Join an unforgettable 12-day motorcycle tour in Nepal through Pokhara, Muktinath and Upper Mustang. Ride Himalayan roads, off-road trails and remote valleys.
Motorcycle Tour in Nepal | 12-Day Himalayan Expedition
Looking for a motorcycle tour in Nepal that takes you beyond the usual tourist routes? Our 12-day Himalayan motorcycle expedition is built for riders who want to experience Nepal the adventurous way—from the seat of a motorcycle.
Experience the Himalayas from the seat of a motorcycle on our 12-day motorcycle tour in Nepal, riding from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Muktinath, Kagbeni and the legendary Upper Mustang region. This Himalayan motorcycle expedition combines winding mountain roads, challenging off-road trails, ancient villages and spectacular Himalayan landscapes. Designed for adventure riders, the journey takes you deep into the Kali Gandaki Valley and the remote landscapes around Lo Manthang before returning to Pokhara.
Highlights
- Ride through some of the most spectacular mountain roads in Nepal. Start the adventure in Pokhara, Nepal's adventure capital. Ride through the dramatic Kali Gandaki Valley. Experience challenging gravel, rocky and off-road mountain trails. Visit the sacred pilgrimage site of Muktinath. Explore the ancient village of Kagbeni. Enter the restricted Upper Mustang region. Ride through high-altitude mountain passes and remote valleys. Explore Lo Manthang, the historic walled city of Upper Mustang. Visit the traditional villages of Marpha and Tatopani. Experience Tibetan-influenced culture, Buddhist monasteries and traditional Himalayan villages. Enjoy spectacular views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountain ranges. Finish the motorcycle journey back in Pokhara.
12-Day Motorcycle Tour in Nepal – Upper Mustang Expedition
This 12-day motorcycle tour in Nepal takes you from Kathmandu to Pokhara and deep into the Himalayas through the Kali Gandaki Valley, Muktinath, Kagbeni and Upper Mustang. The ride includes paved mountain roads, gravel, rocky trails and off-road sections.
The main highlight of the trip is Lo Manthang, the ancient walled city of Upper Mustang. Along the way, we ride through traditional mountain villages, high passes and some of the most beautiful and remote landscapes in Nepal.
Arrival at Kathmandu International Airport
Welcome to Nepal.
Our team will pick you up from the exit gate of Tribhuvan International Airport. Please look for our representative holding a welcome sign with our company name.
From the airport, we transfer you to your hotel in Thamel. Our staff will take care of the check-in, so you can settle into your room and take some time to rest.
In the evening, we meet at the hotel lobby and go together for a welcome dinner. This is also a good opportunity to meet the riding team and other members of the group.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Kathmandu Cultural and Heritage Tour
After breakfast, we spend the day exploring some of the important cultural and historical sites of Kathmandu Valley.
We visit Patan, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Boudhanath Stupa with a local cultural guide.
This is a relaxed day before the motorcycle journey begins. You will have time to see some of Nepal's history, culture and traditional architecture.
In the evening, return to the hotel and prepare for the next day.
Tomorrow, we fly to Pokhara, where our motorcycles will be waiting.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Flight to Pokhara – 25 Minutes
After breakfast, we take a short flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
After arriving in Pokhara, we transfer to the hotel and take some time to rest.
Later, we meet at our motorcycle headquarters for a motorcycle briefing and bike check. You will get your motorcycle, check the controls and take a short test ride around Pokhara.
In the afternoon, we ride around the Phewa Lake area and explore some of Pokhara's local sights.
In the evening, we have dinner together and make the final preparations for the ride. Tomorrow morning, our Himalayan motorcycle adventure begins.
Overnight: Pokhara
93 km | Paved Road and Off-Road Sections
We start the day with an early breakfast and leave Pokhara.
Our ride begins around the shores of Phewa Lake before heading west through the green hills and villages toward Kushma.
The route is approximately 93 km and includes paved roads as well as off-road sections.
Kushma is well known for its long suspension bridges and its location close to the high Himalayan region.
After arriving in Kushma, we check into the hotel and have time to relax.
Overnight: Kushma
70 km | Off-Road Ride
Today is one of the more challenging riding days of the trip.
We ride approximately 70 km of off-road terrain toward the Mustang Valley, following the Kali Gandaki River.
