Motorbike and jeep touring: the roads that are worth it

Nepal is a serious motorcycling destination and a genuinely difficult one. The Mustang road, the Annapurna jeep tracks, and what you are taking on.

By Dawa Gurung · 6 min read · Updated 1 August 2026

Riders come to Nepal specifically, and they are right to — the roads north out of Pokhara climb from subtropical valley to Tibetan high desert in a day and there is nothing quite like it.

They are also, in stretches, not roads. Loose surface, exposure, river crossings, and trucks with a different understanding of the centre line than yours. We do not run motorbike tours. Here is what is out there and what it involves.

The Mustang road

Pokhara to Muktinath by way of Beni, Tatopani and Jomsom, up the Kali Gandaki between two eight-thousanders. The landscape transition is the draw and it is genuinely extraordinary.

Surface ranges from decent tarmac low down to rough jeep track higher, with the wind picking up ferociously from late morning through the gorge. Ride mornings. Beyond Kagbeni into Upper Mustang needs the restricted-area permit and an agency, exactly as trekking there does. Riders are not exempt.

What the riding is like

Royal Enfields dominate the rental market and suit the roads. Smaller trail bikes are better on the rough sections and harder to find.

Expect landslide debris, unbridged streams, livestock, and blind corners with oncoming trucks. Nepali road etiquette is horn-based and works if you understand it, which takes a day.

Fuel is available in the towns and not always between them. Carry extra on the Mustang road and ask locally rather than assuming.

An international licence and appropriate cover are worth having, and many travel policies exclude motorcycling entirely or above certain engine sizes. Check that clause specifically — it is the most commonly voided one after altitude.

Jeep tours, which are the sane version

The same routes by jeep with a driver who does them weekly. Slower, safer, and you get to look at the landscape rather than the surface.

This is how most people get to Muktinath now, and it has made the pilgrimage accessible to elderly and unwell visitors who could never have walked it. That is a genuine good.

For Upper Mustang, an overland jeep tour is a legitimate alternative to trekking it and takes about half the time.

Who should and should not

Should: experienced riders comfortable on loose surfaces, who have ridden in traffic that does not follow the rules they grew up with, and who are not on a fixed schedule.

Should not: anyone learning, anyone with a flight to catch, and anyone who has only ridden on tarmac. These roads punish inexperience and the nearest trauma care is in Pokhara.

If you want the Mustang landscape and are not a confident off-road rider, take the jeep. It is not a lesser trip and you will see more of it.

Walk it with us

Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.

Upper Mustang — Lo Manthang10 days · 3,840 mRs 253,300 · See dates →Jomsom Muktinath Trek8 days · 3,760 mRs 127,200 · See dates →Bandipur Overnight Escape2 days · incl. hotelRs 20,000 · See dates →Tourist Bus & Flight TicketsSame-day bookingFrom Rs 1,600 per seat · See dates →

Questions we get asked

Do you organise motorbike tours?

No. There are specialist operators in Pokhara and Kathmandu who do it properly with support vehicles and mechanics, and we will point you at them.

Can I hire a bike and go alone?

You can, and plenty do. For the Mustang road we would strongly suggest riding with someone who knows it, and remember Upper Mustang requires an agency and permit regardless of transport.

What licence do I need?

An international driving permit with a motorcycle endorsement. Check your travel insurance separately — motorcycling exclusions are extremely common.

Best season?

October to November and March to May. Monsoon brings landslides and washed-out sections; winter closes the higher roads with snow.

Upper Mustang is the one trek that works in monsoonA restricted Tibetan kingdom behind the Himalaya, in a rain shadow so complete you can walk it in July. Red cliffs, cave monasteries and Lo Manthang.9 min read →Nepal's festivals: which are worth planning around, and which will close the banksDashain, Tihar, Holi, Tiji and Mani Rimdu. What each one actually looks like for a visitor, and the two that will disrupt your trip if you ignore them.8 min read →What to eat in Nepal, and what to order on the trailDal bhat twice a day sounds like a sentence until you understand it. Plus Newari food, Thakali food, and the things worth going out of your way for.7 min read →Muktinath: 108 spouts, an eternal flame, and two religionsOne of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Himalaya, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike, and now reachable by jeep in a day from Jomsom.6 min read →

Still deciding?

Tell us your dates and how much walking you have actually done, and we will tell you honestly whether this trek is the right one for you.

Ask a guide