Nepal Heli Bike Extravaganza

We will be waiting for you outside the airport so we can save you from the mad crowd and take you straight to your hotel. The Manaslu Hotel is situated just outside the tourist district of Kathmandu, Thamel.

In the afternoon (depending on your arrival time) we can take you on a bazaar walk exploring the secret alleys and ancient courtyards of Kathmandu that most visitors don’t get to experience. 

In the late afternoon we will have a guide meeting and talk about the ride ahead of us before putting bikes together and making sure we are ready for tomorrow’s ride.           

Tonight we’ll treat you to a traditional Newari dinner (the Newars are the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley) at one of the capital’s tastiest restaurants and prepare you for the adventure ahead.

Accommodation: Hotel Manaslu http://www.hotelmanaslu.com/ 

Meals: D

Rise and shine! Today, we’ll transfer out of town in the early morning to the start of one of the most (in)famous trails in and around the Kathmandu valley, the Scar Route, to really jump-start your Nepal mountain bike vacation. The trail starts in Kakani where we’ll be treated to our first real views of the Himalayan Range; on a clear day the mountains seem up-close and gigantic. We’ll climb for about half an hour from Kakani and enter the Shivapuri National Park. The singletrack trail really begins once we’re in the park: it climbs for the first 4 km/2.5 mi but then becomes a fast, technical downhill on a skinny jungle trail for the next 4 km/2.5 mi. After the downhill section, the trail joins a small jeep trail contouring around the park boundary to Danda Gaun, where we’ll have a delicious Nepali lunch waiting for us in a lovely garden.

After lunch, we’ll bike a short 1 km/half mile climb on a tarmac road through the Nepal army staff college to the start of another gnarly singletrack ride. It is a 5 km/3 mile section where the first half is a very gradual climb with some fun technical bits and the second half is a flowy, quick downhill. We then climb on a jeep trail for 4 km/2.5 mi before starting the final singletrack descent into the Kathmandu valley. It’ll be a fast-paced, 5 km/3 mi downhill run that ends up at the Boudhanath Stupa where we’ll spend the night in a nearby hotel. 

You’ll have the evening to wander around the stupa — a dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine — and have dinner and drinks in one of the many great restaurants overlooking the shrine. 

Distance: 32.49 km/14 mi

Max elevation: 2238 meters

Elevation descent: 700 meters/2297

Elevation ascent: 922 meters/ 3048 ft

Accommodation: Hotel Shambaling http://www.shambaling.com/ 

Meals: B, L

Once again we load up the jeeps in the morning and transfer out to the Kathmandu valley rim above the stunning expanse of the valley floor, this time on the eastern side at Nagarkot. Here we will most likely be able to mountain bike a loop of the Ranger Trail; this MTB trail is inside the Nepal Rangers training area, so if they’re doing exercises, we’ll ride another one of the many other great trails around Nagarkot. We do a few loops of the trails in the area, riding a trail the second time is always better.

Nagarkot is the home of the trails used for the Asian Enduro Race held in Nepal, so after lunch we’ll shred one of the trails used for this race down toward Nala in the valley deep below Nagarkot. From there, we’ll climb towards Dhulikhel where we’ll spend the night in a lodge with unbelievable views of the main Himalayan Range.

Distance: 18.89 kilometers/11.74 miles

Max elevation: 2095.7 meters/ 6875 ft

Elevation descent: 895 meters/ 2936 ft

Elevation Ascent: 322 meters/1056 ft

Accommodation: Dhulikhel Lodge Resort http://www.dhulikhellodgeresort.com/ 

Meals: B, L, D

We’ve got a big day ahead of us, so we’ll leave Dhulikhel in the early morning. We’ll take most of the day to drive to the Solu Khola river area; first, we follow a Japanese-built road through the mountains to the Sun Kosi River. We then follow the river down for a while before crossing it and climbing up to Okhaldhunga. From there, it’s about a 3-hour drive on a smooth blacktop road that climbs from 1560 m/5117 ft at Okhaldhunga up to 2800 m/9186 ft at Sigane. As we near Sigane, the jagged peaks of the Numbur Himal section of the Himalayan Range will come into view, a section of the Himalayas we will come to know very well over the rest of your mountain bike vacation. 

