Bike & Hike Annapurna Circuit

Sunday November 2 - Tuesday November 4: Kathmandu After arrival on Sunday we will be transferred to our hotel Kathmandu Guesthouse. This hotel is a legend in Nepal. All important mountaineers have stayed here. With a beautiful park-like courtyard, it is quietly yet centrally located in the Thamel district. From here we can explore the old town with the markets and Durban Square together. Monday we do a bike and equipment check together. We will now customize your rental bikes and have a 40km, 800m elevation trip with nice views on Kathmandu from atop. Afterwards, explore the city with a local English-speaking guide and visit the absolute highlight, the Boudhanath Pagoda. The colorful hustle and bustle around the holy site in the evening will certainly leave a lasting impression on you.

Tuesday, November 4: Kathmandu -Besisahar From Kathmandu we and our bikes get transferred almost 5 hours by jeep to Besisahar (580m). The route is quite bumpy in places, but we are compensated by the impressions of everyday Nepalese life on the side of the road. In Besisahar we stay in the best hotel available, the Himalaya Gateway (pool).

Wednesday, November 5: Besisahar - Tal Now it's finally time to get on the bike. The first stage takes us varied, with constant ups and downs, all day above the Marshyangdi River through nice little villages from Besisahar to Tal (1.700m). The road ist partly quiet steep, but the bike can easily be walked in this short sections. 38km, 1.400m up, 600m down.

Thursday, November 6: Tal - Chame The nice thing about MTB is - we start after the hikers and arrive before them! The valley narrows, the landscape becomes more impressive, we cross suspension bridges as soon as the oncoming mule caravans allow us to. The views of the river below become even more phenomenal. After having done most of the climbing for the day, we stop for tee in Timang (2.740m), a pitoresque village with many brightly colored guesthouses. The rest of the trip is fun part and easy going to Chame (2.800m). 25km, 1.450m up, 530m down,

Friday, November 7: Chame - Upper Pisang This stage to Upper Pisang (3.200m) is quite short and rewards us with trails and increasing views of the ice giants. After arrival we have time to take a short hike to a monastery in Upper Pisang below Pisang Peak (6.091m). From there we enjoy the fantastic view and can attend the monk ceremony (5pm). 15km, 800m up, 200m down

Satturday, November 8: Upper Pisang - Manang Instead of taking the gravel road to Manang (3.540m)in the valley, we choose the trail further up. We are rewarded by stunning views to the Annapurna Himal and by flow trails down to Manag after lunch in Ghyaru. 17km, 470m up, 310m down Sunday and Monday, November 9 and 10: Manag Manang at 3.540m is ideal for a rest and acclimatization hikes. We stay here for 3 nights in the Himalayan Lodge. Once more, the best place in town with a great kitchen /try Yak steak!) and attached bakery (they actually serve apple pie, cinnamon rolls and cappuccino). One of both days we will hike to the Ice Lake (4.600m) with stunning views to Annapurna and Gangapurna. (13km, 1.100m up and down). Short walks will lead us to one if the oldest monasteries in Nepal and nearby viewing points. We will be perfectly acclimatized for the next days in higher altitude.

Tuesday, November 11: Manang - Tilicho Lake Basecamp Today is Bike&Hike day. On single-trails we bike through the Gangnapurna Valley to Shre Karka. (4.080m). We already notice the altitude here and walk the bike in steep passages where we would have driven in the Alps. Never mind, the isolation and the panorama are worth it. 9km, 630m up, 100m down (bike) From Shree Karka we walk the trail to Tilicho Lake Base Camp (4.150m). We cross long, steep gravel fields with its overwhelming panorama of Khangsar Kang (7.485m) and its glacier. The accommodation here is a bit more spartan than before. 7km, 350m up, 270m down (hike)

Wednesday, November 12:, Tilicho BC - Shree Karka Today will be a long trekking day. The 850m climb to the "highest mountain lake in the world", Tilicho Lake (4.995m), will take us 3 hours and we start around 7 am in the morning (hiking poles). The lake is really huge and beautiful. But may be cold up here and so we have a hot tea in the small teahouse. When descending to Shree Karka via the same path, there is no boredom because completely different views await us out of the valley. 17 km, 1.125m up, 1.195m down

Thursday, November 13: Shree Karka - Yak Karka Today is a short day, because yesterday was quiet demanding. We can start a little bit later and rather walk our bike up a little pass and than enjoy the nice downhill to Yak Karka. 11 km, 500m up, 500m down

