Road to Mustang – Classic Bike Motorcycle Adventure Tour in Nepal2022-07-04T15:12:36+00:00
Nepal Mustang motorcycle tour map

Mustang Nepal Motorbike Tours – On the Road to Mustang Tour

North of the Annapurna Massif, tucked away between Tibet and Nepal, lies Mustang Valley – a remote, mystical region with wild mountain roads. It offers you the ride of your life: the road to Mustang motorcycle tour will get your adrenaline flowing with its rough tracks, dizzying passes and rugged gorges! The former kingdom was closed to outsiders until 1992, but now you can look forward to a Mustang motorcycle tour in Nepal that you’ll never forget. Explore a hidden kingdom, experience beautiful sunsets, craggy mountains and a ride through the deepest gorge in the world. We’ll ride majestic elephants, visit an elephant breeding station and get to know the Nepali cuisine.

On our 15-day motorcycle tour in Nepal on the road to Mustang, we kick things off in the capital city Kathmandu, which lies in the middle of a broad valley in the Himalayas. Our first day in the saddle will start with a briefing, after which we’ll ride up the 2,600-meter Kulekhani Pass to take in one of the many great views of Nepal to come.

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We’ll take a break in Chitwan National Park to do a bit of wildlife spotting, then continue to the picturesque village of Bandipur and to Pokhara, the most beautiful city of Nepal. From there, we’ll head into the rugged wilderness of the Himalayas, reaching the remote region of Mustang, the highlight of our tour. Challenges await! Our journey along the road to Mustang from Kathmandu will take us through Thak Khola Gorge – the world’s deepest, which separates the majestic Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) and Annapurna (8,091 meters) mountains. From the Vishnu temple in Muktinath, we’ll descend through the jungle to Begnas Lake, where we’ll take time out to relax at a lake resort before returning Pokhara and Kathmandu, where our tour ends. From steamy jungles to the soaring peaks of the Himalayas, this ride has it all – even a relaxing soak in hot springs after a day of challenging rough tracks.

We’ll take you on an unforgettable motorcycle tour to a remote, former kingdom, hidden behind the forbidding walls of the Himalayas. Don’t miss it!

Nepal Mustang Motorcycle Tour Package – Highlights

  • Mustang, the hidden kingdom of the Himalayas
  • The ride between the Himalayan giants Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) and Annapurna (8,091 meters)
  • The journey through the world’s deepest gorge (Thak Khola, Kali Gandaki Gorge)
  • Breathtaking mountain roads and tracks, guaranteed to thrill
  • Relaxing in the hot springs at Tatopani
  • Chitwan National Park, with elephant riding and a canoe tour
  • Swimming and relaxing at Begnas Lake
  • The picturesque historical village of Bandipur
  • Magnificent views of the Annapurna mountain range
  • The lakeside town of Pokhara, the most beautiful in Nepal
  • The renowned Vishnu temple in Muktinath
2022
08.10 – 22.10.
22.10. – 05.11
05.11. – 19.11.
19.11. – 03.12.

Enfield Bullet 500: 3.190€
Royal Enfield Himalayan 411:
3.190€
Pillion: 2.650€
Single Room: +490€

RE Himalayan only on request, please specify.

15 days / 14 nights / 11 riding days

All overnight stays in mid range hotels, often with a boutique atmosphere. Rooms always with attached bath/toilet. 4* hotel in Kathmandu.

Mediathek

Road to Mustang Motorcycle Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and Transfer to the hotel

Our driver at the airport in Kathmandu will be waiting for you at the gate with a Classic Bike Adventures sign. A comfortable car will take us to to our hotel which is located in the city center. We’ll have a bit of time to relax while our guide changes money for us, unless you want to take care of that yourself. Afterwards we’ll meet for a short briefing. The first day of our Mustang Nepal Motorbike tour will finish with a welcome dinner – our first taste of the local specialties. Depending on the time of arrival, there is enough time to stroll through the Thamel district, the heart of the city with many shops and cafes.

