Everest Epic Bike and Hike
You combine single trail riding with hike a biking to get up to Pike Peak, a ‘small’ 4000m peak set back from the main Himalayan Range and with one of the best views in the world! You can see 8 of the World’s 14 highest mountains from this peak – so, it’s not a bad spot to take in the sunrise, before commencing an outrageously fun few days of single trails and rough jeep trail biking before hitting the nation’s capital again for a huge celebration of your awesome adventure.
- Starts In: Kathmandu
- Ends In: Kathmandu
- Duration: 7 Days
- Difficulty Grade: Strenuous
Highlights
- See Everest from what Edmund Hillary considered Nepal’s best viewpoint
- Ride some amazing single trails in Solu, the lower Everest Region
- Experience Sherpa culture and get en insight into Tibetan monastic life
- Experience Sherpa hospitality in local tea houses
- Get off the beaten path in Solu the lower Everest Region
Itinerary
Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Phaplu
Today we leave Kathmandu behind in the early morning, we head east along the highway to Tibet, as far as Dhulikhel where we turn off and continue on the newly build highway to Sindhuli. This road takes us to the Sun Kosi river which we follow until a bit after noon and we stop for lunch where we need to cross the river. We then start the big climb up to Okhaldhunga, it is an amazing drive up this steep road and now we are truly heading into the Himalayas.
From Okhaldhunga, it is all climbing and eventually it gets us to a high ridgeline which leads to Pike Peak where we will be in a few days. Here we get out of the jeeps and have a good look at the amazing view before we start riding downhill towards the Solu river. As we descend we will see the iconic style of the solid Sherpa houses, giving us a taste of the days ahead. At the bottom of this big descent, we cross the Solu Khola and then start climbing towards Salleri and eventually we reach Phaplu. On arrival in the little bazaar of Phaplu we will make ourselves at home in one of the local tea houses.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Lunch, Dinner
Day 02: Trek/Ride to Salung [2960m] (Views of Everest)
This morning we get a hearty tea house breakfast before we hit the trails on our way north to Ringmo. We have a combination of jeep, mule and walking trails but most of the way we can ride our bikes. Don’t forget to stop to take in the scenery once in a while. In Ringmo we stop to have lunch and try out the fabulous Shakpa (Sherpa stew)! After lunch we hand over the bikes to our porters who will take them up to Salung, where we will spend the night. Most of the hike up to Salung is steep but through beautiful forest and once we come out of the forest, we get our first big views of the mountains. Closer to Salung we even get our first views of Mount Everest (8848m), Chamlang (7319m) and Makalu (8481m), weather permitting. We stop in Salung and enjoy the sunset before settling in for the night.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 03: Ride to Junbesi [2675m], Excursion to Thubtencholing
This morning we have some great trails to ride! We start out with some quite technical, narrow trails and amazing views all the way to Phurteng. Stopping is a must if you want to enjoy the view!!!
From Phurteng we have an awesome downhill into the charming town of Junbesi, set in a lovely valley on the main Jiri to Everest trekking and trade route. Junbesi is a large village for this area and it is home to one of the famous ‘Hillary schools’, a hydropower plant and a large monastery, built in 1635 and claimed to be the oldest monastery in the Solukhumbu region (although a few other monasteries lay claim to title this as well).
In the afternoon we head up the lovely valley northwards to Thubtencholing, one of the largest Tibetan resettlements in Nepal. The large monastery here was established by the highly esteemed Trulsik Rinpoche, who fled from the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet in the 1950s. As one of the few remaining high lamas who were born and educated in Tibet, Trulsik Rinpoche is of immense importance to Buddhism, in particular to the Nyingma sect to which he and the Thuptencholing Monastery belong. The monastery was built in the 1960s as a ‘temporary’ monastery until the Rinpoche could return to Tibet, however it has now been reconstructed as the permanent home of this Nyingma legacy and the Rinpoche’s reincarnate will be on this site, not in Tibet. In addition to the monastery there is a Tibetan Medical school and hospital, so this is a great chance to learn about this ancient healing art. In the afternoon we will return to Junbesi for a hearty dinner in our cosy tea house.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 04: Trek from Junbesi to Pike Peak BC [3640m]
Today we have a big day ahead of us and one that is also breathtakingly beautiful! So we get up early and have a huge breakfast before setting out on an epic walk. We leave Junbesi and trek towards Lamjura La passing through the little town of Thaktor. Half an hour above Thaktor we take a short break at a little tea house before leaving the main trail. Once off the main trail we get into some amazing old-growth forest, which helps to take our mind off the climb up to Salun Danda (ridge). At the Danda we then traverse around the hill to reach the main Lamjura Danda. Here you might want to be somewhere near your porter as you could bike some of the ridge down to lunch at Jase Bhanjyang. This is very technical riding, so if you are not into that kind of trail, just leave your bike with your porter.
