14 Day Discover the Nature of Himalaya Guided Motorcycle Tour in Nepal
Nepal Guided Motorcycle Tour
This breathtaking Nepal adventure is a must-drive on the bucket list. Nepal is mountainous with many unpaved (mountain) roads, even the main road is an adventurous challenge. But you will never forget the days to the Lower Mustang, to an altitude of over 3,700 meters. An impressive mountain range with magical views around every bend, not to mention the often unpaved roads that complete this adventure.
Key information
- Terrain: Mixed terrain, unpaved roads 50% of the time
- Bike: Rental bike (Enfield Bullet 500cc)
- Mileage: 1,145 kilometers / 711 miles
- Daily rides: 45 - 170 kilometers / 28 - 106 miles
- Riding gear: Not included but mandatory: A helmet, motorcycle jacket with protection, gloves, good sturdy (motorcycle) trousers with protection or with loose knee protection and sturdy high (mountain) shoes
- Meals: Most breakfasts
Highlights
- Starts and ends in Kathmandu
- Riding through the Roof of the World Himalaya
- Enjoy a visit to the safari
- Visit the birthplace of Budhha
- Witness impressive mountain ranges
- 13 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in hotels.
Program
Difficulty of the trip
Nepal is divided into three regions in terms of altitude. In the south you have the lowland, this is called the Terai. This is a tropical area where elephants and rhinos live. In the north, you have the high Himalayas, with snow-capped peaks, the Annapurna and the foot of Mount Everest. The roads in this area are bad.
Between these two extremes lies the so-called low Himalaya. Your journey takes place in this last area. So you will be at a high altitude for a few days, but this will build up slowly. Most people therefore hardly experience height problems.
Off-road
The bad roads, especially in the higher parts of the journey, can be tough. Large parts of the main roads in this country are also unpaved. This can be tiring, although it is not technically very difficult off-road.
You can assume that you drive on unpaved roads 50% of the time. Some experience or training is recommended, but not mandatory. However, in worse weather than expected, these off-road parts can be difficult, heavy, and tiring.
Motorcycle
During this trip, you use an Enfield Bullet 500cc motorcycle. You can upgrade to an Enfield Himalaya 411cc engine.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival - Kathmandu
In the morning, you arrive in colorful Kathmandu. Your hotel is located in the center of Thamel district. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the district or resting from the flight on the hotel terrace.
The Thamel district is dotted with terraces, shops, and small restaurants. Durbar Square is located close to the district.
Day 2 - Kathmandu - stay
Today, you can wander around for hours among the historic buildings and palaces. Don't forget to visit the Monkey Temple, a colorful Buddhist temple complex overlooking the city and where people come for ceremonies. And if you have time left, go to the Pashupatinath temple where, among other things, the corpse burnings / ceremonies take place.
Day 3 - Katmandu – Chitwan (160 kilometers / 99 miles)
The motorcycles have now been delivered. You will first have to drive out of the city together. Wonderfully chaotic, but if you drive very close to each other then it is not a problem.
When you leave Kathmandu, you immediately drive into the mountains towards Hetauda. A beautiful, largely unpaved road through a mountainous area with sometimes quite steep descents. Wonderful to immediately experience what awaits you in the near future.
After lunch in Hetauda, you take the main road, which is still reasonably well paved and takes you to Chitwan. The hotel is located directly on the river, which is also the border of the Chitwan National Park. With a bit of luck, you will see animals such as rhinos or even tigers walking around here!
Day 4 - Chitwan - Stay
You stay here to do a safari in the Chitwan National Park. A no less than 952 square kilometers park that is largely located in India, after all, you are close to the border with India. You can do a half or full day safari.
The all-day safari gives you more certainty that you will see a lot, such as rhinos, elephants, tigers, crocodiles and many special birds. You first cross the river with a boat and for the rest of the safari, you have a jeep with a guide at your disposal.
Day 5 - Chitwan – Lumbini (170 kilometers / 106 miles)
Today, you will largely drive on the main road. If you think this is boring, then you are wrong. Even this main road is largely unpaved and a challenge with the many buses and trucks.
You try to arrive early in the afternoon because you are staying in the place where the Buddha was born 2,600 years ago. You take a tuk tuk to the building where He is buried and, together with the many Buddhist ceremonies around the building, it is a very special experience to be here. You stay in a slightly dated stately Nepali hotel with a swimming pool.
Day 6 - Lumbini – Tansen (80 kilometers / 50 miles)
You leave southern Nepal and today take a short but fun drive to Tansen, which is located more in the center of the country. Parts of the route are still busy with traffic, but there are also nice unpaved stretches. Tansen is a cozy mountain town where you can walk around before it gets dark. Hotel is located in the center with a view over the center.
Day 7 - Tansen – Baglung (150 kilometers / 93 miles)
Today, you continue north. The roads become quieter and you will drive many small unpaved mountain roads with impressive views. You will also climb higher and will regularly see the snow-capped peaks of the mountain ranges in the Mustang area. Baglung is a small town where you have a simple but clean hotel.
