Mountain biking the Himalayas in Everest’s shadow
Founded in 2020 by hospitality director Ang Tshering Lama and French ex-pro mountain bike racer Tangi Rebours, the club collaborates with tour operators to bring novice mountain bikers and hardcore devotees alike to this north-eastern corner of the country. In 2023, it launched the annual Enduro Ratnange race, a four-day December event that now attracts international pros.
As the trails have developed, Lama and Rebours have encouraged Sherpa families to open homestays, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in local culture. Bikers can also bed down in the lavish, 10-room Happy House lodge, owned by Lama’s family and once favoured by legendary Everest mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary.
“I love mountain biking in Solukhumbu,” said Mingmar, who also manages activities at Happy House. “The air is clean, the people are warm and the terrain is wild in the best way. You can go from smooth single track to [a root-studded] technical descent, all while surrounded by some of the biggest mountains on Earth.”
Phaplu Mountain Biking ClubMountain biking devotees have been aware of the sport’s potential in Nepal for several decades. In 2003, Rebours co-founded Enduro MTB Nepal, which leads small-group, 14-day mountain biking trips in different regions, from Mustang to Solukhumbu. But in recent years, Phaplu’s growing scene has attracted curious beginners, including myself.
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