Distance covered: Airport transfer

On the road from Mugling to Bandipur

Day 2: From Mugling to Bandipur

In the morning, after an early breakfast, a comfortable bus will take us to Mugling, where our motorbikes are waiting for us. Mugling is about 100 km away from Kathmandu, this way we avoid the terrible city traffic. We’ll take some time to get comfortable with the bikes and practice riding on the “wrong” side of the road. As a test run, we’ll take a quiet, winding road to Bandipur, a small town in the mountains of central Nepal. Clouds permitting, we’ll have a great view of the majestic peaks. In the evening, we’ll go for a stroll through the historical village and spend the night in the best place Bandipur has to offer.

Distance covered: approx. 100 km (transfer) + 100 km motorcycle tour

Day 3: From Bandipur to Sauraha and Chitwan National Park

Today will be a day with lots of winding roads and deep gorges – but also heavy traffic, as all of the goods that Nepal imports from India come in via this route. We’ll arrive in Sauraha and ride to Chitwan National Park, where we can look forward to an exciting day ahead.

Distance covered: approx. 95 km

Bandipur to Sauraha road
Chitwan National Park

Day 4: A day in Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park was founded in 1973 as the first national park in Nepal. It’s known for its biodiversity – and as the habitat of Bengal tigers and rhinos. We’ll start the day with an elephant ride to the wild rhinos, followed by a visit to the national park’s elephant breeding station. If you’re interested, we can also take a canoe to the crocodile banks. In the evening, we’ll enjoy the sunset over the river and watch a short slide show about Nepal’s wildlife after dinner. A nightcap by the campfire will wind things down.

Day 5: From Sauraha to Tansen

A ride of around 200 kilometers on a new, little-used mountain road will take us up to the western edge of the Annapurna Massif. This route guarantees tremendous views of some of the world’s most spectacular mountains. From there, we’ll carry on to Tansen. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy Nepalese specialties in the historical atmosphere of the Naglo West beer garden. We’ll be staying at Hotel Srinagar, the best place in town, located above Thansen with an amazing view of the soaring 8,000-meter Dhaulagiri. In the afternoon, we can either relax at Phewa Lake and/or enjoy an outing on rented rowboats with a spectacular view of the Annapurna Massif, or ride up to a Tibetan refugee camp and visit its Buddhist monastery. We’ll spend the night at a basic but centrally-located lodge on Lake Road. And if you’re up for it, we can visit a pub with live music in the evening!

Distance covered: approx. 200 km

Sauraha to Tansen
Thansen – Siddhartha Highway to Pokhara

Day 6: Thansen – Siddhartha Highway – Pokhara

Today: 130 km of endlessly winding, lonely mountain roads on the Siddhartha Highway, named after the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. This is a road that will definitely bring us a step closer to enlightenment. The ride starts in Thansen, an ancient market town on the former Silk Road at an altitude of 1,500 meters. In the old town with its many merchants and artisans, time seems to have stood still in the days of the caravans. Arrival in Pokhara: Our hotel is located directly on Lake Road and thus very close to Phewa Lake. Relax at the lake in the afternoon, or enjoy an outing on a rented rowboat with a spectacular view of the Annapurna Massif. Alternatively, we can ride to a Tibetan refugee camp and visit its Buddhist monastery. We’ll spend the night at a basic but centrally-located lodge on Lake Road. In the evening, we’ll check out at least one of the many bars with live music!

Distance covered: approx. 130 km

Day 7: From Pokhara to Tatopani

From Pokhara, our Road to Mustang Tour heads out toward Beni. The road doesn’t present any particular challenges – even the normal public buses take it to Beni. The stretch from Beni to Tatopani may become a bit more adventurous, depending on the weather conditions. As long as things are dry, it’s no problem. In the rain, the road turns into a real mudfest! Luckily, there are no particularly steep stretches, but it’s still an adventure. In the evening, we can decompress with a long soak in the hot springs. We’ll spend the night in a guest house.

Distance covered: approx. 110 km

Road from Pokhara to Tatopani
 Ghasa to Kalapani road

Day 8: Another day of pure adventure!

