.....for the admirers of nature....
info@natureloverstrek.com
Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour is the ultimate adventure for any bikers thirsty for a thrilling ride to one of the most photogenic places in the Himalayan region of Nepal, the land with colorful hills and cliffs of red earth. To ride in Upper Mustang is itself a rare privilege.
Once a forbidden kingdom that is now easily accessible via trekking or vehicles, the journey to Upper Mustang starts once getting to the headquarter of the Mustang region, Jomsom. Geographically similar to the Tibetan plateau, the trip begins through the Kali Gandaki river, passing many exciting villages like Kagbeni, Tangbe, Chhusang, Chele, Ghyakar, Samar, Bhena, Syangboche, Ghiling, Ghami and Charang; ultimately reaching the walled village of Lo Manthang.
Upper Mustang was opened to foreigners only about 15 years ago; even today, it’s a highly restricted place. We need a special permit to travel beyond Kagbeni and to be accompanied by a licensed guide. Upper Mustang, being in the Himalayan rain shadow, is one of the regions in Nepal suitable for riding even during monsoon season. Winter is not recommended for the visit due to harsh weather.
Please also check our LOWER MUSTANG motorbike tour package, Mustang motorbike tour OR our trekking package, Upper Mustang Trekking.
Day 01: Drive to Pokhara 200km, B, Hotel
Day 02: Drive to Kalopani 2500m 125km 6hrs, BLD, Lodge
Day 03: Drive to Kagbeni 2800m & Muktinath 3800m and back 6hrs, BLD, Lodge
Day 04: Drive to Ghami 3500m 6hrs, BLD, Lodge
Day 05: Drive to Lo-Manthang 3700m 5hrs, BLD, Lodge
Day 06: Explore Lo Manthang, BLD, Lodge
Day 07: Drive back to Kagbeni 7hrs, BLD, Lodge
Day 08: Drive back to Pokhara 7hrs, BL, Hotel
Day 09: Drive back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner, B.
Day 01: Drive to Pokhara 200km, B, Hotel
Early in the morning, after breakfast, you shall get to choose your bikes and test drive for sometimes in the streets of Kathmandu; then we shall embark on the highway riding journey towards Pokhara, the city of lakes and mountains. It will be a long day drive, but we shall stop in many places along the way. Witness the marvels of Nepal along the way; the rolling hills, the incessant river, agricultural farms, terraces, rocky terrains, vertical cliffs, vibrant villages and markets, and so on. Ooh, you're going to love it.
Day 02: Drive to Kalopani 2500m 125km 6hrs, BLD, Lodge
Enjoy early sunrise either in Sarangkot or Pumdikot View tower. Then we leave Pokhara valley with the stunning sunrise and drive through the mountainous terrains and landscapes. Lots of windings and turns along the way. We arrive Baglung and Beni in no time. Passing the massive Rupse waterfall to check at the Ghasa checkpoint via the deepest gorge, Kali Gandaki river gorge. After driving a little further, we shall reach Kalopani for the overnight stop. The wind starts getting chillier and fresher.
Day 03: Drive to Kagbeni 2800m & Muktinath 3800m and back 6hrs, BLD, Lodge
As the mountains start to sprawl in front of our eyes, we shall massively enjoy our ride today towards Mustang, especially passing through Jomsom town, the headquarter of Mustang region. Driving through the windiest valleys of Nepal, we shall arrive in Kagbeni. After taking some rest, we go to pay homage to the holy Muktinath, "The Lord of Liberation" temple, in the lap of the mountains. Enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Dhaulagiri, Tukuche and Nilgiri en route. Ride back down to Kagbeni for the night stop. Buy yourself or your loved ones the Shaligrams, the holy stones representing Lord Vishnu, the primary God of Hinduism.
Day 04: Drive to Ghami 3500m 6hrs, BLD, Lodge
After registering our Upper Mustang special restricted permits early in the morning, we shall begin journeying toward Upper Mustang. The landscapes change drastically from this day onwards. We will ride through the remarkable ancient villages, many high passes, and chortens while also enjoying the mountains' panorama and jaw-dropping sceneries and landscapes. Enjoy local Tibetan hospitality while you’re in Ghami village.
