16 Days in Nepal Mustang Adventure by Motorcycle

Day 1 - Amsterdam - Departure

Departure from Schiphol or Brussels.

Day 2 - Arrival - Kathmandu

In the morning we arrive in colorful Kathmandu. Our 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 3 - 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 4 - Katmandu – Chitwan

The motorcycles have now been delivered. We 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 we leave Kathmandu, we 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 we take the main road, which is still reasonably well paved and takes us 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 5 - Chitwan - Stay

We stay here to do a safari in the Chitwan National Park. A no less than 952 km2 park that is largely located in India, after all we 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 we have a jeep with a guide at our disposal.

Day 6 - Chitwan – Lumbini

Today we 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. We try to arrive early in the afternoon because we are staying in the place where the Buddha was born 2,600 years ago. We 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. We stay in a slightly dated stately Nepali hotel with a swimming pool.

Day 7 - Lumbini – Tansen

We 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 8 - Tansen – Baglung

Today we continue north. The roads become quieter and we will drive many small unpaved mountain roads with impressive views. We 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 we have a simple but clean hotel.

Day 9 - Baglung – Jomsom

We prepare to drive to the Lower Mustang. With our permit in our pocket, we drive on largely unpaved mountain roads higher and higher up to 2,800 meters. We 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. We stay in a nice accommodation in an old Nepalese house that has been transformed into a guesthouse. The owner will pamper us with his local Yak meat and also show off his guitar and singing talent.

Day 10 - Jomsom – Mukthinat – Kagbeni

A very short route of only 45 kilometers but every kilometer will impress you. We leave Jomsom and soon we will stop at a suspension bridge where the view will be even more impressive. We then climb to Mukthinat, which is located at over 3,700 m above sea level and will stop at a local coffee shop along the way. Here you can see why the Mustang impresses you 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. We will then have lunch here and then prepare for the most beautiful 20 kilometers of this trip. We will stop so many times to take pictures that it will take us about 3 hours to get to Kagbeni. Kagbeni is an old historical village. We 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, we sit around a wooden stove because it can easily get to -6 degrees here.

Day 11 - Kagbeni – Pokhara

We get up early because we drive back (unpaved) to the lower parts of this massive mountain range. It gradually becomes warmer until we arrive in Beni where we 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 12 - Pokhara - Gorkha

Today a nice long adventurous day with many unpaved roads through a mountainous area. We drive through many remote villages and our lunch will be simple today. We 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 13 - Gorkha - Nuwakot

We may have left the Mustang section, but that doesn't mean it will be any less adventurous. Today we spend a lot of time on unpaved roads through quiet mountain villages, which brings us 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 14 - Nuwakot - Kathmandu

It is a short drive today, but it will be a beautiful, adventurous last few hours on often unpaved roads towards Kathmandu. We will arrive early so that you can still do things in the center.

Day 15 - Kathmandu - Departure

Depending on your flight schedule, you will arrive the same day or on day 16.

Day 16 - Arrival - home