Today we’re going to ride through a landslide zone. There are a few places that could present a real challenge – especially five kilometers before Ghasa. But as long as it’s not raining, landslides are unlikely. Along the way, we’ll encounter large excavators that keep the road in usable condition. Steep climbs, big rocks, sand – this route has it all. If you enjoy this, then there’s nothing on this Kathmandu to Mustang Motorcycle Tour that you won’t enjoy. The next stage – from Ghasa to Kalapani – confronts us with some of the steepest sections of the tour. On the right, there’s a sheer drop. Shortly before Kobang, however, we’re back on safe ground. Here we’ll get our first glimpse of Annapurna, one of the most difficult eight-thousanders in the world. The last stage of the day is more relaxed: We’ll simply ride between two eight-thousanders and cross a river on a wide suspension bridge. Time and again, we’ll have great views of the snow-capped giants – and take the time to enjoy them.

Distance covered: approx. 90 km

Day 9: Spectacular views of the ice giants Annapurna and Dhaulagiri

Our first stage – from Tukuche to Jomsom – should be relatively easy-going, without any steep or challenging passages. From time to time, we’ll ford small streams. Jomsom, the biggest town in Mustang, has a small airport: the light aircraft plunging past the hazardous rock faces on their landing approach are quite a sight. On our second leg of the day, we leave Jomsom behind and find our way through a maze of waterways. Our surroundings are becoming harsher and increasingly inhospitable. We’re no longer in the deepest gorge in the world, Thak Kola – also known as Kali Gandaki Gorge – but are now riding along the highest mountain range in the world. Here we’re very close to Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, both mighty massifs soaring to beyond eight thousand meters. The views are becoming ever more breathtaking. One of the four longest rivers in Nepal, the Kali Gandaki, runs through the gorge and will accompany us on our tour.

Distance covered: approx. 60 km

Spectacular views of the ice giants Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains
Excursion to Muktinath

Day 10: Excursion to Muktinath

From Kagbeni, we’ll make a side trip to Muktinath, where we can visit the renowned Vishnu temple. We have astounding views of Dhaulagiri and the other ice giants throughout the village. It’s definitely a place worth spending some time in.

Distance covered: approx. 90 km

Day 11: From Kagbeni to Kalopani

Today we’ll take the same route back, with plenty of time to savor the breathtaking landscape. A nice guesthouse will be waiting for us: a very large, well-run accommodation with a new stone annex. Relaxing, eating burgers and looking out at some of the most imposing mountains on the planet: what more could we possibly ask for?

Distance covered: approx. 120 km

View of imposing mountains Kalopani
On the way to Begnas Lake

Day 12: A truly challenging off-road stage

It’s hard to believe we’ve already come down this road: it looks totally different from here. Today is once again going to demand the utmost from us and our trusty Enfield bullets. Pure adventure! The fact that we’ve ridden through the world’s deepest gorge will really hit home today: We’re going to leave the crisp mountain air behind and be enveloped by the heat of the jungle. The Himalayas are receding into the distance. On the way to Begnas Lake, we’ll ride down one of those tasty roads that could have been designed with motorcycles in mind. We’ll reach Begnas Lake in the afternoon, just in time for a sundowner on the lakeshore. We’ll spend the night at the wonderful Begnas Lake Resort.

Distance covered: approx. 160 km

Day 13: Arrival in Kathmandu

After a bracing dip in Begnas Lake – if you’re up to it – we’ll enjoy a delicious late breakfast. Today will be a short day on our motorcycle tour through Nepal. We’ll be taking a highway with heavy traffic for a short distance – extreme caution and defensive riding is a must here – until Mugling from where we take our van to the old town of Kathmandu to avoid the worst traffic. Our hotel is located in the Thamel district of Kathamndu old town and the scenic streets are perfect for an easy-going stroll. Our program for the evening: dinner and a pub with live music.

