Annapurna Circuit Mountain Biking Expedition | 14 Days Tour

The Annapurna Circuit Mountain Biking Expedition is a 14-day, 230+ km ride across the heart of the Nepal Himalaya. It takes you all the way from Pokhara to the legendary Thorong La pass at 5,416 m and back down the other side, mixing real physical challenge, deep culture and some of the biggest mountain scenery on earth.

Over the trip you ride through tropical forest, pine woods and apple orchards, up onto the arid, Tibetan-style high plateau, and over a subzero Himalayan pass. Every day brings views of peaks above 7,000 m and encounters with mountain villages, monasteries and wildlife.

We have guided riders across the Himalayas for more than 20 years. This expedition is run with a full support team and proper logistics, so you can put your energy into the ride and the adventure while we handle the rest.

Trip at a glance

Why this is an expedition

This trip is called an expedition, and it earns the name. It is a bigger, more committing ride than a standard guided tour, run with a full support team so a small group can be self-sufficient in one of the most remote, high places you can take a bike.

What makes it an expedition:

• Ride the full circuit: Cover 230+ km from Pokhara, earning every kilometre under your own power.

• Full support crew: Guides, porters, summit porters, and vehicle support assist throughout the expedition.

• Logistics included: Domestic flights, permits, and transfers are arranged for a seamless trip.

• Self-sufficient at altitude: The crew carries tools, spares, first aid, and emergency equipment in remote areas.

• 20+ years of experience: Backed by two decades of running safe Himalayan mountain biking expeditions.

Why ride the Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit is a legendary mountain bike destination, known worldwide for its variety and its challenge. You cross high passes, drop long steep descents, and ride remote trails that few travellers ever see, which is what makes this expedition so special.

It is also a deep cultural journey. You ride through the lands of the Gurung, Manangi and Thakali peoples, pass temples and Buddhist monasteries, and can take time for quiet moments at sacred sites along the way. The everyday encounters with mountain life are as memorable as the riding.

With a full support team handling the guiding, the bikes, the logistics and the route-finding, you get to focus on the trails and the scenery, from the tropical foothills to the subzero Himalayan passes.

The route and the regions you ride through

The Annapurna Circuit is a full loop around the Annapurna massif, and it changes completely as you go. Unlike a trip that drives to the trailhead, this expedition rides out of Pokhara and up into the mountains, then works its way around the range in three stages.

• Up the Marsyangdi Valley (Gurung village): Starting from the Pokhara side, you follow the Marsyangdi River through forests, waterfalls, and terraced fields. The route passes Gurung villages, Chame's apple orchards, and climbs toward Pisang as the valley becomes drier and more alpine.

• Over Thorong La to the Kali Gandaki (Thakali village): From Manang, you climb to Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) before descending to the sacred town of Muktinath. The trail then follows the Kali Gandaki Gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I through the historic homeland of the Thakali, once renowned Himalayan traders.

The mountains and the landscape

The scenery changes as much as the trails. Climbing the Manang valley, the great peaks line up across the valley: Annapurna II (7,937 m), Annapurna III (7,555 m) and Annapurna IV (7,525 m), with Gangapurna (7,455 m) rising straight above Manang, and Pisang Peak (6,091 m) and the Chulu peaks to the north.

Once you cross north of the main Himalaya, you enter a rain shadow. The monsoon drops its rain on the southern slopes, so Manang and the country beyond the pass are dry, wind-carved and Tibetan in feel, with barren canyons and coloured rock. Coming down the Kali Gandaki, you ride between two 8,000 m giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m), with the Nilgiri peaks above, before dropping back into a green, subtropical valley near the finish.

Crossing the Thorong La pass

The Thorong La at 5,416 m is the high point and the heart of the expedition, and the pass itself cannot be ridden. On the big day, you start in the small hours and push and carry your bike up the final climb on foot, roughly 5 km that can take three to six hours, often in snow and sub-zero cold. Summit porters help carry the bikes. It is the slowest, hardest part of the whole trip, and standing on top of a 5,416 m pass with your bike is the moment that defines it.

Then comes the reward: a long descent of around 1,600 m down to Muktinath, steep and rocky up top and one of the great high-mountain descents anywhere. 

