Epic Downhill Mountain Bike in the Nepalese Himalaya

Highlights

• Experience the thrill of 4,530m of descent; the world’s longest mountain bike descent!
• Take an exhilarating flight through the Himalaya in a Twin Otter plane
• Choose your own barely ridden lines in the Lubra Valley from your doorstep in Muktinath
• Summit the Thorung La (5,416m)
• Ride and trek on part of the Annapurna Circuit
• Ride on the slopes of the world’s 7th and 10th highest mountains
• Experience the famously warm hospitality of the Himalayan culture
• Quickest way to do the world’s longest descent without a helicopter
• See 8 of the world’s 8,000m peaks, including Mt. Everest, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri!

Want more adventure? Combine this tour with one of our other trips or treks to Nepal for an epic 15 to 31 day tour!

Dates and prices

Our Epic Downhill Mountain Bike trip is a private event. This means you can book your trip at any time of the year. You and your group will be led by a qualified Western leader and we’ll see to your every need.

The best time to travel to Nepal is from March to May and October to December. We can accommodate any group size.

Prices excluding flights

Prices including flights

Are there any hidden costs or price changes?

No. Once you pay your deposit, we guarantee there’s no price change. There are no hidden charges or extras either. The price we quote is the price you pay.

Optional Extras

Extend your trip in Nepal by 2 more weeks

Check the departure dates of our other Nepal tours here. Get a 5% discount off of the lower priced tour when you book two trips for yourself!

Mountain Bikes

You are welcome to bring your own bike with you for the trip but please contact us to discuss logistics.

Bike Hire

We can rent you bikes for the trip for the following costs:

Giant Trance 2 – £40 per day – Kathmandu to Kathmandu
Giant Trance 3 – £30 per day – Kathmandu to Kathmandu
Giant Fathom 2 – £20 per day – Kathmandu to Kathmandu

Single Traveller?

We don’t charge a single supplement fee if you’re a solo traveller. Our prices are based on staying in twin share rooms with a member of the same sex or your partner. If you wish to stay in your own room there will be a £150 charge for this trip.

If you want to arrive early or depart later then we can arrange accommodation and transport for you. Please contact us with any requests.

Additional Days of Mountain Biking

Our guides have been pioneering trails in Nepal for years. Lost Earth Adventures’ co-founder Richard Goodey spends six months of the year in Nepal and a large portion of that is spent on two wheels. Getting out of Kathmandu and gaining a couple of thousand metres of height can be done quickly in a powerful 4X4. We’ll get high on the mountain tops via a dirt road then either spend the day doing down-hill laps using the jeep or we can go on single or multi-day cross country excursions.

Let us know what it is you want to do, your preferred style of riding, your ability and let us do the planning. We charge £150 per day for a qualified guide with first aid certification and £50 per day for full suspension bike rental.

Unlimited use of a 4X4 and driver for for 8 hours is £250 (capacity, 4 pax)

Heli Biking

Think the jeep is too slow? Don’t want to waste time driving when you should be riding? We understand. With unlimited use of a heli for you and your group, why wait? If this is the type of high adrenaline action you crave, then we’re with you all the way!

Continue reading about heli-biking Nepal.

You may also be interested in our Sunday Times recommended Hike and Bike of the Annapurnas.

Upgrades

If you would like to treat yourself before or after your grand adventure, we are more than happy to arrange alternative accommodation. We also appreciate how lovely a little bit of lavish comfort can be when you are away from home and can recommend the following hotels for a touch of 5-star luxury in Kathmandu.

Day Tours and Extensions

Need more adventure?

The mountains are big, the rivers are big, the memories are HUGE! We have many thrilling mountain excursions in the world’s biggest playground. Come on in!

Continue reading about Nepal day tours and side trips.

Read more information about Nepal.

Itinerary and Route

All of our itineraries are meticulously researched and well planned. They are designed to give you the most amounts of fun and excitement, whilst also giving you ample time to relax. Lost Earth Adventures takes the hassle out of organising your trip, leaving you to sit back and enjoy your adventure!

Day 1 – Arrive in Kathmandu

Welcome to Kathmandu! Your guide will be waiting at the airport to welcome you to Nepal and transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day getting lost in winding streets, discovering ancient temples and bartering with market sellers for handcrafted goods. The team will meet for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2 – Drive to Pokhara

The journey to Pokhara, alongside the raging Trishuli river will really start to get you excited for the days ahead. Spend the afternoon in Pokhara relaxing by the lake, riding to nearby temples or visiting the Gurkha museum. We chose to drive rather than fly this portion of the trip as it is more reliable.

Day 3 – Fly to Jomsom (2,736m) & 4×4 to Muktinath (3,800m)

An exhilarating flight in a twin otter plane takes us to Jomsom, seated on the banks of the Kali Gandaki river. Overlooked by the towering peaks of Annapurna (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m), we switch to 4×4 to complete the rest of the journey along dirt roads to Muktinath.

