Mustang: The Legendary Expedition - Nata on the Road (Nepal, Host Departure)

Thirteen nights and around 746 miles across Nepal on a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, following the operator’s original Mustang route, with one difference: this departure is led personally by a resident host rider rather than by the usual tour leader roster.

The route itself is unchanged. Patan opens it, then the drop to the Terai and a jungle walk in Chitwan National Park, Tansen on mountain roads to a village well off the usual circuit, and Pokhara on Phewa lake.

Tatopani follows where the tarmac gives out, and the climb up the Kali Gandaki begins. The river runs between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, both over 8,000 metres, which makes this one of the deepest gorges on earth. Marpha comes next through Ghasa on a steep rock-strewn track with river crossings, into Buddhist Mustang, and Muktinath is the high point at 3,700 metres, a pilgrimage site sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike.

The descent returns down the Kali Gandaki with Dhaulagiri in view, then Rupakot above Begnas, Bandipur, Gorkha, Nuwakot on the Trisuli, and Kathmandu by way of Shivapuri National Park, with an evening in Thamel. Bike rental is included and the price is quoted per person. Two things set this departure apart from the standard ones: it runs only if at least eight riders book, and it carries a thirty day free cancellation guarantee, which is more generous than the usual terms. For anyone who likes the idea of a smaller hosted group on a fixed date, it is worth comparing against the regular departures before settling on either.