Friday, November 14: Yak Karka-Thorong Phedi Basecamp Super-flowing trails, easy-to-drive serpentines, a gigantic panorama. This characterizes the route from Yak Karka to Thorong Phedi. There are a few small stretches to be overcome. Thorong Phedi is not an actual village, but rather consists of the houses of the Thorong Basecamp Lodge (4.540m). However, this simple accommodation has the advantage that we sleep better than in the very basically equiped High Camp. But, we will surely do the 1h walk up there on this day (climb high-Steppe low!) Now we are sufficiently acclimatized to tackle the Thorong La (La means pass) and reach the highlight of the tour. Next day. Today we will decide who wants to walk his bike to the pass by his/her own the next day, or hires a porter (50$). This can be worthwhile, because you probably enjoy that day much more and start more relaxed into the long downhill from Thorong La to Mukthinat. It´s a Bike&Hike tour! ​ Friday, November 8th: Thorong Phedi - Thorong High Camp It is not far from Thorong Pedi to Thorong High Camp at 4.880m. The weather conditions (snow?) determine our departure time. We also have to stay in the Thorong High Camp, which only has 120 places. We will have to push and carry our bikes for most of the narrow, steep path. 2.5 km, 430m up

Saturday, November 15: Thorong BC - Muktinath via Thororng La Since we can do the long descent to Muktinath by MTB, we set off after the hikers. After Thorong Phedi Highcamp the path is not very steep and has no steps. We will still go slowly, due to the altitude. After 3-4h hours we reach the highest point of our tour, Thorong La (5.416m). Surrounded by countless prayer flags, we take our mandatory photo in front of the small stupa and the stone tablet. Now begins a 10km long trail fun with 1.600 descent and constant views of the Himalayan giants that are close enough to touch. Alpine meadows soon begin, the trail and the serpentines becomes narrower. For the last half hour we glide easily until we reach Muktinath (3.690m). 16km, 870m up, 1730​ down

Sunday, November 16: Muktinath - Marpha We don't have to take the gravel road on which many hikers get transferred in jeeps back towards Pokhara. 1.000 meters of downhill with a super flowing trail descent through the Lubra Valley, are now almost hiker and mule free. This in front of a mountain backdrop that you can't get enough of, including the Dhaulagiri (8.172m). From Jomsom we take the gravel road to Marpha (2.700 m). 7 km, 330m up, 1.380m down

Monday, November 17: Marpha - Tatopani On the back of the Annapurna we can really take advantage of the advantages of the MTB. The route leads through the beautiful Kali Gandaki valley, which is initially wide but soon narrow and wild to Beni. Here is the orchard of Nepal, mainly growing apples. Today we should be able to roll along pretty easily, mostly downhill. From Marpha to Tatopani we stay mostly on single trails on the left side of the river. Than the road narrows and becomes a gorge above the rushing Kali Gandaki, some of which are adventurously carved into the rock. At our attractively located destination Tatopani (1.160m) we can relax in the famous hot springs. 43 km, 270m up, 1.690m down

Tuesday, November 18: Tatopani - Pokhara We drive up and down the Kali Gandaki valley, mainly on side roads and tracks, up to Baglung (800m). 35 km, 290m up, 760m down. From there we escape the increasing traffic and are transferred the remaining 80km to Pokhara by jeep. Soon the view opens up with a breathtaking panorama back to the Annapurna massif and Machapuchre and we bump down to Pokhara at Phewa Lake (820m). We can complete the tour on the shore of the lake with numerous small restaurants.​ We relax at Lake Phewa and have a cultural finale in Kathmandu with a visit to the imperial cities and a Hindu burial ceremony. ​ Wednesday, November 19: The KGH-Waterfront Resort in Pokhara is ideal for a relaxing day by the lake. It is quiet and a bit out of the way. The lake promenade with its many restaurants can be easily reached in a 10 minutes walk. The lake view pool is a real highlight in Pokhara. In the morning it is a nice option to take the nearby cable car to Sarangkot and have a coffe with final nice views back to the Annapurna Himal. ​

Thursday, November 20: You and the bikes will be transported by Jeep back to Kathmandu. Optionally you avoid the 8hours roadtrip by choosing to fly (at your own expenses) from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Your bikes will be brought to the bikeshop and the next day be cleaned and put back into the transportboxes. We will stay onece mor for 2 nights in Kathmandu Guesthouse. Friday November 21: In the Kathmandu Valley, a visit to the former imperial cities of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur is a real cultural experience. If possible, we manage to witness a Hindu burial ceremony by the river in the evening. ​ Saturday, November 22: After three strenuous, eventful and impressive weeks, we fly back home.