh no more than 20kg (this will be weighed prior to leaving for Pokhara and strictly enforced).

Bags must be clearly labelled with the riders / companions name and rider number, so that it is easily identifiable to the owner.

Yes, nearly all nationalities need a visa to visit Nepal. Certain nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, for which you will need 1 passport sized photograph and a pen (on a busy day it can take well over an hour to pass through passport control, especially if you do not have a pen to complete the forms). The airport does now have an option to fill out the form on a machine, but again there can be delays. If you are getting a visa on arrival, our recommendation is to fill out the form online prior to departure and take it with you. A 15-day visa is $30 USD, a 30 day visa is $50 USD, or a 90 day visa is $125 USD (this has to be paid for in cash foreign currency, US$, AUS$, Euro, GBP etc). The necessary documents will be given to you either on your flight or are obtainable in the airport.

For those nationalities that can’t get a visa on arrival, or for the more organised travellers, visas can be arranged in advance at your nearest Nepali embassy. Please check well in advance of your trip with your country’s embassy for specific details.

Depending on traffic, it is an approximate 30-minute ride into Thamel (Kathmadu’s tourist district). A taxi will cost around $15-$20 USD and can be booked at the taxi counter inside the airport.

If you have a reservation, most hotels in Thamel will collect you from the airport if you ask in advance.

Lo Manthang is one of the most remote places on earth at an altitude of 3840m above sea level so we will need a variety of transport & need an acclimatisation day to get there.

• 21st November – Kathmandu to Pokhara by coach
• 22nd November - Pokhara to Kalopani by jeep approx 4hours then ride to Kagbeni
• 23rd November – Kagbeni to Ghami by jeep or bike or a combination of both
• 24th November Ghami to Lo Manthang by jeep or bike or a combination of both

All the above is included in the entry fee

The International Guesthouse in Thamel is the official hotel of the 2026 edition Trans Nepal.

Riders and companions booking in advance will get free airport pickup on arrival (please request at time of booking).

The event briefings will be conducted in English, and it is very important that all riders are able to understand instructions given during the briefing.

During the time in Upper and Lower Mustang accommodation will be in teahouses. These are typically basic rooms centred around an eating place. The rooms will be basic but clean, hot showers might not always be available as the tea houses mainly rely on solar power and western style toilets very scarce.

As the route descends and becomes less remote then facilities at the hotels will increase..

Once the event is over, riders will be able to relax in the luxury of a boutique style hotel in Lumbini, the  birth place of Buddha.

It is not possible to take your big bag or box along during the event. Nearly all hotels in Kathmandu have a secure luggage storage facility where you can store your bike bag and any extra luggage not needed during the event.

Yes, each evening riders will be briefed on the following days stage. It is mandatory that ALL riders attend this briefing, from a safety prospective as important information regarding weather and trail conditions will be discussed, together with details relating to start times, route deviations etc.

Briefings will generally be carried out before dinner at 7pm but timings and locations will be displayed on the event notice board in a prominent position in the hotel.

Briefings will be conducted in English, and so you must be able to understand English language or have somebody that can translate for you

Basically it’ll start cold and finish warm! Upper Mustang is a high altitude desert and February is still winter in Nepal so you can expect temperatures of 0˙c to 5˙c during the day and into minus figures at night!

As the route drops in altitude the temperature increases and will up to a tropical 25˙c once we reach Lumbini.

November is one of the driest times in Nepal so we do not expect to see much rain, if any!

With temperature extremes of minus ˚C to plus 20˚C you will need some careful planning on what gear to take along.

Olly Townsend of Gravel Union has put together this insightful article on his recommendations here –

Gravel Inspiration – Mastering high-mountain gravel riding – essential preparation and top tips

No, but these can be purchased separately from local shops, the hotel or teahouse.

There will be at least 1 fully qualified doctor and a first aid team. They will be strategically placed on the course in case there are any injuries during the days riding. Please complete the medical section on the application form as comprehensively as possible so that our medical team are armed with all the correct information relating to your medical history.

Whilst we use the biggest and best teahouses in the area, accommodation is still very limited and thus so are room combinations. However, we endeavour to accommodate couples in private rooms and keep friends together.

Rooming will be on a twin or triple share occupancy and due to limited facilities, single occupancy is not available.

Occasionally the rooming list may have to change during the race but we try to avoid this where possible.

Breakfast and dinner are included in the entry fee throughout the event, as outlined in the itinerary. Owing to the remote nature of the accommodation in the upper reaches of the route, the range of food options is more limited than in the more populated areas. However, the local cooking teams do an outstanding job with the resources available, providing hearty hot meals for both breakfast and dinner.