At Pattale, we’ll unload the bikes for a super-fun ride to the Solu Khola (river) way below in the valley to get our wheels moving and hearts pumping after a long day in the jeeps. Down at the river, we load back up and drive the last 30 minutes up the mountain to our beautiful, quaint tea house in Phaplu, which will serve as our home for the next four nights. 

Distance: 10.25 kilometers

Max elevation: 2880m/ 9442 ft

Elevation descent: 1080 meters/ 3542 ft

Elevation Ascent: 470.9 m/ 1544.95 ft

Accommodation: Camp/tea house

Meals: B, L, D

Meals: B, L 

Sleeping: Lake Side Retreat https://lsrpokhara.com/

Even from down in the valley, the morning view will be incredible as you wake up to the sight of Numbur Himal to the north. After a hearty breakfast, we load up the bikes on our jeeps and drive for around half an hour to a spectacular viewpoint on the ridge above us. It’s called Ratnagi and we will have a cup of tea and enjoy the view from here at 3300 m/10826 ft before starting an epic MTB descent back into the valley.

Ratnagi has a view tower from which you can see Mt. Everest looming in the distance. Furthermore, it’s a traditional yak herders’ camp and you’ll still see the temporary shelters of the herders. By making cheese and butter, these herders are able to preserve the milk of their yaks and cattle. For centuries, yak herding was a unique and central element of Nepal’s economy and national identity; now, the culture and lifestyle of yak herding is on the decline. 

After exploring Ratnagi, we’ll start on our MTB descent, where we’ll be totally surrounded by dense jungle for almost the entire ride. The 10 km/6 mi downhill to Dorpu is almost 100% singletrack that ranges from flowy to technical. We’ll then have a delicious Nepali lunch at Dorpu; for those who want more, it is possible to go back up and do the downhill again. Otherwise, we’ll pack up the bikes and drive back to the tea house where there will be chilled beers and beautiful views awaiting us. 

Distance: 10 km/6 mi

Max elevation: 3286 m/10782 ft

Elevation descent: 1060 m/ 3478 ft

Elevation ascent: 656.8m/2154.86 ft

Accommodation: Phaplu tea house

Meals: B, L, D

At the halfway point of your Nepal mountain bike adventure the fun continues. Today we’ll head to the north of Ratnagi, climbing along the ridgeline for a few kilometers. Once we get to the top we’ll have a brilliant 5 km/3 mi of jungle singletrack down to the famous Taksandu Monastery, which was a stop on what used to be the main trail to Everest Base Camp. It’s likely that here we’ll meet trekkers and porters going farther up in the mountains. 

From Taksindu we’ll have a brief but downhill section down to Ringmo, another famous stop on the Everest trail. We’ll stop here for lunch as well as — hopefully — some of their delicious apple pie made from apples grown in the area! 

After lunch, we’ll ride back down towards Phaplu and Salleri on a mix of jeep trails and singletrack. 

Distance: 25 kilometers

Max elevation: 3285 meters/ 10,777 ft.

Elevation descent: 1300 meters/ 4265 ft

Elevation Ascent: 656 meters/2152 ft

Accommodation: Phaplu tea house

Meals: B, L, D

This morning after breakfast we’ll drive back up to Ratnagi and head south along Silgodee Danda. The first few kilometers will be fast-paced, undulating singletrack. We then start slightly downhill towards the locality of Chyalsa where we will stop for tea before another up-and-down section. Then, we’ll hit a length MTB trail that’s mainly downhill with a mix of forest, villages, and fields. We eventually reach Nele Bazaar. On Tuesdays, Nepali locals from both near and far come here to do their shopping. We’ll then have a late lunch before packing up the bikes.

This evening, we have a two hour drive up to Japre at 2920 m/9580 ft of elevation. It’s perched above a deep valley with nice views of Everest and Numbur Himal. There’s a beautiful gompa and stupa here and we will make our first stop here for the night.

