Upper Mustang
Nepal
13 days (Bike: 9 days)
Avid
Off-road
Guided
Semi-Supported
‘Forbidden’ Upper Mustang & Lo Manthang Adventure
The most incredible mountain biking adventure! Challenge yourself with this breathtaking journey through the timeless Kingdom of Lo, a remote Tibetan Buddhist enclave inside Nepal that was, until recently, forbidden to foreigners.
People have inhabited this harsh region for thousands of years, some of the early dwellers living or meditating in ancient caves, rich in unique Buddhist art, which pepper the bizarre rock formations. This mythical land north of the 8000 metre peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri still requires a special restricted area permit to enter, and numbers are limited, thus helping to preserve its unique heritage. The ancient, walled city of Lo Manthang is described by UNESCO as having no place of comparison!
This region is characterised by incredible sculpted canyons with ancient cave monasteries dug into the wild rock formations; fortified, medieval villages offering oases of green fields in the arid landscape of the ‘Tibetan’ Plateau; and wild trails over high passes and along stark ridge-lines, all set against the backdrop of the soaring snow-peaks of the Himalayas.
Lo, in the Upper Mustang region, is a remote and starkly beautiful section of the Tibetan Plateau, the high altitude desert bordered to the south by some of the Himalaya’s highest mountains. The fact that it now lies in Nepal rather than Tibet has enabled the people of the region to preserve their unique and fascinating Tibetan Buddhist culture and lifestyle; which now enables intrepid visitors to learn and experience this ancient way of life.
Our exploration of Upper Mustang takes us on some of the less travelled routes through this sun-drenched region; sometimes following the Kali Gandaki river-bed, other times biking on spectacular trails to passes high above it, and descending on awesome trails through incredibly sculpted gorges, wondering at the ancient cave dwellings and monasteries we see carved into the rugged mountainsides.
Now is the time to visit Mustang while it is still pristine, intriguing and with a sense of the forbidden. These newly opened up trails have to be biked to be believed!
NOTE: The riding on this adventure is incredible. We have some rough and ready jeep tracks and these are fun enough, but we also have some simply unbelievable single trail riding. The trails take us over high passes and on long sweeping downhills, through crazy canyons and along wild ridgelines – all the while looking out to the Himalayan Range.
Tour Information
From
Jomsom
To
Jomsom
Cost From
Guided £ 2695
Single Supplement
£295
Inclusions
Hotel nights in the hotels specified in the itinerary; based on standard rooms on twin share, bed and breakfast plan
Tea house accommodation in the mountains. Note: local tea houses are basic but clean and they do not often have attached bathrooms or hot showers. The price is based on twin share and does not include any extra charge that lodge owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms or hot showers (if these facilities are available) or for battery charging. We can’t know in advance what they may/may not charge in different lodges you so we prefer to leave this cost out, out rather than pass along an estimated charge to you.
Meals as per the itinerary (all meals during the ride, with boiled drinking water)
Entrance fees and English speaking Nepali guide for sightseeing days
Transportation as per the detailed itinerary (includes the flights Kathmandu-Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara-Kathmandu for you and your guide, including transfers and airport taxes)
Your English speaking Nepali biking guide/mechanic and a helper for the luggage, with all their transport, equipment, insurance and including their meals and accommodation
A basic first aid kit appropriate for the group size and route (note this is basic and has no medicines other than the ‘usual’ for stomach troubles, pain relief, a general antibiotic, altitude and a bandage kit. In case of serious injury an evacuation will be arranged to Kathmandu with specialist equipment coming in on the helicopter. If you have medication you need to take, please bring this with you along with spares and make sure to inform us)
Trekking permits and registration fees, including the US$500 permit to enter Upper Mustang
Exclusions
Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary
Mountain bike rental
Any gear or equipment that you may need to rent/buy – please ask us if you would like any advice about gear to bring/buy/rent
International flights to and from Kathmandu
Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes
Any excess baggage charges
Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and rescue evacuation should this be required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover)
Rescue/evacuation costs (to be covered by your insurance)
Additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours outside the detailed itineraries above
Single supplement, please see single supplement charge
Personal expenses (eg mineral water/soft drinks/bar bills, entrance/photography fees at monasteries, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra snacks etc)
Any extra charge that tea house owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) and charging of batteries
Tips for your biking crew, city guide, drivers etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
Costs incurred due to changes in programs and reservations due to unforeseen events (eg landslides, strikes, fuel shortages etc)
Additional
Please note: the lodges will boil water for you to drink which is preferable environmentally to buying mineral water, since the bottles are not recycled. We recommend that you take two x 1 litre water bottles which can take boiling water (one is nice to have at your toes on a cold night, while the other cools down for the morning!)
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