Day 4 – Acclimatisation rides around Muktinath (3,800m)

We need to take some time to let our bodies adjust to the altitude – but that doesn’t mean we can’t ride. Pick your own 20km line of the best downhill biking in the world for your first Himalayan big mountain freeriding experience! For those who don’t want to have to ride all the way back up, hire a Jeep to bring you up. For the really enthusiastic, you could squeeze in three of these epic lines today.

Day 5 – Trek to Thorung Pedi (4,450m)

You can choose to push your bike up, or let one of our porters do the hard work for you. Taking the pace easy to allow for acclimatisation, we’ll trek to our highest overnight stop. Surrounded by the peaks of the high Himalaya, look up at tomorrow’s challenge, the Thorung La, from the terrace of the teahouse.

Day 6 – Trek to the top of the Thorung La (5,416m) and bike down to Muktinath (3,800)

Over 1,000m of ascent will take up us to the top of the Thorung La, from where an awesome panorama of Himalayan peaks and the Tibetan plateau rolling away over the landscape awaits. Be reunited with your bikes ready to start the longest descent in the world: 4,530m of the finest uninterrupted downhill trails. The riding is technical at points, but always with the option to get off and push, or look for the most challenging line down. 100% downhill.

Day 7 – MTB from Muktinath to Tukuche (2,590m)

The long ride down continues over less technical ground. Take the lines hard, or sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. A lunch stop at Marpha, the Apple Kingdom, will allow you to sample the local delicacies, including apples sold in pie, cider and brandy. 60% downhill/35% flat 5% uphill.

Day 8 – MTB from Tukuche to Tatopani (1,220m)

Will you go hard before you go home? With multiple lines to choose from, today your adventure is entirely in your hands! You’ll ride from the shadows of snow-capped peaks of the high Himalaya all the way to the lush paddies fields surrounding Tatopani. Bragging rights abound as you indulge in some well-deserved relaxation in natural hot springs. 70% downhill/25% flat 5% uphill.

Day 9 – MTB from Tatopani to Beni (899m) / Drive to Pokhara

The last day of riding. Wave goodbye to the Himalayan giants as you continue along quiet trails and jeep tracks, passing quaint villages along the way. From Beni, we’ll jump into our private vehicle to take the scenic journey back to Pokhara. 70% downhill/25% flat 5% uphill.

Day 10 – Relax in Pokhara

Enjoy the quiet charm of Pokhara as you choose, whether that be hiring a boat to take out on the lake or booking yourself in for a spa treatment or two!

Day 11 – Transfer to Kathmandu

The same road back by the Trishuli river takes you back to the wonderfully chaotic Kathmandu. Explore a little more of the city before meeting the team for final farewells over dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 12 – Depart for Home

Unfortunately it’s the end of this adventure. Lost Earth Adventures group services end after breakfast. Transfers to the airport are complimentary. See you next time!

Photos

Click on the arrows below to take a photographic journey through Nepal’s mountains
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Video

Experience the high-speed, high altitude adrenaline-fueled journey down the longest descent in the world, check out our video.

Trip Grading

This trip is considered to be challenging. This is a serious trip. If you’re confident on technical terrain, ride regularly and the idea of riding in a remote, high altitude, alpine setting with limited facilities excites you, than this is the trip for you. Flying in Nepal is considered riskier than in the UK. Please read our Nepal flying advice.

Please be aware you will be descending from 5411m above sea level. Altitude can affect your balance and judgement and the ability of your riding. The first ten kilometres of this trip from the Thorung La to Muktinath is a serious undertaking and is considered a no-fall zone. It is roughly a trail centre grade red on steep flowing single track. A crash could result in a long fall over cliffs.

We do have the ability to start in Muktinath, cutting the first ten kilometres of the trip, this is the norm for our Mountain Madness, Nepal Xtreme and Annapurna Hike & Bike Trips.

We appreciate that in a group there will be many different speeds of walker/rider and we don’t ever want you to feel like you are holding up a group or being held up. Having plenty of guides and porters allow for us to change itineraries and the pace easily.

Recent Trip Reports

• Annapurna Hike and Bike Trip Report October 2016
• End of Season Report Autumn 2018

Altitude Advice

• Read our comprehensive guide to travelling at high altitude.

