Upper Mustang Journey to Lo Manthang
October 14 - 25, 2024
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The first westerner to visit the hidden Tibetan Kingdom of Lo Manthang, didn’t arrive until 1972. Today the region of Upper Mustang in northern Nepal remains one of the most protected, untouched, and isolated corners of the globe and it’s the destination of this unique expedition.
For two weeks we will ride into the world’s highest mountains, and through them onto the Tibetan Plateau to the 800 year old walled city of Lo Manthang. It’s a deep and authentic exploration of the ancient wonders of old Tibet in a once forbidden kingdom lost to the ages. The highlight of our trip is a chance to visit the rarely seen Buddhist monasteries and the centuries old relics within.
While we’re exploring, we will spend time visiting the 4,000 year old Sky Caves of Upper Mustang and the many other treasures of the realm. This really is a trip ripped from the pages of National Geographic with incredible riding in one of the most interesting places on Earth.
Like all of our expeditions, non-riders are able to join the adventure in a dedicated 4x4 SUV. Our accommodations along the way will include a mix of mountain lodge stays and of course, comfortable nights in our luxury basecamp.
(As one of the most protected places in Asia, the trip fare includes the $500/pp permits to access Upper Mustang as well as all associated fees and resources needed to obtain those permits on your behalf.)
Read the three part set of stories from our October ‘22 trip to Upper Mustang in Upshift Magazine: Journey to Lo Manthang
THE ROUTE OVERVIEW
Like all of our expeditions, we begin in Kathmandu, the gateway to the Himalayas. After a day visiting the many old sights of the city with our award-winning cultural guide we hop a flight to Pokhara for the official start of our journey. Our route immediately takes us up into the lower reaches of the Himalayas where we spend two days ascending slowly to adjust to the 8,000 foot elevation. After visiting the cultural sights and amazing views of the world’s tallest mountains, we ride through the Himalayas and onto the Tibetan Plateau. It’s an other worldly place once in Lo Manthang where we spend the next three days diving into the regions most interesting attractions. After backtracking to Pokhara in the next three days, we end where we started, back in Kathmandu.
Questions?
Have questions about what to pack, how this all works, or what to expect of Nepal? Visit these pages to learn about our amazing experiences in the Himalayas.
We turn daydreams into memories
The Forgotten Kingdom of Lo Manthang
As a former kingdom of Tibet, Lo Manthang existed as one of the longest reigning kingdoms in Asia. The walled city nestled on the northern aspect of the Himalayas on the Tibetan Plateau is so remote few visitors in the last several centuries ever made the journey to see it. Filled with artifacts from the last 800 years, this rugged landscape was once a pass-through for traders and Buddhist pilgrims on route to India and Tibet. Only recently was a road cut into Upper Mustang in the last 20 years. If it’s rare adventure you seek, look no further than the Lost Kingdom of Lo Manthang.
FOUR AMAZING EXPERIENCES IN ONE EXPEDITION
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KATHMANDU
It’s the ancient gateway to the Himalayas and one of the most exotic cities in the world. It’s also the starting point of every Far Xplorer journey and we get to experience it through the eyes of our award-winning cultural guide and Kathmandu native.
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LO MANTHANG
Very few visitors to Nepal get the chance to visit Upper Mustang and experience the rugged beauty of this high mountain environment. Lost to time for centuries, it is a vast and otherworldly place and in many ways a living museum.
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POKHARA
At the tail end of our ride into the Mustang Valley, we get a chance to spend a full day relaxing in Nepal’s famous resort town of Pokhara. Also known as Nepal’s “Adventure City,” it’s an ideal place to end our expedition with other mini adventures.
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GREAT HIMALAYAS
Our route takes us right between Dhaulagiri (26,975 ft), the 7th tallest summit in the world, and Annapurna (26,455 ft) the 10th tallest. The world’s biggest mountains will play backdrop to our travels for the final four days of our journey.
The Far Xplorer Base Camp
Modeled after the finely appointed camps used to climb the highest Himalayan summits, our mobile base camp allows us to go - anywhere. Don’t let the word camp fool you, our roving compound includes private sleeping tents, flushing toilets, hot showers, and multi-course meals served in a dedicated dining tent by our staff of cooks and porters. They are the best in the business and ensure you want for nothing while underway.
What’s it like to ride in Nepal and how do I grab a spot on this trip?
To secure your spot, go to our Booking Page below. A deposit of $1,000 holds your reservation with full payment not due until late July. Each month leading up to departure day you will receive an email newsletter with planning tips, fun information about Nepal, and information to keep you excited for your journey.
Still have questions? Give us a call or visit our various information and planning pages.
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Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc
For this ride we will all travel atop the iconic motorcycle of the Himalayas, the RE 411cc bike of the same name. Plucky and capable, they are a perfect match for this ride.
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Fully Supported & Guided
Our support system includes two support trucks for the camping team and one dedicated 4x4 for the ride team. This allows us to travel light and swift.
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Expedition Camp Accommodations
Our legendary expedition camp includes private sleeping tents, flushing toilets, hot showers, and multicourse meals cooked by a team of expedition chefs.
THE SKY CAVES
In the early 1990s, a group of archeologists commenced the first excavations of the 10,000 caves carved into the cliffs of Lo Manthang. What they found forced a collective evaluation of what was originally known of Himalayan history. Originally carved as burial chambers, the oldest caves contain artifacts dated to more than 4000 years ago. The contents of some caves came from as far away as Sri Lanka, Persia, and northern Japan. We will spend a portion of our time exploring the Sky Caves.
Be the adventure
Itinerary
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We spend our first day resting from long flights and visiting the sites of Kathmandu with our award-winning cultural guide.
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A sunrise start and a 30-minute flight to Pokhara gets us to our bikes for the first ride to our camp at the base of the Himalayas.
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An exciting ride puts us in the Mustang Valley beneath the world’s biggest mountains.
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We use this day to acclimatize and visit some of the small villages and roads in the valley. It’s a casual day of exploration.
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Another day of short rides and fascinating explorations allows us to see the best of Lower Mustang with our hotel lodge right on the edge of Upper Mustang.
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After a couple of nights at 8,000 feet, we’re ready to push on to the walled city of Lo Manthang. This is a beautiful ride in an other worldly place.
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We only cover a few miles on this day as we visit the Sky Caves and enjoy our time in Lo Manthang.
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The ride down offers all-new views as we roll back into Lower Mustang to our camp below Dhaulagiri.
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An early morning start on familiar roads puts us back in the foothills at our last camp by early afternoon.
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A short ride gets us to Pokhara by
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Another short flight puts us in Kathmandu by mid afternoon where the journey started.
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Since most flights depart Kathmandu in the evening, most people will have ample time to explore more of Kathmandu.
4x4 Overland Option
Since our inception we have always offered options for non-riders to join the fun. With space for two travelers, our 4x4 vehicle option includes an English-speaking driver. Never far from the two-wheeled action, our truck travelers get the same experience as the rest of the team. It’s a fun way to share the thrill of backroad adventures in the Himalayas.
Let’s talk adventure
Still have questions? Want to customize your trip? Drop us a line and our expedition leader and co-founder, Christophe Noel, will get in touch with you in a matter of hours. christophe@farxplorer.com
Ready to book your trip? Click the link below to complete your online booking form. We will confirm your spot within 24 hours and get you on the road to big adventure!
Read about our October 2022 expedition into Upper Mustang in the December and February issues of Upshift Online magazine.
