11-Day Lower Mustang E-MTB Expedition, Kathmandu to Muktinath

The 11-Day Lower Mustang E-MTB Expedition takes you from the green hills of Pokhara into the dry, high valleys of Mustang, on the far side of the Himalaya. You travel up the Kali Gandaki valley between Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m), then ride from Jomsom to Kagbeni, climb to Muktinath, and reach the high point of the trip at Gyu La Pass, 4,070 m.

The ride home is mostly downhill. You drop through the Lupra valley, follow the river past Marpha and the lakes near Kalopani, and ride down the gorge towards Beni before returning to Pokhara via Sarangkot.

You ride a full-suspension e-MTB with a Bosch motor, which helps most where the air is thin and the climbs are long. A senior guide, assistant guide, mechanic, and 4WD support team travel with the group, and hotels, lodges, meals, permits, and flights are included.

Expedition at a Glance

Why Do Lower Mustang on an E-MTB?

Lower Mustang is some of the best high-mountain riding in Nepal, and it is also some of the hardest on the lungs. Most of the challenge is not the trail. It is climbing above 3,000 m, where every breath carries less oxygen. That is where an e-MTB changes the trip.

• The motor does not tire at altitude. An electric motor does not need oxygen, so the Bosch motor gives the same help at 4,000 m as it does in Pokhara, while your own body works harder with every metre. The climbs to Muktinath and Gyu La become steady rather than exhausting.

• More energy for the descents. Lower Mustang pays you back in downhill. Arriving at the top with energy left means you ride the Lupra descent and the Kali Gandaki singletrack with better focus.

• It suits mixed groups. A strong rider and a less fit partner can ride the same trails at a similar pace, because each rider sets their own level of assist.

• You still ride the real trail. The motor only helps when you pedal. You still steer, brake, and pick your lines on loose shale and rocky singletrack.

This expedition also explains one thing you might notice in the itinerary: it drives to Jomsom instead of flying. E-bike batteries cannot travel on passenger flights, so the bikes and batteries go by 4WD, and so do you.

Altitude and Route Profile

Trail Composition

Lower Mustang has a bit of everything, from wide desert tracks to narrow, rocky singletrack. Roughly, the riding breaks down like this:

What this means for you

• Loose shale is common. Many descents above Muktinath run on loose, sharp rock. Full suspension and steady braking help a lot.

• Some trail is exposed. Parts of the high singletrack run along steep slopes. You should be comfortable riding narrow trail with a drop to one side.

• Jeep tracks can be rough and busy. You share them with jeeps, buses, and mule trains, and dust is common.

• Wind is part of the day. A strong wind blows up the Kali Gandaki valley every afternoon, so the group rides early where it can.

• You can always walk a section. Your guide will show you the safest line and wait while you walk anything you are not happy to ride.

Altitude and Acclimatisation

This expedition goes higher, faster, than a typical trek, because the e-MTB takes away most of the physical strain of climbing. Your body still needs time to adjust, so the altitude plan matters.

• The biggest jump is Day 5. Riders sleep at Kagbeni (about 2,810 m) and then at Ranipauwa (about 3,710 m), a gain of about 900 m in one night. Medical guidance advises no more than about 500 m of extra sleeping height per night above 3,000 m, so this is a step to take seriously.

• Day 6 helps. Riding up to Gyu La at 4,070 m and sleeping again at Ranipauwa follows the "climb high, sleep low" principle.

• After Day 6, you only go down. From Muktinath onwards, every night is lower than the last.

• Your guides watch for symptoms. Senior guides are trained in wilderness first aid and check daily for headache, nausea, poor sleep, and unusual tiredness. They will change the pace or the plan if needed.

• Your part. Tell us about any past altitude sickness when you book. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol on Days 4 to 6, and tell your guide straight away if you feel unwell.

• Emergency backup. The group carries a medical kit and an emergency oxygen cylinder. Your travel insurance must cover high-altitude mountain biking and helicopter evacuation.

Batteries, Charging and Transport

Why the bikes and batteries go by road

International air rules do not allow passengers to carry lithium batteries over 160 Wh, and e-MTB batteries are several times larger. That is why this trip uses our own [e-MTB fleet in Nepal](https://www.nepalmountainbike.com/blog/e-mtb-rentals-in-nepal-2026-prices-best-bikes-tours-booking-guide), and why the bikes and batteries travel to Jomsom by 4WD rather than on the Jomsom flight.

How charging works

• Every night on a power supply. The lodges used on this route, at Kagbeni, Muktinath, Marpha and Kalopani, are on the electricity grid or have solar storage.

• Chargers travel with the support vehicle and are set up in the lodge each evening.

• Standard package: charging uses the lodge's normal power supply.

