Day 01 | Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. You take the one-hour flight by twin otter from Kathmandu to Tumligtar. Tumligtar is situated on a plateau just above the Arun River in an elevation of 460 meters. Around Tumlingtar you find lush forests, banana groves and rice paddies. You are almost 1000 meters lower than Kathmandu and the climate is almost tropical, so be prepared to sweat! After you have put your bikes back together, you go exploring around Tumligtar if you have time before sunset. There are lots of nice small trails to explore on the Tumlingtar plateau. |
| Day 02 | Tumlingtar and Around. Today you will make an excursion to Khandbari [1040 m.] the regional capital, sited on the crest of a ridge two hours ride from Tumligtar towards Makalu Base Camp. If you are here on a Saturday you will experience the weekly market. Khandbari is a charming place, with a flag-stoned main street, whitewashed houses with gardens and manicured lawns. You return to Tumlingtar for the night. |
| Day 03 | Bike from Tumlingtar to Kewabesi. This is where the real adventure begins. Today you have to make your way some 25 kilometres down the Arun valley. From Tumlingtar the trail follows the plateau till it ends four kilometres south of the town from here it is down hill to the Shawa River, where you will get to ride across a suspension bridge. The rest of the day you follow the Arun River, sometimes a bit above it and at time right on the riverbank. You have time for a dip in the river at lunch, before you continue to your camp at Kewabesi. Kewabesi is a big delta next to the Arun River and just before the Leguwa River joins Arun. |
| Day 04 | Bike from Kewabesi to Pakhribas. This is the day that is going to teach you what it means to climb; Pakhribas is about 1400 meters higher in elevation than Kewabesi. You start out the day with another few kilometres of single trail to Leguwa, here you meet your support vehicles, which are going to be there for the rest of the tour if someone needs a lift up one of the hills. From Leguwa you have a few more kilometres on relatively flat dust road, before the real climb starts at Manmaya. Manmaya to Pakhribas is one long climb; you have plenty of time, so for the stubborn and the strong there is enough time to reach Pakhribas without taking a lift from the support vehicles. |
| Day 05 | Bike from Pakhribas to Mulghat. Today you are going to have a flying downhill ride, but first you have to ride another 10 kilometres on a level dust road to Hile. This is a pleasant roadside town situated high on a hill at 1850 meters; the elevation and cool breezes provide a welcoming relief from the heat of the Arun valley. Many of the people who inhabit this village are Tibetans who have settled here. From Hile the road descends a spur to Dhankuta, at 1220 metres. The road does not pass directly through Dhankuta, but you will find some small roads through the town, because it is well worth a visit. It is a Rai, Newar and Limbu town - large, attractive and clean, with whitewashed houses and winding streets paved with stone. When you have finished touring Dhankuta you make another fast descend to your camp at the Tamur River at Mulghat. |
| Day 06 | Bike from Pauwa Pass to Ilam. From the Pauwa Pass to Ilam is around 55 km, at first involving a descent before contouring around a ridge? This is followed by a blast down to the river and then a short climb. Finally, you cruise into town and set up camp amongst the sea of tea plantations. Another superb day's riding, full of contrasts and surprises. Ilam is Nepal's most famous tea centre where the tealeaf is cured before being transported to Kathmandu. |
| Day 07 | Ilam and around. Today is dedicated to tea and relaxation. For those who relax best sitting on the mountain bike this is a fantastic place to ride some single trails. The tea gardens are full of small tracks and trails you can ride. However if, for once you prefer just to walk around at your own pace, looking at life in this tranquil town, fell free to do so this is your "holiday". |
| Day 08 | Bike from Ilam to Biratnagar. This is another downhill, as far as the river, before another big uphill on your roller coaster route. You hitch a ride on the vehicles for the 40 kilometers climb to the top of the pass at Ficcal, though if there are any hard-core climbers who would like to take on this ascent, you are on tarmac for the first time during the trip. The fish curry at the top of the pass is worth the trip alone, but you are now on the very last crest of the Himalayan foothills, looking down across neatly cropped tea bushes onto the Indian plains. Your trip ends with an 1800m descent, on smooth tarmac for a change, but with enough pot holes to keep it interesting! It is switchbacks all the way to the town of Charali. From here you pack our bikes for a drive back along the Terai to a well-earned shower at your hotel in Biratnagar. |
| Day 09 | Fly from Biratnagar to Kathmandu. A leisurely morning is spent exploring Biratnagar before you take the return flight across the foothills of the Himalayas to the luxuries of a hot shower in your hotel in Kathmandu. |
| Day 10 | Fly out from Kathmandu or stay longer for other activities. |
Central Tibet Tour
Full Board Camping Trek