Distance: 12.6 kilometers/7.82 miles

Max elevation: 3200 meters/10,534 ft

Elevation descent: 921 meters/3021 ft

Elevation ascent: 300 meters/ 984 ft

Accommodation: Tea house in Japre

Meals: B, L, D

From Japre, the mountain bike trail climbs up to a high, grassy ridge near the small village of Bhulbhule. There, there’s an unnamed lodge and breathtaking views of the Everest range.

Soon after Bhulbhule, the trail splits and we turn right to Pike Peak. We pass some old yak herders’ houses and a long Mani stone wall. The trail then contours along the hillside below Taklung Danda and goes through a beautiful forest trail carpeted with rhododendron. As we leave the forest, it’s not far to Pike Peak base camp, so we’ll roll in there early afternoon. Here at 3640 m/11,942 ft, we’ll set up camp near the one (draughty) lodge and sleep in our cosy tents with the lodge’s dining room as our hangout. It’ll be a short climb in the morning to the incredible views from the Pike Peak summit at 4065 m/13,336 ft. 

Distance: 15.17 kilometers/ 9.42 miles

Max elevation: 3640 m/11,942 ft

Elevation descent: 45 meters/148 ft.

Elevation ascent: 999 meters/ 3278 ft

Accommodation: Campsite/lodge

Meals: B, L, D

Lodging: Campsite/lodge

Meals included: B, L, D

We will have an early breakfast before we start our climb towards the top of Pike Peak. We’ll bring our bikes, so the climb will take around 1.5 hours. From the top we will have a stunning, 360-degree view of the main Himalayan range from Mt. Kanchenjunga (the 3rd highest mountain in the world) in the east to Annapurna and the mighty Mount Everest in the west. Panoramas simply don’t get better than this!

We’ll spend about an hour at the top to take pictures and to enjoy the views. Then, we’ll start an adrenaline-pumping MTB descent towards Salleri at the bottom of the valley, a drop of almost 2000 metres/6561 feet. This is one of the most amazing downhills we’ve found in Nepal; try not to look too much at the incredible mountain views that surround you, because there is some gnarly DH singletrack to negotiate! The descent starts out with some rocky sections but as we get further down the mountain we come into a forested and hit mind-blowingly flowy singletrack. You’ll feel like you’re flying! It’s around 20 km/12 mi from the top to the bottom and, beside the views and forest single trails, a handful of beautiful, quaint villages will pop up near the end of the ride.

When we get to the river we will jump in the jeeps and get a lift up to our tea house. There, we can enjoy the rest of the afternoon in relative comfort after roughing it in the tents. Tonight, it’s a good idea to hit the hay early, as we have our flight back to Kathmandu early in the morning!

Distance: 20 kilometers/12 miles

Max elevation: 4065 m/13,336 ft.

Elevation descent: 2000 meters/6561 ft

Elevation ascent: 300m/ 984 ft

Accommodation: Tea house

Meals: B, L, D

This morning, we’ve got a stunning flight to Kathmandu on the first scheduled flight of the day. Once we get back, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Kathmandu or just hang out in a café and enjoy a well-deserved rest. 

By mid-afternoon our bikes should be back in town as they will be transferred back overland; once they arrive it’ll be time to back up the bikes before we head out for a big celebratory dinner with the group, where we’ll exchange stories and relive our incredible week mountain biking in the Himalayas. 

Accommodation: Hotel Manaslu http://www.hotelmanaslu.com/ 

Meals: B, D

The morning is free for either relaxation or last-minute exploration of the capital city until it’s time for us to take you to the airport. We hope you’ve had the adventure of a lifetime and we look forward to seeing you again in the Himalayas or on another Haku Expeditions mountain bike destination!

Meals: B

What’s the price of this 11-day Nepal Mountain Bike Adventure? And what’s included?

$2195 USD with a 4 per minimum for the tour to run. You can book the tour even if others have not yet booked. We will let you know as the spaces begin to fill in or if the trip will not be able to depart. 

