The Upper Mustang Bike Tour is a long-awaited journey by many bike enthusiasts, especially off-road bikers who seek thrilling adventures. One of the best things about this tour is the remoteness and the ruggedness of the trails. To be honest,…
Overview
The Upper Mustang Bike Tour is a long-awaited journey by many bike enthusiasts, especially off-road bikers who seek thrilling adventures. One of the best things about this tour is the remoteness and the ruggedness of the trails. To be honest,…
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Arrival at Kathmandu Airport
The very first day of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour is when you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. It’s a scenic flight as you fly over the hilly region of Nepal, showcasing the high Himalayas in the north. The Annapurna Himalayan Range, Mt. Manaslu, Langtang, a couple of Everest region peaks, and more can be seen from your flight to Nepal. As you arrive at the airport, you will be guided towards the immigration desk where an officer will hand you your visa after you fulfill all the requirements. In order to obtain your tourist visa to Nepal, you must have a valid passport (minimum 6 months of validity), proof of residence, proof of return tickets, two passport-sized photos, and a visa fee bank receipt. You can fill out your visa application at the immigration booth and pay your visa fees at a counter nearby. Make sure that you fill in your legal details correctly. After you present everything to the immigration officer, you will be granted a tourist visa. Only then are you allowed to leave the airport premises, out of the terminal. Our representative will be on the lookout as you leave the terminal. He will welcome you and take you to your accommodation. Before the night falls, we will have a short meeting to introduce ourselves to each other. Max. Altitude: 1,350m/4,429ft. Kathmandu Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 :
Full-Day Kathmandu Sightseeing & Trip Preparation
Day 2 of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour consists of a sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu Valley and trip preparation in the late evening hours. For our sightseeing tour, we will visit a number of historic sites. You are free to choose which sites to visit, or you can just stick to our standard itinerary. One of the best places to get to know the history of Kathmandu and the royal family of Nepal is Narayanhiti Palace Museum. Prior to being a royal palace, it was an administrative building that housed Prime Ministers and military personnel. Following the Kot massacre, this building was handed to Colonel Ranodip Kunwar, who is responsible for turning it into a luxurious palace for the high social profiles. 20 years later, the then-Prime Minister Bir Shumsher Rana took the lead in building a new royal palace for King Prithivi Narayan Shah. This new royal residence was the Naryanhiti Palace. Prior to that, the royal residence was the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar, which is also a great site to visit. Later, in the year 1963, King Mahendra ordered the demolition of the Narayanhiti Palace and hired Benjamin Polk, a Western architect, to build an entirely new building that is a fusion of modern and traditional Nepalese architecture. That is the building we will see at present, not the original royal palace. Moving on, we will visit sites like Krishna Mandir, Pottery Square, Changu Narayan Temple, Patan Museum, and more. All of these sites are anything but boring, you will have a great time visiting all these different sites, taking a ton of pics, and making memorable visits. Note: Some of the sightseeing sites require tickets, which are not covered by our Upper Mustang Bike Tour package. Activity: Sightseeing Max. Altitude: 1,350m/4,429ft. Kathmandu Meal: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel
Day 3 :
Ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara (800 m) | Distance: 210 km Time: 7-8 hours
We will begin the Upper Mustang Bike Tour with a filling breakfast and soon hit the road to Pokhara. We will first get to Naubise, which is about 26 km from the city center, to join the Prithvi Highway, which connects Pokhara and Naubise. It was made back in 1974 with financial support from the government of China, and as of now, it still stands. However, there are many potholes and the turns are endless. Even though it’s a highway, it is no less than an off-road experience. Leaving our hotel, we ride a traffic-filled city road and up the Naubise hill, winding through the switchbacks to get to Naubise. There, we will stop for a minute or two, letting everyone catch up and hit the highway. Crossing 4 districts, Kathmandu, Dhading, Chitwan, and Tanahun, we will reach Kaski, where the city of Pokhara lies. Along the way, places like Mugling, Anbukhaireni, Malekhu, Kurintar, and more will be our stops for refreshments and nature calls. We will have our lunch at one of the stops along the way. There are a couple of major towns on the way that are mostly crowded and traffic-prone; stay patient at such times, since rushing is only going to make it worse. The Prithvi Highway follows the curves of the Trishuli River, while the scenes of hills and settlements accompany us throughout. As we get closer to Pokhara, we will be able to see peaks like Dhaulagiri and Annapurna IV from the highway. As you enter the city, the ride gets smoother, and beautiful views become apparent. The ride leader will take you to your accommodation for the night, and after that, you are free to roam the vibrant shores of Fewa Lake or take a relaxing meal by the lake. Whatever you do, make sure to get plenty of rest since we have an Upper Mustang Bike Tour to complete. Activity: Ride 7-8 hours Max. Altitude: 800m/2,625ft. Pokhara Meal: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4 :
