Bikepacking the Annapurna Circuit 2022

Back to the Himalayas! 

We have been craving another ride on this great mountain range since our Ladakh cycling trip last 2019. Cycling in the Himalayas has been the most intense experience we have had on the saddle. Immense landscapes, remote location, high elevation, cold climate, unfamiliar culture, majestic natural views - worthy to return to despite the physical and logistical challenges.

And so, when the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions were relaxed, we took vacation leave from our jobs, cashed-in our savings and year-end bonuses, packed our old mountain bikes, filled our dry bags with gears and winter clothes, took a flight to Kathmandu, Nepal, and cycled the Annapurna Circuit.

Day 11, Lower Mustang.

This is the account of our 12-day cycling adventure in the Annapurna Circuit last October 20-31, 2022. The cyclists are me, Noel, 52 years old, an urban planner, and my wife Kareen, 46 years old, a teacher, from Sorsogon, Philippines. We are not athletes nor world tourers - just “weekend warrior” cyclists with full-time jobs and full-time parents. We are sharing this story to inspire and provide information to other cyclists who are planning to do the Circuit (particularly Philippine-based cyclists).

(View web version here.)

THE ROUTE

The Annapurna Circuit is a trekking route in the mountain ranges of central Nepal. The route encircles the Annapurna massif, and the total length is between 160–230 km depending on where the trek is started and ended. The traditional start point is Besisahar or Bhulbhule in the Marsyangdi river valley and ends at Jomsom or Tatopani at the Kali Gandaki Gorge. The trail reaches its highest point at Thorung La pass at 5,416 meters above sea level (masl), reaching the edge of the Tibetan plateau near Muktinath. 

 The route starts in Marsyangdi River.

Annapurna Circuit is considered as one of the best long-distance treks in the world as it combines a wide variety of climate zones from tropics at 800 masl to the arctic at the Thorong La pass. The mountain scenery includes the Annapurna massif, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak and numerous other peaks of 6,000 - 8,000 meters in elevation. There is the cultural variety of Hindu villages at the low foothills to Tibetan culture of Manang Valley and lower Mustang. 

And ends at Khali Gandaki River.

Before the construction of a road, the original trek started from Dhumre and ended in Pokhara which took about 23 days to complete. The road has now reached past Manang on the Marsyangdi river valley and Muktinath on the Kali Gandaki side. With the construction of roads, mountain biking is becoming popular in the Annapurna Circuit.

DAY 1, BESISAHAR (760 masl) TO SYANGE (1,090 masl), 26 km

Starting from lowlands in Besisahar is recommended to provide contrast to the upper regions in terms of views, vegetation, terrain, climate, and culture. Besisahar is the last big town where cyclists can stock up on supplies and gear before heading up the Circuit. A trekking trail that will bypass most of the road also starts from Besisahar.

Rice paddies at Annapurna foothills.

The dirt road starts from the Marsyangdi River wide valley with occasional view of distant peaks of Annapurna massif. There are rice paddies near the riverbanks and subtropical broadleaf forest at the slopes of mountain ridges. It was a hot, sunny, and sweaty day and we were riding in T-shirts. At Bhulbhule is a road tunnel, hydropower dams, a bus station, and several clusters of teahouses. 

Ascent on dirt road after Bhulbhule.

Cliffside road.

Start of bike pushing.

The road climbed up the mountain slopes after Bhulbhule.  The road surface is mostly hard packed dirt strewn with gravel and rocks with a few sections of concrete. Gradients that are normally bikeable in tarmac are difficult to ride because of loose rocks. We estimated that we were pushing bikes more than 60% of the time going to Manang. Before 3 PM, we reached the village of Syange.

The village of Syange.

DAY 2, SYANGE (1,090 masl) TO KARTE (2,150 masl), 18 km

We started late at 9 AM from Syange and shared the road with a group of Israeli trekkers. The trekker's pace is just the same as ours - we overtook them at flat and descending sections, and they overtook us at uphills. Trekkers would divert to trails, but we would usually meet-up a few days later.

Sharing the road with trekkers.

The road to Jagat and Chamje was relatively flat, but cycling was slow because of road surface condition. There were many waterfalls along the side of the road, and we had to remove our shoes and walk to cross the outflow of bigger ones. A solo German rider catches up with us at Chamje - cycling fast on a touring bike. He was on the eighth month of his world tour and had left most of his luggage in Pokhara. 

