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ACTIVITY

Mountain Biking

Himalayan singletrack

Centuries of pony trails between villages, plus jeep tracks and high passes, make Nepal one of the best riding countries in Asia. You can ride the Kathmandu rim for a day, or take a bike over Thorong La at 5,416 m.

5,416mHighest pass by bike
12 daysAnnapurna Circuit by bike
200+ kmKathmandu Valley trails
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Mountain Biking
MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIPS

All Mountain Biking trips

2 hand-crafted mountain biking itineraries, from short tasters to multi-week expeditions.

About this activity

From Valley Singletrack to a 5,416 m Pass

Riding in Nepal splits into two quite different things. The Kathmandu Valley rim, meaning Phulchowki, Shivapuri and Nagarkot, carries a dense network of pine-forest singletrack and old monastery paths, all reachable as day rides from the city. This is the underrated half: you can land, hire a bike and be on real trail the same afternoon, with a couple of dozen mapped routes to work through.

The bigger prize is the Annapurna Circuit by bike, a roughly 12-day ride that crosses Thorong La at 5,416 m, among the highest passes commonly ridden anywhere. Be honest about what that involves: a good deal of it is pushing and carrying rather than riding, and the descent is the reward. The Mustang trail, a Dolpo crossing and the Friendship Highway toward the Tibet border are the other classics.

What makes Nepal work for bikes is the same thing that makes it work for feet: the trails were already there. Villages have been linked by pony path for centuries, and those paths are exactly the gradient and width a mountain bike wants. Full-suspension bikes hire in Kathmandu and Pokhara, so flying yours out is optional. If the passes appeal, read the Annapurna region and Mustang pages, since the seasons and permits are the same on two wheels as on two feet.

Thorong La at 5,416 mAmong the highest passes commonly ridden on a mountain bike. Expect to push a fair amount of it.
Pony-trail networkCenturies-old footpaths between villages, already the right width and gradient for a bike.
Valley day ridesMore than 20 mapped routes from Kathmandu, through forest, monasteries and terraced hills.
Bikes hire locallyQuality full-suspension available in Kathmandu and Pokhara, so you needn't fly yours out.
Mountain Biking
Climbing levels

Find your level

  • TREKKING PEAKS

    Valley Day Rides

    Under 2,500 m, 3 to 6 hours, no prior MTB experience needed

    Easy-to-moderate rides on the Kathmandu Valley rim. Forest singletrack, monastery climbs, and rural village loops.

    • Shivapuri Loop
    • Nagarkot Descent
    • Phulchowki Forest
    1,400m – 2,500m
  • TECHNICAL

    Multi-Day Tours

    Up to 3,500 m, 4 to 7 days, intermediate MTB skills

    Long days on jeep tracks and trails, with overnight stays in villages. Combines riding with cultural experience.

    • Pokhara to Kathmandu (7 days)
    • Annapurna Foothills (5 days)
    1,000m – 3,500m
  • ★ HIGH ALTITUDE

    High-Altitude Expeditions

    Above 5,000 m, 10 to 14 days, strong riders only

    Multi-week tours crossing high passes. Demands strong fitness, altitude acclimatisation and willingness to push (or carry) a bike for hours.

    • Annapurna Circuit (12 days)
    • Upper Mustang (10 days)
    • Dolpo crossing (14 days)
    3,000m – 5,416m
Featured peaks

Featured mountain biking sites

#NameAltitudeRegionLevelPermit
01
Annapurna Circuit by Bike
Annapurna
5,416m (Thorong La)AnnapurnaExpedition$30
02
Upper Mustang by Bike
Mustang
3,840m (Lo Manthang)MustangExpedition$500
03
Kathmandu Valley Rim
Kathmandu
2,762m (Phulchowki)KathmanduTrekking PeakNone needed
04
Nagarkot Singletrack
Kathmandu
2,175mKathmanduTrekking PeakNone needed
05
Pokhara to Beni Trail
Annapurna
1,500mAnnapurnaTechnical$30
Preparation

Skills & gear checklist

Required skills

  • Confident Descender

    Comfortable braking hard on loose surfaces. Himalayan trails are rarely smooth.

  • Bike Maintenance Basics

    Tube replacement, chain repair, and brake-pad adjustment on the trail.

  • Altitude Awareness

    The same altitude rules apply on a bike. Acclimatise above 3,500 m before pushing higher.

  • Endurance Riding

    Ability to ride 4–6 hours/day for a week-plus, often climbing 1,500m in a session.

Essential gear

  • Full-Suspension MTBRecommended
  • Cycling HelmetEssential
  • Padded Shorts (multi-day)Essential
  • Spare Tube + PatchesEssential
  • Multi-Tool + Chain ToolEssential
  • Hydration Pack (2L)Essential
  • Windproof Shell JacketAbove 3,000m
  • Sun Cream SPF 50+Essential
Planning

Best season & permits

When to go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Prime Good Not recommended
Autumn (Oct–Nov) is the window: dry trails and clear air. Spring (Mar–May) is warmer and dustier. The monsoon ruins most lower trails, though the rain-shadow districts of Mustang and Dolpo stay ridable.

Permits

  • TIMS Card
    Required for trail rides outside the Kathmandu Valley
    $20
  • ACAP
    For Annapurna Circuit, Mustang foothills
    $30
  • Upper Mustang Restricted Permit
    Required for any Mustang ride north of Kagbeni
    $500
Good to know

Mountain Biking questions, answered

Can you really ride the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes, over roughly 12 days, crossing Thorong La at 5,416 m. Set expectations honestly though: a significant share of the climb to the pass is pushing and carrying, not riding. What you get in return is one of the great descents anywhere, dropping into Mustang. Riders who expect to pedal the whole circuit are usually disappointed; riders who expect a mountaineering day with a bike attached are not.
Do I need to bring my own bike?
No. Quality full-suspension bikes hire in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and for most people that beats the cost and risk of flying one out. If you are particular about fit or plan a long expedition, bring your own, and bring spares: specific parts are hard to source once you leave the cities.
How fit do I need to be?
For valley day rides, moderately: they are 3 to 6 hours with real climbing but nothing extreme. For a multi-day tour, you want to be comfortable riding 4 to 6 hours a day for a week, sometimes climbing 1,500 m in a session. For the high passes, you need that fitness plus altitude acclimatisation plus a tolerance for pushing a loaded bike for hours. They are different sports.
What are the trails actually like?
Mostly centuries-old pony paths between villages, which is why Nepal rides so well: they are the right width and gradient, and they were built to be walked with loads. Expect loose surfaces, stone steps, exposure in places, and very little that is smooth. Confident braking on loose ground matters more than technical jumping skill.
When is the best season to ride?
October and November: dry trails and clear air. March to May works but is dustier and hazier. The monsoon ruins most lower trails, though Mustang and Dolpo sit in the rain shadow and stay ridable, which makes them the contrarian summer option.
Do I need permits to bike in Nepal?
The same ones as trekkers, which surprises people. Riding the Annapurna Circuit needs the ACAP permit and a TIMS card exactly as walking it does. Upper Mustang and Dolpo are restricted areas needing the expensive special permit, a guide and two people, regardless of whether you are on foot or on a bike. Valley day rides need nothing.