Mountain Biking in Nepal

For those who love mountain biking, Nepal makes an excellent destination as it provides unrivalled challenges for the mountain biking fanatic!

As in any other country, the benefits of mountain biking in Nepal are not just limited to the spectacular views. Mountain biking also allows people to experience the exhilaration of independent travel and the opportunity to meet local people on their routes and to gain a first hand insight into their culture. Whilst mountain biking, you are also more likely to gain access to non touristic and remote areas.Nepal is a great place for mountain biking; offering challenging and beautiful routes.

What greater an experience than to enjoy the beautiful offerings of the spectacular mountain views and terrains in Nepal. Even novice mountain bikers can enjoy some of the less demanding mountain trails in Nepal.

The mountain trails on offer ascend thousands of miles and each stopping point as one travels on these routes allows for increasingly stunning views. Clearly the ascent of these beautiful mountain routes is coupled with the excitement and sheer exhilaration of the subsequent descent - which when done with speed, allows the adrenalin to flow and makes and difficulties of climbing the mountains in Nepal all the more worthwhile.

The most popular mountain biking routes in Nepal will be discussed in separate articles. As a brief overview however, Kathmandu Valley has some fantastic routes - most of which are detailed in a Kathmandu Valley Map. This map is typically known as the 'German Map. It is useful to refer to this map as designing your own ad hoc route when mountain biking in Nepal, could result in you becoming drawn into routes which are characterised by steep rock faces; requiring you to carry your bike for a signficant part of your excursion. A survey of mountain bikers visiting the Annapurnas found that most of the mountain bikers in this area carried their bikes for at least 75% of their trip.

In addition to the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, the Terrai also has some beautiful routes - most of which can be completed on flatter terrain than those in the Kathmandu Valley.

An overview of the equipment needed whilst mountain biking in Nepal will be provided in a separate article.