Rough Riding Below Mount Kanchenjunga

Overview
Itinerary
What's included
Reviews
Do's & Don'ts

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11 days
Kathmandu/Kathmandu
10 people

Experience one of Nepal's most picturesque and untouched areas in an unforgettable mountain biking adventure. The journey will begin in Taplejung, where you will ride southeast through a mix of dirt and paved roads to Charali, a small town in southern Nepal bordering India. The journey takes you through hills and valleys, going up and down, through picturesque villages and countryside, which only a handful of tourists have seen, let alone on a bicycle.

The journey will begin with a flight from Kathmandu to Taplejung via Biratnagar. The next four days will be spent riding through southern Nepal. The journey will take you through picturesque villages, rice and wheat fields, and green hills. The first major stop will be at Pauwa Pass, our highest camp, where you will be treated to a breathtaking view from Kanchenjunga to Everest.

After this pass, the tour continues for another two days of cycling through the rolling hills of tea plantations in Ilam, a famous tea-growing region of Nepal. Here, we will spend a day relaxing or exploring the tea gardens, on or off the bikes. From Ilam, we will head down to the warm and fertile plains of Terai, where vibrant local markets, tea plantations, fruits, and vegetables, and the hospitality of the Nepali people will make all stops memorable. This region is still pristine and untouched, with very few Westerners and even fewer mountain bikers traversing this route.

In just these first five days of your trip, you will ride 240 km, climb 5,000 meters, and descend a thrilling 7,800 meters. It's a true adventure experience that offers a mix of thrill and beauty.

Activity: Sightseeing & Mountain Biking

Trip Type: Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu

Arriving in Kathmandu is a breathtaking experience, especially on a clear day. As you descend into Kathmandu, you will be treated to a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains stretching out to the horizon. This is a truly unforgettable experience, and you will know that you are in a very special place.

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our representative and driver will be at the airport to receive you and bring you to your hotel. They will check you in and brief you on your upcoming activities.

Stay: Hotel
Day 2

Kathmandu Sightseeing

After breakfast, today’s sightseeing includes the following places:

Kathmandu Durbar Square: This is the heart of Nepal’s art and culture. It has some of the ancient palaces and temples and the famous Kasthamandap, after which the city is named.

Swayambhunath Stupa: This is a 2,000-year-old Buddhist Stupa located on a hill and is also called the Monkey Temple. It has Buddha’s all-seeing eyes and offers a spectacular view of the city.

Patan Durbar Square: This is located about 5 km south of Kathmandu and is known for its beautiful architecture and is famous for wood and stone carvings and Buddhist and Hindu temples and the royal palace housing the museum.

Stay: Hotel
Day 3

Flight to Bhadrapur and Transfer to Ilam

On this day, we will be taking a short flight of about 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur in eastern Nepal. On a clear day, you will be able to see a stunning view of the Himalayas, including the highest peaks in the world.

Bhadrapur is a small town situated on the banks of the Mechi River, close to the Indian border. It is a very quiet place, visited by very few tourists. From Bhadrapur, we will be transferring to Ilam, a picturesque town known for its tea gardens and fertile agricultural lands. Overnight stay in Ilam will give you a chance to soak in the beauty of nature.

Stay: Hotel
Day 4

Drive to Taplejung and Village Exploration

We begin our journey from Ilam after breakfast. Our destination is Taplejung, and it takes us approximately 6-7 hours to reach. We can enjoy the breathtaking view from Sikkim to Makalu, one of the highest peaks in the world.

After arriving in Taplejung, we will be exploring the local village and preparing for our mountain bike journey the next day.

Stay: Hotel
Day 5

Ride to Kabeli

Our adventure begins with a fantastic downhill ride of 40 km, descending by nearly 2,000 meters in altitude on a graded jeep track that leads us from Taplejung into the countryside. After the thrilling downhill ride, we take a relaxing ride through the countryside for 10 km before reaching the banks of the Kabeli River, where we will be camping overnight.

This section provides us with the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking view of the region, making it a great start to our adventure.

Stay: Hotel
Day 6

Ride to Jor Pokhari

The day after yesterday’s exciting ride down, we have a big day of riding up. Today is a big day of climbing! From where we crossed the Kabeli River, we have a 32 km ride up to gain 1,500 meters in altitude. This takes us to the top of a beautiful ridge. From here, we have a gentle ride around to our next camp at Jor Pokhari.

The road is lightly trafficked with only a few vehicles using this road every day. This means we have full support on this day. If you need a rest from riding, you can also take a ride on the support vehicle for any part of this day’s climb.

Stay: Hotel
Day 7

Ride to Pauwa Pass

The day begins with a thrilling ride down from all the height we climbed the previous day. We ride down through terraced farmland and dense jungle on the lower slopes of the valley.

In mid-morning, we begin a graded climb to Phidim, a bustling market town and home of the local Gurkha regiment. A leisurely lunch in Phidim is followed by an option for fitter riders to cycle 30 km to reach Pauwa Pass, which is the highest point of this trip at 2,560 meters. Those preferring a more leisurely day can take a ride in the support vehicle to the ridge top camp.

