Published on May, 2023
Booked a one day mountain bike tour at short notice (next day) as I had some spare time in Kathmandu. My guide, Suman, arrived early and we spent 10 - 15 minutes discussing potential routes based on my level of fitness (reasonable) + experience (fun cyclist).
His English was excellent and we had no trouble at all understanding each other - I told him I was looking for a mix of physical exertion and adventure and he proposed a route which he thought would be suitable and off we went.
The first few miles were through Kathmandu city traffic, which was all the adventure I needed! Pretty scary stuff for someone not used to the sheer chaos of the road system however Suman led the way and used sign gestures (left, right, slow down, watch out, tuck in, pull alongside etc.) to help me get through it. As the traffic died down we started the steep ride up Shivapuri into the National Park and eventually got off the paved road and onto the trail. My cycling experience level is basic (paved roads, light trails) but with my guide showing me which lines to take and what to look out for I was soon feeling comfortable. The bike was also rugged with big tires and good brakes which gave me confidence on the rocky trail where Suman pointed out different types of birds + wildlife and I saw monkeys in the wild for the first time. After a few miles Suman suggested we could move off the jeep (wide) trail and onto a more challenging single track trail. Based on his assurances I was happy to try it and was so glad that I did. It was something so far out of my comfort zone that I would never have tried had I not been with such a competent guide who was able to advise on riding techniques and routes down the mountain which were very challenging for me, but also knowing which parts weren't suitable due to my low experience level. After stopping for a traditional Nepalese lunch in a small village we continued on the single trails until we dropped down into the outskirts of Kathmandu again. My bike developed a problem with the gears but Suman managed a temporary running repair on the mountainside and as we entered Kathmandu we detoured to a cycle repair shop where he fixed the issue properly and we continued back through the city traffic to my hotel.
I can't recommend this experience highly enough. My guide + equipment was excellent and the slight issue I suffered was resolved quickly + expertly. My goals of physical exertion and adventure were exceeded way above expectations and this tour was the perfect finish to my vacation in Nepal.