Ride from Pokhara to Kalopani (2530 m) | Distance: 125 km Time: 5-6 hours
On the 2nd day of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour, we will be traveling through a lot of off-road sections to get to Kalopani, a remote town sitting at 2530 meters above sea level. It can get a bit chilly there, so make sure you have your jacket on while riding; getting a cold can be really annoying while on a bike trip. It’s about 125 km from Pokhara to Kalopani, and on the way, we will stop by places like Baglung, Beni, Hemja, and more. Starting the ride, we pack our bags, tie them on the bike, and leave the peaceful shores of Lakeside to get to Hemja. We will first move west to get to Zero km, and then move north to get to Hemja, passing the temple of Bindabasini on the way. As soon as you move north, an amazing view of the Annapurna Himalayas will cover your entire front. From Hemja, we will first reach Nayapul, the entryway to the Annapurna region trekking destinations, then Kusma, where we will take a break. Keeping up with the Upper Mustang Bike Tour, we will reach Baglung, Beni, and Tatopani, where we will stop for lunch. After about an hour, we will reach Kalopani via Lete. We will have plenty of daylight hours to explore the surroundings of the town. This town is located on the foothills of the Annapurna Himalayan range, which means the views are beyond incredible. The town is a fusion of Thakali and Tibetan culture, so you will get a lot of dinner and lunch options. Activity: Ride 5-6 hours Max. Altitude: 2,530m/8,301ft. Kalopani Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Guest House
Day 5 :
Ride from Kalopani to Samar (3650 m) | Distance: 65 km Time: 4-5 hours
Today’s ride is shorter than day 4, but it still takes about 5 hours to complete the 65-km ride, all thanks to the below-average road condition. As we leave the town of Kalopani, the path leads us through a lush woodland with fresh air. While some sections of the road are smoothly paved, most of the sections are rugged gravel roads. Progressing north, we will get to Ghasa village from where the trail slims down along the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. The rocky banks of the river are not an ideal track to ride a bike, but this is what you signed up for: biking rugged trails up in the Himalayas. Continuing the ride, we will shortly reach Lete after descending a little. The off-road experience can be challenging to some, but one thing is sure: by the end of the day, every rider will be tired. It sounds like an easy thing to do, but your hands have to control the handles of the bike all day long; this is exhausting. The weather conditions in the Himalayas can not be predicted as accurately as in plain lands and hills. You can expect it to rain or get cloudy in an instant, there is no warning system to let you know about it. From Ghunsa, the trail is completely off-road, which leads us to Marpha, a scenic town in the Mustang region of Nepal. It is a great place to stop by, relax, and take in the views. We will also have our lunch there before moving on to Samar. This town is well-facilitated, and you can stock up on your supplies if you wish to. There’s also an apple farm where you can taste the juicy apples that are locally grown. After lunch, we will get on the road to Jomsom, the capital of the Mustang region. This town sits at 2700 meters above sea level, and is infamous for its swift afternoon winds that blow dry sands along the roadway. The best thing about reaching Marpha and Jomsom is the great road condition. It’s as smooth as the city roads with a few bumps here and there. From Jomsom, we will get on the road to Kagbeni, after filling up our bikes at a local petrol station. The road is now very plain, but it can get sandy at times. In contrast to Jomsom, Kagbeni is a remote village that offers a peek into the traditional lives of the people of the Himalayas. Leaving Kagbeni, we will go up to the Upper Mustang region and slowly traverse the pebbly-filled road with a couple of streams on the way. Our next stop will be the village of Chele, where the vegetation changes drastically, leaving little to no bushes and grass patches. We will then ride up to the Taklam La Pass, sitting at an elevation of 3624 meters above sea level. The view from the pass is simply amazing, we will stop there to take in the scenes of the Mustang region before heading towards Samar village. Activity: Ride 4-5 hours Max. Altitude: 3,650m/11,975ft. Samar Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Guest House