What the riding is like

This is a big-distance expedition. You cover more than 230 km of riding over the trip, more than the shorter guided version, because you ride out of Pokhara rather than driving to the start. The terrain runs the full range: village roads and jeep track low down, high-altitude singletrack in the Manang valley, and long technical descents off the pass and through the Kali Gandaki gorge.

Much of the route is rideable, and the rest is hike-a-bike, with the Thorong La push the main carry. Riding days vary from short, hard high-altitude stages to long descents, and the trip demands stamina day after day.

Trail notes

The Annapurna Circuit is not one kind of trail. Here is what the ground is actually like as you ride around the loop.

• Lower Marsyangdi Valley: Ride mostly dirt and jeep roads with traffic, suspension bridges, waterfalls, and occasional rocky sections. Guides use old singletrack where possible.

• Ghyaru–Ngawal Traverse: A scenic high-altitude singletrack with switchbacks, rocky terrain, stream crossings, and exposed sections for confident riders.

• Manang to Thorong Phedi: Narrow trekking trails, loose rocks, suspension bridges, and thin air make for a slow ride with some bike pushing.

• Thorong La Pass: Carry your bike about 5 km to the 5,416 m summit, with porters assisting over this non-rideable section.

• Thorong La Descent: A steep, technical 1,600 m descent to Muktinath on loose rock and tight switchbacks.

• Lupra Valley: Enjoy flowing singletrack through a quiet valley, avoiding the dusty jeep road.

• Kali Gandaki Gorge: Finish with a long descent through the world's deepest gorge, starting early to avoid strong afternoon winds.

What a riding day is like

A typical day on the expedition has a rhythm. You wake for an early breakfast at the teahouse, and your guide briefs the group on the day's distance, climb, trail surface and any hazards. Distances are often short, but the climbing is big, so a 30 km day high up can still take most of the day, while a descent day covers far more ground. You stop for lunch at a village teahouse in the middle of the ride.

The support crew works around you. Porters carry the main luggage and often go ahead, so your room is ready when you arrive, and they carry the bikes over the pass. A support vehicle covers the road sections at each end.

The pass day is the exception: a pre-dawn start, a long carry to the top, then the big descent, making it the longest day of the trip. Evenings are spent in simple teahouses over dal bhat, momos and soup, with early nights, before comfortable hotels again in Pokhara at the finish.

Difficulty and fitness

This is a Challenging, high-altitude expedition, and one of the hardest trips we run. Riding out of Pokhara and covering 230+ km in 14 days makes it a committing trip that suits fit, experienced riders with good stamina and solid off-road descending skills. You do not need to be a professional, but you should be a strong, regular mountain biker who is used to long days and rough trails.

The two big demands are altitude and the pass. You ride and push above 4,000 m for several days and carry your bike over 5,416 m. Good aerobic fitness makes the climbs and the thin air far more manageable. Your guides set a safe pace, and the itinerary builds in time to acclimatize.

Who this expedition is for

This is an advanced, committing trip, and it is not for everyone. Be honest with yourself before you book.

It is for you if you are a fit, regular mountain biker who is comfortable on steep, loose, rocky and exposed singletrack, can ride long days back to back, and is happy to spend a hard day carrying your bike over a pass. Some experience at altitude helps a lot.

It is not the right trip if you are a beginner, if drop-offs and exposure worry you, if you have a history of bad reactions to altitude, or if the idea of a five-kilometre hike-a-bike puts you off. One important point: no level of fitness makes you immune to altitude sickness, which is why the pacing and the rest days matter for everyone. If you are not sure whether it suits you, talk to us, and we will be straight with you.

How to train and prepare

Give yourself three to four months to prepare, and build up gradually.

• Build endurance: Train with 2–3-hour rides and back-to-back riding days.

• Improve climbing: Practise long climbs on loose and uneven terrain.

• Sharpen descending: Ride steep, rocky, and technical trails with confidence.

• Train bike carrying: Practise carrying your bike and include strength exercises like squats, lunges, and step-ups.

• Prepare for altitude: Spend time above 3,000 m if possible and follow the acclimatization schedule.

