Ride the Full Annapurna Circuit in Nepal
Experience the Annapurna Circuit on mountain bike
For prices and more details about this trip visit the Mountain Bike the Annapurna Circuit main trip page
Welcome to the most exciting, enchanting capital city in the world! You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend the afternoon captivated by the energetic vibrancy of Kathmandu and its people, exploring, relaxing or preparing for the adventure ahead. The team will meet for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
The drive to Besisahar takes you from the hustle and bustle of the city and to the tranquility of rural Nepal. The journey will take us through lush paddy fields, quaint villages and down some exciting jeep tracks!
Starting ahead of the traditional Annapurna Circuit, we’ll switch from four wheels to two, and get warmed up along the jeep track linking Besisahar and Jagat. Straightforward riding will give us the chance to appreciate the snow-capped peaks of Himalchuli and Ngadi Chuli looming over the horizon.
Day 4 – Jagat to Chame (2600m)
The start of our off-roading takes us on a rocky trail following the course of the Marsyangdi River. As we wind gently uphill, we can stop to catch our breath and watch the cascading waterfalls along the way. Entering into the district of Manang, the landscape begins to change: we are now really entering into the Himalaya.
Climbing through the valley and passing through the villages of Tal, Dharapani and Timang, we ride on trails through deciduous forest . Incredible views of Annapurna II (7,937m), Manaslu (8,156m) and Peak 29 (7,871m) will stay with us as we arrive to Chame, the administrative centre of the Manang Disctrict.
We continue riding up the valley along non-technical pine forested trails. Etched into the rock face, the steep sides of the trail make the journey that bit more exhilarating! Arriving at the trail-head, we will take a moment to take in the dramatic ridgeline and beige-streaked face of the Paungda Danda, believed by the local Gurungs to be the Gateway to Heaven.
A gentle climb along an easy riverside trail takes us up the valley to Manang. Arguably the most beautiful day of the trail, there are plenty of opportunities to admire our surroundings. Huge glaciers and magnificent rock faces stand high above us; in stark and beautiful contrast to the forest around us on the valley floor. Passing ancient stupas, the feeling of having been allowed in on one of the world’s most special secrets is wonderfully pervasive.
Today is an acclimatisation day. Rest, ride or explore under the watchful eyes of Annapurna III and Gangapurna. For adrenaline junkies, go out onto the veranda of the teahouse, choose a line down the hillside and… go! First descents aplenty, all you need to decide is how hard you want to ride. Whichever line you choose, be assured, this is big mountain freeriding at its best.
For a more active day out of the saddle, take a walk up the 400m hill behind the town to experience superb mountain vistas, or set off out on a challenging day hike to Ice Lake (4,500m).
Leaving Manang and the deciduous forests behind, we begin the first of three days of ascent towards the Thorung La. We are heading towards the high Himalaya, and the trail becomes steeper and more difficult. Be prepared to push, as we will spend up to 50% of the day negotiating very technical ascents. As the altitude increases, we will make sure we’re taking it slow, giving plenty of opportunity to immerse ourselves in the tranquility of the world’s highest mountains.
Our last full day of ascent will again see us pushing for about half the time. With every step, the scenery becomes wilder, and descending on the trail down to the river feels more thrilling for it. One last push takes us to our highest overnight stop of the trek at Phedi. Meaning ‘foot of the pass’, this little town is nestled below the Thorung La (5,416m); tomorrow’s objective.
This morning will be a challenge. We’ll push and ride our way up, at significant altitude, towards the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit. Awaiting at the top of the pass will be sweeping panoramic views of the Annapurna Massif, Dhaulagiri, and innumerable other snow capped peaks. Looking across the Tibetan Plateau, the brown and beige peaks of Upper Mustang are hiding in the rain shadow of the Himalaya. Take time to celebrate the achievement of surmounting this magnificent pass before getting ready for the epic ride down.
Riding from the roof of the world down towards the world’s deepest gorge is eye-wateringly good! Whether your tears are from awe, joy or exhilaration, riding down the switchbacks to Muktinath is an unforgettable experience. The trail is quite technical at points, and each rider will be free to take the trail at their own pace.
The holy pilgrimage town of Muktinath is surrounded by rugged mountain landscapes and has unparalleled views of Dhaulagiri. Explore its streets and stupas, and visit the Mukti Kshetra temple, beautifully adorned with prayer flags.
With the most technical riding behind us, today is an incredible day of incredible descents in incredible surroundings. Simply incredible! We’ll conquer exquisite single track, fly down quiet jeep trails and cross impossibly high suspension bridges. This is high altitude mountain biking at its absolute finest!
Stopping for lunch at the quaint little village of Marpha, famous for its apple and peach brandy, we’ll catch our breath and replenish our energy levels before continuing our incredible journey to the cobbled streets of Tukuche.
If you hadn’t had enough of the best mountain biking in the world over the last couple of days, worry not! Today will involve over 1,000m of descent. Following the Kali Gandaki, we’ll ride in the shadows of the Annapurna range. Sweeping trails carved into the valley take us down in style back into pine, cypress and juniper forests. A good soak in the natural hot springs of Tatopani will be most welcome tonight!
A more relaxed pace will take us along gently descending terrain and wide jeep tracks to the lush greenery of Beni. Here, transport will await to transfer us back to Pokhara. Celebrate with great food and ice-cold beverages; you’ve just become one of the few people to complete the Annapurna Circuit entirely on a mountain bike!
Day 14 – Return to Kathmandu
Return to Kathmandu following the course of the raging Trishuli river. We will arrive in Kathmandu with time to do a bit of last minute souvenir shopping, or wander the ancient squares of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Meet with the team in the evening for a farewell dinner.
Day 15 – 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!
Have an extra day or an afternoon flight? Treat yourself to…
A Flight Amongst Giants
As the clouds part and the sun breaks through the early morning sky, ascend towards the Himalaya in an exhilarating mountain flight. Fly east towards the highest mountain in the world – iconic Mount Everest (8848m) and on the way take in breathtaking views of the Himalaya including Kangchengjunga (8586m), Shisha Pangma (8013m), Cho Oyu (8201m), Nuptse (7864m) and Lhotse (8,516m). Quite simply – spectacular!
*Scenic Mt. Everest mountain flight is not included in tour price and must be paid for on location.
Trekking and Biking Times and Altitudes
These tables show the approximate times it takes to ride to each place we stay at night. These times do not include rest and food breaks. There will be enough staff so we can take different trails depending on your riding ability but we will always meet back up with the group at night.
| Annapurna Circuit | Time | Length |
|---|---|---|
|
Besisahar (760m) to Jagat (1,300m) |
6-7 Hours | 27 km |
Jagat to Chame (2,600m) |
6-7 Hours | 32 Km |
| Chame to Lower Pisang (3,200m) | 3-4 Hours | 15 km |
| Lower Pisang to Manang (3,540m) | 3-4 Hours | 16 km |
| Acclimatisation day | 0 Hours | 0 km |
| Manang to Yak Kharka (4018m) | 3-4 Hours | 10 km |
| Yak Kharka to Thorung Phedi (4,450m) | 3-4 Hours | 10 km |
| Thorung Phedi to Muktinath (3,800m) via Thorung La (5,416m) | 8-9 Hours | 22 km |
| Muktinath to Tuckuche (2,590m) | 5-6 Hours | 40 km |
| Tuckuche to Tatopani (1,190m) | 5-6 Hours | 45 km |
| Tatopani to Beni (830m) | 3 Hours | 25 km |
For prices and more details about this trip visit the Annapurna Circuit Hike and Bike trip page