Day 6 :
Ride from Samar to Lo Manthang (3860 m) | Distance: 63 km Time: 5-6 hours
Covering a total of 63 km in 6 hours, today’s Upper Mustang Bike Tour day will be quite a challenge as we have to ride over rugged and tricky trails to get to our destination of the day. The initial section of the ride requires us to climb a tricky ascent. This part of the ride demands good handling and a powerful bike, which is not an issue if you are traveling with us. The road continues to be narrow and sharply ascending, going along the slopes of a mountain. Our first stop of the day will be at the village of Ghami, where the longest Mani wall of the Mustang region lies. The road leading to this village is full of streams and rugged trails that require a great deal of focus. With centuries-old central monastery and traditional red clay houses, this village is as aesthetic as it gets. We will take a couple of photos and be on our way to Lo Manthang. Our next stop is Nyi La Pass, which reaches a total elevation of 4010 meters above sea level, the highest point of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour. The climb up to the pass is not easy at all; the loose rocks and the sharp ascent make it unstable. But we will make our way through to get to the summit of the pass for a panoramic view of the entire Mustang region. Getting down from the high mountain pass, we will first get to the village of Tsarang, also known as Charang. This village sits at an elevation of 3560 meters above sea level and houses a centuries-old fortress and a monastery that houses traditional artifacts and paintings. The ride to Tsarang is a smooth one, and the scenes as you descend are great as well. From the village of Tsarang, our destination is only about 20 km away. It’s a smooth ascent that takes us through a barren landscape which is surprisingly aesthetic to look at. As we get close to Lo Manthang, the walls of the town come into view. Lo Manthang sits at 3860 meters above sea level, and the traditional mud houses make it a scene so dry yet so beautiful. Activity: Ride 5-6 hours Max. Altitude: 3,860m/12,664ft. Lo Manthang Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Guest House
Day 7 :
Explore Lo Manthang – Visit Chhoser Cave and Monastery
Day 7 of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour is an exploration day; we will not have to ride our bikes for hours. However, we will ride them to get to nearby attractions such as the Chhoser Cave. It’s about 11 km of distance and the road is not that bad. Heading north from Lo Manthang, the road is narrow for the first kilometer or so. We will pass Chodey, Jampa, and Thubchen monasteries to get out of the town and into a dirt trail, which is the way to Chhoser cave. Riding windy paths and dry roads, we will pass many chortens along the way, with scenes of the valley showing up at the midpoint of the ride. Before long, we will make it to Chhoser village where the cave lies. We will park our bikes and hike a little to get to the entrance of the cave. It is reported to be 3000 years old, there are over 40 rooms inside the cave, and it’s a multi-layered cave. Ancient monks were believed to be the residents of this cave as they meditated in complete silence. The walls of the cave have paintings of Tibetan gods, which solidifies the theory of ancient monks living in the cave. Right next to the cave are the Niphu and Garphu monasteries, sitting on the top of ridges along the mountain. We will also visit those Gompas once we are done with the cave. Activity: Rest Max. Altitude: 3,860m/12,664ft. Lo Manthang Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Guest House
Day 8 :
Ride from Lo Manthang to Muktinath (3,710 m) | Distance: 105 km Time: 6-7 hours
Today is the longest riding day of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour. We will ride down to Muktinath all the way up from Lo Manthang, covering over a hundred kilometers in the process. This ride will last upwards of 7 hours. The initial segment of today’s ride offers views of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri peaks as we descend to the village of Ghami. From there, the rugged road begins with interspersed streams and loose rocks. From Ghami village, the trail takes us back to the Nyi La Pass, our highest point of the journey. We will get down from the pass and reach the village of Samar (3660 meters) and subsequently Kagbeni, passing Chhusang village. We will stop at Kagbeni for our lunch and get on our bikes to reach Muktinath in about 30 minutes. The distance between the two is only 12 km. Activity: Ride 6-7 hours Max. Altitude: 3,710m/12,172ft. Muktinath Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Guest House
Day 9 :
Ride from Muktinath to Tatopani (1,200 m) | Distance: 70 km Time: 4-5 hours
