Nepal, Upper Mustang: The Last Forbidden Kingdom

Kathmandu, Nepal

BT
Bret Tkacs, LLC
  • Email address verified
62 reviews
Sep 15 - 27, 2025
Group size: 6 - 10
Nepal, Upper Mustang: The Last Forbidden Kingdom
Kathmandu, Nepal

Bret Tkacs, LLC
  • Email address verified
62 reviews

Sep 15 - 27, 2025
Group size: 6 - 10

About this trip

This expedition goes into the secluded upper Mustang Region, nestled within the rain shadow of the highest mountain range in the world - the Himalaya. Only recently opened to foreigners with a Nepali guide, and protected by a restrictive access permit, this isolated region is the best-preserved remnant of Tibet.

Access to this region is not cheap, not easy and at times... not comfortable. However, the scenery at over 12000', the undisturbed culture and the feeling of total isolation are completely worth the effort and sacrifice. Visit Lo Manthang, the forbidden city and the last piece of authentic Tibetan life.

Join Bret Tkacs for a true motorcycle expedition to this remote region. The Upper Mustang is a raw frontier with small villages and ancient Buddhist temples. There are only a few months each year suitable for motorcycle travel in these mountains, and October is the ideal time to ride. You will explore everything from the largest city in Nepal (Kathmandu) to an incredibly remote location (Lo Manthang) and everything in between. Nothing will pull you into the local culture like traveling on a Royal Enfield as you work your way from the lowlands to the high mountain deserts well above the treeline.


This is NOT a trip focused on riding motorcycles, this is a trip focused on exploring Nepal via motorcycle. Egos must be left at home as we ride as a team, not as individuals. You must come with an expectation that we have an objective but we are also exploring a country where weather, road conditions and other events are likely to be out of our control. There is no promise or guarantee we will see all the things we have on the itinerary but we can guarantee it will be an experience you will never forget.


To decrease the inherent risk of travel by motorcycle, Bret Tkacs will be traveling with you to help you improve your strategies and skills related to riding (only if requested) and if you find yourself in a situation beyond your skill, either Bret or one of the support crew will porter you and the motorcycle to a safe location where you can resume riding.


We will eat restaurants and stay in hotels to ensure you are as rested as possible each day (safety management) and to allow you many opportunities to mix with the local population and learn about their culture.


Bret is a teacher, not a tour operator so we utilize local professionals to help guide and arrange our lodging, food and rider support. This will be Bret's 6th and final tour through Nepal.

Riding Conditions

Road conditions generally vary from level 1-3 (visit the ADV Skill Rating System) but there is a real possibly we could encounter level 4 terrain as well. Most roads consist of heavily rutted dirt, loose washouts, and mud, including main roads.


If you are not able to function safely when exposed to heights, this is not the trip for you. We will be riding along exposed cliff edges while entering the Mustang region and will likely cross one or more high bridges (you can ask for your bike to be portered across).

Skill Prerequisite - READ CAREFULLY

This is a live tour, which means that we are only as fast as the slowest rider, and emergency medical care is a very long distance away. We have traveled with many groups and have determined these two skills are essential:

 

1.  You must be able to make a left u-turn within 16′ (5m) apart on a Royal Enfield (If you can do 20' or a full steering lock turn on your personal motorcycle you will be fine). The Nepal Rural Road Standards require 8′ (2.5m) lanes and failure to make a very tight left turn will result in you running wide and finding yourself head on with traffic.


2.  You must be able to maintain a minimum speed of 30mph (48kph) on maintained gravel roads.  We will be traveling through some very remote regions and failure to keep a minimum speed means we will not reach our hotel… or any hotel… by nightfall.


3.  You must have the strength and endurance to ride a motorcycle off-pavement for up to six hours a day at high altitude (up to 12,500') including reserve energy to assist others when needed.


The rest we can work with.  Please keep a humble attitude and recognize that Bret might make decisions for you, based solely on your riding ability, given his 27 years of training motorcyclists as a full time career.