Included:

• Hotel nights as specified in the itinerary (or similar if booked out). As per the itinerary above, there are some nights camping and/or staying in local tea houses while riding the trails. 
• 24 Meals mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation 
• Local city guide and entrance fees for the bazaar walking tour on Day 1 
• An English-speaking bike guide, with all their transport, equipment, insurance, meals, and accommodation 
• Entrance fees or permits required to ride the trails 
• A first aid kit appropriate for the group size and routes taken (if you require or are taking specific medications, it is critical that you discuss this with us prior to your trip departure)

Not included:

• Mountain bike/gear rental (talk to us about renting whatever you might need for a daily fee)

• Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and emergency rescue/ evacuation that covers all of the activities you will undertake during your trip should this be required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover)
• Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary above (e.g. additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours) 
• Personal expenses (eg mineral water/soft drinks/bar bills, entrance/photography fees at monasteries, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra snacks etc)
• Tips for your city guide, drivers, hotels, restaurants etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
• International flights to and from Kathmandu; Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes; any excess baggage charges
• Costs incurred due to unforeseen events (eg caused by natural disasters, adverse road conditions / flight delays, labour strikes, fuel shortages, extreme exchange rate changes, etc)

*Note: local tea houses are basic but clean and they do not often have attached bathrooms or hot showers. The price is based on shared rooms with twin beds and does not include any extra charge that lodge owners may apply for single rooms, attached bathrooms, hot showers, or for battery charging (should any of these facilities be available). We can’t know in advance what they may charge for this in different tea houses, so we prefer to leave this cost out rather than pass along an estimated charge to you.

For this 11-day Nepal Mountain Bike Adventure Vacation:

You should have a mountain biking skill level of intermediate tech and a fitness level of 4

SKILL LEVEL:

Intermediate tech. This means: you’ve got three plus years of riding on singletrack trails of all sorts with features such as rock gardens, steep sections, rolls and drops, roots, and small jumps. You are confident on the bike in most situations. You’re constantly looking to improve your riding skills and enjoy riding for extended periods of time climbing and descending in terrain of all sorts. 

FITNESS LEVEL:

4  This means you exercise 3-4 times a week and enjoy physical activities such as biking, hiking, skiing. You are active. For biking: you enjoy climbs that are are moderately long and being on a bike for 3-5 hours in one day doesn’t get you too tired or fatigued.

This Nepal mountain bike adventure begins and ends in Katmandu, Nepal. You will want to look for flights to Katmandu which will always require a layover. 

Most travelers arrive at Nepal via Tribhuvan International Airport, near Kathmandu.  There are no flights directly from the Americas and surprisingly, almost none from Europe (Istanbul being an exception), so you’re likely to connect via major airports in the Middle East or Asia.  If you have trouble finding something affordable, a good option is to fly to Delhi and connect from there (it’s about a one-hour flight that’s often around $80).

Check if you need a visa for any of the countries you may pass though such as China. Some countries require it even when passing though, others will allow you to stay in the airport in a special area without leaving. Be sure of your layover countries visa requirements. 

Before booking flights look into how much baggage you are allowed and how much an oversized  bag will cost you. All bicycles are oversized. The price ranges so check this before booking the flight. 

IMPORTANT: Generally anytime you land in another country you need to get your luggage and rescan it or re-check it for security purposes. Every country is different so check ONCE YOU ARRIVE, do not count on the front desk lady who checked you in at your first airport. 

Arrival and departure:

Airport pickup and drop off is included in your Nepal MTB vacation.

Someone on our Haku Expeditions adventure team will be waiting at the Katmandu airport with a sign to pick you and your mountain bike up. 

Airport drop off is included on the last day of the itinerary. If you need airport drop off on another day this may incur a small fee. 

This Nepal mountain bike holiday will be physically demanding at high altitude. We recommend you try to work out a few times a week. If you can not get to the gym, don’t worry — there are many free apps these days with intense 15 minute workouts. Taking the time to do a short but intense workout with squats, pushups and some core will make a huge difference!