Distance covered: approx. 90 km (transfer: 100 km)

Thamel district
View of temple at Kathmandu

Day 14: Kathmandu – exploring the city, shopping and relaxing

We’ll start the day with a visit to Kathmandu’s old city bazaar, taking in an exotic mix of Asian markets, quaint temples and narrow alleyways. Optionally, we can also visit Kathmandu’s sister city of Lalitpur (also known as Patan), which is famous for its temple district and a highly memorable museum. A trip to Swayambhunath, the renowned Monkey Temple on a hill overlooking the capital, is also worthwhile. In the evening, we’ll be getting together for our farewell dinner in the garden of the resort – one last opportunity to savor the true flavors of Nepal before returning home.

Day 15: Departure from Kathmandu

After breakfast at the hotel, transfers to the airport will be on an individual basis, depending on your departure time. Have a safe flight home! If you’d like to extend your stay in Nepal, or spend a few days in Kathmandu before the tour, we’ll be happy to organize it for you.

Don’t Miss Out On a Wonderful Experience

Book your Tour Now – Road to Mustang Motorcycle Tour

We can accommodate only 14 motorbikes on this tour.

Since our tours get filled up fast, please book our Road to Mustang Tour package now to avoid disappointment.

Our Next available tours are as follows:

2022
08.10 – 22.10.
22.10. – 05.11
05.11. – 19.11.
19.11. – 03.12.

Included Services

  • All bus transfers from / to Mugling in a A/C deluxe Bus
  • All airport transfers
  • All overnight stays in mid range hotels, often with a boutique atmosphere. Rooms always with attached bath/toilet. 4* hotel in Kathmandu
  • Breakfast and dinner (excluding drinks)
  • All road charges, bridge tariffs, entrance fees during the tour program
  • Rental motorcycle Enfield Bullet 500cc or Enfield Himalayan 410cc with fully comprehensive insurance (EUR 500 deductible)
  • Touring equipment of the motorcycles including luggage bags
  • Petrol / oil as well as all spare and wear & tear parts
  • Experienced English speaking motorcycle tour guide during the tour
  • Comfortable support vehicle for luggage transport and passengers (guaranteed seat in the support vehicle for all passengers)
  • Experienced motorcycle mechanics (and replacement biker)

Excluded Services

  • International flights from/to Nepal
  • All beverages (beside drinking water which is always carried in the service vehicle)
  • Optional tips for guide and mechanic, souvenirs, shopping
  • Nepal tourist e-visa on arrival (around US$ 30 for 15 days, around US$ 45 for 30 days). The visa fee has to be paid upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu.
  • Travel rescission costs and repatriation insurance

Questions & Answers

What do I need to bring along for a motorcycle tour?2020-01-06T11:30:46+00:00

You will definitely want to bring your riding suit with protectors and a helmet. You will also need motorcycle boots or lighter riding shoes and gloves. While your gear should be breathable in hot climates, you need to be ready for anything at high altitudes and in the Himalayas. We recommend winter gloves, warm socks, liners for jackets and trousers, a scarf and face protection. Rain gear is a good idea if your riding suit is not waterproof.
Please note that we do not hire out clothing. We believe that your own riding gear will fit best and thus give you the best protection. If you forget anything, we’ll find a solution, however. We often have spare gear with us, or we can point you in the direction of a shop.

Do I need travel insurance and travel health insurance?2019-12-18T06:24:21+00:00

We always recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover costs incurred if you need to cancel the trip due to illness or other reasons. When shopping for travel health insurance, make sure the policy covers the potentially high cost of medical evacuation to your home country. Both forms of insurance can save you a lot of money in an emergency and we recommend them unreservedly. In many countries, your national motoring organization can provide the coverage you need.

What should I keep in mind when riding with a passenger?2019-12-18T06:24:20+00:00

Riding two-up is almost always possible. In difficult terrain or on rough tracks, every passenger has a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle to keep things relaxed for both rider and pillion.

Do pillion passengers have a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle?2019-12-18T06:24:16+00:00

Yes, all passengers have a guaranteed seat. In bad weather or challenging riding conditions, they can switch to the support vehicle at any time – and back to the bike when conditions improve.

