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Discover the breathtaking landscape and ancient culture of the Upper Mustang while mountain biking to the hidden kingdom of Lo.

Upper Mustang Enduro
Trip Highlights
  • Day: 16 Days
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Distance: 350km
  • Climbing: 400
  • Maximum Elevation: 4500 m.
  • Temperature: 22 degrees
  • Fitness Level: 4 of 5
  • Group Size: 4 Person
Upper Mustang Enduro
Tour Date 2024-04-24
Duration 16 Days
Group Size 4 Person
Price per person
$ 4520.00
Wahrenkorb

Shangrila Enduro is one of the most exhilarating mountain biking trips in Nepal's Annapurna Region, offering everything from flowing single tracks to technical trails with some jumps and drops as well as steep gradients. Upper Mustang mountain biking takes you through dry desert type landscapes where ancient culture and traditions are still untouched; it is also known as Nepal's hidden kingdom. Riding through Upper Mustang, you will experience the difference of temperatures, vegetation, and landscape, which extends from low land greens to arid desert landscape. Along with the richness of culture and customs, it leads you to the other side of the mountains, where you are able to witness breathtaking panoramic views of Himalayan giants towards the south, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Tukuche, and Damodar Himal.

 

Another reason to go mountain biking in Upper Mustang is to explore the hidden caves and a palace within the red-walled city of Lo. Upper Mustang offers about 10,000 man-made sky caves that are said to be 3000 years old and carved into the cliffs of Upper Mustang.

Even a regular trek to Upper Mustang is challenging; mountain biking in such terrain and environment is not for the faint of heart; a mountain bike experience here is a feat of courage, skills, ability, and endurance. Shangri-La Enduro is a fantastic choice for you if you are searching for a thrilling new adventure to take on.

mtb-sports Travels is an unconventional adventure organizer that is built on the foundation of offering a puter and traditional mountain biking experience, elevated to a higher level of both altitude and experience. Our Guides shall bear complete responsibility for making your biking trip a unique kind of experience.

Welcome to an unparalleled adventure in the Nepal Himalaya!

Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01
Arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,330 m.)
Day 01
When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, you’ll be welcomed by our personnel and transferred to your accommodation in a private vehicle. Take some time to unpack and recover. In the evening, there will be an introduction and a briefing regarding your Upper Mustang adventure.
Map of Day 01:
Highlights of Day 01:

Bike Setup

Mustang Tour introduction 

 

3
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Day 02
Flight to Pokhara (822 m.)
Day 02
After an early breakfast, we’ll take a 25 minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Pokhara, located at an elevation of 822 meters, is a well known city that lies along the banks of the gorgeous Phewa Lake and offers panoramic views of Machapuchare, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu. During our leisure time, we go on city tours in Pokhara and visit major tourist destinations of Pokhara including Phewa Lake, Seti River gorges and Gupteshwar Cave, Tibetan Refugee Camps, Barahi temple and the Peace Pagoda.
Map of Day 02:
Highlights of Day 02:

Sightseen Pokhara

3
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Day 03
Flight to Jomsom (2,743 m.) and Ride to Kagbeni (2,804 m.) via Phallyak
Day 03
Today, we’ll take an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, with beautiful mountain views. After landing in Jomsom, we'll start our first cycling adventure from Jomsom to Kagbeni via the scenic Phallyak route. The total distance traveled on this day will be approximately 17 kilometers. Phallayak is a beautiful village where you can enjoy local people doing their activities. After exploring Phallayak we go towards the Kagbeni, a Tibetan settlement that serves as the "Gateway to Upper Mustang".
Map of Day 03:
Highlights of Day 03:

-    Starts at Jomsom
-    Ends at Kagbeni
-    Total elevation gain/loss: 61 m
-    Total distance: 17 km

3 hours
17km
Medium
Offroad
Day 04
Ride from Kagbeni to Chele (3,050 m.)
Day 04
Today is another thrilling day of our Upper Mustang riding tour as we ride from Kagbeni to Chele. We'll start the trip by leaving Kagbeni and heading towards Chele. We will progressively gain elevation along the trail. Today's adventure will take us through fields of barley, potatoes and apple orchids and will give us an insight into the region's Tibetan-influenced culture. After a day of riding, we'll arrive in the charming village of Chele. Chele, at an elevation of 3,050 meters is a beautiful village which offers a peaceful environment.
Map of Day 04:
Highlights of Day 04:

-    Starts at Kagbeni
-    Ends at Chele
-    Total elevation gain/loss: 246 m
-    Total distance: 14 km