Meals are excellent and varied, you can expect to consume a fair share of Dal,  a soup made of lentils and spices, served over boiled grain, bhat—usually rice but sometimes another grain – and a vegetable curry, tarkari. And of course Momo’s, a mouth watering Nepal style dumpling that is filled with seasoned meat and steamed.

Vegetarian meals are very common and other dietary restrictions are very manageable. Please advise us when you book about any allergies or diet restrictions you may have.

Each person is required to have a specific travel/trip insurance outside of your credit card or regular medical insurance. You should get comprehensive coverage with trip interruption/cancelation and with personal liability. Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking in Nepal and whatever other activities you may have planned. 

We do not provide refunds. Because mountain biking is an adventure activity and getting hurt is a possibility, you must have travel insurance. If you should get hurt, not only will it cover your medical expenses, it will also cover the lost portion of the mtb tour and any other tours you have planned. Make sure you have trip interruption or trip cancelation included! 

The Nepalese rupee is readily available at money exchange offices. As always be attentive to the amount of money being exchanged and double check before you step away from the window. One US dollar is equal to about 121 rupees (2019) and you can buy a plate of Momo’s for about 100 rupees, a Dal is about 200 rupees and a cold beer is between 300-700 rupees. Nepal is a cash society and it is recommended to bring cash with you from your country. Atm’s can be pricey and iffy and you don’t want to be without cash.

Every effort will be made to keep to the Everest Epic: 11-day Nepal mountain bike adventure itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in the mountains, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of fellow travellers can all contribute to changes. We will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy-going nature will be an asset!

It is always a good idea to train before your Nepal MTB holiday, both on and off the bike.

Visas are obtained on arrival for Nepal. You can try and apply beforehand online to save yourself the wait at the airport.

Remember to check if you need a visa for the countries you will have a layover in such as China. 

Vaccinations are not required.

Bring cash as Nepal is a cash society. About 70%, of businesses and restaurants only accept cash, plan on using your ATM card or bring cash with you.

You may also wants to bring credit cards as credit cards are accepted in some restaurants. Using a Credit card in the airport where you have a layover is the easiest option. You will not want to exchange money in each airport for the local currency.  

ATM’s charge high fees and are not found everywhere. Make sure you have enough cash for buying small items like drinks, beer, tips, etc.

Remember to call your bank and let them know that you will be in Nepal and all other countries you will have a layover in. 

Our Nepal mtb tours generally have anywhere from 4 to 8 riders. Our Nepal trip will never have more than 10 people max. We have a guide for every 5 riders.

This is a single track enduro style mountain bike vacation, expect big downhills and climbing every day. In short it’s EPIC!

As in any foriegn city you should be extra cautious at night and in general. Crossing the streets has a golden rule of not running or not stopping, walk at a normal speed and cross.

We bike an average of 15-20 kilometers/9-12 miles a day.

Nepal has plenty of vegetarian options.

Most travelers arrive at Nepal via Tribhuvan International Airport, near Kathmandu.  There are no flights directly from the Americas and surprisingly, almost none from Europe (Istanbul being an exception), so you’re likely to connect via major airports in the Middle East or Asia.  If you have trouble finding something affordable, a good option is to fly to Delhi and connect from there (it’s about a one-hour flight that’s often around $80).

You apply for your visa when you arrive at the Kathmandu border, if you’re lucky the lines will be short.

Check if you need a visa for any of the countries where you will have a layover. Some countries allow you to wait in the airport with no special visa while others require a visa when passing though. 

You have to carry your biking gear as you normally would on any day ride. All other gear is carried by vehicle. If by chance there is a storm and the car cannot make it to the local tea house you may have to carry gear for the night. 

You will be staying in a mix of comfortable hotels and tea houses. 

Local tea houses are simple lodges usually family owned, it’s a great way to spend time with the local Sherpas. They are often basic but clean and do not often have attached bathrooms or hot showers.