Rest, tea and chat with a German cyclist.

After Chamje was a long climb on a very rough road and we walked most of it. At the top, the road was carved from the rock face, the cliff side was a vertical plunge to the river, and there were no railings. What followed was a downhill ride to the Tal village and then towards a narrow gorge. Inside the gorge is confined space with immense vertical elements - to the left is the cliff face and to the right is the river and opposite cliff. 

Start of climb after Chamie.

Looking back down. 

Top of the climb.

Village of Tal.

One of the many waterfalls along the Circuit.

Inside the narrow gorge.

We emerged from the narrow gorge into the small village of Karte that was perched on a narrow ledge at the base of a cliff. It was already 4 PM, we were already exhausted, and so we stopped at the first teahouse along the road. The teahouse has a nice garden, good food, and thick blankets for a cold 8°C evening. This is our most difficult day of cycling - climbing about 2,000 meters in 18 km in seven hours. 

Traffic jam. 

DAY 3, KARTE (2,150 masl) TO TIMANG (2,615 masl), 12 km

 

At this time, we have decided to disregard our original itinerary. The daily plan now is to ride out at 8 AM, ride or walk easy, rest when needed, enjoy the scenery, take lots of pictures, enjoy the food, and end the ride at any teahouse wherever by 4 PM.

Teahouse at Karte.

The day started with an uphill walk just outside the teahouse then a slow rolling ride to Dharapani village. At Dharapani is a checkpoint where trekking permits must be presented. After Dharapani, the horizon opened up and views got more expansive as the road ascended from Marsyangdi River up the mountain slopes. Prayer wheels along the road marked the beginning of Buddhist culture of the region. Vegetation was slowly transitioning from broad leaf to conifer forest. 

Morning grind.

Road works.

Village of Dharapani and Annapurna II peak.

First prayer wheel.

Spinning the wheel.

There was a 10 km rough and steep climb starting from Dharapani, with a short, paved section under a dense forest which was a relief. We stopped at a teahouse just before Timang and took a long lunch break. After a short ascent to the crest of the climb was the village of Timang. At Timang, a teahouse landlord was sitting by the roadside and offered us accommodation. We bargained for free lodging if we ate our dinner and breakfast at his place, which is a customary practice in the Circuit, and he agreed. The Namala Hotel and Restaurant rooftop offered a panoramic view of Manaslu peak and the eastern flank of the Annapurna massif. This was a short day of cycling - about three hours of moving time covering 12 km with about 1,000 meters elevation gain. 

Concrete road under a forest.

A German cycling couple arrived at the hotel a few moments later. They were on a world tour and have cycled from Austria. We shared stories of bicycle touring over dinner. They strongly recommended that we go cycling in Turkiye. The temperature dipped to 6°C that night.

View from hotel roof deck.

DAY 4, TIMANG (2,615 masl) TO BHRATANG (2,940 masl), 16 km

The air is noticeably thinner, and it is getting colder. We waited for the sun to be fully up before starting out at 8:30 AM. The climb on very rough roads continues but the inclines are gentler. The views are less confined at this elevation and the peaks of Annapuran massif and surrounding cliffs can be seen. The vegetation is now conifer forest.

Pine forest.

Buddhist mural.

Village of Chame.

Still following the Marsyangdi River.

There is the big village of Chame with an ATM where we withdraw additional cash. A few kilometers after Chame is a steep downhill portion followed by a steep climb to Bhratang. Bhratang is a small village, and the only lodging is in a farmhouse of a vast apple orchard. The farmhouse is a luxury agro-resort with modern facilities and the most expensive place we have stayed in Nepal. A dormitory bed costs NPR 800 - and the toilet is three flights of stairs going down. The temperature dropped to 4°C when the sun came down and we are now sleeping with layers of clothing under thick blankets.

Climb to Bhratang.

More bike pushing.

Old stuppa.

The Farmhouse at Bhratang.

From Timang to Bhratang is only 16 km but it took us 7 hours - about half is moving time and half for rest and breathing stops. Lots of walking/pushing the bike with more than 1,500 meters elevation gain. Another difficult day of cycling.

