Destination: Himalaya, India, Nepal
Duration: 16 Day(s)
Group Size: 8
Pillion Friendly: Oh no
Terrain: A real mix – probably very tough in places
Support: Tour leader / Mechanic / Support vehicle
Distance: Yes, we can supply distance
*** Arrival Airport: Kathmandu (KTM)
This not your ordinary motorcycle tour – this is a first, a one-off expedition into the high wilds of far-western Nepal and onto parts of the Tibetan plateau where no tour company has ridden before. Our ultimate target, conditions allowing, is the ultra-remote Lapche La, a pass with views to Kailash, an almost unbelievably dramatic mountain jutting up out of the surrounding plain.
Kailash is revered by Hindus as a Stairway to Heaven; the home of the god Shiva and his family. For Buddhists this mighty monolith is the Father of The World – the mother being Lake Manasarover, which lies placid at its foot. indigenous Tibetan Bon traditions have this place as the centre of the universe and it is the birthplace of four holy Rivers which rise in the area: the Brahmaputra, Indus, Sutlej and Ghaghara (a tributary of the Ganges, known as the Karnali in lowland Nepali).
Beautiful, dramatic and revered, but in no way easy to access – this expedition is going to be a rather tough puppy. You will need to be experienced, resilient and able to cope with conditions and events as they arise. The team will comprise of up to eight participants, two-leader-guides, a mechanic and a back-up vehicle, which may not manage to accompany us all the way.
To meet the team, you will fly to Kathmandu, where you will stay the night before your onward flight to Pokhara the following morning (35mins). On most days this flight will offer jaw-dropping vistas over the Annapurna Massif, with views all the way to the very, very big mountains. In Pokhara your tour team will meet you and we will prepare for the awesome adventure ahead of us.
First we must head down to the Terai Plain to meet up with the Karnali River, which we will follow up into the High Himalaya. By our fourth day on the road, tar surfaces will be a rarity and we expect a rough and rocky ride. For the ascent of the Lapche Pass, we will set off from camp, riding light. Take a look at the itinerary for more detail.
Weather will range from warm, or hot in the lower areas, to 'nippy,' or cold in the high stations, including (three nights). We would not expect rain at the times of year that we are running this tour, but it's always possible and if so we could have sleet or snow.
You will riding up to around 5000m (16,000ft) and need to be fit and healthy to complete this trip. There are certain medical conditions we should know about, so check with Blazing Trails and your GP if in doubt. Maximum altitude is Some of the roads we are riding are not on the map, or only marked as footpaths or trails, so you will need to speak to your travel insurer to establish whether you have adequate cover.
Before you book a place, please call me (Damon) on 07494 050404, or mail damon@blazingtrailstours.co.uk so we can discuss the rigours of this trip and you understand what it entails.
The 'START DATE' (Day 1) date is the date of arrival at your destination airport. The 'END DATE' is the date on which you fly home. Please make sure that on booking you select a tour date and bike.
Advice on finding a flight can be found HERE
Leap aboard your overnight flight and kip to Kath'.
You will arrive at the airport and get a taxi to your comfortable hotel in Thamel, the thriving hub of Kathmandu. Depending on your arrival time, you'll have time to explore the lively streets and temples. Restaurants and bars can be sampled before off to bed you go.
You will be transported to the domestic terminal for the short-hop (30 min) flight to Pokhara (there should be awe-inspiring views from the 'plane). At Pokhara you will be met by your Blazing crew. After a briefing at the hotel, we'll head out for dinner in this lively town.
Not a massive day, but a beautiful one, with lots of bends and views. Taking the backroads, we will leave Pokhara Valley and thread our way through the hills, with (clouds permitting) great views back towards Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. A stop at Tansen will give us a comfortable night and the chance to sample this region's famous cuisine.
Up for an early start and a full day's riding. We will be winding over the hills and down to the Terai plain, where we will have to knock out a few km on the highway at near sea-level. From here, it's up and again into forested hills. The night is spent at a smart-ish hotel in the forest above the major town of Surkhet (ex-Bhirendranagar).
The warm-up is over. Today the roads are a mixture of tar, smashed tar and rocky dirt as we roughly track the stunning Karnali River toward its source. We overnight in a small town at the confluence one the Karnali and one of its tributaries in a family-run guest house where the food is good, the rooms habitable and the views big..
Things now start to get remote, as we leave our rough, insignificant road for a yet rougher, lesser version. Accommodation in the Simikot region is currently under discussion because the Radison is fully booked, but you can be assured that it will be somewhere to lay your lovely bonce and there might be food and stuff.
Yup, you guessed it – more remote. However, there is a camp here with some huts and tents and as soon as the manager's ears thaw out (which should happen some time in June) we will attempt to get it booked. We plan to spend three nights here, as this will be our base from which we will make an attempt to get through to Lapche La and the view of Kailash.
Having hung seaweed from the earlobes of virgin grandmothers, thrown young goats into the air and consulted shepherds on sky colour and river levels, we will make a call on whether we can safely make a bid for the pass. As we are in Limi for three nights, we have a day held in hand in case we're late, or the climate is throwing a wobbly. If at all possible, we'll get it bagged and rest the following day.
