We leave Kathmandu after breakfast riding through the bustling back streets of Thamel and on to good wide undulating jeep tracks into surrounding jungle.

Your efforts are rewarded by spectacular mountain views as we travel downhill and then on upwards for the serious ride some 22km up to Kakani. We camp in a reserve at 2,000m to enjoy stunning views of Ganesh and Langtang Himals and the valley of Likhu Khola 1,000m below. Distance: 50km; Altitude: 2000m.

This morning we head off on one of the best single tracks trails in the valley (which was used as the Nepal Mountain Bike Championship course) down towards Budhanilkantha on wide undulating jeep roads and single tracks. We pass through Shivapuri Forest to Budhanilkantha, a remarkable 5th century statue of the Lord Vishnu, reclining on the coil of the snake king in the middle of small pond.

Your efforts are rewarded by spectacular panoramic mountain views of Ganesh and Langtang Himal on the way and moreover by a night at a true resort established in a rural setting with culturally rich and naturally pristine environment whose garden harbours nearly 75 species of birds and 2000 flowering trees and shrubs. Distance: 25km; Altitude: 1450m.

Today is challenging day as we pass Shivapuri Reserve along part of the route to the Helambu trekking trail, and has 3 climbs. We start with a steep upward ride (approx. 7 km) on broken paved and off-road trails through the Shivapuri National Park. From this north-east corner of the Kathmandu Valley it is on to a mix of single and jeep track to wind our way to Nagarkot: our route dictated by the condition of the trails.

A short steep climb into Nagarkot rewards us with the comfortable and peaceful surroundings of the hotel on the valley rim from where spectacular views of the Himalayas and a great sunset can be enjoyed.
Distance: 33km; Altitude: 1950m.

The ‘Retread’ Trails. This is an epic 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 Friendship Highway, the main road to Tibet. We have lunch in a favourite spot by the river before the long climb back up to the valley rim on Friendship Highway. Distance: 52km; Altitude: 1600m.

We descend on jeep track to the ancient city of Panauti where Lord Buddha lived as a prince. 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 the west we follow a jeep track along the meandering Roshi River. Beyond the town of Madhuban we enter a narrow and 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 Bhanjyang. What a grunt! but the views of the Himalayas more than compensate!

From here we descend 500m via switch-back jeep tracks to Sisneri, a quiet village. The ethnicity of the people change as we descend from Tamangs in the hills to Thakuries, Chhetris to valley-bottom Newari farmers.

A short distance beyond Sisneri is our pickup point for the drive back to Kathmandu. Distance: 42km; Altitude: 1340m.