From Delhi to Kathmandu via Mustang Valley
On this motorcycle trip you will discover two fascinating countries: India and Nepal. Leaving chaotic Delhi you will arrive like ancient travelers in the 70's to the mysterious Kathmandu. For this you will cross to Nepal through the flat and tourist-free region of the Terai. You will continue along winding mountain roads, jungles with views of Annapurna, national park reserves and many sports activities.
Nepal is full of fine Newari architecture that blends with Hindu temples and traditional Buddhist stupas in astonishing harmony. On this tour you will have an exciting off road trip climbing up to 3800 m in the Mustang region, with lunar landscapes similar to those of the Tibetan plateau. You will be surprised by the imposing views that we will see on top of our motorcycles of the immense Himalayan chain.
Few countries in Asia offer as much nature to the motorcycle traveler as this magical country located between India and Tibet. Its people, very influenced by the Buddhist tradition, are of an astonishing serenity.
Our route will be 40% off road and 60% on asphalt and in general with little traffic outside of urban areas.
Tirp of approximate 1500 kms crossing to Nepal from the west side of the border with India.
Day 1 - Delhi. Arrival of international flights. Arrival of the different flights to Delhi. Free day until meeting in the afternoon with the group at the hotel and introductory talk about driving in India and Nepal, introduction to the country and the travel program. Dinner and night at the hotel. Hotel in Delhi.
Day 2 - Delhi Banbasa border Nepal. (6hrs) Departure from Delhi, with the team that will help us on our trip. First contact with the motorcycles. We practice a bit to get used to them. Then, departure to Banbasa, border with Nepal. Lunch on the way. Dinner and night in Banbasa where we will do all the papers for our motorcycles. Hotel in Banbasa.
Day 3 - Bambasa - Bardiya Animal Reserve. (4hrs) We enter Nepal through one of the least visited areas with fewer tourists in the country. The western region is known by the name of the Terrai, a flat area with very little traffic and full of Nepalese riding bikes from town to town. Arrival at the Bardiya game reserve for lunch time. Free afternoon to discover this incredible natural park. One of the few in the world where you can opt for a ride in jeeps, on elephants or, if you dare, do it on foot with a guide! Rhinos, tigers, bears, crocodiles and wild elephants are some of the main animals that can be seen within the park. Bardiya is the largest natural park in Nepal and with fewer tourists Hotel in Bardya.
Day 4 - Bardiya - Tansen. (6h30). Morning departure as today we will spend many hours in our saddles. We leave the plains of the Terai behing to enter the foothills of the Nepalese Himalayas. Tansen is a rarely visited destination and the city has very interesting Newari architecture. From our hotel we will see the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan mountains. Hotel in Tansen.
Day 5 - Tansen - Pokhara - Dhampus. Departure for Pokhara. Departure for one of the most impressive roads of our trip. Little traffic and views in front of us of the Annapurna. The road is surrounded by mountains, and along the way we make a stop to admire the views of Annapurna that arriving in Pokhara are impressive on clear days. Then, along a freshly made road, we will go to Mount Sarangkot. The views, this time on the north side, are almost hidden by the dozens of paragliders flying over Pokhara Lake. Arrival by track of 5kms to our hotel. From our rooms we have a spectacular landscape of the snowy chain of the Himalayas. Dhampus is a small town perched high in the valley in the foothills of the Himalayas with typical rural life like nowhere else. Night in Dhampus.
Day 6 Dhampus - hanging bridges - Beni. 5 hours. Departure on the main road to the town of Kusma. There we will eat on the other side of the longest suspension bridge in Nepal. The bridge is 200m long suspended over 150m. Arrival around 3pm at our hotel perched on top of the city of Beni. Our beers await us in the garden of this hotel lost in the mountains. Access by track of 7kms. Night in Beni.
Day 7 Beni - Kalopani. 5 hours. Our off-road adventure begins today. This day will be the longest as we will surely have multiple waits while clearing the many mountain landslides that we may have on the route. Stop for chai after the permit control in Ghasa. We will visit Titi on a circular route along a path that goes into a thick forest that will force us to cross two hanging bridges. Night in Kalopani.
Day 8 Kalopani - Kagbeni. 5 hours. This part of the route will depend on the level of the river, since we will follow a path next to it that will lead us to cross it by small wooden bridges. We will cross the river again on a suspension bridge to reach a small town where we will have a break and lunch in a restaurant run by a lovely Nepalese couple who made their home a place where walkers can regain strength. Arrival in Kagbeni, a town with a Tibetan air in all its architecture and an old Buddhist monastery. Check in at the hotel and the rest of the afternoon free to wander around this curious town. Night in Kagbeni.
Day 9 Kagbeni - Muktinath - Marpha. 4 hours. Today we will see the most spectacular lunar landscapes of the entire trip. The last 10 kms are on a freshly made asphalt road, as if it were a last gift for those who dare to get here. Arrival in Muktinath at 3800m to have a chai at the highest point of our tour. Visit of its temples and return by another small track to Kagbeni. From there we will go up by a spectacular track to a viewpoint where we have a close up of the impressive Nilgiri peak with its 7000m. Check in at the hotel and rest of the afternoon at leisure to visit this town surrounded by views of the Himalayas, a Buddhist monastery and full of charming streets.