Boot Requirements

Specific boots are required for this tour. Review this list to ensure you have the correct gear. If you show up without the correct boots, you may not be permitted to ride and will not receive a refund.


Please contact Bret if you have any specific questions regarding boots (ie. foot size and boot availability).

What’s included

  • Royal Enfield Himalayan
    Fuel included
  • Airport transport
  • Hotel accommodations
  • Meals
    (excluding Kathmandu)
  • Domestic flights
  • Luggage/gear portage
  • Support vehicle
  • Upper Mustang permit
  • Trail guide and mechanic

What’s not included

  • International flights
  • Nepal Visa
    (available on arrival)
  • Personal expenses
    Souvenirs, extra meals, etc.
  • Personal insurance
    Travel & Medical
  • Additional meals
    Snacks, coffee stops, etc.
  • Alcoholic beverages

Available Packages

Nepal - Upper Mustang Adventure
Deposit: $2,500
Available until September 1, 20255 left

This motorcycle adventure is about exploring culture and regions by motorcycle instead of speed and bravado. Traveling to Lo Manthang, the capital of the former Tibetan kingdom of Lo, is impossible without a guide. Explore the exotic city of Kathmandu to wet your tongue for local culture as you adjust to the 


The ever changing nature of the area (constant landslides, road closures, etc.) means that mental flexibility is essential and having the correct attitude in frustrating situations is critical. After all, "Attitude Matters".

$6,950
Deposit: $2,500

Available Add-Ons

Single room occupancy
$0

We are trying to finalize the price for single rooms. This will be updated shortly.


If you use a CPAP machine, are known to be a loud snorer, or know you do best not sharing a room, please choose this option.


If we are compelled to move you to a single room due to reasons you chose not to disclose, this will be added to your price.


If you choose to change over to a single room, it will be your responsibility to pay for each single room during the trip. This is because when your roommate is left with a single room, we get charged for a single, not a double, which increases our price. Also, keep in mind, some hotels may be sold out of rooms.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival day
Tribhuvan International Airport to Patan

 It's arrival day. You will be greeted outside the airport by your driver (holding a sign with your name) who will take you to Patan Durbar Square to your hotel. Here you can settle into your room, meet your travel buddies and recover from your long flight(s). This location is filled with opportunities to get out and stretch your legs as you begin to take in the local sites, smells and sounds.

Your Organizer


BT
Bret Tkacs, LLC
62 reviews
Bret is a master of ADV riding and an exceptional instructor who started teaching adventure bike specific classes in 2006. Bret is now recognized as one of the most accomplished ADV instructors in the nation.