The route takes us through the deep Kali Gandaki Gorge, with huge Himalayan mountains rising on both sides. We ride between some of the world's highest peaks as we continue north.
Along the way, we pass through small villages and mountain settlements. Near Lete, we leave the main road and ride through a pine forest toward Kalopani.
The landscape changes as we gain altitude, and the road becomes rougher and more technical in places.
After reaching Kalopani, we check into the hotel and spend the evening enjoying the mountain surroundings.
Overnight: Kalopani
Ride Through the Mustang Valley
Today we continue north through the Kali Gandaki Valley.
We don't have a very long distance to cover, so there is plenty of time to enjoy the villages, mountain views and changing landscape.
We climb toward Muktinath, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Nepal. The area also gives us our first real experience of riding at higher altitude.
After visiting Muktinath, we continue toward Kagbeni.
Kagbeni is an ancient village at the entrance to Upper Mustang. The village is known for its traditional stone houses, narrow streets and old Buddhist monastery.
We spend the night in Kagbeni and prepare for the next day's ride into the restricted Upper Mustang region.
Overnight: Kagbeni
Entering Upper Mustang
Today is one of the highlights of our motorcycle expedition.
After leaving Kagbeni, we reach the checkpoint and complete the formalities before entering the restricted area of Upper Mustang.
We continue through the Kali Gandaki Valley before heading deeper into Mustang.
The landscape changes dramatically as we climb higher. We ride through high-altitude villages, dry valleys and mountain passes, including Nya La Pass at around 4,010 metres.
Along the route, we see the red cliffs of Dhakmar and traditional villages strongly influenced by Tibetan culture.
The road toward Lo Manthang offers incredible views of the dry and rugged Mustang landscape.
After a full day of riding, we reach Lo Manthang, the historic walled city of Upper Mustang.
Overnight: Lo Manthang
48 km | Descending from Upper Mustang
After breakfast, we leave Lo Manthang and begin our ride back toward Lower Mustang.
Today's ride is around 48 km, mostly on dusty and rough mountain roads.
As we descend, the landscape slowly changes from the dry high-altitude terrain of Upper Mustang to greener valleys.
Our destination is Marpha, a beautiful traditional village known for its white stone houses, narrow streets and Buddhist culture.
After checking into the hotel, we have time to walk around the village and visit the local monastery.
The Nilgiri mountain range is also clearly visible from this area.
Overnight: Marpha
Ride Through the Kali Gandaki Valley
We leave Marpha early in the morning and continue south through the Kali Gandaki Valley.
Along the way, we stop at Rupse Waterfall for photographs before continuing through the mountain villages.
Some sections of the road remain rough and challenging, but the scenery is constantly changing as we descend to lower elevations.
Although part of the route is the same road we used when entering Mustang, the views are completely different on the return journey.
By afternoon, we reach Tatopani, a small village famous for its natural hot springs.
After several days of riding in the mountains, the hot springs are a great place to relax and enjoy the evening.
Overnight: Tatopani
Final Riding Day
Today is our final day on the motorcycles.
We leave Tatopani and ride toward Beni. The road between Tatopani and Beni includes dusty and rocky sections, while the road from Beni toward Pokhara is mostly paved.
We stop around Kushma for lunch before continuing toward Pokhara.
The final section is a scenic mountain road with plenty of curves and beautiful views of the surrounding hills.
After reaching Pokhara, we return the motorcycles to our headquarters.
This marks the end of our main riding adventure. After several days on the road, it is time to say goodbye to the bikes and enjoy a relaxed evening in Pokhara.
Overnight: Pokhara
Flight Back to Kathmandu
After breakfast, we prepare for our flight back to Kathmandu.
One of our team members will accompany the group and assist with the airport and boarding process.
After arriving in Kathmandu, we transfer back to the hotel in Thamel.
The rest of the day is free. You can explore Thamel, do some shopping or relax at the hotel.
In the evening, we meet for our farewell dinner and celebrate the completion of our motorcycle journey through the Himalayas.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Your Journey Home
Today is the final day of your Nepal motorcycle tour.
Depending on your international flight time, our team will arrange your transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport.
After saying goodbye to Nepal and the team, you begin your journey home with memories of riding through the Himalayas, exploring Mustang and reaching the historic city of Lo Manthang.
