“Annapurna Circuit”

Description

Trip Name	Annapurna Circuit	Tour Code	AC
Duration	14 Days	Support Vehicle	NA
Maximum Altitude	5,416 meters Thorong La pass (Day 10)	Minimum Altitude	760meters, Besisahar
Bikking Hour	5 – 6 hours a day	Luggage Transfer	Yes
Group Size	Minimum – 04	Maximum – 16

 

Trip Grade: E. Very Tough                                                                                                                                              Experienced, fit cyclists and above who are happy to undertake a more Expedition-style tour. Off-road experience is essential, including riding on rough, steep surfaces and single-track. Itineraries will include long cycling days in hot & cold conditions with basic facilities; altitude and carry your bike may also contribute to this grade. High level of fitness required, achieved through regular aerobic training

Food Key                                                                                                                                                                                        The meal inclusions are marked below each day’s trip note:                                                                                                        B: Breakfast                                                                                                                                                                                                L: Lunch                                                                                                                                                                                                  D: Dinner

Accomodation Key:                                                                                                                                                              The entry in bold at the end of each day indicates the type of accommodation normally used.                  CH: Comfortable Hotel, Lodge- twin rooms with en suite facilities, reliable electricity and water supply, good service and some added amenities.                                                                                                                                                                SH: Standard Hotel, Lodge or Gite – no-frills hotel, usually with twin rooms and en suite facilities. Service and amenities are generally adequate.                                                                                                                                                  BH: Basic Hotel, Lodge or Gite, Mountain Hut, Village House – Can be communal, often consisting of just a bed and shared facilities. Bed linen not normally provided. Running water, toilets and electricity may be inconsistent or non-existent. Cleanliness is not always assured.                                                                                                                                        Single Accommodation: If you wish to have a single room, a single supplement of US$ 275 is payable at time of booking. Please check day to day itinerary for more information.                                                                                  Unmatched Accommodation:In case of any unmatched clients, they will straight be categorized to the Single Supplement category and added to the Final Invoice.

 

The “Annapurna Circuit” is considered one of the most challenging mountain bike trips in the world. This trip takes you to some of the most stunning biking tracks in Nepal. The mountain bike trail starts at 600 meters above sea level and reaches up to a staggering height of 5416 meters at Thorong-La pass making it one of the most challenging trip. You will traverse on combination of Jeep Track, hiking trail covered with snow and single tracks via Manang and Mustang’s harsh climatic condition. Hardships aside, you will be rewarded with opportunities to get up close and personal with the locals whose lifestyle in these mountain villages have remained unchanged for centuries. We highly recommend this tour to experienced bikers for the sheer adventure opportunity that this tour presents to the ones who want to venture out.

Day 01, Arrive Kathmandu:                                                                                                                                                     Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel in Thamel. It is a popular tourist district offering convenience of food and beverages. Depending on the time of your arrival in Kathmandu, a tour briefing and introduction with your guide will be arranged. Necessary paper works will be completed for the permits at the same time will have dinner at the hotel.                                                                                                                                                                                                            Hotel, SH                                                                                                                                                                                    Altitude: 1340 meters

Day 02, Kathmandu Valley:                                                                                                                                                    After an early morning breakfast in Kathmandu, we head due north into the Kathmandu valley to explore the fantastic trails that this area has to offer at a very leisurely pace. Today is the ideal opportunity to ensure that bikes are working well and to begin the process of acclimatization and other necessaries.                                                              Hotel, SH (B)                                                                                                                                                                                   Cycling Distance: approx. 20 kilometers                                                                                                                                      Altitude: 1340 meters

Day 03, Drive to Besisahar:                                                                                                                                                    Our day starts as early as 6:00 am to catch a bus ride to Besisahar. The drive takes approximately 6 hours. Please carry some light snack and water for the journey although the bus will make stops for lunch and refreshments. Up on arrival in Besisahar, you will check in to a guest house. Rest of the evening is free to explore the town or to do a warm up ride in the surrounding hills.                                                                                                                                                          Guest House, SH (B & D)                                                                                                                                                Total Distance: 187 kilometers (Drive)                                                                                                                                      Duration: approx. 6hrs                                                                                                                                                               Altitude: 760 meters