What’s Included

• A qualified Western Leader, with extensive experience
• 1 fully qualified, wilderness first aid trained, local bike guide/mechanic
• 5 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu/Pokhara
• 7 nights teahouse accommodation
• A welcome and farewell meal and all breakfasts while in Kathmandu. The food available in the tea houses is brilliant, there is a large selection of western, Chinese and Nepalese food available for you to choose from. We do not want you to be restricted in your menu choices and want you to enjoy the vast menus and locally grown produce of the tea houses. We will let you choose whatever meal you want from the menus at meal times.
• Meals from day 3 to day 9
• Airport transfers to and from the airport on the first and last day
• All transportation for duration of tour (unless otherwise specified)
• 7-days mountain biking (including national park permit and local guide/mechanic)
• All bike tools, spare parts, tubes etc.
• Porters and support staff to carry luggage. Porters will carry bikes for us on days 5 and 6 but not on day 4.
• Sufficient means of communication. Satellite phones can be rented on request for £10 per day.
• Guides will check in with our office to get regular bespoke weather updates and confirm locations
• Pre-departure support and advice by email, phone and face to face meetings in York if you would like
• After booking with us we will send you a highly informative and comprehensive trip information pack
• Remote medical support from specialist doctors
• Our guides and porters are paid fairly, properly equipped and fully insured for rescue and medical emergencies
• Map of our cycle route through the Annapurna’s
• T-shirt
• If you’d like to meet some of our team and experience our services beforehand you can join us on one of our UK adventures.
• Flights from Pokhara to Jomsom

What’s Not Included

• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Bike hire from £20-£40 per day depending on type of bike
• Items of a personal nature (drinks, snacks, souvenirs, etc.)
• Nepalese visa (Available to buy for $30 USD on arrival in Nepal)
• Tips to local guides
• Optional activities in Pokhara
• Airport transfers taken outside of the itinerary’s arrival and departure dates

Travelling to Nepal

You will need a passport with 6-month’s validity and you will need to obtain a Nepalese visa. The easiest way to get the visa is to buy it on entry to Nepal with either dollars or any major currency but not Nepali Rupees. Currently the cost for a single-entry visa valid for 15/30/90 days costs US$30/50/125. You can buy a visa in advance from the Neplese embassy in your home country if they have a location there. It is more expensive than buying it on arrival in Kathmandu and it doesn’t always save you time when you arrive as it is random which queue is longer. You also have to risk sending your passport off and they may take it for several weeks. You will need to buy travel insurance for your trip which you can find out about here. You also need to visit your GP or travel health professional at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to check what vaccinations you need.

For more information about travelling safely and obtaining passports you can see more at the FCO know before you go Travel Aware Campaign.

What Our Guests Say

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Groups: Private Treks and Group Tours

Charities, Schools, Military, Private Groups and Tailor Made Trips for Individuals

All our tours can be run privately for you and your group, from solo travellers to groups of over 50. We specialise in organising bespoke tours for groups of friends, charity challenges, school groups, mountaineering clubs, families, and countless others.

Please contact us with your details to receive a price within 24 hours.

Charities

We love working with charity challengers! We have our own charity (Share the Load Foundation) and are inspired by your determination to fundraise for worthy causes. That’s why we will do everything we can to help you achieve your goals during a charity challenge. We provide support from start to finish, including fundraising tips, training plans and the very best in-country support.

Continue reading about charity challenges

Schools

We believe that the best way for students to develop into global citizens ready to go and conquer the world is to get them out into it as soon as possible. We meticulously plan our itineraries to increase students’ independence and self-belief and develop a sense of social responsibility. UK safety standards and documentation for all activities and a 24 hour UK based operations centre ensure students’ safety and well-being on their Asian Lost Earth Adventure.

Continue reading about school trips to Asia

Military Groups

We are an Approved Military Contractor and provide many courses, expeditions and adventure training for groups of serving personnel and Cadets.

Read more about our military programmes or explore our activities and training for cadets

Tailor-made trips

We understand honeymooners need a bit of champagne sparkle, some celebrations warrant the inclusion of heli-trekking and spa treatments, and that the very active relax with white-water rafting after summiting 6,000m peaks. Decades of research and our extensive in-country network mean anything is possible. Get in touch and we’ll start preparing your perfect adventure.

Continue reading about Tailor Made trips

Information for group leaders & group discounts

Depending on your trip and number of participants, we can offer groups of 10 or more a complimentary place or a discount for all adventurers. Schools trips can benefit from free places for teachers, whilst we can discount rates for charity challenges. Contact us with your details and requirements and we will get a quote to you within one working day.

We also appreciate the effort it takes to coordinate a group of people so in exchange for your efforts, we will give group organisers of 10+ people a £150 Cotswold gift voucher; perfect for kitting yourself out ahead of your big adventure!

All group members receive a complimentary kit bag, t-shirt and a voucher code for 15% off at Cotswold Outdoor.

For Your Information

Health and safety and financial protection

At Lost Earth Adventures, health and safety is our top priority. All our trips are run to UK and international safety standards, and are proud to surpass these standards in many areas.

Full details of our policies and protections are available here.