Biking in the Kali Gandaki gorge

Can you ride the Great Himalaya Trail on a mountain-bike? Possibly – it just depends how much you like carrying your bike. The Great Himalaya Trail, is a network of walking trails. The upper route, finding its way through the Great Himalaya range, has quite a number of rocky and steep sections – there are many high passes and some snowy and an number even glaciated for which crossing them is described as mountaineering.

You could theoretically take your bike the whole way, but it would be a shame to waste so much time carrying it.

Still, parts of the trail are bike-able. People manage to bike in these conditions. Every year there is the Yak Attack which goes around the Annapurna circuit, over the 5400m Thorung La (which is part of the Great Himalaya Trail) and down the recently completed road to Beni. The maps page tells you just how much is ride-able. But then this is a very well established trekking area with improved trails. Less frequented areas have less developed trails.

There is also the lower route. This has been much less explored but it’s lower elevation offers some promise for the adventurous.

All across Nepal, simple dirt roads are being constructed up into the higher reaches of valleys which are worth exploring. Around the Kathmandu valley there many days worth of excellent single track, forest trails, ridge rides and great views. If you are really keen on mountain biking in Nepal, it is best to contact one of the several excellent mountain biking companies here in Kathmandu and work out where the best places to go would be. In the off seasons, they are often trying out new places and putting together new routes.

See more here about mountain biking in Nepal.

"Nepal's Amazing Comeback"

The Great Himalaya Trail is featured in the November 2009 issue of National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Their writer, James Vlahos, visited Humla, Lower Mustang and the Solo Khumbu regions.

Read the article here:

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/print/2009/11/nepal/hiking-great-himalaya-trail-text