DAY 5, BHRATANG (2,940 masl) TO LOWER PISANG (3,250 masl), 14 km

Cycling now at an altitude of over 3,000 masl and breathing is harder. It is cold even in broad daylight and we are riding in jackets. After a descent from Bhratang, the valley opened up and the road levelled to a gentle, flowy and rideable track. There is a massive rock wall that is sloping, curving and snow-capped on the approach to Dhikur Pokhari village. 

Annapurna rocks.

Chilly weather cycling, Annapurna II in the background.

More of the rocky road.

Sloping and smooth rock wall.

Village of Dhikur Pokhari.

By mid-afternoon we had cycled only 14 km. After Pisang village, we faced another long climb on a very rough road. We are now a day behind our itinerary and already exhausted from five straight days of difficult cycling. There are no hotels on the map for several kilometers and it is getting colder as the sun dips on the horizon. Manang, our intended destination for the day, is still 14 km away - a one day ride based on our pacing. 

Rideable track near Pisang.

Picture perfect village of Upper and Lower Pisang.

We decided to cycle back to Pisang and ride a jeep to Manang to catch up with our schedule. The landlady at Bob Marley Hotel in Lower Pisang was very accommodating and arranged for a passing jeep for our ride to Manang. At the jeep midway to Manang, I realized that I had left my backpack with my passport and money at the hotel. Our Nepali co-passengers called the hotel and the landlady arranged for my bag to be picked-up by the next passing jeep and delivered to the jeep station at Manang. Nepal is truly tourist friendly! We arrived by jeep at Manang early in the evening, and I was reunited with my passport an hour later. 

Jeep to Manang.

DAY 6 and 7, MANANG (3,530 masl) 

Acclimatization is necessary at elevations over 3,500 masl to prevent high altitude sickness. The body needs to adapt to the lower level of oxygen in the air. It is essential to spend more than one day at 3,500 masl before starting any ascent. Manang is the ideal place to acclimatize - a big village with plenty of hotels, shops for food and trekking equipment and plenty of acclimatization trek options.

Manang Hotel.

We spent a day in Manang doing nothing - basking in the warmth of the sun during daytime, staying in the heated dining area of Manang Hotel in the early evening, and sleeping with four layers of clothing under a thick blanket. It was freezing cold at -2°C at nighttime. Kareen had a bout of arthritic pain in the hips when she attempted to take a shower. The pain subsides but returns when she shivers from the cold. We also got information that there is a thick cover of snow and ice at Thorong La Pass – which is unusual for the season. Cycling up and down the pass is definitely not possible – even pushing the bikes up would be very difficult.

Old houses of Manang.

Manang main street.

Stuppa with prayer wheels.

The next day, we hiked to Chongkor viewpoint at 3,800 masl. Hiking in thin air is slow and difficult. The hill was near the snowline with a spectacular view of Manang valley and the Annapurna massif dominated by peaks of Annapurna II, IV, III and Gangapurna. I noted that we were slow during the hike compared to other trekkers.

Acclimatization trek.

With the German cycling couple.

Spectacular views.

Chongkor viewpoint.

Gangapurna peak.

Locals stocking up for winter.

DAY 8, MANANG (3,530 masl) TO YAK KHARKA (4,035 masl), 11 km

We decided to hire porters for the next three days to carry our gears while we bike to Thorong Pedi, and carry the bikes up Thorongla pass. I was worried that Kareen’s hip arthritis may attack as temperature will further drop in the ascent. The steep slope to the pass plus the snow and ice cover in the trail would definitely slow us down – and we are already slow trekkers. Having porters would ensure a faster trek up the pass and would make it easier for us to go down in case of any emergency. Evacuation by helicopter is out of the question - very expensive and not covered by our travel insurance. Anyway, many trekkers (as well as cyclists) have porters and guides from start to finish.

Trekkers.

Stone stuppa.

White stuppa.

There is now only a hiking trail up from Manang and down to the other side of the pass. Surprisingly, the hiking trail gradient is gentle, the track is smooth and is 80% rideable. The general acclimatization rule is that after passing 3,500 masl, one should not sleep higher than 500 meters than the night before. The next village of Yak Kharka is 505 meters above and 11 km away from Manang.

Smooth and flowy trail.

