Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour

After you start your day with a tasty breakfast, our guide will meet every participant of our Upper Mustang motorbike tour and explain in short about the travel program ahead.

Then, we will have a full day today to discover the historic city of Kathmandu and its magnificent structures. Among other things, we will visit the Pashupatinath Temple, a Hindu Temple along the Bagmati River where we will get to see the funeral rites in the open air.

Then a short trip to Boudhanath and Swayambhunath will take place, where we can see the peaceful monks humming their mantras and the familiar monkeys who are happy to seize what you hold in your hand.

A little later in the early evening, we will go to inspect our Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 bikes and take a test ride for a while, so we get used to the Nepal traffic rules and get comfortable with our rides.

We will then end our day with a good dinner and early sleep, as the following morning we will have to ride to Pokhara.

We will have a very early departure by our motorbike to Pokhara after breakfast. We will leave Kathmandu valley via Kalanki and Thankot Pass and take the dizzying descent along the Prithvi Highway towards Trishuli Valley which will follow us as far as Mugling.

We will then go up along the Mugling-Narayanghat Highway towards Bandipur- an old Newar town that still has retained its hundreds of years of old heritage.

As we proceed with our ride, we can see the silent giants of Annapurna, Langtang, Ganesh, Fishtail, and Manaslu break through the clouds. Eventually, we will arrive at the lakeside town of Pokhara on the banks of Phewa with the majestic Annapurna massif as a backdrop.

To enjoy the brilliant sunshine, you can get on your motorbike and ride up towards the Sarangkot View Point. Or, you can just enjoy your morning with a hot sip of coffee with fresh mountain air breezing through the Fishtail and Annapurna.

Following breakfast, it is now time that we depart towards the Upper Mustang. We will ride for a few miles over the asphalted road of Baglung Highway and make a short stop at Kushma.

Here, we will discover the longest suspended bridge in Nepal as well as the second-highest bungee jump in the world. Now, firing our bike engines once more, we will proceed to Beni.

Now the asphalt road is over and the serious test of our skill begins. The first 80 km will be quite calm and after that, we will have to ride over the rock slabs and mud road.

The track now goes up along the Kali Gandaki River and it becomes narrower and narrower for about 25 km till we arrive at Tatopani (1200 m).

The forward track is now easy and steadily rises to 1446 m altitude at Dana. The surrounding greenery is simply breathtaking as the Rupse Chhahara (Waterfall) will delight our eyes.

However, the track will not stop rising taking us rapidly to the 2012 m elevation at Ghasa Village. It’s a small Thakali settlement where we can enjoy the renowned Thakali Meal.

Then we will progress to Kalopani but we will traverse Tukuche before we settle in our comfortable lodge of Kalopani.

After breakfast, we will set on our Upper Mustang Motorbike tour adventure again and now we will constantly go up. We will first ride past the Apple city of Marpha and drive towards Jomsom.

The air starts to feel fresher and the view is just a mighty painting that can make the most hardened person lose their breath. We will take our bikes alongside the massive Kali Gandaki and ride along the rock-strewn slope towards Ekle Bhatti.

Kagbeni is near and the landscape is now truly dry but spectacular which gives us the motivation we need to keep going. At the edge of Kagbeni, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Checkpost will examine our permits.

After they let us through, a rugged dirty, and rocky terrain will lead us up towards Tangbe. The snow-capped tip of 7061 m high Nilgiri seems exhilarating from up here.

Now the 10 km long descending track will direct us towards Chhusang (2980 m) and then to Chele. Once again, we will push our bikes for the uphill road till we reach Samar where we will now keep our bikes for overnight cooling.

After waking up in the living postcard-like surroundings, we will start to move through the territory of the Mustang Kingdom and the Tibetan Highlands.

The onward road is difficult, there will be climbs, cliffs, passes, and rocky screes. First, we will have to ignite our engines so we can ride up to the massive elevation of 3850 m of Syangboche La Pass.

We will then drive down to the charming village of the same name which will direct us further towards Ghami at 3520 m. Surprisingly, this small town is very beautiful and calm with its narrow streets running through.