Day 05/06: Drive to Lo-Manthang 3700m 5hrs & explore the Forbidden Kingdom, BLD, Lodge
After some good respite, we embark on another day's adventurous journey towards Lo-Manthang, the forbidden kingdom and the ancient walled city. You get to choose one of two ways to drive further toward Lo-Manthang. Either via Dhakmar village or onto the right, towards Charang village. Either way, it will be a day you will never forget. Wonderful day ride amidst the mountain panorama and Tibetan-plateau-looking landscapes. After arriving in Lo-Manthang village, there are many things to see and explore. Lots of ancient caves, sky caves and ancient Tibetan Buddhism monasteries to look forward to. Ride towards the end of the Nepal border and ride back to enjoy the vast mystical land of the Upper Mustang.
Day 07: Drive back to Kagbeni 7hrs, BLD, Lodge
It will be a long day drive from Lo-Manthang to Kagbeni or Upper Mustang to Lower Mustang. However, the views you encounter on the way are so mesmerizing that you will love the thrilling ride. Feel the proper Himalayan wind, chilly and fresh, blowing through the back of your neck. Once again, we come back down to Kali Gandaki river valley and the floodplains. Overnight in Kagbeni village.
Day 08: Drive back to Pokhara 7hrs, BL, Hotel
Retrace back to Pokhara, enjoying the final day ride in the surreal land of Mustang; dry, arid and beautiful. We shall come down to the greener lands once again. Last day in the lap of the mountains. Enjoy the fabulous evening in the vibrant Pokhara lakeside and the city. Treat yourself to massages, spas and saunas.
Day 09: Drive back to Kathmandu, B.
After yet another extraordinary moment, well spent in Pokhara, we ride back to Kathmandu, a nice and easy ride through the day. Here in Kathmandu, we end our bone-chilling and hair-raising motorbike or motorcycle tour to Upper Mustang. Thank you, and Namaste.
Customized Trips and Trip departure
Upper Mustang motorbike tour departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group traveler if you wish to when the trips cannot be customized.
But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you, so you need to choose your own dates and packages when you can customize the tour as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Tours and Tours.
Accommodations in Pokhara and during the tour
During the tour, you will be staying in a hotel in Pokhara while in the teahouse lodges or guesthouses in the mountains.
Nature Lovers Tours and Tours has the best accommodation arrangement for you from the beginning to the end. We believe after the tough riding day; everyone deserves the proper rest and the right ambience to relax and chill. Therefore, our choice of accommodation is the best for the tour days. The rooms will be clean and comfy. Our entire accommodations will be on a twin-sharing/couple basis, as you can see, so you have to let us know if others; let’s say if you want triple or quadruple sharing or a double bed, etc. There will be an extra charge for the single supplement.
If you wish to change the accommodation category to a better one in Pokhara, please let us know, and we can change it for you at an added cost.
Route Map and Company T-shirt
Nature Lovers Tours and Tours offers you a complimentary tour map and company t-shirts.
Safe Drinking Water during Upper Mustang motorbike tour
Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the tour. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid altitude sickness and other health issues, including dehydration. Nature Lovers Tours and Tours provides water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. You can even buy mineral water or boiled water at an extra cost.
Your tour guides and porters
Nature Lovers Tours and Tours has the best guides and porters in the tourism industry. We can guarantee you that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured, and are they paid well? Well, they are the staff of Nature Lovers Tours and Tours, so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.
Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have significant knowledge in the tour so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Tours and Tours, can proudly say that our guides are highly qualified for the role. They are thoroughly trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone a lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and make your journey smooth and pleasant.
Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone does. Some of the things they tell you, might even be hard to find in the travel guidebooks. Depending upon the situation and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly, so he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexible and ready to accommodate your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will provide you assistant guides if needed.