How big are the groups? What’s the minimum number of participants?2019-12-18T06:24:15+00:00

Groups generally consist of 8 to 14 riders and 2 to 6 passengers. The minimum number of participants is 6 riders.

What’s the Classic Bike Adventure travel team like?2022-04-14T10:41:11+00:00

Our European tour guides are skilled motorcyclists and inveterate travelers who love India. They’re resilient in the face of stress and know the history and culture of the regions they cover. Our Indian mechanics are experienced Enfield specialists who all speak English and are happy to help with any technical problem, great or small.
A stand-in rider is always available. More information on our travel concept is available here.

What kind of bikes will we ride?2019-12-18T06:24:12+00:00

We ride 500cc Royal Enfield Bullets manufactured from 2014 to 2017 that feature electric starters, 5-speed gearboxes with the gearshift on the left, front disk brakes, roomy and rugged leather saddlebags, crashbars, 19” tires and twin horns.

What do I need in the way of documents?2019-12-18T06:24:09+00:00

You will need your passport, national driving license, international driving license and flight ticket. Please be sure to make photocopies of all of your important travel documents and carry them separately. They can be invaluable in an emergency.

Do I need a driving license?2019-12-18T06:24:05+00:00

All riders must have a valid motorcycle driving license issued in their home country. An international driving license is also required. Be sure to contact the relevant authorities in your home country well in advance for more information on obtaining an international driving license.

Will I need maps?2019-12-18T06:31:37+00:00

Simple street maps are often available locally. The best road maps are available from the German publishers Reise Know How and Nelles. These are only available in specialized bookstores or online.

Where can I stow my bags?2019-12-18T06:24:02+00:00

Your baggage will be carried by the support vehicle. Please don’t pack too much – remember: less is more. From time to time, we’ll have to carry our baggage over short distances to the hotel. Baggage is not insured, so please be sure to purchase your own baggage insurance for the trip if necessary. Your personal items for the day are best kept in the saddlebags or your daypack. Tank bags – including magnetic ones – can be used on the Enfields, but we don’t provide them.

How much is the deposit for the bike?2019-12-18T06:24:00+00:00

Riders must make a deposit of USD/EUR 500.00 in cash for their bikes. The deposit will be refunded when the bike is returned in good condition. The deposit corresponds to the comprehensive insurance deductible for damage to the rented bike and damage or injuries to third parties caused by the rider.
(The deductible is payable in such cases!)

Important note: The deductible also applies to damage or injury to third parties. In practice, the rider is initially liable for the full damages. The costs are later refunded by the insurance company, minus the deductible.

What are the specs of the bikes?2019-12-18T06:23:59+00:00

Technical specifications: Single-cylinder four-stroke, 499 cc, 16 kW (28 bhp) at 4,600 rpm, 178 kg, 80 cm seat height, 123 kph max.

Our Enfields were manufactured from 2013 to 2017 and are well-maintained. Naturally, some of them bear the minor battle scars typical of touring motorcycles. Technically, they are all in top shape and perfectly suited to the planned tours. They’re tremendous fun to ride, and their handling is safe and predictable after a brief familiarization period. Our average speeds on the tour range from 40 to 60 kph, depending on the road conditions and traffic.

What’s a typical day on the road like?2019-12-18T06:22:49+00:00

A travel day normally begins at 8 am with breakfast. Around 9 am, after a short briefing by the road captain, it’s time for the day’s riding, the mileage of which can vary quite a bit. Plenty of time will be available for lunch and coffee breaks, of course. Depending on the day’s mileage, we’ll reach the destination hotel between 3 and 4 pm.
Since our tours vary considerably, we may also hit the road at 8 am on high-mileage days – which is also nice, because then we have the whole day ahead of us.

Why are the daily stages relatively short?2022-07-04T15:44:14+00:00

Although the daily stages are between 50 and 200 kilometers, they are by no means short or quick to master. Most of the stages are full riding days, due to the road conditions and the visiting program. Riding in Nepal is challenging and our daily distances are always based on the routes and the road surface. One thing is guaranteed: it won’t be boring.

Tour Concept by RC Peter