The Kali-Gandaki Valley trail is one of the most interesting sections of the old Tibet trade route between Pokhara and Mustang. Its barren beauty is comparable to the Tibetan Plateau. This river valley also happens to be the deepest gorge in the world (though on observation it may not seem so), as it is flanked on either sides by two giant Himalayan massifs; the Annapurna 8,091 meters, and Dhaulagiri, 8,167 meters, separated by a distance of less than 40 kilometers.
Should you plan on this trip, you will have to get to Pokhara either via air or surface. From Pokhara, fly to Jomsom either via STOL aircraft or chopper. Boxed bikes can be checked in together with passengers. Since this trail is totally off road, mules are used instead of support vehicle.
Best Season - May through September
Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu.
Meet at the airport & transfer to hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02 Kathmandu/Jomsom/Tukuche/Jomsom Early morning helicopter flight, Kathmandu/Jomsom Arrive Jomsom, 2,713 meters, at around and check into hotel. After breakfast, assemble bikes and proceed on a 3.5 hours warm-up ride to Tukuche (2,590 m.) & back. Lunch enroute. Overnight in Jomsom.
Day 03 Jomsom (2,713 m.) to Kagbeni (2,810 m.) Thini / Samle / Drumba / Thini / Jomsom / Eklebhatti Total biking time, 5 hours. Altitude variation, 100 meters.
Day 04 Kagbeni (2,810 m.) to Jharkot (3,500 m.) Via Khinga (3,200 m.) / Jharkot / Muktinath (3,800 m.) This is the toughest section but also probably the most rewarding for grand scenic views. The initial phase begins with a 20 to 25 minutes of "carry," followed by another hour of ride/push/carry till one gets to Jharkot.
Day 05 Jharkot/Khinga/Eklebhatti/Jomsom/Marpha Relatively easy day as the trail is downhill and straight. Only a few push and carry jobs for short distances.
Day 06 Marpha (2,665 m.) to Tukuche (2,590 m.): 40 minutes. Tukuche to Kobang-Larjung (2,560 m.) : 20 minutes Kobang-Larjung to Kalopani (2,560 m.) : 75 minute Kalopani/Lete (2,470 m.)/Ghasa (2,000 m.): 75 minutes From Ghasa, load bikes on to mules till Dana @ 2 bikes per mule. Walk from Ghasa - Pahiro - Tabla - Kopchepani(1,935 m.)/Rupse Chahara (1,550 m.) - Dana (1,400 meters) for about an hour. Lunch enroute at Rupse Chahara. Bike Dana to Tatopani (1,180 m.) 60% ride/40% push: hours
Day 07 Tatopani (1,180 m.) - Galeshwar - Beni - Baglung - Birethanti (1,065 m.) : hours incl. lunch stop