Reviews

Bret delivered everything described in the Idaho Challenge with one exception, Paul was not able to join our training. Lucky for our group, Nick was there. I couldn't have finished the training if it weren't for Nick's mechanical prowess and tow strap. Thank you Nick! I found Bret's training style to be very straight forward and direct. He wants to share what he has learned with others and is excited to do so. Bret has spent years honing his craft as a teacher and instructor. Bret was able to breakdown riding techniques very quickly and offer a new approach or additional information that I hadn't considered, while maintaining his 2 core riding principles. (take the class if you want to know what they are). I never heard Bret say to me or the other riders that a technique was 'wrong'. My take away from our conversations were that different riding environments require different techniques. Any riding style will require the rider to constantly assess what is happening around the rider. No one tool or trick will always work the same. An example occurred during training in which Bret asked each rider why they chose a line through some water. After listening to everyone's response, Bret offered an observation for each person to use if we encountered something similar, thus building 'data points' for future refence. In doing so, Bret also explained why he chose his line and that his line was not as he expected from what he had learned the previous week in the same location. His point was well made that we must always stay vigilant in our assessments and accept new information. Bret provides training that a person can take home and practice. We went through various drills everyday then headed into the hills to use the training drills in real life. Bret would make it a point to put riders onto trails that reinforced the drills we were taught, very similar to Mr. Miyagi from 'The Karate Kid'. At the end of the day Bret would tell everyone to practice when they went home. I went into the training somewhat nervous as I had never had any formal motorcycle training. I was relying on Bret to help me identify my bad habits and help me correct them. He did not. That is not his style. I found Bret added tools to my toolbox, rather than spend time on correcting any one thing I did or didn't do. He would make corrections during drills to put me into different body positions or balance positions that allowed me to feel and understand the drill better. I found Bret to be very amiable and fun to talk with. Each day, Bret brought high energy and excitement for learning into the group. He is a true professional. The Idaho Challenge brought everything described in the brochure, plus more. The 'plus' was the group dynamic, which was a pleasant surprise for me. Watching other riders learn and get better was an unexpected joy. It was exciting to see other riders perform well or better than they expected through each challenge. All the riders in my group got genuinely excited for each other as we progressed throughout the day. I am writing this review a couple of weeks after my training and I am already looking forward to joining a class next year. Thank you to Christina for schlepping around snacks, drinks and the shade tent! Also a huge thank you to Nick for his patience and 'tow' service. It was reassuring knowing you always had our backs(and saved a few backs). Bret, you continue to inspire and teach me to ride better, thank you. Sincerely, Dennis
By Dennis C for Idaho Challenge Training on Jul 07, 2025
The training was exceptional! Not only are Bret and crew personable and enjoyable (with plenty of humor!), but the foundations taught and developed through learning and application for off-road riding helped to stretch my knowledge and practice in ways that aided in developing confidence and truly understanding the edges of my skills - where I can go beyond, and what I need to work on. It was truly a pleasure, and a challenge to take part in this training. Weeks later, I am still sifting through and applying what I learned during the training. Thanks so much for the experience...I will be back!
By Will N for Idaho Adventure Training on Jul 01, 2025
Fantastic training! I've watched loads of videos from Brett and others which have certainly made me a better rider. But the training from Brett and Paul has taken my riding skills to a whole new level! Brett and Paul are experts at noticing subtle mistakes riders make, and the course provides plenty of direct feedback from Brett and Paul to not only point out mistakes, but to help you correct them. I couldn't be happier that I took this course and I highly recommend it!
By Tom S for Idaho Adventure Training on Jun 20, 2025
What an amazing experience! No amount of practice from Brett’s YouTube videos could ever compare to training with him in real life. I feel like a completely different rider by understanding the “why” behind so many techniques. Can’t wait to come back for more!
By Tim H for Idaho Challenge Training on Jun 17, 2025
Bret and his team are true teachers / coaches and explain riding techniques from a perspective of physics which I really appreciated. It made it easier to understand why they were teaching us the necessary body positions for riding.I rode terrain in his Idaho class that was more difficult than anything I've ridden so far. Definitely increased my confidence! This is not a basic class and I found having some prior experience to be helpful in learning the techniques they were teaching. On top of their incredible knowledge, they keep it really fun and supportive! I highly recommend this class if you want to increase your off road riding abilities!
By Alexa C for Idaho Adventure Training on Jun 16, 2025
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References

YL
I searched a long time to find the right course for me. I was following Brett on YouTube but didn’t know he was doing Adventure training so close to my location. What a wonderful experience! Of course the training was of a great quality but I didn’t expect less, it is everything around it which made this experience so enjoyable and profitable. As we all already know, Brett is really knowledgeable but he is also easy to follow in his training and really relation oriented. He makes you feel confident, provide the right advises and he is funny. Like he says “Attitude Matters” and he always has the right one. The second instructor was Paul. What to say about him…. He is as knowledgeable as Brett, always here to help you in any ways and this Paratrooper veteran probably landed once or twice on his head to be that funny. Great Team, Great Training and a wonderful group of student (We may do some ride together in the future). ….. I’ll be back.
By Yves L on 08 May, 2024