The price is based on shared rooms with twin beds and does not include any extra charge that lodge owners may apply for single rooms, attached bathrooms, hot showers, or for battery charging (should any of these facilities be available). We can’t know in advance what they may charge for this in different tea houses, so we prefer to leave this cost out rather than pass along an estimated charge to you.

How to pack your bike for travel

Packing your bike for a trip like this requires either a bike bag or a bicycle box. Both work. If you do not have a bicycle box you can contact your local bike shop and generally get one for free or very cheap. 

Steps to pack your bag:

Drop the seat post before you take off the wheels. It’s easier that way.

Take the pedals off, it is easier now while the bike is still whole. 

You will need to take off the handle bars. Put the screws back into the stem so you do not lose them. Strap the handlebars to the side of the bike with padding. Make sure nothing moves so you bike does not get scratched. Zip ties can help with this. 

Take out some of the air in the tires. This is a requirement for flying with the bike. Take off both wheels. We recommend you put the axle back into the bike so you do not lose it. 

Take off the discs from the wheels. While this may seem tedious it saves your disk from getting bent and only takes a few minutes. Put the disks inside something like a folder to keep them safe. Put the screws inside a baggie and tape to the folder. Keep them with the bike. (If you lose your suitcase with clothes at least you still have your full bike together!)

Take off the derailer and derailer hangar. While this is optional it keeps both pieces from getting bent. Remember exactly how this goes back on. 

If you have a bike bag like Evoc or Dakine there will be directions of what goes where. Make sure to tie up the chain so it does not move and scratch the bike. Tie up any loose ends with zip ties or string. 

If you are using a bike box you will need to put in a tire or two first then the frame (and maybe the second tire) with the bars strapped to the bike. Make sure nothing moves. I usually use zip ties to make sure the tires are strapped in one place with the frame. Also make sure that the cog set is facing away from the bike. This will scratch the bike otherwise. 

Once everything is packed you can often put a few extra items inside like your helmet, bike shoes and empty CamelBak. You will want to keep the bag at 23 kilos/50 pounds unless the company you are flying with allows for more weight without a price increase. (Calling to make sure is the best way to know)

Also, don’t forget to put your name, address, phone number and email on the bag or box. 

Each person is required to have a specific travel/trip insurance outside of your credit card or regular medical insurance.

You will want to get comprehensive coverage with trip interruption/cancelation with personal liability.

Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking and whatever other activities you may have planned. Some companies include mountain biking without a problem and some do not. 

We recommend that you call the provider and talk with them about the quote rather than use the online system. That way you know what it covers. 

These insurances will cover many things. If you get sick or hurt it covers the medical expenses and it also covers the lost portion of the MTB trip! It also covers any additional expenses such as hotels, transport etc. Many of these insurance plans also cover late flights, canceled trips, canceled flights, delays, etc. 

If you would like to rent a bike please let us know. We will put you in touch with the right people to get you a rental bike. 

Price: $55 USD

Have a room to yourself for the 10 nights of our Everest Epic Nepal Mountain Bike Adventure. 

Price: $60 USD per night, $600 USD per trip

Nepal’s lowest altitude is under 100m above sea level and we take you down to the tropical, flat, low lands for a contrast to the hills that surround the Kathmandu Valley. You’ll stay river-side in an air-conditioned bungalow opposite the jungle.

Spending some time on safari, you’ll have a great chance of seeing rhino, various types of monkeys and deer and perhaps even a tiger (although it is rare to see a tiger in Chitwan these days, it is still possible if you are in the right place at the right time).

Price: $591 USD pp (Based on 2 people)

Single room supplement: $75 USD

Supplementary Cost for Flights both ways per person: $260 USD    

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 Drive to Chitwan

After breakfast you will head out in your private vehicle to the famous Terai region of Nepal. The landscape and culture is totally different from that which you have experienced so far and from the high, alpine regions of the Himalayan range. The name the ‘Terai’ refers to the extensive plains in the southern part of Nepal – this area is the most northern extension of the great Gangetic plains of India, land that was won and lost in decades of struggle and shares both Indian and Nepali characteristics and culture.

