Kasto Majja (What a fun)

Duration:9 Days
Best Season: January-May, September-December
Altitude Range: 2250m
Difficulty: Strenuous
Group Size: Min. 2
Average Daily Distance: approx. 40km
Support: Support vehicle, Guide-cum-Mechanic

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Thamel.
Day 02: Approx. 9 am we ride out of Kathmandu from our hotel, though the back streets of Thamel.
Day 03: Head off on one of the best single tracks in the valley (which was used as the Mountain Bike Championship course) up towards Budhanilkantha.
Day 04: Continuing on our way we ride on a mixture of jeep trail & single track through the Shivapuri Forest Reserve.
Day 05: We ride down from Chisapani into the NE corner of the KTM valley, then it’s on to a mix of single and jeep track to wind our way to the hill station of Nagarkot.
Day 06: The ‘Retread’ Trails. This is a jeep track descent through terraced paddy fields and small villages that lead us to the Indrawati River.
Day 07: Start with an early morning climb on wide jeep trail to the temple of Namo Buddha, rewarded with superb views of Ganesh Himal, Dorje Lhakpa and some Tibetan mountain range.
Day 08: We descend on jeep track to the ancient city of Panauti where Lord Buddha lived as a prince prior to his offerings his own flesh to the hungry tigress.
Day 09: Departure.

 DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Day 02:Approx. 9 am we ride out of Kathmandu from our hotel, though the back streets of Thamel. Leaving the city behind we arrive at the Nagarjun Forest (the Queen’s Forest) where we head off-road, starting with good wide undulating track before a long 10km climb up through the jungle. Your efforts are rewarded by spectacular views over the valley and a superb single-track and fine trail descent down the backside of the mountain. At the bottom we transfer or for the seriously fit ride the last 22km on the back road up to Kakani. Our campsite, set in a reserve at 2000m, enjoys stunning views of Ganesh and Langtang Himal and the valley of Likhu Khola 1000m below. Ride 55km. Camp at Kakani

Day 03:Head off on one of the best single tracks in the valley (which was used as the Mountain Bike Championship course) down towards Budhanilkantha. Following the valley rim we stay high above Kathmandu and continue on single track down hill and traverse towards Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist Tibetan Nunnery. We camp in or near the grounds giving sufficient time to absorb the rich Tibetan culture and see the evening Puja. Ride 28km. Camp at Nagi Gompa

Day 04: Continuing on our way we ride on a mixture of jeep trail hrough the Shivapuri Reserve. Part of the route is on the Helambu trekking trail. Our final destination is Chisapani (which means cold water in Nepali), which rounds off a challenging day. Again today’s lodge enjoys outstanding views of the Annapurna Himal- this is one of the best outlooks within the valley region. The ride is 30km, with 4x4 vehicle support and a picnic lunch on the way. Ride 33km Tea House at Chisapani

Day 05:We ride down from Chisapani into the NE corner of the KTM valley, then it’s on to a mix of single and jeep track to wind our way to Nagarkot, our route will depend on the condition of the trails. The comfort and peaceful surrounding of hotel on the valley rim reward a short steep climb into Nagarkot. This is part of the biking movie ‘Retread’ was filmed and Everest can be seen from here on a clear day. Ride 25km or 35km. Overnight in Hotel in Nagarkot

Day 06:The ‘Retread’ Trails. This is a jeep track descent through terraced paddy fields and small villages that lead us to the Indrawati River. We will stop to take photos as the Himalayas are right behind us all the way down and also makes offerings at the local temples to help ensure that we remember those technical skills when we need them. After 1000m of downhill a jeep road leads us to the Freedom Highway, the main road to Tibet. We have lunch in a secret spot by the river before the long climb back up to the valley rim. For most this is best done in the support vehicle. Ride 65km. Overnight in Hotel in Dhulikhel

Day 07:Start with an early morning climb on wide jeep trail to the temple of Namo Buddha, rewarded with superb views of Ganesh Himal. The Stupa here is an important Tibetan Pilgrimage site, where the Buddha reputedly fed himself to a hungry tigress! Lunch here is the traditional Dal Bhat or the packed lunch, fortunately not the tigers left-over! From the temple there’s a choice of wide tracks through pictures villages and forests, or some newly discovered single track. We rejoin the wide trails and then a road for the last 8km back to our hotel. Ride 32km. Overnight in Hotel in Dhulikhel

Day 08:We descend on jeep track to the ancient city of Panauti where Lord Buddha lived as a prince prior to his offerings to the hungry tigress. This city is truly lost in time and is rarely visited by tourists. The Indresara Mahadev Temple is the oldest surviving dated temple in Nepal and believed that it was built in 1294 AD. Climbing towards west, we follow a jeep track along the meandering Roshi River. Beyond the town of Madhoban we enter a narrow pristine valley, ascending 300m on a superb single trail to reach the summit of a hill on Kathmandu Valley’s rim. This is probably the oldest route east out of Kathmandu Valley, known as Lakhure Bhanjung. What a grunt! But the views of the Himalayas more than compensate! From here we descend 500m via switch back jeep track to Sinseri, a quiet village. The ethnicity of the people change as we descend from Tamangs in the hills to Thakuris, Chhetris to valley bottom Newari farmers. A short distance beyond Sisneri is our pickup point for the drive back to Kathmandu.

Day 09:Departure.

TOUR COST PER PERSON

COST INCLUDES

Biking Guide with mechanical backup

Food & Accommodation on twin sharing with full board basis

All entrance fees to national parks, heritage sites, etc.

Bed and breakfast basis in Kathmandu

Drinking water

COST EXCLUDES

Support vehicle

Soft/hard drinks

Emergency evacuation fee

Insurance

Other items of personal interest.