The focus is on carbohydrate-rich dishes to ensure riders have the energy required for the demanding days ahead. One meal we can wholeheartedly recommend is Dal Bhat, a Nepali staple consisting of lentil soup, vegetable curry, steamed rice, leafy greens and a tangy pickle. Delicious, nutritious and perfectly suited to life on the bike, it’s a dish you’ll quickly come to appreciate.

Due to the remoteness of locations that Trans Nepalntravels through, with limited hospitals and health centres it would be worth riders and companions to pack the below for ‘just in case’ moments.

Plasters (including blister plasters)
Bandages
Antiseptic spray and/or wash
Hand sanitiser and/or hand wash
Pain killers i.e. paracetamol, ibuprofen etc.
Any prescribed medication (in original containers, clearly labelled: check with your airline whether they should be packed in checked in or hand luggage) – including inhalers / epi-pens
Diarrhoea and vomiting tablets
Constipation tablets
Anti-allergy tablets
Throat tablets
Water filters and/or purifiers for areas of non adequate drinking water
Strong factor of suncream
High factor lip salve
Cat 4 sunglasses

We would also advise that all riders and companions see their local doctor or travel clinic regarding getting advice and/or medications for the following:

Antibiotics or medications for gastroenteritis
Antibiotics for wound infections (if these differ)
Discussing whether or not they may need altitude sickness tablets (i.e. Diamox)
Pain relief
Any currently prescribed medication that you are taking

For more information on traveling abroad please visit FitforTravel.

In most of the locations we visit, fresh water is both sparse and precious, so we ask riders to keep bike washing to a minimum.

Streams and rivers are also sources of drinking / cooking / washing water for many locals, so we ask riders abstain from using these for cleaning bikes.

The easiest way would be to enlist the (paid) services of the event mechanic ($210 USD for 6 sessions), but if you prefer to clean your own bike then you must also bring your own cleaning equipment.

Yes, there will be a bike mechanic based at the hotels.

A bike clean and lubricate can be booked in advance at a cost of $210 for 6 services via the application form. This will also entitle the rider to a reduced fee per hour for additional repairs that may need to be carried out.

A bike clean and lubricate can be booked on the day at a cost of $45 USD, but priority will be given to pre-booked clients.

Yes, the race mechanic will have a range of spare parts for sale at local prices (which due to import costs are higher than UK, European and USA prices). However, it is advisable to bring any specialist spares and at least 1 spare tyre with you.

Each rider will be sent .gpx files of the exact course at least one week before the event commences.

It is an event requirement for all riders to have a bike computer, with Nepal maps uploaded and the .gpx files that are sent out. Please ensure this is done prior to leaving your home country, as we may be unable to complete this once in Nepal.

WiFi has improved over the years, with most hotels this year having WiFi. HOWEVER, it is not always readily available and when it can be found, it can be infuriatingly unreliable and slow.

All riders and companions will take a  30-minute flight from Lumbini to Kathmandu on 1st December and then will be transported from the airport to Thamel by mini coach.

Please let us know if you would like to stay longer in Lumbini.

The bikes will be transported back to Kathmandu via a jeep from the event finish venue in Lumbini. The bikes will be available for collection from a central location in Thamel (Kathmadu) on the afternoon of the 1st December.

All potential riders need to complete to application form which is available on the Trans Nepal webpage

Once we have received your completed application we will contact you with details on procedures of how to secure your place in the event. Please fill in details on the application form as thoroughly as possible as this will help us to make a speedy decision on your application.

It is £2350 for a fully inclusive package with details of what is included in the info on the trip page

Once we have received your application and it has been accepted then a deposit of £500 will ensure your place in the 2026 event is secure (full details will be emailed at the time of acceptance). Please note, this is a NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE deposit and is a statement of intent that you are definitely wish to take part in the race. We will make preliminary bookings based on this, which will incur costs. The deposit CANNOT be refunded at a later date if you change your mind!

At the moment, we can accept bank transfer in either USD or GBP (based on the days exchange rate).  Alternatively we can offer Paypal payments made in GBP with an additional 5% charge to cover fees. All transfer fees must be covered by the paying customer. Full details will be included in the application acceptance letter.

Yes, of course! Please get in touch with any questions that you have and we will be more than happy to answer them! Email info@mtb-worldwide.com, and let us know your questions! Or if you would prefer a call, drop us a message on WhatsApp to: +447966 417 016 & we’ll get something scheduled!