Day 04,Taal:                                                                                                                                                                                After breakfast you set off on the Manang – Dumre Jeep Track following the Marsyangdi River upstream. Once you reach Bhulbhule the road inclines gradually until Syange but the steep uphill section starts from here and continues all the way to Chemche. From now on you have to be careful with the vehicles and the caravan of donkeys that ply on this mountainous road until you reach Chamche. You will continue on the Jeep Track with a huge uphill section with possible landslides to reach Taal. You will soon see a welcome gate that welcomes you to Manang district, which means you have reached our stop at the village of Taal.                                                                                                        Guest House BH, (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                    Cycling Distance: 37 kilometers                                                                                                                                                       Altitude: 1700 meters

Day 05, Chame:                                                                                                                                                                            The road to Chame is uphill from here and much of your energy will be sapped during the last three hours of ride. Do fill up your camel back and fuel yourself with energy bars. Please always keep to the wall side of the road and pay particular attention to the passing donkeys as they could suddenly change the course of their walking path. You take a good rest at the village of Timang but before you reach Timang you will have to use all you might to cross the 35 degrees gradient forested trails. From here our rest stop is another good 3 to 4 kilometers ride. We reach Chame at 2670 meters and check into the Guest House.                                                                                                                                  Guest House: BH (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                          Cycling Distance: 23 kilometers                                                                                                                                                Altitude: 2670 Meters

Day 06, Yak Ru (Ghyaru):                                                                                                                                                Fresh smell of alpine forest right after you cross the steel road bridge at Chame village gives you a feeling of slowly being at an altitude. The trail passes through dense Pine forested trails to reach the well populated village of Pisang. You leave the main trail to Humde and fork right to follow the trail to upper Manang towards the village of Ghyaru. Soon after you cross the bridge at Pisang, you will enter shrubs land with a beautiful turquoise lake to your right. The beautiful forested trail brings you to another longer suspension bridge at Menthang. You will start to feel the first effects of altitude from here. A well marked trail continues to snake up to the village of Ghyaru which is situated at an altitude of 3670 meters. At Ghyaru, you will be rewarded with the view of the beautiful Marsyangdi valley down below and the towering peaks of Annapurna in the south and a flat axe like shaped mountain called Swarga Dwari (Heaven’s Gate) in the east. The village of Ghyaru which was originally calls by the name YAK RU and supposedly was named by a wandering Lama from Tibet.                                                                                                                                Guest House, BH (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                            Distance: 33 kilometers                                                                                                                                                                Altitude: 3670 meters

Day 07, Manang:                                                                                                                                                                          Early sunrise and the panoramic view of mountains makes the day interesting and pleasant. You will observe the Tibetan featured inhabitants of Ghyaru while pushing the bike through the icy paths before the trail becomes ride able again. We continue to ride the trail and go past the 600 years old ruins of Bandi Lhama Durbar (Thing Wall or the red Palace) on our left. The all ride able downhill trail brings us to the village of Perkyung and flats out to the village of Braka where we meet the main road to Manang. The big wide jeep road follows the beautiful Marshyangdi River. Another one and half miles ride from Braka brings us to the village of Manang where we check into a Hotel. Manang village has almost all the modern facilities you need such as internet cafe and bakery. Yes, a Bakery! You can fulfill your cravings for sweet deserts or few freshly baked rolls and breads. Manang is also our rest location. We rest an additional day in Manang and get acclimatized before ascending the higher altitudes towards Thorong-La.                Guest House, BH (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                            Distance: 16 kilometers                                                                                                                                                                        Altitude: 3540 meters

Day 08, Rest Day:                                                                                                                                                                        A well deserved rest day in Manang is not without any activities. We encourage you to take a short hike up the Gangapurna Lake and the surrounding peaks to further help you in the acclimatization process. A restful but an active day will certainly help you gain that confidence and comfort being in this harsh terrain. The rest day provides an amazing photo opportunity as you are surrounded by 8000 meter peaks all around you.                                              Guest House, BH (B)                                                                                                                                                                    Altitude: 3540 meters