Culture and sacred places

The expedition is as much a cultural journey as a ride. You pass through three different mountain communities: the Gurung of the lower valley, the trading Manangi of Nyeshang, and the Thakali of the Kali Gandaki, each with their own history and their own blend of Tibetan Buddhism, older beliefs and, at Muktinath, Hinduism. Along the trail you ride past gompas, mani walls carved with prayers, chortens and lines of prayer flags, and there is time for quiet moments at the monasteries and temples.

What you will see and experience

This expedition brings together adventure, culture and natural beauty:

• High-altitude passes: cross the Thorong La and ride the high country around it.

• Big landscapes: ride through valleys, past glaciers and across the high plateau.

• Cultural encounters: visit monasteries and temples and stay in local villages.

• Wildlife: look for yaks, blue sheep and, in the lower forests, monkeys, with eagles and Himalayan griffon vultures overhead. Snow leopards live here but are rarely seen.

Responsible riding in the Annapurna Conservation Area

The whole route is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, and every entry fee goes back into local conservation and communities. Riding here matters:

• Reduce plastic: Refill water bottles at safe drinking stations instead of buying single-use plastic.

• Leave no trace: Pack out all waste and stay on established trails.

• Share the trail: Give way to mule trains and be courteous to trekkers on narrow sections.

• Respect local culture: Follow local customs, ask before taking photos, and avoid disturbing sacred sites.

Accommodation and food

You stay in hotels in Pokhara at the start and finish, and in local teahouses and guest houses on the trail. Rooms up high are simple, usually twin-share, with a warm shared dining room at the heart of each lodge.

Expect hearty local food. The staple is dal bhat, a plate of rice, lentils and vegetables with free refills that fuels the whole country, along with noodles, potatoes, eggs, soups and simple Western dishes. Drinking water should be boiled, filtered or purified rather than bought in plastic bottles, which are expensive high up and discouraged inside the conservation area.

Best time to visit

The best seasons for this expedition are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). In these months, the weather is stable, the skies are clear, and the trails are in the best condition.

Avoid the monsoon months of June to August, when the trails are slippery, landslides are a risk, and clouds hide the mountains. In deep winter, snow can close the Thorong La pass. Spring and autumn give the best mix of mountain views and safe riding.

Packing list and gear

We provide the bike, maintenance, and guiding. You should bring:

• We provide a helmet and protective biking gear.

• Cycling gloves and padded shorts.

• Layered clothing for a big range of temperatures, from tropical heat to subzero at the pass.

• A hydration pack and energy snacks.

• Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, as the sun is strong at altitude.

• A warm hat, gloves and an insulated jacket for cold high-altitude mornings and nights.

• Sturdy shoes suitable for pushing the bike on the pass.

• A camera or GoPro, personal medication, and your passport and insurance details.

Practical things to know

A few practical points for a trip this remote:

• Money: carry enough Nepali rupees in cash for personal extras. ATMs exist in the larger villages but have low limits and often fail, so do not rely on them high up.

• Phone and wifi: there is mobile signal and paid teahouse wifi lower down, but both weaken above Manang and are unreliable over the pass.

• Water: use boiled, filtered or purified water, which your guide helps you refill safely.

• Health: keep your routine vaccinations up to date, and ask a travel clinic about Hepatitis A and typhoid for Nepal, four to six weeks before you travel.

• Insurance: you must have travel insurance that covers mountain biking to 5,500 m and helicopter evacuation. Carry the policy and the emergency numbers with you.

What you get with us:

• Local expert guides who grew up riding in the Himalayas and know this route, its trails, weather and villages.

• Guides who are first-aid trained and carry the tools and spares to fix bikes where there are no bike shops.

• Small groups, for a safer and more personal expedition.

• Quality, workshop-serviced bikes, with mechanical support on the trail.

• Safety and acclimatization put first, with a full crew including summit porters for the pass.

• A booking made directly with the Nepal team on the ground, so your money supports local guides and porters, not a foreign reseller.

Tour Route Map:

Book your Annapurna Circuit expedition

Ready to ride the full Annapurna Circuit? This is a bucket-list expedition, and our spring and autumn departures fill up quickly. Contact us with your dates, and we will match you to the right package and sort your bike, flights, permits and plans.