Lesotho mountain bike tour overview

Take a 10-day mountain bike trip to Lesotho, designed to show you some of the highlights of what this beautiful African country has to offer! Spend time on the best trails in the country, ride with local women, and experience the first Pump for Peace pump tracks.

Travel around the small, mountainous country of Lesotho to see some of the most beautiful spots while riding a combination of singletrack and jeep roads, taking in the breathtaking scenery that abounds.

Stay at charming guest houses and experience the rich culture of this untouched African country. Our trip is in conjunction with the Lesotho Sky event and you will get the chance to spend a couple of days of riding with others from around the globe.

Get in Touch with Questions or Book Now

Lesotho trip dates in 2024

  • October 6-15, 2024

Lesotho trip dates in 2025

  • Feb 21-March 2, 2025

Don’t see a date that works for you? Contact us for custom trip dates!

 

Skill and fitness level requirements

Fitness level: ● ● ● ● ○
Skill level: ● ● ● ○ ○

What do these ratings mean?

 

What to expect after you’ve booked your trip

  • Once you’ve booked your trip, you will get a confirmation email through our booking system and a trip information sheet for your trip.
  • Please hold off booking your flights until we confirm that the trip has enough participants to run. We will send out an email to let you know.
  • Once the trip is confirmed, please go ahead and book your flight and upload your flight information into your WeTravel account (this is the account you will have booked your trip through).
  • If you plan to extend your visit on either end of the trip, please let us know and we can help arrange for extra nights at the hotel if needed.
  • Make sure to read through your trip information sheet, and always feel free to reach out with any questions to Julie!

This was a fantastic experience!! When I first looked at traveling to Lesotho with World Ride, I didn’t even know where it was. The tour provided wonderful mountain biking and cultural enrichment. We traveled through many authentic villages and met wonderful people. The lodges we stayed at were very unique and the food was great! I highly recommend this trip.

Donna

Lesotho Trip Participant

Your Lesotho mountain biking trip itinerary

A mountain biker in Lesotho riding on a dirt road with beautiful scenery in the background

Day 1

Arrival Maseru, bike setup at Lesotho Bike Hangar, meeting of crew and introductions.

Note: We recommend flying directly into Lesotho but there is a shuttle to and from Johannesburg for an additional $300 per person round trip and will depart in the early AM on Day 1 of the trip. Please make sure your flight arrives by 7am on that morning.

Accommodation: Kick 4 Life Hotel

Day 2

Our first day on the bikes will be a ride to Roma via Thaba Bosiu, the historic mountain fortress of Lesotho. If you have some energy, ride the Roma pump track upon arrival!

Accommodation: Roma Trading Post (with pool and scenic views!)

Day 3

We will have our first proper day of mountain biking, riding from Roma to Moriija. Our route takes us through farmlands and scenic villages, giving riders a glimpse of the true Lesotho way of living. Ride past many rondaval dwellings and wave to workers in the fields.

Accommodation: Morija Guest House (one of the favorites of the trip!)

Day 4

Today will be a shorter day of riding around the Morija area. There is an optional hike up to see some dinosaur footprints and visit to Lesotho’s only museum. This guest house is perched on a hill and offers spectacular views of the area. Don’t miss sunset from the deck or the sitting rock just beyond.

Accommodation: Morija Guest House

Day 5

Today we will set out for a longer ride that takes us from Morija to Malealea—the mountain bike hot spot of Lesotho. Along the way, we will ride through the royal village of Matsieng.

Accommodation: Malealea Lodge

Day 6

We will settle into Malealea for a few days to get to ride with the Lesotho Sky event! Malealea has the best mountain biking in all of Lesotho and you will have the opportunity to ride with other mountain bikers from around the world that are in Lesotho for the event.

Accommodation: Malealea Lodge

Day 7

Today you can choose your own adventure, with three ride options depending on how tired you are from the previous day. We will ride around the Malealea area and get to see rock pools and waterfalls along the way.

Accommodation: Malealea Lodge

Day 8

We will take on another longer day to Ramabanta and stay at one of the most scenic lodges in the whole country. The ride will take us through more small villages and we will have a river crossing along the way.

Accommodation: Ramabanta Trading Post Lodge

Day 9

We will transfer back toward Maseru in the morning and visit the Thaba Bosiu historic village. This place is incredible and you will learn about the history of Lesotho. After touring the village, we will go on a short hike up to Thaba Bosiu to tour it and take in the views. We will then head back into Maseru in time to pack the bikes and have a celebratory dinner!