Extra personal expenses during and after the tour
The clients are responsible for their own personal expenses during or after the tour, like buying beverages and snacks, WiFi, doing laundry, buying souvenirs & personal equipment, tips for the field staff, etc. Therefore, we recommend you bring some extra cash (in dollars or euro, etc.) of about $300-400, and change it into Nepali Rupees since only NPR are accepted in most of the Nepali market.
Shower during the tour
It's an important matter to discuss. After a day's end, you might feel like showering and getting fresh. It's a good idea on the lower altitudes, but if you're on the higher altitudes (more than 3500m), we recommend showering on intervals. People seem to catch a cold easily after showering, which can lead to altitude sickness. Teahouses in the lower elevation offer you a hot shower, but a bucket of hot water is provided in the upper elevation. They charge a little extra for the hot water bath ($3-5).
Laundry on the trail
There are some teahouses that offer laundry services, and you can use their service during the acclimatizing days. However, most lodges don't have laundry service, and you might have to either wash your clothes yourself or postpone until you arrive in Kathmandu or in other city. Please plan about it in advance.
Your safety
Nature Lovers Tours and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you with our comprehensive first aid medical kit bag and the professional team of guides and supports. We always communicate with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. We will monitor your entire journey and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during the Upper Mustang motorbike tour.
How much does the Upper Mustang motorbike tour cost?
The cost of the Upper Mustang motorbike tour varies depending on the number of days you choose to ride. The longer the tour, the more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will also differ with the accommodation choices and group sizes. Normally, Nature Lovers Tours and Tours offers a comprehensive package that includes all the costs and expenses for the entire journey. However, you could also choose to buy only a service-based package from us when we will provide you only the supporting field staff plus tour permits, and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.
How is the Accommodation during the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
In the Upper Mustang motorbike tour, we will provide you with teahouse accommodations. A teahouse is typically a mountain lodge, a combination of a lodge or a guest house and a restaurant or a café with basic furniture and interiors suitable for the social hangout. Many teahouses even have attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Most of the teahouses provide European toilets these days, while Asian-style toilets are available in every teahouse. Hot showers are available but at an extra cost. The same goes for hot drinking water since they use gas or solar to boil it. Sleeping blankets are usually provided, but we recommend you carry your own sleeping bags for hygienic purpose {can be arranged on request}. At the same time, it’s better to carry your own toiletries, including towels.
What are the permits that I need for the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
For the Upper Mustang motorbike tour, you will need to make 4 permits: Upper Mustang restricted permit, an ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Project), Motorbike riding permit and TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System).
How does this tipping system in Nepal work, and do I have to tip?
Tipping is not compulsory for the Upper Mustang motorbike tour; however, tipping is about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staff in the fields, so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected. The amount of gratuities can be determined by you. Typically, a guide and other field staff expect around $10 or more per day.
Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices in the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
You can easily charge your electronic devices during the upper Mustang motorbike tour but by paying small amounts or fees for charging. Don’t forget to buy a plug adapter or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.
Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
Upper Mustang motorbike tour route has good mobile network coverage most of the days, thanks to Nepalese telecommunication companies called Ncell and NTC. You can buy one of these Sim cards from any local phone shop in Kathmandu. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB of data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the tour to avoid paying extra by buying WiFi.
WiFi is available on the teahouses in the Upper Mustang motorbike tour route but with added cost. However, the signal varies from place to place and please don’t expect to receive fast data coverage on the tour.
When is the best time to ride to Upper Mustang?
The Upper Mustang motorbike tour can be done throughout the year. However on average, Spring {March, April and May}, Summer {June, July, August} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to ride on the motorbike to Upper Mustang.
Do I have to worry about altitude sickness in the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
The itinerary of our Upper Mustang motorbike tour is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Tours and Tours. It has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact, can affect anyone regardless of age or fitness level, so it is vital to drive slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Mustang motorbike tour.
Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
When it comes to tour in the mountains, the health and fitness of a person play a vital role. Suppose you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, the Upper Mustang motorbike tour is for you, but if you have any sort of medical issues, please consult your doctor before coming to Nepal for the tour. We will be gaining a high altitude of 3800 m or more above sea level, which is not a joke. People usually start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.
Regarding the fitness level required, Upper Mustang motorbike tour demands average physical fitness but good experience in driving motorbikes. The tour includes a daily drive of about 4-8 hours and involves riding through the mountain off-roads and the country rides, which means you need at least some riding practice before you start the tour journey. If you do not have previous tour experience, that’s going to be tough on you, but obviously, if you have previous experience, it will be a lot easier. For those not having previous motorbiking tour experiences, please practice regularly for at least a few weeks before departure. This way, you will be good for the riding tour to the famous upper Mustang region.
What food items or meals can I eat on the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
Only breakfast is included in Pokhara, while full board meals or full meals are included during the tour. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the tour, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same teahouse where you spend the night, while lunch will be served en route to the next destination. There are varieties of choices to choose from; Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, Continental, etc.
The most common and highly recommended food during the Upper Mustang motorbike tour is typical Nepali Dal Bhat {rice and lentil}; even better without meat, it means Nepali Vegetarian Dal Bhat. You can also eat other food items such as seasonal vegetables, noodles and spaghetti, pasta, pizzas and French fries, soups, etc. depending on availability. For the beverage, you can choose either warm, hot or cold beverages; soft drinks, beer and hard drinks. For breakfast, you can order cereals, bread, noodle soups, egg dishes, etc.
Do I need travel insurance for the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
Travel insurance is a must when you ride to the Upper Mustang region. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out insurance which covers any medical risks up to 3800 meters.
In general, most places in Nepal don't accept the card payments as they are remote and of limited use to them. So, we recommend you withdraw some cash before departing for the journey. ATMs will charge you minimal service fees for withdrawing money, and you will also get good exchange rates from the banks.
Is there any age limit for the Upper Mustang motorcycle journey?
Yes, you have to be 18+ and with a driving license.
How do you take the remaining balance on arrival in Kathmandu? Do I need to pay you in cash, or can I use my card?
On arrival in Kathmandu, you can pay the remaining balance in cash or by card. We prefer to be paid in cash (it doesn't matter which currency) rather than by card but you can also swipe your card, which will incur an extra 3.5% charge from the bank.
If I have to use a restroom during the tour, where can I use the bathroom?
You can easily access the restrooms of any teahouses on the trail. If it's urgent and you cannot find any teahouses around, you can always go off the path to ease yourself.
Can I leave my luggage in Kathmandu?
Definitely, you can leave your excess stuff in Kathmandu. You can leave them in the hotel's locker room or in our office store for free.
What about extra days and nights in Kathmandu?
For any extra days and nights in Kathmandu which is outside of your schedule, you can let us know beforehand, and we can book the hotels for you and also other add-ons or activities as you may like. If you get extra days in Kathmandu after the trek under unforeseen circumstances, we shall work out the right solution for you.
What if I get sick or injured during the tour?
Like we said earlier, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. Our professional team is always with you and monitoring you to ensure your wellness and safety. Our experienced and well-trained guide will use his skills in case of emergency; either if you get injured or get sick. If it's a symptom of altitude sickness or AMS, you will have to go down to the lower altitudes as fast as possible, to regain your energy. You can always continue in the latter days or retreat as per your choice. In case of necessity, he will arrange the rescue helicopter for you to get quick medical attention in Kathmandu.
How cold is it during the upper mustang motorcycle tour?
The places in the mountainous region are always cold, no matter which season or time. But the temperatures vary depending on the season and altitude. Moreover, it always gets chillier while on the ride.
What gear and equipment do I need to pack for the Upper Mustang motorbike tour?
Choosing the right gear and equipment is also important for a successful tour to Upper Mustang. Pack the right gear and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when riding to Upper Mustang. Given below are the essential gears:
You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what else you need to pack or carry.
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