New Mountain Bike Tours in Nepal

Oct 14, 2011

Ace the Himalaya, a trekking, culture tour and climbing agency based in Kathmandu, has announced that it will launch mountain bike tours in the Himalayas in 2012.

Ace the Himalaya will operate professional, vehicle-and guide-supported mountain biking on a customized tour basis for a minimum of four guests over some of the best biking trails in Nepal. Four 12- to 21-day mountain biking itineraries will be offered starting in March under the new banner of Ace the Himalaya Mountain Biking Trips.

“The mountain bike trails in Nepal are some of the best in the world but also some of the most undiscovered,” said Prem Khatry, director of Ace the Himalaya. “Often, you will be the only biker on the trail for days, affording a highly personal experience with the villages you pass through.”

Four itineraries will be offered:

Annapurna Circuit: This is a strenuous, 19-day program offered March through May and September through November. Cyclists cover approximately 16 miles per day at an altitude range of 17,700 feet, passing through lush, sub-tropical rainforest, deep valleys and cultivated fields as well as wooded alpine forests and high deserts, with frequent views of the Annapurnas and Manaslu. Prices start at $1,690 per person.

Lhasa (Tibet) to Kathmandu: This is a strenuous, 21-day program suggested for June through September. Cyclists cover 45 miles per day at an altitude range of 17,000 feet through one of the most remote regions in the world from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmadu, Nepal. The trip follows the Friendship Highway to the Roof of the World, the Everest Base Camp and descends by the former home of the Dalai Lama. Prices start at $3,440 per person.

Muktinath to Pokhara: This is a moderately strenuous, 11-day program suggested for February through April and September through November. Cyclists ride 15 to 18 miles per day at an altitude range of approximately 12,000 feet to Muktinath, a pilgrimage center for Buddhists and Hindus. Prices start at $1,030 per person.

Kathmandu Valley Rim: This is a moderate 13-day program suggested for September through June. Cyclists cover an average 18 miles per day at an altitude range of approximately 7,000 feet on an off-the-beaten-path route through rice terraces with superb views of an array of snow peaks from Annapurna to Everest. Included is a stay at Nagarkot, which is famous for sunrises and sunsets with the magnificent Himalayan back drop. Prices start at $720.