It was a pleasant day of cycling, and the views were magnificent. We took our time and reached Yak Kharka by 2 PM. The outside temperature that night was about -5°C. I had a light headache from the altitude and took a Diamox tablet which eased the symptoms.

DAY 9, YAK KHARKA (4,035 masl TO THORONG PEDI (4,535 masl), 7 km

Cycling up 500 meters to Thorong Pedi 7 km from Yak Kharka took only four hours. There is a suspension bridge where we met an Italian cyclist coming down from the pass. We talked and he remarked that the route from Muktinath is very difficult. This cyclist did the clockwise route which is significantly harder than our anti-clockwise route. If coming from Muktinath, the elevation gain from the nearest teahouse to the pass is about 1,300 meters – compared to just 880 meters from Thorong Pedi.

Suspension bridge.

Italian cyclists coming from Muktinath.

Trail to Thorong Pedi.

Buddhist inscriptions.

Near Thorong Pedi is a landslide area with a narrow trail on loose rocks where we had our porters carry our bikes. We spent the rest of the afternoon resting and acclimatizing. Thorong Pedi is at the base of the steep hiking trail to the pass. The nighttime temperature was -8°C and we wore to bed all the clothes we will be wearing for the next day.

Porters carrying our bikes at difficult sections.

Landslide area.

With trekkers from Singapore and Japan.

Cycling at over 4,000 masl.

Landslide area near Thorong Pedi.

Thorong Pedi.

DAY 10, THORONG PEDI (4,535 masl) TO THORONG LA PASS (5,416 masl) TO MUKTINATH (4,130 masl), 14 km

The hardest part of the Circuit – high altitude climbing up 880 meters to Thorong La Pass. This day is pure hiking as the porters carried our bikes to the pass and down to Muktinath. We woke up early and headed straight to the dining area for breakfast. It was dark and cold (about -10°C) at 5 AM when we started walking up the steep trail to the pass. The incline was so steep that cycling would have been impossible even at sea level. Slow progress– few steps, rest and breath.

Slow and out of breath.

Porters pushing our bikes.

The sun was out when we reached the Thorong High Camp. The trail leveled down to a gentler incline but was covered with snow and ice. We wore microspike traction that we brought from Kathmandu for better footwear grip. We were so slow. Many trekkers overtook us, and we were the last hikers on that day to reach Thorongla pass at 1 PM. There is a small tea house at the pass where we had hot noodles with a little rice for lunch.

Thorong High Camp.

Cold hike.

A hut midway to the pass.

From the tropical to Arctic in ten days.

Thorong La Pass.

The descent was long and exhausting on a steep trail of ice, snow and scree with 1,300 meters of elevation drop. Over the horizon are snow-capped Himalaya Mountain peaks stretching to Tibet. It was getting dark when we arrived at a cluster of teahouses at Muktinath at 4,130 masl. In retrospect, having porters for the bike was a right (although expensive) decision. We would have been too slow pushing the bikes up. A downhill ride was also not possible because of the ice, scree and the steep slope. An extended night trek with bikes, without guides, and in freezing conditions would have been extremely dangerous.

View after the pass.

The long hike down.

DAY 11, MUKTINATH (4,130 masl) TO JOMSOM (2,740 masl), 23 km  

Finally, the downhill section. Our porters have returned to Manang, and we are on our own again. The first three kilometers was over an unrideable rocky trail down to the main village of Muktinath. At Muktinath is a Buddhist temple with an impressive Buddha statue and a view of the Mustang valley. The valley is a high-altitude desert in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. Dominating the horizon are snow-capped mountain peaks with ochre slopes of bare rocks and scree.

Suspension bridge near Muktinath.

Muktinath Buddhist temple.

Buddha statue.

From Muktinath, we enjoyed a 10 km smooth asphalted and downhill road with views of the wide valley reminiscent of Ladakh. Then from Kagbeni, the road was again gravel and dirt and with a vicious headwind that swirled up dust. The gravel, wind and dust continued 10 km down to the town of Jomsom. Jomson is a large village in the Mustang district with an airport - the end point of most trekkers of the Circuit. Jomsom is at 2,740 masl and relatively warmer. We had a shower (after five days), a beer, and a meal of fried chicken, rice and delicious apples.     

Smooth asphalt after days of dirt road and trail.