Accommodation: Kick 4 Life Hotel

Day 10

This morning, we will say our “see you laters” and depart for the airport. Note: We will have a shuttle departing to Johannesburg and arriving late afternoon.

Note: Itinerary is subject to change.

Download our Lesotho Information Guide for a more detailed trip overview.

What’s included in your Lesotho trip?

Riders biking away from the camera into the Lesotho landscape

  • Double occupancy at comfortable accommodations
  • All transportation to and from hotels
  • Airport transfers on the arrival and departure days
  • Professional local guides that know the trails and have an excellent knowledge of the local culture and traditions
  • Support on the trails with a shuttle vehicle

Pricing for your Lesotho mountain biking tour

Price – $2395

Book more than 90 days in advance and get a pair of World Ride Lesotho socks and a hat! A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot.

Deposits are non-refundable and can be put toward any other World Ride trip in the future.

The remainder of the cost of the trip is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip and can be made in payments. Trips require a minimum of four people in order to run. Please check with us to confirm your trip before you book your flight.

Ready to book your mountain biking adventure in Lesotho?

Fundraise for your trip

Fundraise for your trip! We can set up a personalized fundraising page for you. We offer $100 off your trip costs for every $1000 that you raise, up to the cost of the trip.

The money you raise supports World Ride in building bike and gear libraries and offering guide training and certification in the countries we work with.

Get in touch with us for more details about the fundraising process.

Meet your local guide: Nthati Letsie

Nthati Letsie working a bike in a workshop

Nthati Letsie has been involved in the bike industry for years, helping to run the Lesotho Bike Hangar, which helps to bring in bikes from around the world and sell them in Lesotho to help people have access to bikes. She is a mother and wants to continue to get more women into mountain biking in Lesotho.

Travel safety and security

Lesotho is a warm and welcoming country, but like any place in the world, you will need to be cautious of your valuables during the trip. The bikes will be securely stored throughout the trip.

Please see the US State Department website for any other travel safety information.

For any travel related vaccines and health questions, be sure to check the CDC website and consult your doctor.

Things to know before you go!

Wondering what clothes to pack, how many pairs of underwear to bring (you do you!), or what charger you’ll need for Lesotho? We’ve got you covered! Check out the lists below and take a look at the Lesotho information guide for more details.

Packing list

  • Derailleur hanger
  • Extra brake pads
  • Any special bike tools (multitool, mini pump, spare tube)
  • Helmet
  • Sunglasses
  • Buff/scarf
  • Pack (at least 15 L in size to carry layers and capacity of 3 L of water)
  • Bike shoes
  • Gloves
  • 3–4 pairs of bikes shorts or more depending on preference.
  • 3–4 jerseys
  • Socks
  • Long sleeve base layer
  • Waterproof rain jacket
  • Warm jacket (nights can be chilly)
  • Either a bike light or a headlamp
  • Other clothing for after ride
  • Comfortable shoes to hike and walk around in
  • Clothes to sleep in
  • Swimsuit
  • Any medication you might need
  • Toothbrush and other necessities
  • Sunscreen
  • Passport
  • COVID-19 vaccination card
  • Proof of travel insurance if you purchased it
  • Credit and debit cards
  • A small amount of cash to travel with (USD)
  • Camera (or just your cell phone)
  • Cell phone (plenty of wifi along the way)
  • USB Battery pack (optional- there are outlets in all of the hotels)
  • Electronics cords and chargers
  • Power adapter (Lesotho uses 220v and outlet type M)
  • Any extra mountain bike gear you might be able to bring or collect and donate for the ladies over there 🙂

More insights into your Lesotho mountain biking tour

Other things to explore in Lesotho

We definitely hit the highlights of Lesotho on our trip, but get in touch if you wish to do more riding or extend your trip in the mountains of Lesotho.

FAQs for your Lesotho mountain bike trip

Yes, our mountain biking tours are coed unless otherwise noted. Learn more about why coed trips are important to us.

Yes, your Lesotho trip can be private for an additional $100-250/per person, depending on the size of the group. Get in touch to book a private tour!

The following items are not included in the cost of your trip: meals, guide gratuity, airfare, souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, travel insurance and rental bike.

If you are able, tips are always appreciated! Our guides (and drivers!) work hard to share both their local and mountain biking knowledge.

For this trip, we highly recommend that you bring your own bike as rental bikes are very limited! We have a lot of experience traveling with bikes, so please let us know any questions you might have. This trip is on technically challenging trails at high elevations, and we highly recommend a full suspension bike.

We know you might want to arrive early or stay longer in Lesotho. We can connect you with our trusted partners to help book any additional tours or hotel stays- just get in touch!