In the Shadow of Giants

• Fly into Kathmandu airport
• Apply for Visa on arrival (ensure that you are carrying appx 50USD in small notes)
• Taxi transfer to hotel
• Meet & greet the extended group and a short orientation ride (if time permits)
• Sightseeing – This Himalayan city has the highest concentration of UNESCO heritage monuments
• Welcome dinner and ride briefing

We leave the bustling city of Kathmandu, befuddled by the sheer volume of traffic and the #methodinthemadness that makes Nepal tick. This is the most densely populated part of the Himalayas and there is an irony that’s unmistakable. You are surrounded by the highest mountain peaks in the world, travelling along one of the youngest geographical features of our world- through a cultural Diaspora spanning more than two millennia.

We hit the busy Kathmandu – Pokhara highway which is in a constant state of repair and expansion. So expect a lot of dust, slush, noise- everything that’s the charm of a motorcycle adventure in this part of the world. The views are stunning as you ride along the Trishuli river and the glimpses of the Annapurna massif could play hide and seek based on the cloud cover. We divert off the main highway and begin climbing a series of switchbacks on a narrow road that climbs and climbs towards the magical village of Bandipur.

Today is a short ride so we can have a leisurely start. The village of Bandipur offers spectacular walks and the street side cafes are abuzz in the mornings. Chances of seeing the peaks in the Annapurna range are extremely high and the sunrise colors can be quite dramatic.

We descend towards the highway and make a dusty entry into the picture perfect town of Pokhara. The stunning Phewa lake is the crowning glory and the touristy part of town surrounds the lake in (almost) perfect harmony. There is a lot happening in Pokhara, so walk the streets, chill out at a bar, go shopping, chat with the locals, swap stories with other travelers.

There are some options for sightseeing like the Shanti Stupa and the large Shiva statue, so if anyone would like, an optional tour(by car/mini bus) can be organized. Our hotel has a pool and a bar with views of the lake, so feel free to just unwind.
Note- This is a good point to get some laundry done.

Lets say, the real fun is just about to begin. We head out of crowded Pokhara, quickly diverting towards Sarangkot where a series of sharp switchbacks quickly ascends on narrow tarmac towards one of the popular look out points near Pokhara. Stunning views of the Annapurna range are often times, your backdrop as you ascend the road, each turn bringing the peaks closer and then suddenly further away, almost like an optical illusion. We ride along the ridge for several KM with views of rural and agricultural Nepal, a sharp contrast to the big city vibes that we experience in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

We join the highway and ride on great tarmac following the Kali Gandaki river and eventually divert towards the Annapurna conservation area after the town of Kushma.

This road has everything that makes a Himalayan motorcycle adventure- mud, gravel, rock, water crossing, sand, roads under construction and some stretches of stunning tarmac. The views are magical as we climb higher into the upper Himalayas of Nepal. The landscape changes quite dramatically and this will be the highest point of our expedition (close to 3000M asl). We have the option of visiting the Muktinath temple but that depends on when we arrive at our destination.

We back track on the same route as yesterday but it will surprise you to see how dramatically different the valley looks on the way out. The mornings are typically clearer so the peaks catch the light in a completely different way and the descent towards the plains feels like you are in a brand new landscape.

We come back to the town of Kushma and attempt one of the highlights of our tour- the highest suspension bridges of Nepal. It looks scarier than it actually is but, honestly, I still get the jitters every time.

The ride back into Pokhara seems like coming back home. You may now have a favourite bar to go to, or a restaurant you want to eat at again, some local who now feels like a friend. We are back at the same hotel, so you definitely know your way around.

We have an early start as this is the longest day of our tour. We begin on another busy highway connecting large population centers but the roads are fairly good and there is a sweet little coffee shop for our first break. We then divert off the usual road onto a specially curated route that takes you through some spectacular parts of the middle Himalayas. Small villages dot the circuit and stepped fields of paddy keep you company throughout the day. Very little traffic makes this one of the most enjoyable days of the tour. The are a series of ascends and descends as we traverse North-South across the many folds of the Himalayan range.

Our final descent takes us to the Terai lowlands of Nepal which may be considered the agrarian heart of Nepal and is also home to many of Nepal’s National parks. We cut across the highway and into Chitwan, the first established NP with the largest population of the Asiatic One horned Rhino. We check into a resort on the edges of the park and descend into the evening amidst birdsong, calls of langurs and if lucky the roar of the Tiger.

We start the day early today because we have an early morning Jeep safari planned into the National Park. Rhino sightings are almost guaranteed but additionally there are chances of seeing a huge variety of wildlife, birds and some magnificent trees. Deer ( 4 different types), wild boar, monkeys, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, gharial are some common animals and if we are extremely lucky, the Tiger.

We get to riding by noon, for a short run into the hills and cooler climes. The road from Chitwan to Daman is partly on a new highway and the second half goes through picture perfect twisters in lush forests and gorgeous valleys. If we are lucky we get a chance to see the peaks in the Everest cluster.

Our final riding day is a mixture of emotions, in many different ways.

We start the day riding through the lush countryside and low traffic roads and then continue riding on the Kathmandu highway, braving traffic, potholes, dust and tourists- but it all goes by in a blur as we reminisce the week gone by.

This journey is just a small slice of this magical kingdom, but we hope it gives you an insight into the culture, the people and the geography that is so intrinsic to the life of the inhabitants of this mountain kingdom.

This day marks the end of your adventure. Get ready to depart Kathmandu.