After lunch, we have a stunning walk on a spectacular trail that contours around the north side of Pike Peak. Eventually, we make the final climb up to Pike peak BC, where we will be staying in a very simple tea house with some wonderfully eccentric hosts!
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 05: Trek to the top of Pike Peak for Sunrise! Ride to Jhapre [2920m]
We get out of bed really early today because if the weather permits, from the top of Pike Peak we will have the best view in all of Nepal at sunrise. On a clear morning, it is possible to see all the way from Mt. Kanchenjunga (8586m) in the far east of Nepal to Mt Annapurna (8091m) in the west and all the mountains in between including Mt. Everest (8848m). After having taken in the view from the top we return to Pike BC for breakfast. There is nowhere between here and Jhapre to get food and we will only reach there in time for a very late lunch, so eat a lot now and carry some energy bars with you.
We set out on the bikes from Pike BC on one of the best rides in Nepal! Overall it is a super downhill ride along Lamje Danda down to Jhapre at 2800m, but do be prepared to carry the bike over short sections of rocky trails and up some steep climbs. At Jhapre we will have a late lunch and if time permits go down and have a look around the big Sherpa village of Tapting below. Once again our accommodation here in Jhapre is old school tea house trekking style, so don’t expect luxury, but nice hosts who will have time to sit and chat till late night!
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 06: Ride to Okhaldhunga
Today is pure mountain biking! We have a good solid breakfast before setting out on our ride to Okhaldhunga. The first 8 km is on single trails which are as good as they get. As it’s an undulating path it is not easy all the way, but it sure is fun! We reach a small jeep trail at Sigane and continue on this to Dhap, where we stop for a cup of tea before starting the climb up to the bigger road at Jhantardhap. From here it is only a few km till we stop for lunch at Thade.
From Thade it is all downhill to our guesthouse in Okhaldhunga. It is one of the most amazing little roads, with never-ending switchbacks. Stop and take in the view once in a while, it is amazing!
Once we reach Okhaldhunga we will leave our bikes at our guest house and go out exploring this little-visited bazaar town of the ‘middle hills’ before returning for dinner.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 07: Ride to the Sun Kosi, Drive to Kathmandu
As we leave Okhaldhunga this morning we have two choices, both are good but very different. One is to stay up high on the ridge and ride towards the Sun Kosi on the jeep road, which eventually does a big final descent into the river valley. The other option is to do a big drop on a very technical single trail for 1 km then join a little jeep trail for 9 km down to a little river. Here there are a couple of kilometers of the non-rideable trail before we get onto a super nice (but at times challenging) single trail which takes us the last 15 km down to the Sun Kosi.
Whichever way we choose to get there, there is no lunch till we reach the river. We can stop for a tea break in one of the little villages along the way but there is nowhere to eat, so carry snacks for this ride.
We’ve now down to the mighty Sun Kosi and drive to Kathmandu where we right in time for a late dinner and a very welcome shower.
Accommodation: None
Meals included:
Breakfast
Gallery
Included In Price
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Meals as per the itinerary
- All entrance fees applicable to places mentioned in the itinerary
- Your awesome, English speaking, local bike guide/bike mechanic for the trip
- Porters for the trek/bike component of the trip
- All vehicle transfers in local Jeeps
- A first aid kit with basic supplies appropriate for the group size and route – if you require or are taking specific medications it is critical that you discuss this with us prior to your trip departure
Note: The local tea houses are basic but clean and they do not often have attached bathrooms or hot showers. The price is based on twin shares and does not include any extra charge that lodge owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) or for battery charging. We can’t know in advance what they may charge for such things in the different lodges along the way, so we prefer to leave this cost out, rather than pass along an estimated charge to you.
The meal inclusions on the trek are breakfast (one set breakfast and a tea or coffee), lunch (one main meal and a tea or coffee), and dinner (soup, main, and dessert with a tea or coffee)
Not Included In Price
- 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)
- 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, drivers, hotels, restaurants, etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
- Costs incurred due to unforeseen events (eg caused by natural disasters, adverse road conditions/flight delays, labor strikes, fuel shortages, extreme exchange rate changes, etc)
