A One-Week Motorcycle Trip in Nepal: Route Options

Seven days is enough for a real motorcycle trip in Nepal, but it does not stretch to everything. Upper Mustang takes nine to eleven days. The long Himalayan circuits take two weeks. What a week does well is one clear route, with a rest day or a buffer day, a few good nights in mountain villages, and the time to enjoy the riding instead of racing it.

This guide covers five one-week route options, what each one asks of you, and how to pick. Day counts include arrival and departure, so a "seven-day" trip has about five days in the saddle.

How to Count a Week

Most visitors fly into Kathmandu, so day one is for arriving and sorting the bike, and the last day is for flying out. That leaves about five riding days. The first of those often starts at the Kathmandu city limits, where the first hour is spent in traffic.

Two things decide how far you get: how long you spend on the road each day, and how much slack the plan has. Mountain days run slower than the map suggests. A 120-kilometre stretch can fill a day once you count surface, wind, and tea. Build in one buffer day for weather, a landslide, or a tired rider, and a week still works.

 

The Five Options at a Glance

Day counts for the tours come from the Nepal Moto Tours site. Elevations are approximate.

 

Option 1: Jomsom and Muktinath

This is the classic one-week ride. The Jomsom Muktinath Motorbike Tour runs seven days from Kathmandu to Muktinath Temple. According to the site, it starts in the green middle hills and ends on the dry plateau below the high peaks.

The Route

From Kathmandu, the road runs west to Pokhara, about 200 kilometres and roughly six hours. From Pokhara, it follows the Kali Gandaki valley north through Beni and Tatopani and up the gorge to Jomsom, about 145 kilometres. The last leg climbs from Kagbeni to Muktinath, a gain of roughly 900 metres.

What You See

The Kali Gandaki gorge is often called the deepest in the world, with Dhaulagiri on one side and Annapurna and Nilgiri on the other. The post on viewpoints along the Jomsom road shows where to stop. Marpha has whitewashed lanes and apple orchards, and Kagbeni sits at the edge of Upper Mustang. At the end, the Muktinath temple has 108 water spouts and a natural flame.

Sample Week

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu and prepare the bike.
Day 2: Ride to Pokhara.
Day 3: Pokhara to Tatopani or Marpha.
Day 4: Continue to Muktinath for the afternoon and night.
Day 5: Early morning at the temple, then ride down to Marpha or Tatopani.
Day 6: Ride to Pokhara.
Day 7: Ride or transfer to Kathmandu and fly out.

Honest Notes

This is a tight week. The overland legs between Kathmandu and Pokhara use two of your seven days. If you want slack, start in Pokhara. The Pokhara rental page lists bikes, and a Pokhara-start trip gives you an extra day or two in the mountains.

You need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, and sometimes a TIMS card. A guided tour handles these. The road is mostly paved to Jomsom, with gravel above it. Indian riders planning to use their own bikes should read the Muktinath yatra guide.

 

Option 2: Everest View

The Everest View Motorbike Tour runs six days. The site describes a ride on paved highway from Kathmandu to Pattale Danda, a hilltop viewpoint on the Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu border, with no off-road trail and no restricted permits.

The Route

The road heads east from Kathmandu through the hills and down to the Sun Koshi River at Khurkot, then climbs to the Okhaldhunga ridge. Operators on this route commonly quote about 124 kilometres and five to six hours between Khurkot and Pattale. The village sits near 2,800 metres, so altitude is mild.

What You See

From the viewpoint, Everest and a long line of high peaks show on clear days, including Lhotse and Makalu. This is a distant panorama rather than a close-up. The villages on the way are home to Rai communities, a different cultural setting from the Sherpa and Tibetan towns of the classic Everest trek.

Honest Notes

The ride is a good first Himalayan trip. Surfaces are paved, altitude is moderate, and no permit hassle arises. Views depend on weather, so book October to November or March to April for the best odds. Check the when to visit page for seasons. Do not expect close mountain faces. The reward is the scenery, the road, and the villages.

 

Option 3: Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bandipur

The Kathmandu Pokhara Bandipur Circuit takes five days. It is the easiest of the five options, and it leaves room to add two days.

The Route

Ride the Prithvi Highway west toward Pokhara, with a night in Bandipur, a preserved Newari hill town on a ridge about 140 kilometres from Kathmandu. Continue to Pokhara for lakeside evenings and mountain views, then return.