Kagbeni village.

Back to dirt road near Jomsom.

Welcome to Mustang!

Temple at Jomsom.

DAY 12, JOMSOM (2,740 masl) TO LETE (1,850 masl), 37 km

That morning was our most relaxed riding segment in the whole Circuit. The ride from Jomsom started on a smooth gravel road with a gentle downhill incline. The Kali Gandaki River valley was wide - with the foothills of Annapurna massif to the east and the cliffs of Dhaulagiri peak to the west. Riding past orchards, quaint villages and school children going to school, with the giant snowcapped mountains dominating the background. The road was smooth wide asphalt, steadily going down, with very little traffic and the morning weather was perfect. 

Jomsom town.

Hard packed dirt road after Jomsom.

Marpha.

Postcard views.

Dhaulagiri, seventh highest mountain in the world at 8,167 masl.

Smooth asphalt before the gorge.

Then the valley narrowed, and the river plunged into a deep gorge. From a wide horizontal panorama to the confined vertical spaces. Back to the steep, rough, rocky road with frightening cliff sides. The Kali Gandaki gorge is one of the deepest gorges in the world - with the 8,000ers Annapurna and Dhaulagiri towering on both sides. We tried to endure the steep, dusty and bumpy downhill ride for a few hours but our rigid bikes were not fit for the terrain. 

By mid-afternoon, in the middle of nowhere at a cliff side, we decided to end the ride. We simply waved at a passing bus and asked the driver “Pokhara?". "There are no seats” was the reply. “That’s OK” we replied and had the bikes loaded at the top. We shared with locals and tourists the cramped 9-hour bone-jarring bus ride to Pokhara. 

End of the ride.

Thus ended our cycling adventure of the Annapurna Circuit. The Circuit’s difficulty score, for me, is 9/10. Still Type 2 fun though.

Watch a short video of the ride here.

ADDITIONAL RIDE INFORMATION

GETTING THERE

There are no direct flights to Kathmandu from Manila. In 2022, the cheapest option was to fly Cebu Pacific Air to Bangkok then transfer to a Thai Smile Airways flight to Kathmandu. Cebu Pacific Air charges additional fee for bikes while Thai Smile Airways counts the bike as part of check-in luggage. You have to pass through Thai immigration to retrieve your luggage during the transfer.

A Nepal tourist visa for 30 days costs USD 50. You can apply for a pre-arrival visa at https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/online 15 days before your arrival. You need to present a vaccination card upon arriving in Nepal. At Kathmandu airport arrival area are pre-paid taxis that can take you to Thamel district for NPR 900. Thamel district is the place for tourists to go to which has plenty of hotels, restaurants and shops. 

A TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management Systems) card and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit are needed for entry to the Annapurna region. The TIMS card costs NPR 2,000 (PHP 900) and the ACAP permit is NPR 3000 (PHP 1,350) per person. They can be obtained at Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu and takes about an hour to process. Bring four ID picture passport size and have your travel insurance policy number and contact number ready. Indicate your hotel address and number as emergency contact in Nepal. 

The station for bus and shared van bound to Besisahar is at Gongabu area, Ring Road, in front of BG mall. We paid NPR 1,500 (PHP 675) each, including the bike, for the 7-hour Kathmandu to Besisahar van ride. 

SEASON AND WEATHER

Fall is the most popular trekking season, starting from October to December. Most of the time the sky will be very clear with good mountain views. The monsoon stops in October but often there are still many days of rain in the first half of October. We met trekkers in our Kathmandu hotel who were stranded in the Circuit for days because of rains and landslides, just a week before we arrived. We would suggest not starting before the 15th of October. 

In 2022, unusually heavy snow had fallen in the upper Annapurna region in the opening days of October and the Thorong La was closed for a few days until a new trail had been broken in the snow. The early October snow never melted and became compacted to ice on the trail up to the pass. Also, the temperature did not revert to its usual October levels.

ITINERARY

We would recommend five to six days of cycling from Besisahar to Manang. Cycling will be slow because of road conditions and the ascents. A gradual increase in elevation will also ensure proper acclimatization. Allow for at least a day for rest and a day for an acclimatization trek in Manang. If time permits - go for the 3-day Tilicho Lake trek.