Day 10 Marpha - Tatopani. 5 hours. We start our way back again to Pokhara. In Tatopani you can enjoy a bath in the town's hot springs. Hotel in Tatopani.
Day 11 Tatopani - Pokhara. 4h30 hours. Last day on a motorcycle with 80% paved road. We arrived in Pokhara to say goodbye to our motorcycles and have a few beers in the garden of our favorite restaurant facing the Pokhara lake. Night in Pokhara.
Day 14 - Last hours in Kathmandu before the departure of international flights home. Depending on your departure time, you can visit the city.Transfer to the airport and end of our services.
Duration of the tour:
Travel time: 14 days 13 hotel nights (day 1 to 13 included).Your international flight must arrive to Delhi ind day 1 of the trip, and departure from Kathmandu.
Travel not recommended for a motorcycle companion. Travel with Himalaya model motorcycle.
The price includes:
• Hiring of the motorbike throughout the whole trip. Himalaya model.
• Special permits to enter the Mustang area, TIM Card and individual CAM permit.
• Standard clean hotels. 4* hotel in Delhi Kathmandu, and Pokhara 13 nights (1 to 13 included).
• Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional 450 €). (1*)
• Special permits to enter the Mustang area, TIM Card and individual CAM permit.
• Breakfast, water and tea during the trip on the road.
• English speaker road guide during the motorcycle tour, a mechanic on Enfields.
• Back-up vehicle and driver, for luggage and provide assistance on the road.
• Spare parts, tools, first aid equipment and medicines.
• Full petrol during the tour, tools and repairs and third party insurance.
• Local flights from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
• Transfers from/to airport to hotel in Kathmandu and Delhi.
The price mentioned above does not include
• Visa for Nepal nor India.
• The international flight to Delhi. (between € 450 and € 800)
• Personal expenses such as washing clothes, souvenirs, beverages or entrance fees to monuments.
• Tips for the staff of the tour or of the hotels and restaurants.
• Dinners and meals not included in "the price includes". Average price of a meal in Nepal € 4.
• Transfers or transport during free days.
• Travel assistance insurance. Required (2*)
• 500€ deposit for the motorcycle. The deposit is returned at the end of the trip if the motorcycle has no damages.
Climate and clothing during the trip
The average temperature in Nepal during travel is 26°/28°. The weather is generally dry and sunny, but it can change and temperatures can drop in the mountains and in some cases in the morning. We should have very sunny and warm days, some cold nights, and maybe a few hours of rain. Therefore, it is advisable to wear high sun protection cream, sunglasses and gloves.
Motorbike gear: helmet (best an open one), windtobreaker, gloves, closed boots, and motorbike equipment for the rain (those in two parts preferably). In windy days, the top of the windtobreaker could be enough for not feeling cold. In this season, the rain is rare, but the weather is unpredictable. If you are sensitive to the cold, bring protection. A motorbike tank bag is very useful to keep the camera, hand gloves or small things within reach.
Road and driving conditions in Nepal
Driving in Nepal can be chaotic on the outskirts of urban areas and with totally different rules than what we are used to in Europe, although one adapts quickly to it. An advantage is that in general there is little traffic on the roads and they do not drive fast. Most of the roads are paved and are in a very good general condition, although we can do a few kilometers of dirt track.
This circuit can be done by a driver with little experience due to the ease of the route and the good general condition of the roads.
Nepal is an incredible country and full of magic, but it is not an easy country for which you do not have patience or are not used to unforeseen events and delays. If you decide to join the group, keep in mind that you will have to be flexible with unexpected situations and possible delays due to the special conditions of the country. As I imagine you know, this type of motorcycle adventure carries a certain risk that when you come to the trip I suppose you are aware of it and accept. Good disposition and a good dose of humor are essential to enjoy this trip to the fullest
The Royal Enfield
The Royal Enfield continues to be manufactured in the Indian factories of Madras after the closing of the head office in England in the Fifties.
There have been very few aesthetic and technical changes since then. It is a very solid motorbike with a legendary look and motor noise. With a 500cc engine, the Royal Enfield gives a pleasurable sense of a bygone time on the Indian roads. The Bullet is far from being a fast motorbike but it is the best adapted for the hard conditions of the roads in this part of the world.
Our fleet of Royal Enfields motorcycles are all 500cc models with right side 5 speed gearbox, disk brake and electric start.
1*- Registrations will be made in strict order of the reservation date. Which means that if you book last minute, you may have to opt for a single room if there is no other person to share a double. You know, the earlier you make the reservation, the more chances you will have to sleep in a double room.
2*- It is mandatory to subscribe a travel assistance insurance that covers the use of a motorcycle. If you don't have one with your credit card or with your car or motorcycle insurance. This type of insurance covers medical expenses abroad and repatriation by plane in case of illness or accident.
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