Mountain Bike the Annapurna Circuit

Highlights

• Complete one of the most iconic Himalayan trails solely on mountain bike.
• Experience the thrill of 4,530m of descent; the world’s longest mountain bike descent!
• Ride the slopes of the world’s 7th and 10th highest mountains.
• Cross the challenging Thorung La pass (5,416m).
• Be awestruck by 360 degree Himalayan mountain panoramas.
• Experience the famous Nepalese hospitality in teahouses along the trail.

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

Dates and prices

Our Bike the Annapurna Circuit trip is a private event. This means you can book your trip at any time of the year.

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

Bike hire

You can bring your own mountain bike at no extra cost or we can rent you a bike for the full duration of the trip. Prices are £40 per day for a full-suspension (Giant Trance 2 or similar), or £25 per day for a hardtail. If you bring your own bike, you must ensure you have plenty of spare parts to look after your bike for the two weeks. Our guides will only bring spare parts for the bikes we supply. Please contact us to discuss logistics if you decide to bring your own.

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.

Extend your trip in Nepal

Check the departure dates of our other Nepal tours here. Book two trips for yourself and get 5% off the lower priced tour. We can also help arrange arriving earlier or departing later to maximise your stay in this wonderful place.

Single Traveller?

We don’t charge a single supplement fee for solo travellers. Prices are based on sharing a twin room with a member of the same sex or a travelling companion. You can stay in your own room for £280. Please note that in some accommodation, there is limited space and single rooms may not be available. We’ll aim to get you a private room at least 90% of the trip. This must be paid with the final balance.

Upgrades

Treat yourself to some lavish comfort before or after your grand adventure. We’re experts when it comes travelling in and around Nepal, so why not see our recommendations on the best 5-star hotels in Kathmandu?

Day Tours and Excursions

Explore holy temples, endearing hilltop villages or the exotic capital of Kathmandu. Seek out tranquility or adventure! From white water rafting and mountain biking to scenic rambles into untouched monasteries! There’s always more to see in Nepal. Check out all our day trips and excursions.

Click here to find more about travel in 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 Kathmandu
• Day 2: Drive to Besishar
• Day 3: Ride Besishar to Jagat (1,300m)
• Day 4: Ride Jagat to Chame (2,600m)
• Day 5: Ride Chame to Lower Pisang (3,200m)
• Day 6: Ride Lower Pisang to Manang (3,540m) 2 routes possible
• Day 7: Rest / acclimatisation day
• Day 8: Ride Manang to Yak Kharka (4,018m)
• Day 9: Ride Yak Kharka to Thorung Phedi (4,450m)
• Day 10: Ride Thorung Phedi to Muktinath (3,800m) via Thorung La (5,416m)
• Day 11: Ride Muktinath to Tuckche (2,590m) via Lubra Valley
• Day 12: Ride Tukuche to Tatopani hot springs (1,190m)
• Day 13: Ride Tatopani to Beni (899m) and drive to Pokhara
• Day 14: Return to Kathmandu vias private vehicle. You can choose to fly but please read this flying advice.
• Day 15: Depart for home

See a more detailed itinerary for this trip

Photos

Click on the arrows below to take a photographic journey through the Annapurnas
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Trip Grading

This trip is considered to be challenging. We spend time at higher altitudes than you are probably used to. We ride into fairly remote regions of Nepal where infrastructure and services are limited. Some of the descents are technical and you should be confident riding red routes at a trail centre, but you always have the option to get off and push the more technical sections. You need to be physically fit and mentally prepared to push up; at times the ascents are too technical to realistically ride (think stone staircases). Just remember, every inch pushed up is another inch to ride down!

We appreciate that in a group there will be many different speeds of 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 pace easily.

Recent Trip Reports

Some of these reports are for the Hike and Bike trip but it will give you a good idea of what to expect. The Hike and bike is the same trip but we hike the uphill eastern side of the circuit and only ride the downhill western portion.
• Annapurna Hike and Bike Trek Report March 2014
• Annapurna Hike and Bike Trek Report Oct 2015
• Annapurna Hike and Bike Trek Report Nov 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
• 3 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu/Pokhara
• Welcome and farewell dinner, and all breakfasts in Kathmandu. All meals whilst cycling. No meals in Pokhara or the journeys to and from Pokhara. 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.
• 11 nights teahouse accommodation
• Airport transfers to and from the airport on the first and last day
• All transportation for duration of tour (unless otherwise specified)
• Entrance fees and trekking permits
• Porters and support staff to carry luggage and bikes
• 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
• Financial protection
• 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
• Small groups. No more than 12 people on a set departure trip
• T-shirt
• We don’t force a fast or slow pace. Our teams are supported with plenty of staff so you can walk or cycle at your own pace. We let you enjoy at the pace that is right for you.
• Our guides and porters are paid fairly, properly equipped and fully insured for rescue and medical emergencies
• Map of our mountain bike and trek around the Annapurna circuit
• Trekking kit bag
• 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.

What’s Not Included

• Bike hire. We can rent you a mountain bike for the full duration of the trip. Prices are £40 per day for a full suspension (Giant Trance 2 or similar) or £25 per day for a hard tail.
• Optional additional porter to carry bike over Thorung La Pass or other sections of the journey. Available to arrange on route and negotiate locally.
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Items of a personal nature (drinks, snacks, souvenirs, etc.)
• Nepalese visa (Available to buy for $30 USD on arrival in Nepal)
• Internal flights, if you’d prefer to fly rather than drive.
• Scenic Everest mountain flight
• Tips to local guides
• 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

Click here for reviews.

Video

This film is actually from our Hike and Bike tour but it’s the same route, just on this trip you’re peddling all the way!

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.