• Premium package: power is pre-arranged with the lodges, so your battery is guaranteed a full overnight charge.

• Cold nights. Lithium batteries lose range in freezing weather and should not be charged below 0°C, so batteries are brought indoors overnight.

Getting the most from one charge

Your guide will show you when to use each assist mode. Eco and Tour on the long jeep-track climbs save battery for the steep singletrack, where eMTB or Turbo mode helps most.

Your E-MTB

You ride a full-suspension electric mountain bike from our own fleet: the Trek Rail 5 Gen 3 or the Bergamont E-Trailster. Both use Bosch mid-drive motors with 85 Nm of torque, removable batteries, and hydraulic disc brakes.

• Fitted to you. Frame size, suspension sag, cockpit, and brakes are set up on Day 2.

• Checked every day. Your mechanic tunes and checks the bikes daily, with tools and selected spare parts carried in the support vehicle.

• Helmet included. Every rider gets a MIPS helmet.

Bringing your own bike? You can save USD 300 on either package. Please talk to us before you book, because e-bike batteries cannot be carried on flights. If you bring a bike, a tubeless setup with reinforced tyre casings is strongly recommended for the sharp shale and rocky descents.

Meet Your Guides

Every departure is led by an experienced Nepali mountain bike guide from our own team, with an assistant guide and a mechanic.

Laxman Sunar, Senior Lead Guide

Laxman grew up in the hills around Pokhara and has been guiding in Upper and Lower Mustang since 2010, including several Tiji Festival trips. He knows the Lupra Valley singletrack and the lake trails near Kalopani well, and has ridden widely in Mustang, the Annapurna region, Dolpo, and on the Pokhara to Kathmandu route. He holds a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) qualification, has a bachelor's degree, and speaks fluent English.

Suman B.K., Assistant Guide

Suman is one of the strongest riders on our team and loves enduro and all-mountain riding. He grew up in Gandaki Province and has ridden many trips in Upper and Lower Mustang, so he knows the trails and the culture of the region closely. He holds Wilderness First Responder and Red Cross first aid qualifications.

Anil B.K., Assistant Guide

Anil is a local mountain bike race champion who loves cross-country and all-mountain riding, and he finished third in a local enduro championship in Pokhara. He grew up in this province and has ridden many times in the Annapurna, Everest, and Manaslu regions. He holds a Wilderness First Responder qualification and speaks fluent English.

Santaram Bishwokarma, Master Mechanic

Santaram travels with every departure. He runs daily suspension and battery checks and handles repairs on the trail from the support vehicle. He has worked with Nepal MTB Adventures as a senior guide and mechanic for more than 20 years.

Permits

Lower Mustang is not a restricted area, so you do not need the expensive restricted area permit that Upper Mustang requires. You need two standard permits, and both are included in your package.

• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals

• TIMS card: arranged through our office

Kagbeni is the last village before the Upper Mustang restricted area begins, so the group does not ride north of it on this trip. Nepal's rules also require a licensed guide in protected areas, which this expedition already includes.

Best Time to Ride

Lower Mustang Through the Year

Lower Mustang can be ridden in every season, and each one brings a different trip.

• Spring. The valleys warm up, the apple trees around Marpha blossom, and long days give plenty of riding time.

• Autumn. The most popular season, with crisp air, blue skies, and the big peaks at their clearest.

• Winter. Quiet trails and lodges, and often clear skies, but nights at Muktinath drop well below freezing. Pack warm layers and expect shorter battery range on cold mornings.

• Monsoon. Mustang lies behind the main Himalaya, so the upper valleys get far less rain than Pokhara. The lower gorge and the road can still be wet and slippery, and landslides can delay the drive.

For the lower gorge and the road, the drier months are safest. Across the country, the best time to mountain bike in Nepal depends on the region, and Mustang's rain shadow makes it one of the few areas where riding carries on through the summer.

Is This Expedition Right for You?

This expedition suits

• Intermediate and advanced riders who are comfortable on loose, rocky, and exposed trail

• Riders who want high-altitude Himalayan riding without spending every ounce of energy on the climbs

• Couples and groups where riders have different fitness levels

• Riders who want a fully supported trip, with transport, lodges, meals, and permits handled

• Travellers interested in Mustang's culture, from Muktinath and Kagbeni to the Bon village of Lupra

• Riders who prefer long descents to long climbs

How hard is it?

The expedition is graded Challenging. The motor makes the climbing manageable, but the trip still asks a lot:

• Riding on 8 of the 11 days, up to about 48 km in a day

• Technical singletrack with loose shale, rock and some exposure

• Riding at up to 4,070 m, with two nights at about 3,710 m

• Wind, dust and long days in the saddle
  

If you are unsure whether the trip suits your riding, send us a short description of your experience, and we will give you an honest answer.

