Our own local team on the ground. Dutch certified. The best of both worlds.
By hiring local guides and porters, you help them earn a good income close to home.
Financially protected through VZR Garant and the Calamity Fund.
In a nutshell
With the Nepal Group Trip Self-drive 4×4 Upper Mustang Road, we explore Nepal from behind the wheel. Through ancient kingdoms, high-altitude desert and jungle, all in 13 days. This trip is organised by our partner Off The Grid 4×4, specialists in extreme offroad adventures across the world. We are the local partner on the ground in Nepal, taking care of guidance, logistics and local expertise along the way.
The journey starts in Kathmandu. After a day to settle in and explore the city, we head west to Pokhara and from there into the Lower Mustang. A landscape of ancient monasteries, deep gorges and traditional Thakali villages. Then the road climbs higher, into the Upper Mustang, towards Lo Manthang: a walled Tibetan city that was completely closed to the outside world until 1992. A special permit is required to enter this region.
After two nights in Lo Manthang, we drive back through the mountains to Pokhara and then south to Chitwan National Park. A full day on safari by boat, on foot and by jeep, in search of the rare one-horned rhinos, crocodiles and the elusive Bengal tiger. The trip ends back in Kathmandu with a day of guided sightseeing before flying home.
You can book this trip is directly through our partner Off The Grid 4×4. Visit their website at offthegrid4x4.com for questions, pricing and availability.
This trip is an exclusive collaboration between Off The Grid 4×4 and By Mountain People. Off The Grid 4×4 organises the overall program and the itinerary. We are the local partner in Nepal, providing on-the-ground guidance, local knowledge and logistical support throughout the journey.
This trip is booked directly through Off The Grid 4×4. Visit offthegrid4x4.com for questions, availability and pricing. You can also get in touch with us if you have questions about Nepal specifically.
Each team of two drives a full-size 4×4 SUV. The vehicle is included in the trip price.
Max. 20 vehicles. We keep our groups deliberately small. That means personal attention on the road and less impact on the villages and landscape we pass through.
Get in touch with offthegrid4x4.com for current group size and availability.
You need a valid driving licence and be comfortable driving in challenging conditions: steep unpaved roads, river crossings and narrow mountain passes. No prior offroad experience is required, but confidence behind the wheel is essential.
The vehicle price is based on two people sharing one car. A private hotel room is available at an additional cost. Get in touch with Off The Grid 4×4 for the single occupancy rate and current availability.
Pricing & Dates
The price of this trip is per person, based on sharing a vehicle and twin rooms.
Prefer your own room? Contact offthegid4x4.com for the rate and availability.
Included in this trip
- Return flights Amsterdam to Kathmandu
- Hotel accommodation (based on shared twin rooms)
- Breakfast and dinner throughout the trip (lunches on rest days are not included)
- 4×4 full-size SUV (based on two people per vehicle)
- Local guide with knowledge of the country, culture and roads
- Upper Mustang restricted area permit
| Date | Availability | Participants | Price p.p. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 10 Oct 2026 | Last spots | from 6,875 EURO | Join this group | |
| Tue, 9 Mar 2027 | Available | from 6,875 EURO | Join this group | |
| Sat, 9 Oct 2027 | Available | from 6,875 EURO | Join this group |
Day-to-day program
Learn how the Self-drive 4×4 Upper Mustang Road Group Trip is structured, day by day.
We land in Kathmandu after an overnight flight via Doha. A day to settle in, adjust to the climate and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple are all within reach. Lively streets, colourful markets and the first glimpse of the Himalaya above the city skyline.
We leave Kathmandu and head west towards Pokhara. The city chaos gives way to green hills and open countryside. A long but rewarding drive with the Annapurna range appearing on the horizon as we approach the lake city.
We enter the Lower Mustang, gateway to the Upper Mustang and one of Nepal’s most dramatic landscapes. Ancient monasteries, traditional Thakali villages and the deep Kali Gandaki gorge pass by the window. The sacred temple of Muktinath is one of the highlights along the way. The landscape shifts from subtropical green to something altogether more austere.
The road climbs higher and the landscape becomes wilder. The Upper Mustang has a distinctly Tibetan character. Vast, rugged and extraordinary.
The destination is Lo Manthang: a walled city on Nepalese soil, right on the border with Tibet. Closed to the outside world until 1992, today only accessible with a special permit. We spend a full day here to experience the Tibetan atmosphere and, for those who want to, drive further towards the Chinese border.
We drive back through the mountains towards Pokhara. Temperatures rise, greenery returns and the snow-capped peaks remain in view the entire way. A night in our 4-star hotel in Pokhara — time to wash off the dust and rest.
We head south into the jungle. The Terai lowlands are a world apart from the mountains: flat, warm and teeming with wildlife. We spend a full day on safari at a top-class resort on the banks of the Rapti River — by boat, on foot and by jeep. One-horned rhinos, crocodiles and gharials are almost certain. A Bengal tiger is always possible.
A spectacular mountain road brings us back to Kathmandu. Hundreds of bends, narrow passes and no heavy traffic. A final full day in the city with a guided tour of Kathmandu’s highlights. Then the flight home, with a full head and heart.
Practical
Everything you need to know before you go. Below you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this Nepal self-drive trip. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Feel free to reach out with offthegrid4x4.com.
The self-drive trip runs outside the monsoon season. October is the main departure date, with additional dates in March. During the monsoon, the Upper Mustang Road is largely inaccessible.
Yes, you need a tourist visa.
The 15-day tourist visa costs 30 USD.
Yes. An international driving licence is required to drive in Nepal. Make sure you arrange this before departure.
Yes. The restricted area permit for the Upper Mustang, valued at USD 500, is included in the price and arranged by Off The Grid 4×4 before departure.
Nepal Group Trip – Self-drive 4×4 Upper Mustang Road
- Drive about 200 km per day in your own 4×4
- Cover the Upper Mustang Road, to the hidden kingdom of Lo-Manthang
- Travel across Nepal, from the high mountains to lush jungles
Group Trek – Everest Base Camp with Gokyo Lake
Ask us a question
Group Trek – Manaslu Circuit
Ask us a question
Excited to explore Nepal?
Now let's make it real. Browse our trips or request a quote. We are a small Nepal trekking company, so you will hear from us personally ASAP.