The view from the top of the pass is breathtaking. Kanchenjunga is visible in all its glory. In addition, for the first time, we can see Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu rising out of the Khumbu Valley in the distance. The view of sunset over these magnificent peaks is best enjoyed from the ridge top.

Stay: Hotel
Day 8

Ride to Ilam

The distance we ride on this day is approximately 55 km, starting from Pauwa Pass and ending in Ilam. The ride is mostly composed of downhill and easy climbs. On this day, we start with a downhill ride, followed by a ride on a ridge. After this, we ride downhill to a riverbed before we climb up and continue with our ride.

On this day, we ride into Ilam, where we set up camp in a beautiful tea garden. Ilam is known to be the major tea production hub in Nepal, where tea leaves are processed before they are sent to Kathmandu.

Stay: Hotel
Day 9

Explore Ilam

Today is all about relaxing and enjoying the day in Ilam. If you are a fan of cycling, then this is a great place to ride through some small single trails passing through beautiful tea gardens. There are many quiet tracks in the area, and it is a great place for a peaceful and enjoyable ride.

Stay: Hotel
Day 10

Drive to Bhadrapur and Fly to Kathmandu

After having breakfast, we check out from the hotel in Ilam and drive to Bhadrapur Airport, which is approximately 94 km and takes around 3-4 hours.

Then, we take a flight from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu. After arriving in Kathmandu, our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for a relaxing stay.

Stay: Hotel
Day 11

Departure from Kathmandu

After having breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the airport for your further flight.

You will be transferred to the airport by our representative, and you will leave Nepal with wonderful memories and an unforgettable experience of your cycling adventure.

What's Included

Warm welcome and assistance upon arrival in Kathmandu by our office representative.
All arrival and departure transfers as per the itinerary by air-conditioned vehicles.
Accommodation in a twin/double room at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu for 3 nights on a bed and breakfast plan.
7 Nights / 8 Days Mountain Biking trip with our experienced guide and support staff including vehicle support and full-board meals during the biking days.
National park fees.
Domestic flights including Kathmandu - Biratnagar - Taplejung and Biratnagar - Kathmandu, including airport taxes and transfers.
Applicable hotel and government taxes (currently 24.3%).

Not Included

Meals except breakfast in Kathmandu.
Mountain bike rental (Costs around US$ 50-55 per mountain bike depending upon the types of mountain bikes).
Travel insurance.
International airfare to and from Nepal.
Personal expenses, which include items such as souvenirs, shopping, or doing additional activities.
Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, snacks, laundry, phone calls, and internet.
Extra cost due to changes in the itinerary caused by landslides, political disturbances, strikes, or other unforeseen events.
Other miscellaneous expenses not included in the “Costs Include” section.
Tips for guides, drivers, and supporting staff.

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Do's & Don'ts

NHV next heartily welcomes all of our valued guests. Either you are trekking in the mountains or touring the Kathmandu valley we suggest you that you treat the land and its people with care and respect. Below are some tips on how you can keep the environment clean and show appreciation for age-old culture and traditional religious beliefs. Nepal's Culture might be astonishing and surprising for newcomers therefore these tips are sometimes necessary.

To show gratitude and respect, use both of your hands rather than one when giving or receiving something, even money. It’s seen as a gesture of respect.
Remember not to point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand especially to indicate a sacred object or place.
Among Hindus, avoid touching women and holy men. In Nepal, people especially women, do not normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press palms together in a prayer-like gesture known as "Namaste" greeting is preferable.
Do not eat with your left hand.
Never eat beef in front of Hindus and Buddhist because beef is strictly prohibited among both Hindus and Buddhists. Cows are sacred in Nepal.
Try not to step over or point your feet at another person, a sacred place or a heart.
Remove your shoes when entering a home, temple or monastery and leather items in Hindu temples and avoid smoking and wearing scant dress in religious settings.
Remember, some of the temples entrance may be prohibited for non-Hindus.
It is better not to touch offerings or persons when they are on way to shrines, especially if you are non-Hindu.
Do not offer food to a Nepalese after tasting it, nor eat from a common pot, and avoid touching your lips to a shared drinking vessel.
The sight of men holding hands is common, but men and women holding hands, and general acts of affection, are frowned upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to Nepalese culture.
Do walk around Stupas clockwise, so that the outer walls are always on your right. If you encounter a stone wall covered with Tibetan inscriptions, do the same: Walk past with the wall on your right (and don't take any of the stones).
Do not lose your cool. Raising your voice or shouting is seen as extremely bad manners in Nepal too and will only make any problem worse.
Do get a receipt of in authenticity when purchasing an antique replica. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to take it out of the country. And do not buy ivory or fur from endangered species. Your purchases encourage the trade in such illegal goods, and you would not be allowed to bring them back home anyway.
Do not give in to children who ask for just one rupee. Although a rupee is a small amount that anyone can spare, successful begging leads young children to drop out of school and take up panhandling as their trade. If you want to help, give to a trustworthy charity or a school.
Do not take photographs of locals, holy shrines and temples unless they have clearly given their consent.