Trip Details
Destination: Nepal
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Style: Tour
Food: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel + Tea House Lodge
Group Size: 1
Max Elevation: 4353m
Highlights
- The top view of the 7th highest mountain in the world is Dhaulagiri, along with Gangapurna, Tukuche, Manaslu, and Thorang.
- Muktinath Temple, also known as Muktinath, is sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus.
- Such murals are painted in ancient palaces, monasteries, and caves hewn on cliffs.
- Ghar Gumba is officially one of the oldest monasteries in the world.
- Hills have beautiful combinations of pink, brown, grey, and glaciers.
- Rocks, occasional cliffs, dunes, green mountains, and forests.
- Kagbeni of the divine Kaligandaki River valley
- Various sources have termed it Lomangthan or translated it as the Forbidden Kingdom.
- It concerns the culture, stories, and ways of living of the Gurung, Tibetan, Thakali, and other ethnic groups.
- Ride through the prohibited kingdom of Lo-Manthan.
The Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride tour is one of the best 14-day tours, highlighting geographical wonder and adventure. This tour is calmed by the uniqueness of history and cultural values that attract people with Tibetan culture and Buddhism. Until 1992, the region of Upper Mustang was restricted for foreigners, and it became open only in 1992, which can help people get the idea of untouched culture. To make this motorbike tour amazing, the Nepal Adventure Team (NAT) has designed this tour.
Upper Mustang is enclosed by high mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri, the sights of which are irresistible to tourists. This follows the path of the Kaligandaki River, giving you the taste of a fresh green forest and fast-moving river and then suddenly the desert-like environment and mountains all around. Due to its location near the Tibet border, this area's influence is felt, especially in the main village of Lo-Manthang, directly translated as “kingdom" in Tibetan. Many monasteries and nunneries are carved into the side of the steep hills, the prayer flags fluttering above while the cave of the demon and the lama stories cover the hills' pink, grey, and brown.
Also, from an adventure point of view for the people who love to ride on the motorbikes, the tour to Upper Mustang is truly adventurous. The rough roads are also a plus due to the extra fun factor when riding on such terrains as a rider. From Kathmandu, the NAT has followed a very systematic arrangement for this motorbike tour; thus, visitors can make their necessary preparations while enjoying the lively atmosphere of the capital city. It then reaches Pokhara and Lo-Manthang (Upper Mustang), passing through the old trade village of Kagbeni.
During the tour, the participants can observe numerous opportunities of the Upper Mustang concerning the offered types of landscapes and culture. It’s a unique motorbike trip that takes you from the calm and green forests to the hard and brimless territories, from the rapidly running rivers to the mountains that can be considered marvels. Thus, the tour not only consists of a highly entertaining and exciting car ride but also opens the door to the captivating experience of getting to know Upper Mustang and its history and culture better.
Best Season For The Trip
The ideal time to take the Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride Tour is from March to November. This is the best time for a ride and to discover the various terrains of northern Nepal, particularly the Upper Mustang. The temperature starts rising in spring but is still moderate, the rhododendrons bloom, and the sky is very clear right through March to May; this is the best time for riders to enjoy the scenery of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri mountain. The summer season, or monsoon, from June to August, is the least effective here as the region of Upper Mustang is situated in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, meaning that the area is comparatively dry compared to the rest of Nepal. This geographical benefit enables one to continue riding and making discoveries. September to early November is ideal since the climate is quite stable, with clear weather most of the time and many festivals going to give the adventurers a prodigious cultural performance. These seasons provide an ideal climate, attractive wildlife and locales, and engagement with the local people, thereby making it the right time to go for the Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride Tour.
Useful Information
Accommodation during Trip
Tea houses, lodges, and hotels are used in the Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride Tour according to the destination people embark on across the mountains. On the start and finish in Kathmandu and Pokhara, comfortable with all modern comforts, the riders will overnight. Continuing through the more progressively challenging terrains of Upper Mustang, basic lodgings will mainly be in tea houses. Such accommodation facilities provide a simplified and comfortable shelter to travelers and appeal to provide a true feel of the region’s tradition and hospitality.
