Deep in the Himalayas. Miles from the Tibetan border.

Upper Mustang is one of the most remote and isolated regions of Nepal. Closed to outsiders until the 1990s and still protected by a strict permitting system, this ancient Himalayan kingdom remains a place few travelers ever experience.

At its heart is Lo Manthang, a 1,000-year-old Tibetan walled city just miles from the Chinese border. Beautifully preserved Buddhist monasteries, ancient villages and centuries of history remain throughout a region that spent much of the modern era isolated from the outside world.

Upper Mustang is often described as an open-air museum—a remarkably preserved window into Tibetan culture as it existed centuries ago. Strict access regulations and the region's remote location have helped preserve communities, traditions and historic sites that have changed remarkably little over time.Few travelers ever reach this part of Nepal. That isolation is part of what makes Upper Mustang extraordinary.

This is where the journey begins.

Trip Overview

Eleven days into the heart of the Himalayas.

The trip begins in Kathmandu, with time to experience Nepal’s capital before a short domestic flight takes us to Pokhara at the foot of the Himalayas. There, we meet the motorcycles and the road team and begin the ride into Mustang.

Over the following days, the route takes us through the deepest gorge on Earth, between the 7th and 10th tallest mountains in the world, and through the Himalayas to the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Lo Manthang marks the northernmost point of the trip, just seven miles from the Chinese border.

From Lo Manthang, several days are spent exploring the surrounding valleys, villages and historic sites before the route turns south through Mustang and eventually returns to Pokhara. A short flight brings us back to Kathmandu to complete the 11-day trip.

FACES OF MUSTANG

The people, traditions and centuries of history along the way.

Throughout the trip, the landscape is constantly changing, but some of the most memorable moments happen in the villages and communities along the way.

Daily life here reflects generations of tradition—from religious practices and village life to the people who continue to call this remote region home.

Traveling through Mustang offers something the landscape alone can't show: a chance to experience the human side of one of the most remarkable regions in the Himalayas.

The pace of the trip gives us time to stop, look around and connect with the communities we pass through. Those encounters become part of the experience, not simply scenery along the route.

The Riding

A mix of pavement, gravel and trails through the Himalayas.

The route combines approximately 40% pavement, 50% gravel and 10% mild single- and doubletrack. Riders should have intermediate off-road skills and moderate to good fitness for riding at elevation.

Royal Enfield Scram 411 and 440 motorcycles are used throughout the trip. Their simple, proven design allows the local team to service and repair the motorcycles quickly, even in the remote regions of Mustang.