Where to end the ride? Most trekkers/cyclists take the bus in Muktinath or a plane in Jomsom going to Pokhara or Kathmandu. But the ride from Muktinath down past Jomsom should not be missed. We would recommend riding down to Tatopani for views of Dhaulagiri and a technical downhill ride inside the Khali Gandaki gorge. At Tatopani, there will be tourists disembarking from buses and one can secure bus seats going to Pokhara.  

SHELTER, FOOD AND WATER

Teahouses, which serve as restaurants and hotels, can be found everywhere in the Circuit not more than 10 km apart. With these teahouses, the Circuit can be biked/hiked without any camping equipment and cooking gear. The menu and cost of food in the whole Circuit is regulated by the Nepal tourism board. Accommodation is usually a simple room with double bed, a table, and without an attached toilet and costs about NPR 800 (PHP 360). The blankets will be thick enough for cold evenings. 

Food choice is diverse - Nepali, European, American, Israeli and Tibetan. The most common is dhal bat (rice and lentils), momo (dumplings) and thukpa (noodles). A rice meal costs NPR 400 to 600 (PHP 180 to 270) per person. The kitchen usually opens at 6AM and meals take about an hour to prepare. Wifi is available in almost every tea house except between Manang and Muktinath.

Dal bhat, with chicken curry.

Bottled drinking water is available and price varies from NPR 20 per liter in Kathmandu/Pokhara to NPR 200 at Thorong La pass. To prevent plastic pollution and save on cost, we would advise the use of compact water filters or water purification tablets to make tap water drinkable. There are also safe drinking water stations in big villages, and it costs NPR 40-60 per liter refill. Hot water, tea and other hot drinks cost between NPR 80-200 and increase as you go higher. Beer costs about NPR 800 at the Circuit.

CURRENCY AND MONEY

The October 2022 exchange rate for Philippine Peso (PHP) to Nepalese Rupee (NPR) is PHP 1 to NPR 0.45 (USD 1 to NPR 129). There are no money changers for Philippine currency in Nepal  - bring US dollars. Access to ATMs (VISA and Mastercard) is readily available in Kathmandu and Pokhara. At the Circuit, there are ATMs in Chame and Manang. But we would recommend bringing enough rupees for expenses throughout the Circuit. This is our detailed expenses for two persons for the Nepal trip:

"Travel now, pulubi (beggar) later."

GEAR AND EQUIPMENT

We are also sharing our equipment checklist below. The columns N and K refer to “Noel” and “Kareen” to indicate how many and who is carrying the item.

Kareen's bike is an MTB with Mosso aluminum frame and fork, Shimano Deore 2x10 drivetrain and hydraulic disk brakes, a 26" wheelset with WTB rims and tubed Continental 2.0 tires. My bike is a hybrid with Scott aluminum frame, Mosso fork, Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain and hydraulic disk brakes, a 26" wheelset with DT Swiss rims and tubed Continental 2.0 tires. Old reliable MTBs.

26" ain't dead.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

• The road from Besisahar to Manang and the trail to Thorong Pedi can be navigated without a guide. The trail up the pass and down to Muktinath is also clearly marked by poles. Bikes can be carried/pushed all the way up from Thorong Pedi to the pass and down to the other side. If needed, porters (and horses) can be hired in Manang, Yak Kharka and Thorong Pedi to carry bags (or bikes) over the pass.  
• We used the free mobile app maps.me in navigating the Circuit, Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• The elevation gains mentioned are estimates. The Strava app on my mobile phone had a hard time fixing positions in confined gorges and cliffs and tracks were jumping all over the place. Strava records can be accessed at strava.com/athletes/14002413.
• Butane fuel canisters commonly found in Philippine stores are very hard to find in Kathmandu and Besisahar. The butane stove that we carried was dead weight. If bringing a stove, I would recommend a multi-fuel pump stove that burns petrol (gasoline). 
• Bring a lightweight thermos for hot drinks in the evening and at the trail.

More pictures here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1817628731904078&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10218558417905887&type=3

Plans for 2024 (the goal is a 6000er peak in the Himalayas): 

Option 1. Ride the Srinagar to Leh road (Kashmir), then climb Stok Kangri or Kang Yatse II peak in Ladakh, India.

Option 2. Climb Yunam Peak and ride the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India.

By Noel Mercado