After an early morning visit to the temple of Muktinath, we will have our breakfast and begin the ride to Tatopani with the blessing of the gods. Day 9 of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour is going to be relaxing as we get to bathe in the warm natural spring water of Tatopani. The name literally translates to Hot Water. As we leave the dry land of the Mustang region, we begin to see a lot of green all around us. Moving south of Muktinath, the road gets better and better with every kilometer we cover. As we get close to Tatopani, the vegetation drastically changes; there are trees around us, bushes, and grasslands, which were not a possibility in the highlands. After a long day of riding bikes, getting into the warm water of the spring is just heavenly. The relaxation that you get when your muscles feel the warm water is out of this world. In total, we will cover 70 km of distance in 5 hours. Activity: Ride 4-5 hours Max. Altitude: 1,200m/3,937ft. Tatopani Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Guest House
Day 10 :
Ride from Tatopani to Pokhara (800 m) | Distance: 105 km Time: 4-5 hours
Going downhill along the Kali Gandaki River, we will start day 10 of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour after breakfast. The calming scenes of the green terrace farmlands and the Himalayas in the north keep us company as we make our way to Pokhara. After about 30 km of riding, we will reach Beni, which leaves us with 75 km to Pokhara. It’s pretty much plain from Beni to Pokhara with views of the Annapurna Himalayan Range and rivers in the north. It should take about 3 hours to reach Pokhara from Beni. This is the end of our highland tour. Activity: Ride 4-5 hours Max. Altitude: 800m/2,625ft. Pokhara Meal: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel
Day 11 :
Ride from Pokhara to Kathmandu (1300 m) | Distance: 210 km Time: 7-8 hours
The Upper Mustang Bike Tour is finally over, and we are getting back to Kathmandu, where it all started. If you want to, we can also arrange a full-day sightseeing tour in Pokhara before you head back to Kathmandu. Activity: Ride 7-8 hours Max. Altitude: 1,300m/4,265ft. Kathmandu Meal: Breakfast, Dinner Accommodation: Hotel
Day 12 :
Drop off at the Airport
This is officially the final say of the Upper Mustang Bike Tour. We will bid you farewell and take you to the airport as per your flight schedule. Max. Altitude: 1,300m/4,265ft. Kathmandu Meal: Breakfast
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Accommodation Twin-sharing/double accommodation in a 3-star hotel for 3 nights in Kathmandu and 2 nights in Pokhara including breakfast (Private room accommodation can be organized at an extra cost) Best available accommodation Tea house/lodge accommodation during the trek Meals & Drinking Water All your standard meals during the trek 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) in a guest houses A farewell dinner on the last night in Nepal Purified drinking water during the trek using Water Filter or water purification tablets. Transportation Private transportation to and from Kathmandu Airport and your hotel Motorbike for entire trip (Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc, Royal Enfield 500cc, Honda CRF 250cc, Honda XR 190cc) Fuel and spare parts for Motorbike for entire trip Back up vehicle (4X4) for the entire trip to carry the luggage, motorbike spares parts and a mechanic. Guide and Staff Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English speaking, and locally recruited Nomad Adventure’s trekking guide (2 guides for group size more than 7 people) Support of a highly qualified and well trained mechanic and his meals, accommodations and daily allowances. Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance and medications for all staff Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu with a tour guide Medical Assistance Assistance in arranging rescue operations in case of complicated health conditions (funded by travel insurance) Medical kits, including an oximeter to monitor blood oxygen saturation levels in high altitudes Permits Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fee TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card Road tax for motorbike. Benefits and Takeaways Sleeping bags and down jackets, duffle bag (one for every two trekkers) if you do not have your own company’s T-shirt & Cap Trip completion certificate Administrative & Taxes All administrative expenses and government taxes
The Cost Excludes
- Price Excludes Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara International flight fare and airport departure tax Nepal Entry Visa (Visa can be acquired easily after your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu with a fee of USD 30 for 15 days visa, USD 50 for 30 days visa and USD 125 for 90 days visa) Kathmandu sightseeing entrance fee $26 Extra night accommodations in Kathmandu due to early arrival or late departure, early return from the trek or other itinerary changes Travel insurance along with high-altitude emergency evacuation coverage Medical check-ups, vaccinations, or medications required for the trek are not included. Any beverages including bottled and boiled water Tips to trekking staff and driver Personal trekking gear and equipment Any expenses other than the Price Include section Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, boiled bottle water, hot (Tea/ Coffee) and cold drinks, hot shower, alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery re-charge fee, extra porters, etc Personal clothing and gear
FAQs
What are included with package?