Day 09, Thorong Phedi:                                                                                                                                                          You will feel firsthand the effect of riding in the altitude when you ride past Manang. A steady climb of 2 kilometer brings you to Ghusang at 3900 meters above sea level. You will start to feel real pressure on your legs as you maneuver slippery icy uphill trails all the way to Thorong Phedi. It is a short distance to Thorong Phedi but could be very hard for a lot of riders not used to riding in the altitudes. You have to watch for any early signs of AMS at this stage. It is absolutely important to be in good fighting condition for the ascent next day to Thorong-La pass. We suggest you hydrate well and take an early night bed to rest well.                                                                                              Guest House, BH (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                              Distance: 22 kilometers                                                                                                                                                                      Altitude: 4450 meters

Day 10, Kagbeni:                                                                                                                                                                        It is absolutely important to have a very early morning start at 4:00am to cross the Thorong-La Pass (5416mts). The idea is to cross the pass by the dawn otherwise it gets too windy in the late morning. The first 5 kilometers ascent to reach the top of Thorong-la is painfully slow and arduous as you carry your bike in the darkness. After a quick photo sessions (most likely selfie), you descend down the steep slope to Muktinath. This section of the trail is very technical and exhilarating until you reach the bottom of the Thorong-La pass. A further 1.5 kilometers fast riding brings you to the holy site of Muktinath. We ride further on the wide and winding dirt road to Kagbeni which is our pit stop for the day. At Kagbeni, you could again enjoy some of the modern facilities and even indulge in a fresh cup of ‘Cappuccino’.                                                                                                                                                                              Guest House, BH (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                          Distance: 22 kilometers                                                                                                                                                                  Altitude: 2800 meters

Day 11, Tatopani (Hot Spring):                                                                                                                                              This section provides some of the fast and best downhill riding opportunities. Pay particular attention to the passing trucks while negotiating bends as they may be carrying heavy load of construction materials and they may be protruding out from the trucks which could be real hazards. Tatopani means hot water in Nepali and sure enough there is a hot water spring waiting for us at the end of the day’s ride. You will soak yourself in the hot water pond and reinvigorate yourself.                                                                                                                                                                              Guest House, BH (B, L & D)                                                                                                                                                                Distance: 92 kilometers                                                                                                                                                                        Altitude: 1190 meters

Day 12, Beni and Drive to Pokhara:                                                                                                                                      A hot and dusty ride towards the tropic of Beni is somewhat challenging after getting used to riding in the cool of the high altitudes. The option to start early in the morning is that we don’t suffer much from the heat of the day while riding this undulating final day of ride. We will take a local bus to transfer to the resort town of Pokhara.                      Hotel SH (B & L)                                                                                                                                                                                      Cycling Distance: Approx 22 kilometers                                                                                                                                        Driving: 4 hours                                                                                                                                                                                       Altitude: 820 meters

Day 13, Bus to Kathmandu:                                                                                                                                                  We take early tourist bus to Kathmandu. We will be transferred to the hotel. Farewell dinner in the evening.                Hotel, SH (B)                                                                                                                                                                                        Distance: 200 kilometers                                                                                                                                                                    Driving: Approx 6 -7 hours                                                                                                                                                                Altitude: 1340 meters

Day 14: Departure (B)

Tour cost per person: 

No. of people	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
US$ per person	$1,670	$1,585	$1,495	$1,445	$1,385	$1,435	$1,400	$1,365	$1,325	$1,295	$1,260	$1,235

 

Cost Includes:                                                                                                                                                                            English Speaking Mountain Bike Guide                                                                                                                                        ACAP permit and Tims card                                                                                                                                                                  Tourist bus Pokhara – Kathmandu                                                                                                                                                        Local bus from Kathmandu – Besi Sahar and Kaniya Ghat – Pokhara                                                                                          Day to day luggage transfer (Max 20kg per person)                                                                                                                          All Accommodation                                                                                                                                                                                  3 meals a day during biking days only                                                                                                                                          Only bed and breakfast basis in Kathmandu and Pokhara

Cost Excludes:                                                                                                                                                                              Bike and Accessories (Bike insurance)                                                                                                                                                Support Vehicle                                                                                                                                                                                    Single supplement and unmatched pax charge.                                                                                                                              Pokhara – Kathmandu Air fare/departure and excess baggage charge.                                                                                    Mineral water/Soft and Hard Drinks                                                                                                                                                  Emergency Evacuation Fee.                                                                                                                                                      Insurance and items of personal nature                                                                                                                                      Services not mentioned herein