The red and gray cliffs start to appear and the track rises gently past the long expansive Mani Walls. Get ready for the steep and vertically rising rough track that ascends to 4170 altitude at Mui La Pass.

From here, we will then drive down towards Dhakmar Village aka Ghar Gomba to visit the Lo-Ghekar Monastery restored and renowned for its splendid decor and views.

After this brief detour, we will now press on alongside the gorgeous Charang Khola that will guide us to Tsarang/Charang Village. This enchanting settlement is positioned high above the Tsarang Chu Canyon and hosts the five-story Dzong that serves both as the monastery and the fort.

Taking a look inside, we can see several well-sculpted Buddha statues and well-crafted thangkas as well. However, the surrounding panorama is more spectacular as we find ourselves tiny among the vast expansion of Bhrikuti, Annapurna I, Tilicho, and Nilgiri.

Following the wider road, we will head north and ride down to 3900 m Tsarang Chu. It separates the Charang from the Kingdom of Lo. Soon, we will have to overcome the 3950 altitudes of the windy Lo La Pass as we set our sight on Lo Manthang at a distance.

We are in the capital of Mustang- the Lo Manthang where we will have the honor of spending one whole day and visiting its truly magnificent monasteries and caves.

First, we will visit the nomads here, their high-altitude yak camps, and taste their local tea made from yak milk. Then, we will head to explore some of the artistic old Gompas (Monasteries) of this kingdom such as 1420 built Champa Lhakang, 2 centuries old Chode Gompa, and the vibrant red Thugchen Gompa.

Next, we will head east of the Lo Manthang and ride along the 16 km long road that will lead us to the Chhoser Village. This tiny Tibetan-like settlement is mostly renowned among archaeologists, researchers, and scientists for hosting the remarkable caves believed to have been made thousands of years ago.

Among them, the particularly intriguing one is the Jhongu Cave system which has wooden ladders set inside each climbing to different chambers, tunnels, and floors.

It has five levels and some dating back an astonishing 3,000 years. After our exploration, we will return to our lodge in Lo Manthang for the night.

Enjoy the brilliant sunshine gracing the white and blue peaks of Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri for one last time. We have a long and technical ride ahead but the end of today’s travels will be incredibly sacred as we set foot in the revered land of Muktinath.

We will set off along the well-known terrain and scenery and ride back to Tsarang and Ghami eventually reaching Kagbeni. The small stretch of asphalt road will take us to Muktinath in less than half an hour. The Muktinath is more touristy than Mustang, especially because of its temple which brings many Nepalese and Indians.

We will spend the morning at the Vishnu Temple that overlooks the entire Muktinath town. We will also engage in the purification ritual by making the three encircling tours around the temple under the 108 fountains of cold water. Then we will also walk towards another temple that offers a splendid view of Annapurna.

We will then take our Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 and reach Jomsom through the sublime track. From here, we will continue towards Marpha, known not only for its apples but also for its white houses.

Apples are spread out on the rooftops of these houses, drying in the warm sun. We may enjoy a tiny sip of some locally produced brandies, but not much; remember, we have a journey to continue.

Slowly, the landscape begins to transition into much greener terrain covered with coniferous trees. The asphalt-wide road will reappear, but it becomes more technical as we near Tatopani.

After settling in the Tatopani lodge, we will go out to relax in the hot water baths formed naturally.

We will begin our return journey through the beauty of the Himalayan foothills. Following the familiar route will be much easier and more comfortable now. After we reach Beni, we may take the tiny mountain road that will guide us toward the Kalika Bhagwati Temple in Baglung.

Then, we will make our way back to Pokhara, enjoying the dizzying views of Fishtail, Ganesh, Manaslu, and Annapurna. The evening in Pokhara will be a festive delight.

In last day of our Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour, we will go back down the same magnificent roads that leave Pokhara and take us through the pretty rice fields towards Bandipur. Gradually, Kathmandu will be arrived late in the evening, a perfect time for gathering around one final time to enjoy each other’s company over a warm farewell dinner.

If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, you can enjoy some free time in Nepal’s capital and shop for some wonderful artifacts. We will be at your hotel on time to drive you to TIA so you can fly back home.