3 hours
14km
Medium
Offroad
Day 05
Ride to Ghami (3,560 m.)
Day 05
We'll start our day by leaving Chele behind and riding towards Ghami. We'll be passing through beautiful settlements along the way. The steep ascent to Ghami will reward us with excellent views of the surrounding landscape. Today, we’ll pass through several beautiful villages including Samar, Syanboche and Ghiling as well as the Nyi La. When you arrive in Ghami, you can visit this ancient settlement. Ghami is known for its ancient monasteries, stunning architecture, and rich Buddhist culture. Our overnight stay will be in Ghami, which is located at an elevation of 3,560 meters.
Map of Day 05:
Highlights of Day 05:

-    Starts at Chele
-    Ends at Ghami
-    Total elevation gain/loss: 510 m
-    Total distance: 26 km

4h 30 minutes
26km
Medium
Offroad
Day 06
Ride to Lo Manthang (3,840 m.)
Day 06
We’ll start our day by leaving Ghami and riding towards Lo Manthang. Prepare yourself to be captivated by the panoramic scenery of Nilgiri, Tilicho, Annapurna I and Bhrikuti Peak while riding. Our today’s ride will end in the historic and culturally rich walled town of Lo Manthang. Lo Manthang is a living museum of Tibetan culture and heritage, not just a city.
Map of Day 06:
Highlights of Day 06:

-    Starts at Ghami
-    Ends at Lo Manthang
-    Total elevation gain/loss: 280 m
-    Total distance: 26 km

4h 30 minutes
26km
Medium
Offroad
Day 07
Rest Day at Lo Manthang
Day 07
Today, we’ll get an entire day to explore Lo Manthang. We start our day by visiting three major monasteries of Lo Manthang and a five- storey palace of an old Mustang King and then hiking to Jhong Cave. After that, we can stroll around the local markets, where we’ll meet friendly locals and purchase traditional handicrafts and gifts. After a day of sightseeing and exploring, we’ll return back to our lodge in Lo Manthang.
Map of Day 07:
Highlights of Day 07:

Restday

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Day 08
Ride to Ghami (3,560 m.)
Day 08
Our Upper Mustang riding tour continues as we leave Lo Manthang and head towards Ghami. Today’s trial is mostly downhill and we’ll pass through Ghar Gompa, a 1200 years old monastery and an amazing red landscape of Dhakmar Village. Today’s ride will come to an end in Ghami village, located at an elevation of 3,560 meters.
Map of Day 08:
Highlights of Day 08:

-    Starts at Lo Manthang
-    Ends at Ghami
-    Total elevation gain/loss: - 280 m
-    Total distance: 19.5 km

4 hours
19.5 km
Hard
Offroad
Day 09
Ride to Samar (3,600 m.)
Day 09
Today, we’ll leave from Ghami and head towards Samar by taking different routes. As we ride towards Samar, we’ll be treated with an amazing view of Annapurna range on a clear day. Our today’s adventure will end at Samar, located at an elevation of 3,600 meters. Samar is a lovely village with typical Mustang architecture.
Map of Day 09:
Highlights of Day 09:

-    Starts at Ghami
-    Ends at Samar 
-    Total elevation gain/loss: 40
-    Total distance: 18 km

3 hours
18 km
Medium
Offroad
Day 10
Ride to Kagbeni (2,804 m.)
Day 10
We’ll bid farewell to the beautiful village of Samar and descend to Kagbeni. As we ride towards Kagbeni, we’ll experience significant descent. After a steep downhill to Chele village, we’ll follow the Kali Gandaki river until we reach Kagbeni. Today, we’ll end your adventure in Kagbeni, a beautiful village situated in the valley of Kali Gandaki river. Kagbeni is a beautiful village which is known for its unique Tibetan influenced culture and scenery.
Map of Day 10:
Highlights of Day 10:

-    Starts at Samar
-    Ends at Kagbeni
-    Total elevation gain/loss: - 760 m
-    Total distance: 21 km

3 hours
21 km
Medium
Offroad
Day 11
Ride to Muktinath (3,800 m.)
Day 11
After breakfast in Kagbeni, we'll ride to Muktinath, a sacred pilgrimage site. Today, we’ll gain almost 1000 m in elevation. Muktinath is a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists. It is well-known for its Muktinath Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Hinduism and Avalokiteshvara in Buddhism.
Map of Day 11:
Highlights of Day 11:

