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PlannedNepal Himalayas
Kathmandu, the Kali Gandaki gorge and Upper Mustang. Trans-Himalayan desert and Tibetan culture, ridden in spring and autumn.
Register interest
Nepal
Motorcycle expeditions across Nepal
Kathmandu to the old kingdom of Lo, up the deepest gorge on earth and out into trans-Himalayan desert. Nepal packs more change of scene into a week than most countries manage in a month.
Green foothills at breakfast, Tibetan desert by dinner.
Nepal climbs from subtropical valleys to the highest peaks on the planet in less than 150 kilometres. Riding it means terraced farmland, pine forest, a river gorge with 8,000 metre peaks on both sides, and then bare ochre country that looks nothing like the rest of the country.
Our expeditions run through the Nepalese Himalayas, from Kathmandu up the Kali Gandaki into Mustang. It is the same range we have worked since 2014, read from the other side of the border.
Regions
Where we ride in Nepal
Why us
Why ride Nepal with Offhorizon
- 01
Himalayan since 2014
A decade of running vehicles and groups at altitude, on both sides of the range.
- 02
Kathmandu to Mustang
One route that takes in the capital, the Kali Gandaki gorge and the walled city of Lo Manthang.
- 03
Local guides
People who know which side of the valley the afternoon wind comes down, because they ride it.
- 04
Planned, not improvised
Structured itineraries with acclimatisation built in and enough slack to absorb a bad day.
- 05
Full support
Expedition leader, mechanic travelling with the group, backup vehicle and permits handled.
Small groups. We would rather run one good departure than three crowded ones.
Start your Nepal expedition
Pick a departure from the calendar, or tell us the dates you have and we will build the route around them.
Before you go
Riding in Nepal
Do I need permits to ride in Nepal?
Yes, and Upper Mustang needs more than the usual ones.
Depending on the route, expect to need:
- A restricted area permit for Upper Mustang, which can only be issued through a registered agency
- An Annapurna Conservation Area permit
- A tourist visa, available on arrival for most nationalities
We arrange the permits, but the restricted area one takes time and needs your passport and visa details well before departure. Leave it late and the route has to change.
When is the riding season in Nepal?
Spring and autumn are the main windows, and Mustang stretches them.
- March to May: warm, clear, rhododendron in flower at altitude
- June to August: monsoon in most of the country, but Mustang sits in the rain shadow and stays comparatively dry
- September to November: the most settled weather and the sharpest mountain views
December to February is cold and several passes get snow. Tell us your dates and we will say honestly whether they work.
What licence do I need to ride in Nepal?
A valid motorcycle licence from your home country plus an International Driving Permit, obtained before you travel.
Bring the physical documents. Checkpoints on the Mustang road do ask.
Hear it from our riders
The clearest account of what we do is not written by us
Riders share their journeys on Google, TripAdvisor and Trustpilot. Read what they say about the routes, the landscapes and the crew who kept them moving.
To everyone who has ridden with us: thank you. Your stories are the reason we keep planning the next one.