You will drive through narrow winding gorges and deep river valleys past terraced fields tilled by generations of family members, reaching the vast plains and the vibrant jungle of the Chitwan National Park in time for a late lunch. This is a stunning overland journey and you will be able to relax and take in the incredible views of this diverse country from the car.

You also have the option of reduing your transit time and taking the short 20 minute flight from Kathmandu to Chitwan. 

Accommodation: Jungle Villa Resort 

Meals included: L, D

Day 2 In Chitwan

Today you have the chance to experience a walking jungle safari, bird-watching, jungle safaris on the back of a jeep, river safaris in traditional canoes and wildlife viewing. 

Wildlife in Chitwan includes the greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer and barking deer as well as a wide variety of birdlife. With a bit of luck, there is always the chance of glimpsing the leopard, sloth bear, and royal Bengal tiger. A favorite activity is always to visit the elephant camp and learn about these majestic animals, their habits and to have the opportunity to take part in washing the elephant in the river!

Your experienced guides will teach you all about jungle life, the ways of the animals living here, the exotic jungle flora, abundant birdlife and of course about the conservation programs being run here. This is truly a great opportunity to get close to one of Nepal’s unique ecosystems, to learn about the fragile web of life and what we can do to help preserve it for future generations.

While you’re in Chitwan you’ll also have the chance to visit a neighboring village and learn about the local Tharu people, what life is like for them and how they live. No doubt you will highlight the difference between the ethnic groups of Nepal, from the people of the lowlands that you’ll see in Chitwan to the people of the mid-hills that you’ll meet while trekking. 

Accommodation: Jungle Villa Resort 

Meals included: B, L, D

Day 3 Drive Chitwan to Kathmandu

After breakfast you will be escorted back to Kathmandu in your private vehicle – you will arrive in mid afternoon (depending on the road conditions) and should have some time for last minute shopping or just relaxing and enjoying being in a place so different from home. You also have the option of reducing your transit time by taking a 20 mins flight back to Kathmandu. 

Accommodation: None

Meals included: B

Price includes

• Transfers as per the itinerary transfer to your hotel plus all other transfers as mentioned in the itinerary above in a private vehicle
• Hotel nights in the hotels specified in the itinerary; based on double/twin share rooms on bed and breakfast plan
• Meals as per the itinerary (all meals in Chitwan)
• Jungle and village activities in Chitwan 
• National Park fee 

Price excludes

• Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary
• Any gear or equipment that you may need to rent/buy – please ask us if you would like any advice about gear to bring/buy/rent
• International Flights to and from Kathmandu
• Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes
• Any excess baggage charges
• Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and rescue evacuation should this be required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover)
• Rescue/evacuation costs (to be covered by your insurance)
• Additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours outside the detailed itineraries above
• Single supplement
• Personal expenses (eg mineral water/soft drinks/bar bills, entrance/photography fees at monasteries, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra snacks etc)
• Any extra charge that tea house owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) and charging of batteries
• Tips for your trekking crew, city guide, hotels, restaurants etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
• Costs incurred due to changes in programs and reservations due to unforeseen events (eg landslides, strikes, natural disasters, political activity, etc)
•  

Please note:

• Rates are in US dollars
• Prices are valid for your specified time of travel only
• This is only an offer and no reservations have been confirmed
• Prices are subject to availability

If you couldn’t quite get enough of mountain biking in Nepal, this 2-day helicopter extension out of Kathmandu is a great option for extending your stay in the Kathmandu area. On the first day of the extension, you’ll take a helicopter out of Kathmandu up to a point 4300 m/14,107 ft, at which you’ll put the mountain bikes together with your guide and begin a 2300 m/7545 ft drop on sweet singletrack trails that are both fun and technically challenging. You’ll spend the night in a tea house before finishing out your ride the next morning with a 300 m/984 ft drop to the cars that’ll drive you back to Kathmandu. You’ll get back to the city by mid-afternoon. 

Price: $995 per person (4 people maximum)