-    Starts at Kagbeni
-    Ends at Muktinath
-    Total elevation gain/loss: 996 m
-    Total distance: 11.6 km

2 hours
11.6 km
Normal
Offroad
Day 12
Ride to Tukuche (2,895 m.)
Day 12
Today's ride will take us from Muktinath to Tukuche, following the beautiful Kali Gandaki River. The descent provides stunning views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks as well as the Kali Gandaki Gorge also known as Andha Galchi, one of the world's deepest george. We'll be passing through gorgeous villages today. Tukuche, at an elevation of 2,895 meters, is the destination for the day. Tukuche is a Thakali ethnic village located right beneath Tukuche Peak and Dhaulagiri.
Map of Day 12:
Highlights of Day 12:

-    Starts at Muktinath
-    Ends at Tukuche
-    Total elevation gain/loss: - 905 m
-    Total distance:  31.7 km

3 hours
31.7 km
Normal
Offroad
Day 13
Ride to Tatopani (1,268 m.)
Day 13
Today we’ll leave from the beautiful village of Tukuche and head towards Tatopani. As we continue our descent, we'll pass apple orchids and beautiful scenery. Tatopani is well-known for its natural hot springs, which are believed to have healing properties. These hot springs will provide well-deserved rest after days of cycling.
Map of Day 13:
Highlights of Day 13:

-    Starts at Tukuche
-    Ends at Tatopani
-    Total elevation gain/loss: - 1,627 m
-    Total distance: 34.8 km

4 hours
34.8 km
Normal
Offroad
Day 14
Ride to Beni (899 m.) and drive to Pokhara (822 m.)
Day 14
Today, we'll ride for 1 and half hours to reach Beni and then drive back to Pokhara. We follow jeep tracks alongside the Kali Gandaki River all the way to Beni. When we arrive in Beni, we load our bikes onto the shuttle that will take us to Pokhara. The path winds through scenic valleys and lush woodlands. Before our Farewell dinner, we will check into our hotel in Pokhara and have time to shop and sightsee. Following dinner, we'll celebrate the end of this incredible adventure in the Upper Mustang region with a night of drinks and fun.
Map of Day 14:
Highlights of Day 14:

-    Starts at Tatopani
-    Ends at Beni
-    Total elevation gain/loss: - 369 m
-    Total distance:  22.5 km

3 hours
22.5 km
Normal
Offroad
Day 15
Flight to Kathmandu (1,330 m.)
Day 15
Today, we'll take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. When you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be transported to your hotel. In the afternoon, you can visit major attractions of Kathmandu, including World heritage sites like Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Kathmandu Durbar square. Later in the evening, there’ll be farewell dinner in a traditional nepali restaurant which hosts cultural performance.
Map of Day 15:
Highlights of Day 15:

Sightseen around Kathmandu

3h 30minutes
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Day 16
International Departure
Day 16
Your riding adventure in the Upper Mustang region has come to an end. Our staff will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours prior to your departure and wish you a safe flight.
Map of Day 16:
Highlights of Day 16:

Shopping in Thamel

Departure

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Discover Cultural

Nepal, despite being 0.01% of the total land area of the earth, is home to 125 ethnic groups of people and 125 languages. The diversity in culture is primarily caused by the extraordinary geography, which divides people into different lifestyles and modes of living. For example, in Nepal, there are the Tharus in the southern plains who are adapted to the scorching sun and even malaria, while in the extreme north, there are Sherpas who are adapted to breathing in the thin air and are the world’s greatest climbers.

The key cultural highlights of the Annapurna region are:

  • Major Ethnic People: Lopa (the original inhabitants of Mustang), Thakalis, Gurungs, and Maga
  • Major Festivals: Tiji, Yartung, Buddha Purnima, Saka Lugka, Duk Chu and Lhosar
  • Major Cultural Villages: Muktinath, Lo Manthang
  • Major Shrines and Sites: Muktinath temple, Luri Gompa, Chele Monastery, Thubchen Lhakhang Monastery,
  • Major Religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Indigenous Religion, Ancestral Nature Religion, Hinduism

 

Biodiversity Profile
Because of the wide diversity in geography and climate, the Upper Mustang hosts a wide range of flora and fauna, some of which are renowned globally for their rarity and exclusivity.

 

Available Flora
Rhododendrons, Himalayan blue pines, spruces, Juniperus squamata, Caragana Gerardiana, oaks, firs, maples, Rosa Sericea, and temperate forests dominate the lower to mid-elevation while there are high alpine meadows that host medicinal herbs such as Yarshagumba, Kutki, Jatamasi, and so on.