Day 8 - Baglung – Jomsom (100 kilometers / 62 miles)
You prepare to drive to the Lower Mustang. With your permit in your pocket, you drive on largely unpaved mountain roads higher and higher up to 2,800 meters. You will stop many times to enjoy nature and its views. It is a breathtaking barren and arid landscape with white mountain peaks in the background.
You stay in a nice accommodation in an old Nepalese house that has been transformed into a guesthouse. The owner will pamper you with his local Yak meat and also show off his guitar and singing talent.
Day 9 - Jomsom – Mukthinat – Kagbeni (45 kilometers / 28 miles)
A very short route of only 45 kilometers but every kilometer will impress you. You leave Jomsom and soon, you will stop at a suspension bridge where the view will be even more impressive. You then climb to Mukthinat, which is located at over 3,700 meters above sea level and will stop at a local coffee shop along the way.
Here, you can see why the Mustang impresses them so much. Once you arrive in Mukthinat, you can continue on foot via a staircase to the Shree Mukthinat temple, a must because many Buddhists come here to be canonized. You will then have lunch here and then prepare for the most beautiful 20 kilometers of this trip.
You will stop so many times to take pictures that it will take you about 3 hours to get to Kagbeni. Kagbeni is an old historical village. You will spend the night (if available) in a 500 year old monastery that is now a guesthouse, but still owned by the monks.
The manager will tell you fascinating stories about this old monastery and the prayer room in the building, but also about the village of Kagbeni, which you should definitely visit. For dinner, you sit around a wooden stove because it can easily get to -6 degrees here.
Day 10 - Kagbeni – Pokhara (170 kilometers / 106 miles)
You get up early because you drive back (unpaved) to the lower parts of this massive mountain range. It gradually becomes warmer until you arrive in Beni where you will have lunch. Then another unpaved stretch and then drive towards Pokhara via the main mountain road.
Pokhara is touristy because many activities can be done from here. The hotel is located in the center, has a swimming pool and spa.
Day 11 - Pokhara - Gorkha (120 kilometers / 75 miles)
Today a nice long adventurous day with many unpaved roads through a mountainous area. You drive through many remote villages and your lunch will be simple today. You drive to Gorkha via the fast-flowing Marsyandhi River and a beautiful steep climb at the end of the day.
The luxurious hotel, with a view of the entire area including the swimming pool, should provide a good night's sleep and a special sunrise in the morning.
Day 12 - Gorkha - Nuwakot (90 kilometers / 56 miles)
You may have left the Mustang section, but that doesn't mean it will be any less adventurous. Today, you spend a lot of time on unpaved roads through quiet mountain villages, which brings you to Nuwakot, a special place to arrive early in the afternoon.
Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the hotel is an authentic Newari Manor House, lovingly restored to its former glory. The Famous Farm exudes rustic charm and character. Lovely, colorful gardens in a sunny location offer places of tranquility.
With the authentic Nepalese village right on your doorstep, Famous Farm is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and simply be at ease.
Day 13 - Nuwakot - Kathmandu (60 kilometers / 37 miles)
It is a short drive today, but it will be a beautiful, adventurous last few hours on often unpaved roads towards Kathmandu. You will arrive early so that you can still do things in the center.
Day 14 - Kathmandu - Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, you will arrive home on the same day or on the date after.
Skill level(s) required for this tour: Intermediate and advanced
Intermediate
- Can ride for 3-4 hours
- Average riding experience
- Little assistance required
- Comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- Average experience with unsurfaced roads
- Steep ascents and descents
Advanced
- Can ride for 5-6 hours
- Extensive riding experience
- Assistance on demand (if required)
- Experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
Location
You will start the journey in the Capital Kathmandu. It is a wonderfully chaotic city with many sights, which is why you stay here another day upon arrival. But you need several days to see everything. In particular, the Monkey Temple, Durbar Square, and the funeral burnings at Pashupatinath temple are must-sees.
Along the way, you have a special extra day in Chitwan to do a safari there. This vast National Park of no less than 952 square kilometers that extends far into Northern India and has a lot of wildlife. But the birthplace of the Buddha 2,600 years ago in Lumbini will also impress you.
The overnight stay in Kagbeni is one of historical rarity. You spend the night in a 500-year-old monastery with a breathtaking prayer room with a huge Buddha, but the entire village is historic. A short walk through the narrow alleys where century-old engraved stones lie on the ground.
Food
The package includes most breakfasts.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- 10 riding days
- Many unpaved, mountain roads
- Motorcycle hire
- 13 nights accommodation in hotels
- Breakfast most of the time
- All airport transfers
- Transport of motorcycles
- Support vehicle with local driver
- Accompanying mechanic in support vehicle
- English-speaking tour guide on motorcycle
- Permit for Lower Mustang
- Third-party liability insurance for the motorcycle
- Comprehensive handbook
What's not included
- International flight
- Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
- Fuel for motorcycles
- All other meals and drinks
- Personal expenses
- Travel – and Cancellation Insurance
- Costs for visa (after you arrive at the airport)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Tribhuvan International Airport
0 km
Transfer included
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 12.1% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.