Supper, lunch, and breakfast will be offered at certain accommodation places, either a hotel, a lodge, or a motel. In the restaurants of Kathmandu and Pokhara, all kinds of cuisine are available, from Nepali cuisine to world cuisines. Over the years, Upper Mustang has teashops and lodges with Nepali and Tibetan Meals serving typical Nepali and Tibetan dishes like dal bhat, momo, and thukpa that provide a gustative incentive for the area. Such meals are meant to sustain the rider for daily explorations and make the rider experience cultural interactions through food intake.
Permits Required For The Trip
The Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride Tour requires the participants to acquire legal permits before they can enter and tour the region of their interest. The treasury among the permits is the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), which is obligatory for all travelers; the price reaches NPR 3,000 or 30 USD. This permit grants one legal entry into the conservation area, which is part of the tour to enhance conservation measures.
Besides, travelers need to get a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for Upper Mustang because this region is limited. The RAP costs NPR 500 for a person's first ten days of the trip. Regarding the basic cost, there is a charge of USD 50 for every extra day not exceeding ten days, as indicated above. This permit is important because, with it, people are allowed into the Upper Mustang area, thus ensuring the area’s culture and geographical features are protected.
Getting these permits allows the participants to legally access and enjoy the beauty of the Upper Mustang while supporting the conservation of the area and its people. These permits have to be planned in advance in consultation with the authorized agencies or with the help of the Nepal Adventure Team (NAT).
Modes of Transportation
The Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride Tour incorporates numerous forms of transport to meet the participants' needs and provide comfort throughout the trip. It starts in Kathmandu, where the participants and guides will make some preparations. The rest of the city tour will be done by private vehicles. Transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara can be by road or a short flight, with beautiful views of the mountainous terrain.
The most convenient means of transport on this tour is a motorbike since it is easier to maneuver in the hilly, rough terrains of Upper Mustang. They are good for off-road trails and will afford you the excitement of cycling through the awesome terrains and little towns in the area. The riders will be guided through an itinerary, and cultural/natural attractions will be taken along the way. Action vehicles follow the group to transport luggage, assist with mechanical problems if they arise, and help the actors if necessary. It has the advantage of alerting the riders that they do not have to burden themselves with logistical hassles during the adventure. With the motorbike, support vehicles, and optional flights, the tour covers and delivers a unique experience of Upper Mustang.
What To Bring On This Trip
Before planning to do the Upper Mustang Motorbike Ride Tour, one should pack appropriately so as to make the tour a success and comfortable. Firstly, they have to have valid motorbike license to legally ride a motorcycle in Nepal, all participants must have. This helps to ensure that one complies with the laws of the country he or she is in besides making the ride more secure.
Also recommended for travelers is to wear relevant riding equipment such as helmet, gloves, strong footwear, and proper clothing. Not only, they include the necessary and sufficient comfort and protection measures against different weather conditions and rough terrains of the places but also the improvisation of the riding experience. Other items that should also be packed include snacks, sunblock, eyeglasses, biological necessities, a kit aid, and other relevant medications.
These documents and equipments will let the participants enjoy the thrilling motorbike ride through the spectacular terrains in Upper Mustang and at the same time protect participants against potential risks and violations of laws and rules of the place.
Safety Protocols
On the Upper Mustang motorbike ride tour, you will get to see different places, but the most important thing to remember is that the tour has the highest priority for safety. A chase car, either a van or jeep, will follow the group throughout the visit for safety and comfort. It can also accommodate luggage; thus, the riders are relieved of carrying personal effects inconsistent with this mode of transport. It also helps with any problems motorbikes may have, eradicating mechanical failure cases during the adventure. Also, the support vehicle is ready to render medical support with a first aid kit and can transport the riders to the nearest clinic in case of accidents. Combining products creates a total care approach that allows people to enjoy the experience and have adventures while ensuring that every aspect is well taken care of.