 

Available Fauna
The snow leopard, musk deer, Tibetan Argal, Tibetan wild ass, and Tibetan gazelle are found in the forests of the Mustang region.

The popular birds of the region are: Tibetan Sandgrouse, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, and Lammergeyer(Bearded Vulture).

Special about Tour & Climate

There are hundreds of routes to explore in the Nepal Himalaya. However, this is one of the most unusual trails not only in Nepal, but also in the world of adventure because of:

  • The diversity of climate, vegetation, and landscape witnessed in the journey that ranges from lowland greens to alpine plateaus
  • The sights of the highest mountains in the world, including 8000ers such as Annapurna I (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), and Nilgiri (7,061 m), Tukuche (6,920 m) and Damodar Himal
  • The inclusion of places of natural and cultural importance such as the Muktinath Temple, a Hindu-Buddhist heritage, the walled city of Lo Manthang, multiple hot spring lakes, and the world’s deepest Kali Gandaki Gorge
  • The epitome of mountain biking adventure!

 


Weather and Climate Details
Nepal is a world model of climatic variations as it hosts a wide range of climatic systems, from tropical to tundra/polar.

Some Key Facts about the Weather and Climate in the Trip

  • The climate of the trip ranges from Humid Subtropical in Pokhara to Tundra climate from and above Kalopani
  • Average Spring/Autumn Season Temperature:  1 to 12  degrees Celsius
  • Average Winter Season Temperature: -4 to -25 degrees Celsius
  • Average yearly precipitation: 250 millimeters (this however varies; most of it is in monsoon)


Thus, it is wise to prepare accordingly, considering Upper Mustang is a very cold region. Our expert crew shall brief you on complete weather and climate details before the trip for the best possible preparation.

Planning & Local Bike Guide

Why mtb-sports Travels?

We (mtb-sports Travels) are a legally registered adventure operator based in Nepal and Switzerland. We offer a unique blend of Himalayan adventures, cross-country & enduro mountain biking, and immersive treks. We represent a new wave of adventures in the Nepali mountains that respect and adhere to environmental, social, and cultural codes. What makes mtb-sports Travels stand out in the genre is

  • An innovative adventure operator offering organic and professional services with a qualified crew
  • A leading expert in mountain biking adventures in Nepal Himalaya
  • An operator conscious and competent to offer experiences on the multiple facets of Himalaya as nature, culture, history, and heritage
  • Responsibility to nature with the motto of giving back to the community
  • Legally and Administratively sound management to ensure a hassle-free adventure anywhere in Nepal

 


Local Guide(s) for the trip
An extreme adventure like this requires a highly qualified team. We are proud to state that mtb-sports Travels is home to the best mountain bikers who have executed multiple treks and expeditions in the Himalaya. We assure:

  • A competent trek/mountain guide with years of experience and the addition of more guides as needed
  • Local knowledge is a huge treasure in adventure and thus mtb-sports Travels is connected to local guides of the region for an immersive experience
  • Adequate number of support staff for the trip
  • Standard pay rates and insurance for each member of the crew in adherence to international laws and guidelines
Price Includes & Excludes Information
What's Included;
  • Airport transfers: Transfer from Hotel to Airport and vice versa for all flights
  • Accommodation in standard hotels in Kathmandu as per the program (BB Basis)
  • Teahouse accommodation on full board (breakfasts, lunches, and dinners) during the trip
  • Domestic Flights: All domestic flight transfers as per itinerary
  • Shuttle service: Shuttle for road transfers during the trip as per itinerary
  • Permits: Cost of the permit and all costs related to official documentation
  • Applicable local and government taxes
  • Qualified guide and crew with full salary and insurance
  • Baggage allowance of 15 kg per member, which will be carried by the porters
  • Group Medical kit carried by the Guide
  • Salary and load-carrying bonus for the expedition staff
  • Farewell Dinner at an authentic Nepali restaurant in Kathmandu
What's NOT Included;
  • International airfares to and from Kathmandu
  • Nepal Visa fee
  • Travel and medical insurance including insurance for emergency rescue and evacuation
  • Meals in Kathmandu
  • Mountain Bike and associated gear (Also available to hire)
  • Personal expenses such as telephone, laundry, bottled water, bar bills, etc.
  • Tips and gratuities for the staff
  • Any extra cost arising out of natural calamities or cancellation of the program
  • All other items not mentioned in the list of ‘Inclusions’
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