See yesterday, which might actually be today. No surcharge for time travel.
Or not. We are trying to find an alternative destination for this day, but have put this in because if that doesn't work out then we have this to make sure that we can complete the trip.
Again, we are likely to be using somewhere else, but it's taking time to pin it down. Again, if we were to stay in Surkhet again then we can do the trip. And it's a good place for a rest.
Another one that we will try and finesse a bit. This will be a long, rough old ride, but we have a plan-B that we are working on. Wherever we have the stops on this primitive road it's also a very charming ride, though areas barely touched by tourism.
More kms on hard broken roads. But beautiful. We end at the famous Cliff Hotel, overlooking a vast gorge and very flipping comfortable thanks very much!
A very short and very easy ride taken from the view of what has gone before. We will arrive in Pokhara in time to enjoy an evening in hospital, having our backsides stitched back together.
Today those not staying on for the Full Nepal Tour will head to the airport, fly to Kathmandu and board taxis for the 40-ish-minute drive to Bhaktapur – a beautiful historic venue for a night or two.
You will be transported from Bhaktapur to the International airport, unless you have elected to partake in an extra day or two – see below. Bye, bye.
The tours can be booked online, by email, or over the phone on: +44 (0) 7494 050404. To secure a place you will be asked to put down a 15% deposit and payment can be made by card, cheque, or bank transfer.
International flights are not included in the price of your tour, but internal flights are. We can provide details of where to book an appropriate International flight.
Best to obtain your E-visa visa from the Embassy of Nepal: https://uk.nepalembassy.gov.np/visa/. Currently a 15-day visa costs £25.
You will need a valid certificate of travel insurance and an International Driving Permit.
Obtain one through the Post Office service, at major branches. All you need is your UK Driving Licence and some six of His Imperial Majesty's Pounds.
Yes. We enjoy hosting riders from all countries.
Yes, you need travel insurance to cover you for the period of the tour. This insurance must cover you to ride the bike you have booked.
We would advise that you have some idea of the Nepali Rupee exchange rate before you leave, to avoid getting ripped-off. We would advise changing around £100 at the airport. In many major towns, there are cash-points that will accept major credit and debit cards. In Kathmandu and Pokhara you will be able to use money changers and banks. Further advice to this will be given in the tour briefing.
About £350 should cover food, drink, and sundries.
Not if you pay a supplement, which can be selected at the booking stage.
It is always clean and the best we can find in the area with a suitable setting. We are in clean, comfortable hotels or resorts. One night you will be staying in a tented camp in the jungle.
Usually, but it can't always be guaranteed in remote areas. During our jungle night there's no power. If it's vital you need electrical power every night, please speak to us before booking. Don't forget a travel adaptor if you need to recharge your electricals.
You need a licence to ride the bike you've booked. It would also be good to have a couple of year's experience. While you don't need dirt-riding experience, as we can help you through tricky sections there are dirt roads to be tackled. These may be muddy, or/and rocky in places.
Riding anywhere carries with it a degree of risk, as does riding in Nepal. If any rider joining us rides in a manner we suspect will endanger themselves, or others, they will receive one warning. If they continue to display a threat to the safety or enjoyment of others on the tour, they will be excluded from the remainder (with no refund given, see terms and conditions).
Due to road conditions and other traffic, vehicles tend to move a lot slower in Nepal than they do in the West. We will do likewise. There are also constraints on speed enforced by the bikes. These are not high-revving sports bikes and so we will lead the tour at a maximum speed of around 70-80kph where conditions allow
No, you can't ride independently of the tour group, sorry.
Reasonably so. What's 'reasonably fit'? If you can't jog up stairs without panting, then Nepali bike tours probably aren't for you.
Yes, but please be sure they know what they're letting themselves in for: some long-ish days in the saddle and bumpy roads. We have space in our support vehicles, so pillions can take a rest.
You are limited to 20kg on most flights. We suggest you pack as lightly and in as compact a form as possible. As support vehicle space is tight, we insist you bring soft luggage. If you turn up with a suitcase we will ask you to buy a soft bag and repack.
Keep it minimal. One set of riding kit for the tour and a couple of sets of clothes for the evening. There are laundry facilities at two-night stops, but it's a good idea to bring under-layers that can be hand-washed.
If you're wet, yes. One small travel towel. Although most of our hotels provide towels, there may be the occasional night you'll want your own.
All breakfasts and some evening meals are included – where there is little choice. In some places guests may chose to eat dinner where they wish.
We would firstly suggest that you avoid too much curry, purely on the grounds that you don't like it. Nepali cuisine has much more to offer than what we in the West are offered in most 'Indian' restaurants. In many destinations, Western-style food is available and where it is not, less spicy food can be arranged.
Yes. If your riding kit isn't waterproof, then bring a waterproof over-layer.
Consult your GP/travel clinic for immunisation and medical advice. Bring enough of any prescribed medication you take regularly. A basic first aid kit is useful (plasters, antiseptic cream, bite/sting relief, plus insect repellent). Any serious medical problems will be dealt with by the tour medic.
Yes, don't mess with elephants.
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