Riding Responsibly in Mustang

Mustang's trails pass through villages, farmland, and sacred sites that people have used for centuries. A few simple habits help keep them welcoming.

On the trail

• Give way to mule trains and livestock. Stop, move to the uphill side of the trail, and let them pass.

• Slow down in villages. Children, animals, and older people share the lanes.

• Stay on the trail. Cutting corners on loose shale causes erosion that lasts for years.

• Brake smoothly. Skidding tears up the trail surface, especially on steep descents.

At sacred sites

• Pass mani walls and chortens on the left, walking or riding clockwise around them.

• In Lupra, the custom is reversed. Lupra is a Bon village, and Bon practitioners walk counter-clockwise around their sacred sites. Follow your guide's lead.

• At Muktinath, dress modestly, follow the signs about shoes and photography, and let pilgrims go first.

• Do not collect or buy shaligram fossils. These ammonite fossils from the Kali Gandaki are sacred, and collecting or exporting them is prohibited under Nepali law.

In the mountains

• Carry out all your rubbish. Waste management in the high valleys is limited.

• Use a refillable bottle. Safe drinking water is provided, so there is no need for plastic bottles.

• Respect the Upper Mustang boundary. The restricted area begins north of Kagbeni, and entering it needs a special permit.

• Ask before taking photos of people, and support local lodges, cafes, and shops along the way.

Leave No Trace is part of how we run every tour, as set out in our community and sustainability pledge.

What to Pack

This is a supported trip, so your main bag travels by vehicle in the expedition duffle bag we provide. Pack for hot valleys and freezing nights. The full mountain biking checklist for Nepal covers multi-day trips like this one in detail.

Riding clothes

• Padded cycling shorts and moisture-wicking jerseys

• Long-sleeve riding tops for sun and dust

• Full-finger gloves

• MTB shoes or flat-pedal shoes with good grip

• Knee pads, recommended for the technical descents

Warm weather layers

• A windproof jacket for the afternoon wind

• A light waterproof jacket

• A warm down or synthetic jacket for evenings at Muktinath

• Thermal base layers, a warm hat and warm gloves

Personal essentials

• Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen

• A buff or neck gaiter for dust

• A hydration pack of at least 2 litres

• Personal medication, including anything your doctor advises for altitude

• A headlamp and a small power bank

• Copies of your passport and insurance documents

More Mustang Riding

• Prefer to ride without a motor? The Lower Mustang Mountain Bike Tour is an 11-day pedal-powered expedition through the same valleys.

• Want to go further north? The Upper Mustang e-MTB tour rides beyond Kagbeni into the restricted area and on to Lo Manthang.

• Want Chitwan and Mustang in one trip? The Ultimate E-MTB Tour in Nepal links the jungle lowlands with the Kali Gandaki.

• Want steeper, more technical descents? The Lower Mustang enduro tour focuses on gravity riding in the same region.

• Want to reach Muktinath over Thorong La? The Annapurna Circuit guided mountain bike tour crosses the 5,416 m pass and descends into the same valley.

• Planning your own Lower Mustang trip? Our Lower Mustang mountain biking guide covers the trails, permits, and costs, and the Lower Mustang destination page lists every tour we run in the region.

Why Ride Lower Mustang With Nepal MTB Adventures

Nepal MTB Adventures is a 100 percent locally owned company that has run mountain bike trips from Pokhara since 2004. Lower Mustang is one of the regions our riders write about most.

• We fix problems on the spot. Past riders describe a cancelled Jomsom flight replaced by a jeep the same morning, a brake part sent up to Jomsom mid-trip, and a crashed bike rebuilt overnight. That comes from having our own fleet, workshop, and team on the ground.

• Trips shaped around you. Riders have done shorter and longer versions of Lower Mustang with us, built around their dates and the trails they like.

• Guides riders remember. Laxman, Anil, Suman and Santaram, who lead this expedition, are named again and again in our Mustang reviews.

• Your money stays local. Our guides, mechanic, and drivers are Nepali, and your spending supports the lodges and villages along the route.

Read what riders say in their own words on TripAdvisor and Trustpilot.

Book Your Lower Mustang E-MTB Expedition

Choose your dates, tell us how many riders are coming, and pick Standard or Premium. We will confirm your booking, arrange your permits and flights, and have your e-MTB fitted and ready in Pokhara.

This package is fully customizable. You can add or remove days, change the pace, swap in different trails, upgrade your accommodation, or plan the trip around your own dates. Tell us what you have in mind, and we will shape the expedition to suit you.

Have a question first? Contact our team. We are happy to help you plan the trip.