Stretching It to a Week

Add a day trip to Ghandruk or Sarangkot from Pokhara, and a night in Tansen on the Siddhartha Highway if you return that way. Add a rest day by the lake. This version suits couples, first-timers, and riders who prefer culture and good meals over altitude.

Honest Notes

The riding is paved and moderate, but traffic on the highway is heavy and the trucks are real. Leave early and avoid riding after dark. This route gives the least mountain drama and the most relaxed pace.

 

Option 4: Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara

The Chitwan Lumbini Pokhara Motorbike Tour runs five days and covers three very different places.

The Route

Chitwan National Park in the lowlands is home to one-horned rhinoceroses and other wildlife. Lumbini in the western Terai is the birthplace of the Buddha. Pokhara, in the hills, offers the lake and the mountain views. The road between them passes through the Terai plains and up the Siddhartha Highway to the hills.

Honest Notes

The Terai is hot in summer, and the best months are October to March. Roads are mostly paved, with some stretches of rough surface and heavy traffic. This is the best route if you want wildlife and heritage alongside riding. Add the Bandipur night from Option 3 to reach a full week.

 

Option 5: Kalinchowk and Dolakha

The Kalinchowk and Dolakha Ride runs five days. Kalinchowk is a ridge at about 3,842 metres with a temple reached by cable car, and in winter snow covers the upper road.

The Route

The route heads southeast from Kathmandu through Dhulikhel and Panauti to Charikot, then climbs to the cable car terminus. The distance is about 130 kilometres each way, and the upper section can be icy in the morning.

Stretching It to a Week

Add a night in Dhulikhel or Panauti on the way, and a day ride from Kathmandu to Nagarkot or Kakani on the way back. The post on places to ride around Kathmandu lists options.

Honest Notes

This route has the highest road elevation among the five, so dress for cold even in good weather. December to February offers snow, and March to May brings rhododendron bloom on the lower slopes. It is paved to the terminus, with rough patches on the upper section. It suits riders who want mountain scenery without the logistics of Mustang.

 

What a Week Does Not Cover

Some routes need more time, and rushing them is a mistake.

The Manang Motorbike Tour runs eight days. The Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour from Pokhara takes nine days, and the full Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour from Kathmandu takes eleven. The Upper Mustang restricted area adds permit time, altitude, and rougher tracks that need a rest day for acclimatisation. If these are your dream routes and you only have a week, pick one of the five above and save the big ride for a longer trip.

 

Choosing Your Route

You have never ridden off paved roads. Pick Everest View, the Bandipur circuit, or Chitwan and Lumbini. All are mostly paved.

You want Himalayan scenery and some gravel. Pick Jomsom and Muktinath, ideally starting from Pokhara.

You want snow or a cold-weather ridge ride. Pick Kalinchowk between December and February.

You want culture, food, and a relaxed pace. Pick Bandipur and Pokhara, with a Lumbini or Chitwan add-on.

You have a partner or friend who does not ride. Ask the operator about pillion options and about support-vehicle arrangements on each route.

 

Bikes and Gear

For paved routes, a Royal Enfield Classic 350 at USD 35 per day is comfortable. For gravel and mountain roads, the Himalayan 411 at USD 39 per day has more ground clearance. The Hero Xpulse 200 at USD 30 is lighter for riders who are comfortable on dirt. Confirm rates when you book.

Bring your own helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Add cold-weather layers for any route above 2,000 metres. Nepal Moto Tours states that riders need a valid International Driving Permit and travel or medical evacuation insurance, so organise both before you travel.

 

Planning Notes for Any Week-Long Trip

Book a buffer day before your flight home. Landslides, weather, and fatigue happen, and a missed flight costs more than an extra night in a hotel.

Ride in the morning. Mountain valleys have afternoon wind, and cloud builds later in the day.

Check the season. October and November give the clearest air, and March to May is the second window. The monsoon, June to September, cuts views and brings landslides to hill roads.

Carry cash in small notes. Cards and ATMs are unreliable outside the cities.

Tell the operator about your riding experience honestly. A good guide adjusts the plan to the group, and the best week is the one that fits.

 

Not sure which one-week route fits your dates and experience? Send Nepal Moto Tours a message with your riding history, the dates you have, and what you most want to see. The team replies within about one working day.