Kathmandu – Ghorka – Sundar Bazar – Borletar – Lake Begnas – Lake Rupa – Pokhara
Dates
7 days
10th – 16th March 2020
1628 USD (twin share). Includes airport transfers, meals as stated by the symbols BLD, accommodation, support vehicle, guides / mechanic.
Note: this is a semi-supported bike trip rather than fully supported. Luggage is transported all the way but there are two major passes that our support vehicle will go around instead of over.
Add USD 420 for single supplement.
Group Size: Min 4 Max 8
Cycle days: 4
Cycling level: Challenging
While we love a trek through rhododendrons under snow capped peaks, there is nothing like the feeling of cool mountain air on your face as you downhill it on a mountain bike, pedalling along dirt roads through rice fields, traversing suspension-bridged-rivers that carry the melt of Manaslu and life giving waters of Annapurna – our Himalayan companions on this ride.
Itinerary
Day 1 Kathmandu
Upon arriving in Kathamndu, you will be met at the airport and transferred to our guesthouse in downtown Kathmandu. Kathmandu is an eclectic medieval Hindu Buddhist pastiche of a city. For those of you who arrive early, jump onto the ancient pilgrim trail to Swayambunath (Monkey Temple) for views over the valley. Fly in a day or two earlier to explore the impressive UNESCO listed Durbar – palaces and surrounds at Patan and Bhaktapur.
Day 2 Kathmandu
B
We warm you up with a short Kathmandu cycle exploratory. It’s a mad city for traffic but the madness is a little more contained within the confines of the old city. Explore the medieval lane-ways, weaving between temples and pagodas on Kathamndu’s car-free Durbar Squares – as you test out your bike. We return the bike to the hotel and continue your city tour on foot and by car.
Day 3 Ghorka
From Kathmandu we drive to the warrior kingdom of Ghorka for an afternoon at the Palace, still intact despite the recent earthquake. Many NGO’s have also made Ghorka their camp as they assess reconstruction and foster community rebuilding.
Ghorka is famous for curved Khukri knives and for the soldiers that wielded them. Ghurkas were recruited by the British for their fearlessness and loyalty and were fondly memorialised by Former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who stated: “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha.”
Just the spirit we need to the start us off on our mountainous journey to Pokhara.
Ghorka has some stunning hill-country to hike through, and a cosy hillside resort that serves a decent gin and tonic on its Manaslu viewing terrace – or served to you in your comfortable mountain viewing room. It’s an excellent spot to gaze at the Mountain of the Spirit as manaslu translates – a mountain whose different faces you’ll discover on the following day’s ride.
Day 4-6 Sundar Bazaar – Borletar – Begnas- Pokhara
Our three day bike ride to Pokhara starts with a long winding downhill on tarmac before turning into the quiet back roads to Sundar Bazaar (D4), Borletar(5) and Begnas and Rupa Lakes and finally Pokara (D6) with its serene lakes reflecting the famous fishtail Mountain. We follow numerous rivers that carry the snow melt from Annapurna – Mother Goddess Who Feeds the World – to the broad rice fields and farming communities that we ride through.
For most of the ride we are off road on dirt, some shingled rock, patchy tarmac with a few smallish creeks to cross. There are some serious hills to climb, but the views are worth it.
Day 5 and Day 6 our support vehicle becomes merely a luggage transportation service. It cannot follow us over the mountains but will instead go around and meet us at our hotels.
Day 7 Pokhara: the perfect place to unwind in the cafes by its famous Phewa Lake. A short flight (at own expense) takes you back to Kathmandu for your connecting flight back home.
For a longer adventure, consider an extension trek on the Annapurna Circuit. Our 3 night / 4 day tea house trek (USD 399-499) takes you up to the jewel of Himalayan vistas at Poon Hill.
Includes
Pick up from Kathmandu airport
6 nights twin share accommodation
English speaking guide / leader while on trek and or English speaking guide/ mechanic for smaller groups.
Support vehicle to carry luggage. Note that the vehicle cannot follow us on many of the smaller roads we take and will travel by alternative means to meet us at our guesthouses each night.
All meals outside of Kathamdnu and Pokhara as stated on the itinerary (B = breakfast, L= Lunch, D=dinner)
Transport of bikes back to Kathmandu.
Does not include
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu or Pokhara
flights – if you fly back from Pokhara to Kathmandu, we can help you book your flight for 135USD.
Travel insurance
Emergency evacuation ( please note that comprehensive travel insurance is a required to join the trip).
Tips and gratuities
Costs arising from unforeseen events outside the control of Bike Aways or our partners.
Bikes – hard tail bikes = 20 USD per day, soft tail bikes = USD 50 per day. Or BYO.
Getting There and Away
Kathmandu is an exciting airport to fly into. If you have a day flight. Sit on the right side of the plane going in for stunning views of the Himalaya from Kanchenjunga and Everest in the East and to the Central Himalayas around Kathmandu.
Dragon Air has five flights a week from Hong Kong to Kathmandu ( Sun, Tue, wed, Fri, Sat) departing HKG at 17.35 and arriving in Kathmandu at 10 pm the same evening.
This is brilliant for those trying to minimise time off work. The return flight departs from kathmandu at 11pm and lands in HKG the following day at 5 am in the morning. Return Ticket prices average out at HKD 5800.
Thai Airways departs from Bangkok at 10.30 am and arrives in Kathmandu at 12.45pm (seven days a week). The return flight is at 13.30 pm arriving in Bangkok at 18.30 ( 3.5 house flight). This flight is usually around THB 15500 ( 450 USD). The tickets are very flexible and you fly in the day light hours – brilliant for viewing the Himalayas ( book your seat for right side in and left side out).
Malaysian Airlines are cheaper still if you are arriving from the South East Asia or Australia.
Air China flies via Lhasa. We have good connections in Lhasa for travel and can organise a fantastic three day Lhasa trip (with permits) for those who are flying from Beijing. It would be a pity not to stop if you are crossing over the top anyway!