We hope to welcome you back to Nepal for another motorcycle adventure in the future.
Safe journey home!
What's Included
- Your motorcycle expedition package includes the following services and arrangements.
- Upper Mustang Special Entry Permit – USD 500 per person.
- Lower Mustang ACAP Permit and TIMS Card.
- Experienced English-speaking motorcycle tour guide.
- Kathmandu Valley sightseeing with a local cultural expert guide.
- Comfortable boutique and tourist-standard hotels during the tour.
- Accommodation along the motorcycle route.
- Visits to the main historical and cultural sites mentioned in the itinerary.
- Breakfast and dinner during the tour as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Motorcycle with fuel for the planned riding days.
- Domestic flights: (Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu)
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu.
- Support truck for groups of 5 or more riders.
- Medical support, first-aid kit and oxygen for high-altitude emergencies.
- Experienced motorcycle mechanic with essential motorcycle spare parts and repair tools.
- Helmet and regular riding gloves, available if required.
- Drinking water bottles provided by the support vehicle during the road journey.
- Farewell dinner on the final evening.
- Applicable government taxes and service charges related to the services listed above.
What's Not Included
- The following expenses are not included in the motorcycle tour package:
- International flights to and from Nepal
- Nepal visa fee
- Travel and medical insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage
- Lunches and drinks unless specifically mentioned in the itinerary
- Alcoholic drinks and personal bar bills
- Personal laundry and telephone expenses
- Personal shopping and other personal expenses
- Tips for guides, mechanics, drivers and other support staff
- Any additional accommodation, meals or transportation required outside the planned itinerary
- Any cost resulting from a change in the itinerary requested by the rider
- Repair or replacement costs for physical damage to the motorcycle caused by the rider's own fault, negligence or improper use
- Any other expenses or services not specifically mentioned under What's Included
- Important Note
- The Upper Mustang Special Entry Permit is a restricted-area permit and is required for this expedition. The permit cost is USD 500 per person based on the current package arrangement.
- The support truck is provided for groups of 5 or more riders. For smaller groups, the expedition will operate without a dedicated support truck unless otherwise agreed before the trip.
- For your comfort and safety, our team carries essential first-aid and emergency equipment, including oxygen and a satellite phone, during the remote and high-altitude sections of the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good motorcycle tour in Nepal should combine mountain scenery, authentic local culture and varied riding conditions. Our 12-day expedition includes Pokhara, Muktinath, Kagbeni, Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang, Marpha and Tatopani, with a mixture of paved roads and challenging off-road Himalayan trails.
For a proper Himalayan motorcycle adventure, we recommend at least 10–12 days. Our 12-day motorcycle tour in Nepal allows enough time to travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara, explore Upper Mustang and return without rushing through the major destinations.
Yes. Upper Mustang is one of Nepal's most popular destinations for motorcycle expeditions. The route includes rough and dusty mountain roads, high-altitude terrain and challenging sections, so riders should be comfortable with off-road and Himalayan riding conditions.
The itinerary includes Kathmandu, Pokhara, Kushma, Kalopani, Muktinath, Kagbeni, Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang, Marpha and Tatopani before returning to Pokhara and Kathmandu.
The Upper Mustang section can be challenging because of rough roads, loose gravel, dust, altitude and changing mountain conditions. Previous motorcycle riding experience, particularly on uneven terrain, is recommended.
The expedition includes paved highways, winding mountain roads, gravel tracks, rocky trails and dusty off-road sections. Road conditions can change depending on weather and local conditions.
The main riding seasons are generally spring and autumn, when mountain visibility and road conditions are usually favorable. Mustang is also located in the rain-shadow region, making it one of the more suitable Himalayan areas for motorcycle riding during Nepal's monsoon period.
The tour includes challenging Himalayan off-road sections, particularly around Mustang. Riders should have basic motorcycle riding experience and be comfortable riding on gravel, uneven roads and mountain terrain.
Yes, depending on the departure arrangement. Solo riders can contact the expedition team to check available dates, motorcycle options and whether they can join a scheduled group departure.
A motorcycle allows you to experience Nepal at a completely different pace. You can travel through remote valleys, stop at small villages and viewpoints, and experience the changing Himalayan landscape directly from the road.