Accommodation Twin-sharing/double accommodation in a 3-star hotel for 3 nights in Kathmandu and 2 nights in Pokhara including breakfast (Private room accommodation can be organized at an extra cost) Best available accommodation Tea house/lodge accommodation during the trek Meals & Drinking Water All your standard meals during the trek 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) in a guest houses A farewell dinner on the last night in Nepal Purified drinking water during the trek using Water Filter or water purification tablets. Transportation Private transportation to and from Kathmandu Airport and your hotel Motorbike for entire trip (Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc, Royal Enfield 500cc, Honda CRF 250cc, Honda XR 190cc) Fuel and spare parts for Motorbike for entire trip Back up vehicle (4X4) for the entire trip to carry the luggage, motorbike spares parts and a mechanic. Guide and Staff Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English speaking, and locally recruited Nomad Adventure’s trekking guide (2 guides for group size more than 7 people) Support of a highly qualified and well trained mechanic and his meals, accommodations and daily allowances. Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance and medications for all staff Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu with a tour guide Medical Assistance Assistance in arranging rescue operations in case of complicated health conditions (funded by travel insurance) Medical kits, including an oximeter to monitor blood oxygen saturation levels in high altitudes Permits Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fee TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card Road tax for motorbike. Benefits and Takeaways Sleeping bags and down jackets, duffle bag (one for every two trekkers) if you do not have your own company’s T-shirt & Cap Trip completion certificate Administrative & Taxes All administrative expenses and government taxes
What are not included with package?
Price Excludes Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara International flight fare and airport departure tax Nepal Entry Visa (Visa can be acquired easily after your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu with a fee of USD 30 for 15 days visa, USD 50 for 30 days visa and USD 125 for 90 days visa) Kathmandu sightseeing entrance fee $26 Extra night accommodations in Kathmandu due to early arrival or late departure, early return from the trek or other itinerary changes Travel insurance along with high-altitude emergency evacuation coverage Medical check-ups, vaccinations, or medications required for the trek are not included. Any beverages including bottled and boiled water Tips to trekking staff and driver Personal trekking gear and equipment Any expenses other than the Price Include section Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, boiled bottle water, hot (Tea/ Coffee) and cold drinks, hot shower, alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery re-charge fee, extra porters, etc Personal clothing and gear
How does our trip start?
Our Upper Mustang Bike Tour starts with a sightseeing tour in Kathmandu, followed by a ride to Pokhara from Kathmandu. The ride is full of scenes of hilly farmlands and settlements along the Trishuli River. It’s a great scene, but also a long ride along the Prithvi Highway that spans 200 km.
Can a beginner join this trip?
If you are someone who has recently learned to ride motorbikes, our Upper Mustang Bike Tour is not the journey you should take. It is a challenging tour with several technical sections that require years of experience to be able to pull off. You can not just pass through the sections with the help of other pro riders because this will slow down the whole group.
